How to disable SMTP-Auth for AP9631

[CWempe_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 10/28/2010

---

Hello,

I got a problem with our new AP9631-Cards (aos513, sumx513, bootmon101).

Situation:
I configured one Card until everything worked perfect.
I wrote a script to download this config via ftp, change some values (hostname, ...) and uploaded the new config to another card.

Problem:
On first sight everything looked good.
But wehen I tried to perform a mail-test I got an error:
"Test e-mail failed; SMTP configuration error."

All mail-coresponding settings are ok!

In the next step I sniffed the network-pakages and found out that the NMC2 tries to authenticate on the smtp-server.
The first NMC does not authenticate and sends all mails correct.

Research:
I googled, but all I found were these two posts:
http://forums.apc.com/spaces/15/universal-transfer-switch/forums/general/2936/4-port-usb-hub-model-1...
http://forums.apc.com/spaces/5/smart-ups-symmetra-lx-rm/forums/general/1995/smart-ups-rt-5000-xl-unk...

Workaround:
Go to "Administration | Notification | E-mail | recipients" click on the defined recipient and hit "Apply" (without changing anything!).
Now the test-mail workes!

I guess the webinterface rewrites some part of the internal config and disables the SMTP-Auth-option.
Maybe there is a secret config-line in the internal config wich does not get exported via ftp. 🙂

My question:
How can I disable smtp-auth via ftp, telnet, ..?
Is this a known bug and will it be fixed? 😉


Thank you
Christoph

[CWempe_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 10/28/2010

---

Hello,

I got a problem with our new AP9631-Cards (aos513, sumx513, bootmon101).

Situation:
I configured one Card until everything worked perfect.
I wrote a script to download this config via ftp, change some values (hostname, ...) and uploaded the new config to another card.

Problem:
On first sight everything looked good.
But wehen I tried to perform a mail-test I got an error:
"Test e-mail failed; SMTP configuration error."

All mail-coresponding settings are ok!

In the next step I sniffed the network-pakages and found out that the NMC2 tries to authenticate on the smtp-server.
The first NMC does not authenticate and sends all mails correct.

Research:
I googled, but all I found were these two posts:
http://forums.apc.com/spaces/15/universal-transfer-switch/forums/general/2936/4-port-usb-hub-model-1...
http://forums.apc.com/spaces/5/smart-ups-symmetra-lx-rm/forums/general/1995/smart-ups-rt-5000-xl-unk...

Workaround:
Go to "Administration | Notification | E-mail | recipients" click on the defined recipient and hit "Apply" (without changing anything!).
Now the test-mail workes!

I guess the webinterface rewrites some part of the internal config and disables the SMTP-Auth-option.
Maybe there is a secret config-line in the internal config wich does not get exported via ftp. 🙂

My question:
How can I disable smtp-auth via ftp, telnet, ..?
Is this a known bug and will it be fixed? 😉


Thank you
Christoph

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 10/28/2010

---

Christoph,

this is not really a known issue. i am not sure exactly what you mean and what you saw in the network capture.

by default, in the SMTP authentication username field, you will see the value of User whether or not SMTP authentication is enabled. something needs to be in this field at all times but the password will be blank. even if authentication is required or not, it should not affect the mail server because it does not require that data. the mail server and NMC speak in commands and the mail server should ask for that info only if it is required. there really is no way to technically enable/disable email authentication.

did you upgrade to 5.1.3 from a previous firmware version or did you start with 5.1.3 from the get go?

[CWempe_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 10/28/2010

---

The devices were delivered with this recent software versions.
I can reproduce this problem with resetting the config.

Here are two screenshots of my sniffing with wireshark.
Both devices act the same until the smtp-server response with his parameters (blue line).

The device with the working config starts writing the mail ("MAIL FROM ...).
But the other device sends the "AUTH"-command (with parameter "LOGIN").

The question is: Why does the second device send this AUTH-command?

Remember:
Both devices are AP9631-Cards with the same Software and the same config.
I just need to re-save the recipient-settings in the WebUI to make it work!

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 10/28/2010

---

alright. if you are able to send me the entire wire captures, please let me know and i will email you. if not, i will use these images for "proof."

i'd also like to get the exact step by step instructions that you did so that i can replicate it myself and not miss a step. then we can look into it further.

can you tell me what SMTP server/version that you are using?

lastly, can you please get me the event.txt and config.ini [via these instructions|http://nam-en.apc.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/9321/]

you can remove any private information from those files. i really just need the NetworkEmail section and anything else that relates to email. i will use that info when i am testing.

thanks!!

[CWempe_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 10/29/2010

---

I uploaded the files in the [other thread|http://forums.apc.com/spaces/5/smart-ups-symmetra-lx-rm/forums/general/4011/disable-network-watchdog...].

For the wire capture and the SMTP server/version, I will ask for permission. 😉
Do you have an email-address to send these information to?


Here is a step-by-step guide to reproduce my problem:

- reset all settings including TCP from second device (I use DHCP)
- use a script to
-- download the working config from first device (FTP)
-- change some values (HostName, DomainName, ..)
-- upload to second device (FTP)
- log into WebUI
- go to "Administration | Notification | E-mail | test" and click "Apply"
-- "Test e-mail failed; SMTP configuration error."
- go to "Administration | Notification | E-mail | recipients" and click on the defined recipient
- click "Apply" without changing any values
- go to "Administration | Notification | E-mail | test" and click "Apply" again
-- "Test E-mail sent successfully."

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 10/29/2010

---

thanks. as mentioned, i'll send you an email so we can work on this since i think we will need to do some testing here and escalate if necessary.

[BillP]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 12/30/2010

---

no, thats not true. under normal circumstances, by default, the NMC will not send authentication credentials unless prompted by your mail server. we found that CWempe's particular mail server is doing something different and it is still under investigation.

thus, NMC does not have authentication enabled by default in reality and CWempe says he is not using it but via the packet capture, the mail server prompts for it.

what is your situation? please post what is happening and post your event.txt and config.ini using [these instructions|http://nam-en.apc.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/9321/]. it may also be helpful to tell us what mail server you are using and if you can get a packet capture like CWempe did, if you believe there is an issue.

[poster72_apc]

This was originally posted on APC forums on 12/30/2010

---

i may have spoke too soon.

its a strange issue, and an unpleasant setup, but we found a way to make this work. Its different than how it works on the NMC1 and thats what threw us off. The NMC1 had no issue on our exchangecluster but NMC2 needs to point to a different location.

so something is different, but we found a workaround so no biggie now

[BillP · Accepted solution]

This reply was originally posted by Angela on APC forums on 12/30/2010

---

ok 🙂 well please post another thread if you are having issues and i'll be happy to help. happy new year!