# Net/smtp question **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [November 23, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/net-smtp-question/52953 "2005-11-23T02:06:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![itsme213](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@itsme213](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/itsme213)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/net-smtp-question/52953/1 "2005-11-23T02:06:07Z")
I am experimenting with SMTP mail from my local machine, to basically send an email just like my Outlook client does. But I can’t figure out how to translate my Outlook settings to the parameters of SMTP.start, in particular the params: helo : I don’t see such a setting in Outlook. I use a cable service provider for internet connection, the SMTP server is different (at my web host). user : is this the User Name from the Outlook account? secret : is this the Password from the Outlok account? authtype : my Outlook account has “requires authentication” OFF Thanks! require ‘net/smtp’ msg = “Subject: Test\n\nNow is the time\n” Net::SMTP.start('my.smtp.server,25,‘my.cable.provider’,'my.user.name, 'password,:plain) do |smtp| # smtp.send\_message msg, ‘removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid’, [‘removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid’] end C:experiments\> c:/ruby/lib/ruby/1.8/net/smtp.rb:586:in `auth_login': 535 authorization failed (#5.7.0) (Net::SMTPAuthenticationError) from c:/ruby/lib/ruby/1.8/net/smtp.rb:571:in` **send** ’ from c:/ruby/lib/ruby/1.8/net/smtp.rb:571:in `authenticate' from c:/ruby/lib/ruby/1.8/net/smtp.rb:411:in`do\_start’ from c:/ruby/lib/ruby/1.8/net/smtp.rb:378:in `start' from c:/ruby/lib/ruby/1.8/net/smtp.rb:316:in`start’ from C:/des/desktop/methods/experiments/smtp.rb:5 Process ruby exited with code 1 ---
**Author:** ![itsme213](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@itsme213](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/itsme213)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 4:51am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/net-smtp-question/52953/2 "2005-11-23T04:51:04Z")
On Wednesday 23 November 2005 10:02 am, itsme213 wrote: > I am experimenting with SMTP mail from my local machine, to basically send > an email just like my Outlook client does. But I can’t figure out how to > translate my Outlook settings to the parameters of SMTP.start, in > particular the params: > > helo : I don’t see such a setting in Outlook. I use a cable service > provider for internet connection, the SMTP server is different (at my web > host). You are a client, you still need to use the correct HELO. HELO [myhostname-12-34-34-2.myisp.com](http://myhostname-12-34-34-2.myisp.com) would be what you want to say to server, just supply hostname. Here is an example SMTP session to my mail server using one of the number one administration utilities… telnet 🙂 tsume@laptop:~$ telnet [tsumelabs.com](http://tsumelabs.com) 25 Trying 72.21.54.43… Connected to [tsumelabs.com](http://tsumelabs.com). Escape character is ‘^]’. 220 [zanshin.tsumelabs.com](http://zanshin.tsumelabs.com) ESMTP HELO [FAKEDOMAIN.COM](http://FAKEDOMAIN.COM) 250 [zanshin.tsumelabs.com](http://zanshin.tsumelabs.com) Ok. EHLO [FAKEDOMAIN.COM](http://FAKEDOMAIN.COM) [250-zanshin.tsumelabs.com](http://250-zanshin.tsumelabs.com) Ok. 250-AUTH LOGIN CRAM-MD5 CRAM-SHA1 CRAM-SHA256 250-AUTH=LOGIN CRAM-MD5 CRAM-SHA1 CRAM-SHA256 X-NETSCAPE-HAS-BUGS 250-XVERP=Courier 250-XEXDATA 250-XSECURITY=NONE,STARTTLS 250-PIPELINING 250-8BITMIME 250-SIZE 250 DSN MAIL FROM:[removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) 250 Ok. RCPT TO:[removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) 250 Ok. DATA 354 Ok. Subject: Test Message From: removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid test . 250 Ok. 43838FA9.000017BC quit 221 Bye. ## When the email is delivered, the email is altered by the MTA. Below is what the client(I) get when I check my mail via POP3. [start] Delivered-To: removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid Return-Path: [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) Received: from [FAKEDOMAIN.COM](http://FAKEDOMAIN.COM) ([209.112.145.186]) by [zanshin.tsumelabs.com](http://zanshin.tsumelabs.com) with esmtp; Tue, 22 Nov 2005 16:37:17 -0500 id 0068813E.43838FA9.000017BC Subject: Test Message To: removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid From: removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid Message-ID: [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2005 16:37:17 -0500 test [end] --------------------------------------- Notice the received from line Received: from [FAKEDOMAIN.COM](http://FAKEDOMAIN.COM) ([209.112.145.186]) Still the MTA will place my IP address in the header, I’m really on tsume@laptop:~$ nslookup 209.112.145.186 Server: 209.193.4.7 Address: 209.193.4.7#53 186.145.112.209.in-addr.arpa name = [209-112-145-186-cdsl-rb1.sol.acsalaska.net](http://209-112-145-186-cdsl-rb1.sol.acsalaska.net). tsume@laptop:~$ Many spammers fake the HELO, and I know some MTAs actually do check for a valid HELO, so you want to use the correct hostname. Do I still need to provide a helo if I send the email to my ISPs server? yes, the mail server still attaches receive. Look through emails and you will see more of how the MTA will transform emails, here is an example ## [start] Delivered-To: removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid Return-Path: [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) Received: from [FAKEDOMAIN.COM](http://FAKEDOMAIN.COM) ([209.112.145.186]) by [zanshin.tsumelabs.com](http://zanshin.tsumelabs.com) with esmtp; Tue, 22 Nov 2005 16:37:17 -0500 id 0068813E.43838FA9.000017BC Received: from [littleguy-23.2.32.3.isp.com](http://littleguy-23.2.32.3.isp.com) ([205.2.145.186]) by [some-otherhost.com](http://some-otherhost.com) with esmtp; Tue, 22 Nov 2005 16:34:17 -0500 id 0068813E.43838FA9.000017BC Subject: Test Message To: removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid From: removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid Message-ID: [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2005 16:37:17 -0500 test [end] --------------------------------------- Ask more questions if confused. There are RFCs on SMTP you should read for future reference [http://www.rfc-editor.org/](http://www.rfc-editor.org/) Have more fun learning! Tsume > user : is this the User Name from the Outlook account? yes, this may be your email name, or your full email address > secret : is this the Password from the Outlok account? yes ---
**Author:** ![itsme213](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@itsme213](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/itsme213)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/net-smtp-question/52953/3 "2005-11-23T20:12:24Z")
On Thu, 24 Nov 2005, itsme213 wrote: > end > > And it went through fine. I am a bit taken aback that there appears to be no > checking done at all. Is this normal? > > Thanks! Going by the headers in that message: Received: from localhost ([127.0.0.1] helo=localhost.localdomain) by [sinus.lauschmusik.de](http://sinus.lauschmusik.de) with esmtp (Exim 4.50) id 1Eezll-00068m-O3 for removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid; Wed, 23 Nov 2005 19:55:01 +0100 your smtp host is running exim, which will figure most of this out anyway. and it depends how much checking the admin has put into the config as to what is and what is not accepted. ``` http://www.exim.org ``` for more than you wanted to know about this. ``` Hugh ``` ---
**Author:** ![itsme213](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@itsme213](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/itsme213)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/net-smtp-question/52953/4 "2005-11-23T23:34:29Z")
On Thursday 24 November 2005 03:57 am, itsme213 wrote: > I tried \-12-34-34-2.myisp.com and it failed. > > Then … Ouch! I just tried removing my email login, password, and even > HELO info: Most ISPs will just have the SMTP server open to all clients on their network. Meaning you probably don’t need authentication applied to your script. The HELO is supposed to work however, what is the fail message? the HELO is supposed to be applied as the RFC states, but I really doubt it is failing. The HELO is defaulted to localhost.localdomain if you don’t supply an argument for the HELO in net/smtp.rb The example I shown was me communicating with my server, which I definitely don’t route through for the internet 🙂 > msg = “Subject: Test\n\nNow is the time\n” > > Net::SMTP.start(‘smtp.server’,25) do |smtp| > smtp.send\_message msg, 'removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid, > ['removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid] > end > > And it went through fine. I am a bit taken aback that there appears to be > no checking done at all. Is this normal? I’m guessing the SMTP server was choking at the authentication. Tsume ---
**Author:** ![itsme213](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@itsme213](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/itsme213)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/net-smtp-question/52953/5 "2005-11-23T20:00:17Z")
I tried \-12-34-34-2.myisp.com and it failed. Then … Ouch! I just tried removing my email login, password, and even HELO info: msg = “Subject: Test\n\nNow is the time\n” Net::SMTP.start(‘smtp.server’,25) do |smtp| smtp.send\_message msg, 'removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid, ['removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid] end And it went through fine. I am a bit taken aback that there appears to be no checking done at all. Is this normal? Thanks! “Tsume” [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote in message news:removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid…