SMTP problem

[BillW]

I apologize if this is the wrong forum, but I don't where to go with this
question.

My UPS software will send an email in the event of a power failure. It
worked without any problem until Comcast changed its outbound SMTP port from
25 to 587. I changed OE to reflect the new port number, but my UPS software
defaults to port 25 with no way of changing the port number. I found
something on the internet that said that an application's default port
number could be changed to 587 by typing the following into the
application's in the smtp outbound field: smtp.comcast.net:587. This
didn't work with my UPS software even after turning the firewall off. Can
anyone tell me how to change/override the default port number in an
application that does not offer a simple user interface like OE does? I'm
hoping that it can be done with a simple SMTP string similar to the above
example. Thank you.

 

[John Wunderlich]

I apologize if this is the wrong forum, but I don't where to go
with this question.

My UPS software will send an email in the event of a power
failure. It worked without any problem until Comcast changed its
outbound SMTP port from 25 to 587. I changed OE to reflect the
new port number, but my UPS software defaults to port 25 with no
way of changing the port number. I found something on the
internet that said that an application's default port number could
be changed to 587 by typing the following into the application's
in the smtp outbound field: smtp.comcast.net:587. This didn't
work with my UPS software even after turning the firewall off.
Can anyone tell me how to change/override the default port number
in an application that does not offer a simple user interface like
OE does? I'm hoping that it can be done with a simple SMTP string
similar to the above example. Thank you.

You probably won't be able to do what you want unless your UPS software
vendor changes their code. A workaround I've used in the past (to get
around similar problems) is to install a SMTP server on your own
machine that will then relay the email to your ISP. (So your UPS
application sends the mail to your SMTP Server on port 25 on the same
machine which then properly relays it to your ISP's server). Full-up
SMTP servers usually have the flexability to do things like change port
numbers. A free SMTP server I've used in the past is XMAIL
<http://www.xmailserver.org/>
Warning: It's not trivial to set up and configure but is solid once you
get it going.
Try it out or Google for "XP SMTP Server".

HTH,
John

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Either update the UPS software or replace the unit.

 

[Bill W]

John,

Thank you very much for the information. It is very helpful and definitely
points me in the right direction. Thanks again. I really appreciate the
help.

Bill

 

[Tim Meddick]

Do you have to use your ISP's email? There are loads of completely free
email services that provide SMTP email that you could sign-up for. Can you
not just change your email address? By far and away the easiest option and
you'd be surprised how quickly friends/family adapt to the change.