Problem connecting to SMTP with STARTTLS

Virtualmin
1
SYSTEM INFORMATION
OS type and version Ubuntu 22.04
Webmin version 2.021
Virtualmin version 7.7
Related packages SUGGESTED

Hello…my connection to the email SMTP server works mostly from my email clients (I use MS Outlook and dM Client and Thunderbird. I"ve tried to use the parameters provided by Virtualmin and what I’ve found is that I need to force the usage of SSL/TLS or sometimes use Legacy SSL/TLS. I’m not sure what STARTTLS is… is it SSL or TLS? In any case, I’m not clear on what I’m doing to maybe someone can explain. I’ve also tried to connect with another email system that simply won’t connect as it tells me that STARTTLS is not available… did I actually start it on the server.

Here is the exact error: Connection could not be established with host mail.dlkdigitalmarketing.com :stream_socket_client(): Unable to connect to starttls://mail.dlkdigitalmarketing.com:587 (Unable to find the socket transport “starttls” - did you forget to enable it when you configured PHP?)

When trying to use TLS the connection just times out
When trying to use SSL it does the same thing

So what would be your suggestion as to how to connect to the SMTP server?

Dan Lewis

2

Not sure what PHP has to do with anything on Virtualmin side. What do see in the Virtualmin mail Logs would be more helpful.

3

If you are just trying to send email to the remote server then you don’t want to use credentials anyhow.

4

I’m trying to log on the server so I can send email through it! It won’t let me log on. I believe the problem is with the security encryption but if I really knew then I wouldn’t post this!

The response I provided is from my client software that I received when I tried to log on to the email server.

5

To enable everything I request a letsencrypt certificate in virtualmin and then click the button so that all services use it. (postfix, dovecot, proftpd, virtualmin etc…)

then create the mailbox.

the login is in user@domain.tld format, plus the password for outgoing auth.

for ssl 465 is the port. for starttls 587. imap port is 993.

you can also enable autoconfig for mail clients in virtualmin

6

It’s neither. It’s a request made by the client to the server to use encryption on a connection that was initiated over plain text.

I can’t find A, MX, or SPF for your mail server in your DNS. Also, PTR is not set up for your IP. That will severely affect deliverability.

Richard

7

I’m using the nameserver that is on Virtualmin so I would think that those things would be set up when Virtualmin created the nameserver. I remember going into the parameters and specifically requesting SPF to be enabled.

I don’t have a PTR yet. I’ll talk ISP people and see if that can be done. I have several domains on the server, so should I request a PTR for all of them or just the one which is connected to the nameserver?

I’m learning more every day about email!!!

Dan Lewis

8

spf ok, you could drop the local ip though, but this is getting off topic

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9

I’m not sure what you want me to do. I’m all for improving this and I’ll be glad to listen to your suggestions. I thought what I had worked ok… clearly it’s not optimal!

Dan Lewis

10

Try port 465
this is my thunderbird setting
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