Esend Quick-Start Setup Guide

 

Configuration / Problem Resolution Steps

Before starting, make sure you have a valid return mail address for the User ID you will be using to send your test messages. On the ESEND configuration menu run the ‘Work with E-mail FROM Addresses’ option (ESNDADR). Enter a record for the User ID that you are using for testing, along with a valid return email address. After entering a record, continue with step 1 of the Basic Configuration section.

Basic Configuration
Whether you are configuring email for the first time, or trying to determine why you experienced an error or failed email, you should always start with the six steps in this section. Then, continue with the next section to configure the System i to relay email to your mail router.

1. Issue the ‘Configure TCP/IP’ command (CFGTCP) and select option 12 from the menu
   
2. Check for ‘Host Name’ (HOSTNAME) entry. The Host Name is required and is usually the system name as shown in System i Navigator (Operations Navigator) or a system sign-on screen. Make note of the Host Name value.
    
3. Check the ‘Domain Name’ (DMNNAME) value. This value is required and should be same as your email domain (such as, helpsystems.com). If domain name here is not the same as the email domain, be sure to use ESNDADR to establish a valid sender address as described above. Make note of the Domain name value.
    
4. Issue the ‘Configure TCP/IP’ command (CFGTCP) and select option 10 from the menu.
   
5. Verify there is a host table entry for the name of the System i. This can be in the format of ‘host name’ or ‘host name.domain name’, and it must display the correct System i IP address. If there is no entry for the IP address of the System i, add one using option 1. If the IP address is listed but the host name is missing, add the host name using option 2 for that IP address.
    ;
6. Verify an entry exists for the local mail router. Typically it is the name of the mail router specified in CHGSMTPA (if one is shown).
    

Relay Email to a Mail Router (recommended)
The steps in this section describe the configuration to relay email through your company’s mail router.

1. Issue the ‘Change SMTP Attributes’ command (CHGSMTPA), and press F4 to prompt. Page down to the ‘Mail Router’ (MAILROUTER) entry. Enter the name or IP address of your company mail router.
   
    

   1B.	If you don’t know the name of your mail router, you may be able to find it in your Windows settings. For Windows XP, navigate to: Start\Settings\Control Panel. Double-click the Mail Icon.
   		Press the E-mail Accounts button (a). Select ‘View or Change Existing Accounts’ and press Next (b). Select the listed mail server and press the Change button (c). Make a note of the mail server name and/or IP address (d). You may want to verify this information with your system administrator.
   	For Windows 7, navigate to: Start\Control Panel\User Accounts. Double-click the Mail Icon.
   		Press the E-mail Accounts button (a). Select the listed mail server and press the Change icon (b). Make a note of the mail server name and/or IP address (c). You may want to verify this information with your system administrator.

   
    
2. Make sure the ‘Firewall’ (FIREWALL) value is set to ‘*YES’. This will ensure the named mail router is used to forward mail.
    
3. For V7R1 systems, set the ‘Forwarding Mailhub Server’ (FWDHUBSVR) to the same as the mail router entered in step 1.
    
4. Make sure the SMTP Server and the Mail Server Framework (MSF) are both running by issuing the following commands:

   ENDTCPSVR *SMTP 
   ENDMSF 
   STRTCPSVR *SMTP 
   STRMSF

5. Use the following System i command to verify your mail router name:

   TELNET ‘MAILROUTERNAME’ PORT(25)

   If telnet is successful, you will be in a telnet session with the named mail router which means ESEND should work (exit the telnet session by entering the command ‘QUIT’ once or twice). If telnet fails, work with your network/email administrator to learn why.
   
   Try sending an email message by issuing the command ESNDMAIL and filling in a recipient email address along with a message.

Note: You may see a situation where local mail (inside your network) works, but mail sent outside your network fails. This is not uncommon as many mail routers are configured to prevent being used as open mail relays. Most mail routers can be configured to safely relay mail from specific addresses, thus enabling the feature without running the risk of being used by spammers. Each mail server product will have its own configuration steps. Contact your Network Administrator for assistance.

Send Email Directly from the System i (optional)
Use these steps only if you find that email can’t or won’t relay from your mail router.

1. Issue the ‘Configure TCP/IP’ command (CFGTCP) and select option 12 from the menu. Check for ‘Domain Name Server’ (DNS) entries.
   
   If there are values listed, issue the following ping command to verify an outside web address can be resolved.
   PING  ‘WWW.SEQUEL-SOFTWARE.COM’
   If ping is successful, continue to step 4.
    
2. If there are no DNS addresses listed, or if ping failed above you will have to look at your Windows settings to find the correct values to use.
    

   For Windows XP, navigate to: Start\Network Settings.
   	Right-click ‘Local Area Network’ and select Properties (a). Highlight the list item ‘Internet Protocol(TCP/IP)’ and press the Properties button (b). Make note of the domain name and any DNS servers listed (c). You may want to verify this information with your system administrator.
   For Windows 7, navigate to: Start\Control Panel\Network and Sharing Center.
   	Select the option to ‘Change adapter settings’ (a). Right-click the Local Area Connection icon and select Properties (b). Highlight the list item ‘Internet Protocol(TCP/IPxx)’ and press the Properties button (c). Make note of the domain name andany DNS servers listed (d). You may want to verify this information with your system administrator.

   
    
3. Back at the ‘Configure TCP/IP’ (CFGTCP) option 12 screen, enter the DNS server addresses to match those found on your PC.
   
    
4. Issue the ‘Change SMTP Attributes’ command (CHGSMTPA), and press F4 to prompt.
   
   
   Page down, and change the ‘Mail Router’ (MAILROUTER) value to *NONE.
    
5. Issue the following commands to stop and restart both SMTP and MSF:

   ENDTCPSVR *SMTP 
   ENDMSF
   STRTCPSVR *SMTP 
   STRMSF

6. Send an email message. If the message is received, you are done. Otherwise contact your Network Administrator.

Note: Email sent using DNS (rather than a local mail router) will appear to have a ‘faked’ from address, and may be rejected by some spam blockers.