[Date Prev][Date Next] [Thread Prev][Thread Next] [Date Index] [Thread Index]

Re: Lenny/exim4: how to set helo for outgoing SMTP



Kilian wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I am desperately trying to set the HELO value exim uses for outgoing
> smtp connections because my host is behind a firewall which does NAT.
> I've read /usr/share/doc/exim4-config/README.Debian.gz and created
> /etc/exim4/exim4.conf.localmacros witht the following content:
> 
> REMOTE_SMTP_HELO_DATA="my.host.name"
> 
> That did not work. Then I found the following:
> 
> http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=275975
> 
> So I tried to set helo_data manually in
> /etc/exim4/conf.d/transport/30_exim4-config_remote_smtp and
> /etc/exim4/conf.d/transport/30_exim4-config_remote_smtp_smarthost - the
> latter I did just in case. That did not work. So I basically set *every*
> occurrence of helo_data and REMOTE_SMTP_HELO_DATA I found under
> /etc/exim4 manually. Doesn't work.
> 
> Under etch, I just changed helo_data in /etc/exim4/exim4.conf.template
> manually - not very nice, but it did what I needed. Now my mailconfig is
> broken because some hosts won't accept my mails as the HELO does not
> match the IP of the firewall, of course. Is there really no way to
> change the outgoing HELO value in exim 4.69-9? I am using the "internet"
> config of exim4.
> 
> Any hint would be greatly appreciated!

The settings you want to look at are smtp_banner and helo_data. If I
remember correctly, helo_data defaults to $primary_hostname and smtp_banner
defaults to something with $primary_host_name and exim's version number.

In my configuration, I just have primary_hostname to my hostname (e.g.
primay_hostname = dune.jamesr.biz) which also sets the smtp banner displayed
when connecting to remote hosts. My relavent debconf configs are
internet site, number of dns-queries minimal to no. I am thinking the 
primary_hostname gets set in the config file by doing a reverse lookup on the
ip of my server. Does a lookup of the ip of the interface you are sending mail
resolve to the name of your firewall?


-- 
James Richardson
Debian GNU/Linux Consultant
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrichardsonconsulting

Attachment: signature.asc
Description: Digital signature


Reply to: