IMAP/Outlook XP/Firewall Issues.

Carrie_S · 15 Apr 2003, 06:00 AM

I've been reading though the forum to try and resolve my issue myself, but haven't found my exact problem elsewhere...

I'm behind a firewall, but my Network Admin tells me just about every port is open.

My error is this:

The IMAP Server has issues an unrecognized greeting.

Details gives me the following:

500 Generic bad response
Protocol: IMAP
Server: imap.proxy.fastmail.fm
Port: 25

and then an 'unable to connect to server' dialog box.

the fasttest.exe program gives me a ton of time-out messages and eventually gives this in the observations section:

FastMail.FM IMAP test failed
FastMail.FM Alternate SMTP test failed
Failed 22
Remote IP = 208.7.247.171

i can, of course, connect using the web interface, but it's not very convenient at work. otherwise, everything thus far is fantastic!

any suggestions?

thanks in advance!

mcowger · 15 Apr 2003, 08:33 AM

Its interesting that it coems back with a remote IP of ' 208.7.247.171', as that isn't fastmail's IP at all. Perhaps your firewall is intercepting all SMTP or IMAP traffic, and your Netadmin just hasn't told you?

bitequator · 15 Apr 2003, 08:51 AM

That's something about http://thebrick.identicard.com ? http://identicard.com looks cool...

Anyways it's interesting, I haven't had a chance to try FM's any-port proxies yet (the regular servers don't work for you?) I'll let those more knowledgeable answer, but it seems you're using port 25 (normally SMTP) for IMAP access?

Carrie_S · 15 Apr 2003, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bitequator
(the regular servers don't work for you?) I'll let those more knowledgeable answer, but it seems you're using port 25 (normally SMTP) for IMAP access?

This is a new and interesting error message... everything else I'd tried up to that point resulted in your basic 'could not connect...' message almost immediately. I increased the timeout and it still gave me the message before the timeout would have expired.

As for the port, I was trying the ports suggested in the FAQ as commonly being open (21, 25 & 443), in the section about what to do if you're behind a firewall.

Frankly, I suspect the network admin is being intentionally vague coupled with the fact that I don't really know the right questions to ask.

Onno · 15 Apr 2003, 07:51 PM

My guess is that you're behind a transparent proxy. Basically it catches whatever traffic you're wanting to send to a certain port and either forwards it from its IP or keeps it to itself. 25 is probably being forwarded to an internal SMTP server. Using the IMAP protocol on the SMTP server will result in the error message you are seeing, as the SMTP server doesn't understand what you're saying.

There is unlikely to be any way around this, if my guess is correct.

vidvandre · 16 Apr 2003, 11:02 AM

I’m experiencing all sorts of problems behind my 'corporate' proxy/firewall. What I’d really like is a piece of software that could check to see if there is a way out of the firewall hell, tell me what it is and how to set it up...

Anyone who has knowledge of such a tool?

15 Apr 2003, 06:00 AM	#1
Carrie_S Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 12	IMAP/Outlook XP/Firewall Issues. I've been reading though the forum to try and resolve my issue myself, but haven't found my exact problem elsewhere... I'm behind a firewall, but my Network Admin tells me just about every port is open. My error is this: The IMAP Server has issues an unrecognized greeting. Details gives me the following: 500 Generic bad response Protocol: IMAP Server: imap.proxy.fastmail.fm Port: 25 and then an 'unable to connect to server' dialog box. the fasttest.exe program gives me a ton of time-out messages and eventually gives this in the observations section: FastMail.FM IMAP test failed FastMail.FM Alternate SMTP test failed Failed 22 Remote IP = 208.7.247.171 i can, of course, connect using the web interface, but it's not very convenient at work. otherwise, everything thus far is fantastic! any suggestions? thanks in advance!

15 Apr 2003, 08:33 AM	#2
mcowger Cornerstone of the Community Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: SF, CA Posts: 700	Its interesting that it coems back with a remote IP of ' 208.7.247.171', as that isn't fastmail's IP at all. Perhaps your firewall is intercepting all SMTP or IMAP traffic, and your Netadmin just hasn't told you?

15 Apr 2003, 08:51 AM	#3
bitequator The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: USA Posts: 2,978	That's something about http://thebrick.identicard.com ? http://identicard.com looks cool... Anyways it's interesting, I haven't had a chance to try FM's any-port proxies yet (the regular servers don't work for you?) I'll let those more knowledgeable answer, but it seems you're using port 25 (normally SMTP) for IMAP access?

15 Apr 2003, 07:51 PM	#5
Onno Cornerstone of the Community Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 753	My guess is that you're behind a transparent proxy. Basically it catches whatever traffic you're wanting to send to a certain port and either forwards it from its IP or keeps it to itself. 25 is probably being forwarded to an internal SMTP server. Using the IMAP protocol on the SMTP server will result in the error message you are seeing, as the SMTP server doesn't understand what you're saying. There is unlikely to be any way around this, if my guess is correct.

16 Apr 2003, 11:02 AM	#6
vidvandre Cornerstone of the Community Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Sørumsand(!), Norway Posts: 625	I’m experiencing all sorts of problems behind my 'corporate' proxy/firewall. What I’d really like is a piece of software that could check to see if there is a way out of the firewall hell, tell me what it is and how to set it up... Anyone who has knowledge of such a tool?