SMTP Servers

Hello,

I'd like to know if there is any way u can find out the SMTP server address of web based mail providers like Hotmail, Yahoo, Rediffmail .. etc ?.. I mean, any tools available.. ?? I persume they keep the server names a secret ?

Thanx.

Can't you ping from the command line ex c:\ping pop.yahoo.com

Web based host's like hotmail and yahoo don't have free SMTP servers. On yahoo I know you can pay to get access to an SMTP server.

In general I would say that free online webmail does not automatically mean there is an SMTP or POP3 server you can use. Your service provider or employer is usually where your going to get SMTP access.

While what uppercell is saying is true, you can see what the inbound SMTP mail servers are by doing a DNS query.

On windows do it like this-

drop the the command prompt.

run the command nslookup

At the nslookup command prompt enter "set type=mx"

Then enter the host you are looking for, say hotmail.com.

You can't however, as uppercell stated, use that information to relay SMTP email unless you are an authorized user, in most cases. Most inbound SMTP servers are going to be configured to only allow email to be delivered to them if the email is destined for a domain that that mail server services.

I hope i'm right here but Hotmail doesn't use smtp. I'ts Http as for yahoo, smtp.mail.yahoo.com is the address.

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I'd like to know if there is any way u can find out the SMTP server address of web based mail providers like Hotmail, Yahoo, Rediffmail .. etc ?.. I mean, any tools available.. ?? I persume they keep the server names a secret ?

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Mail servers for Hotmail & Yahoo, are HTTP server. Not SMTP.

http://services.msn.com/svcs/hotmail/httpmail.asp

Also you can find any ISP mail servers by simply checking out there help section under e-mail.For example 'AOL'

http://postmaster.aol.com/info/servers.html also google

http://www.helpdesk.umd.edu/documents/1/1989/

Hope this helps.

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Originally posted here by mightysuraj
Hello,

I'd like to know if there is any way u can find out the SMTP server address of web based mail providers like Hotmail, Yahoo, Rediffmail .. etc ?.. I mean, any tools available.. ?? I persume they keep the server names a secret ?

Thanx.

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finding the true smtp server of a web based/free web e-mail is a bit tricky, since these free web based e-mail is a big host that serves a lot of users chances of authoritative and non authoritative answers from the servers, and chances of getting the true IP is somehow difficult.

try using the tools in www.dnsstuff.com it's going to be a big help.

try reading some stuffs about zone files as well so you can have a better understanding.

this line might be of help also... CNAMES points to host names and host names points to a record and a records points to IP adress. this can be useful in trying to figure out the right IP's or hosts.

Then what about mx1.hotmail.com ?? What server is it ?? What is is for ?

couldnt you use nslookup and have it sort for mail exchange servers(i think the command would be "nslookup set q=mx". then lookup the domain name hotmail.com or whatever you want and anything that comes up with an mx is a mail server.

open this web site
http://www.dnsstuff.com/

then in DNS Tools utility write the server you want the mail server for and from the combo box select MX and hit enter.

in the results window record those entries with type MX.