Mailing List Archive: SPF: Help

I'm lost--apologies for stupid questions

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priscilla at priscillahowe

Oct 3, 2007, 11:17 AM

Post #1 of 10 (1435 views)
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I'm lost--apologies for stupid questions

I don't really understand how to do this. It feels like high school
algebra--it was always just beyond my reach, until I got it. I've used
the wizard and put this in to my DNS record: v=spf1 a mx ~all
When I test, I get a softfail.

I own www.priscillahowe.com. I use AT&T/yahoo as my ISP. I use
priscilla [at] priscillahowe, which gets forwarded to
story7 [at] sbcglobal When I send mail, I use the priscillahowe.com
address.

Usually I have no idea whether or not my e-mails get through.
Occasionally one will bounce. Here's the header for one that bounced the
other day:

Return-Path: <priscilla [at] priscillahowe>
Received: (qmail 79019 invoked from network); 28 Sep 2007 18:22:46 -0000
Received: from unknown (HELO ?172.16.1.33?) (story7 [at] sbcglobal@69.149.155.220 with plain)
by smtp113.sbc.mail.re2.yahoo.com with SMTP; 28 Sep 2007 18:22:46 -0000
X-YMail-OSG: zFacXkwVM1kBVP.xAaWGOUz2KoOtwsYyTWsAfqmCaqO2OCcFsN33WYbxKvAcEy_j2_E3_jYMSlUuWn9CTgcQkiDeQe02JNUj41M759gZdTGZzWmFtJLUCmHgMXeIJpcQpJm6Z.wPy1TfqCd.UUvx9YPd70P2ioFvPIHePQ--
Message-ID: <46FD4674.2040209 [at] priscillahowe>
Disposition-Notification-To: Priscilla Howe <priscilla [at] priscillahowe>
Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:22:44 -0500
From: Priscilla Howe <priscilla [at] priscillahowe>
Reply-To: priscilla [at] priscillahowe
Organization: Priscilla Howe, Storyteller
User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.6 (Windows/20070728)
MIME-Version: 1.0

Help!
Priscilla

--

Learn about my programs, recordings and calendar on my website, http://www.priscillahowe.com

Curious about my storytelling life? Read my blog: http://storytellingnotes.blogspot.com/

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steve at teamITS

Oct 3, 2007, 11:57 AM

Post #2 of 10 (1384 views)
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RE: I'm lost--apologies for stupid questions [In reply to]

Priscilla Howe wrote on 10/3/2007 1:17:09 PM:

> Occasionally one will bounce. Here's the header for one that bounced
the
> other day:

Do you have the bounce message part of this message? As in, the
reason why it bounced?

-----
SPF FAQ: http://www.openspf.org/FAQ
Common mistakes: http://www.openspf.org/FAQ/Common_mistakes

- Steve Yates
- ITS, Inc.
- Avoid alcohol abuse. Be careful with that beer!

~ Taglines by Taglinator - www.srtware.com ~

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priscilla at priscillahowe

Oct 3, 2007, 1:36 PM

Post #3 of 10 (1377 views)
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Re: I'm lost--apologies for stupid questions [In reply to]

Okay, now not just lost but even more embarrassed--on further
examination, that was a bad example. I had the wrong e-mail address for
that particular recipient. Ignore that part, please.

It's really just that I'd like to understand exactly what I need to have
in the script so that it works properly and doesn't return the test with
"softfail."

Thanks for your patience.
Priscilla

Steve Yates wrote:
> Priscilla Howe wrote on 10/3/2007 1:17:09 PM:
>
>
>> Occasionally one will bounce. Here's the header for one that bounced
>>
> the
>
>> other day:
>>
>
> Do you have the bounce message part of this message? As in, the
> reason why it bounced?
>
> -----
> SPF FAQ: http://www.openspf.org/FAQ
> Common mistakes: http://www.openspf.org/FAQ/Common_mistakes
>
> - Steve Yates
> - ITS, Inc.
> - Avoid alcohol abuse. Be careful with that beer!
>
> ~ Taglines by Taglinator - www.srtware.com ~
>
> -------------------------------------------
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Archives at http://archives.listbox.com/spf-help/current/ or
> http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/spf/help/ (easier to search)
> To unsubscribe, change your address, or temporarily deactivate your
> subscription,
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>
>

--

Learn about my programs, recordings and calendar on my website, http://www.priscillahowe.com

Curious about my storytelling life? Read my blog: http://storytellingnotes.blogspot.com/

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steve at teamITS

Oct 3, 2007, 3:00 PM

Post #4 of 10 (1372 views)
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RE: I'm lost--apologies for stupid questions [In reply to]

Priscilla Howe wrote on 10/3/2007 3:36:30 PM:

> It's really just that I'd like to understand exactly what I need to
have
> in the script so that it works properly and doesn't return the test
with
> "softfail."

It would be failing if the mail server you are using to deliver
the message is not covered in your domain's SPF record. In essence, the
other end thinks you are not sending through an approved mail server.
You said your record was:

v=spf1 a mx ~all

This means that two sources are OK:
1) "a" = the server matching your domain (example.com)
2) "mx" = the MX(s) for your domain

-----
SPF FAQ: http://www.openspf.org/FAQ
Common mistakes: http://www.openspf.org/FAQ/Common_mistakes

- Steve Yates
- ITS, Inc.
- ACK and you shall receive.

~ Taglines by Taglinator - www.srtware.com ~

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steve at teamITS

Oct 3, 2007, 3:16 PM

Post #5 of 10 (1372 views)
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RE: I'm lost--apologies for stupid questions [In reply to]

Steve Yates wrote on 10/3/2007 5:00:27 PM:

> v=spf1 a mx ~all
>
> This means that two sources are OK:
> 1) "a" = the server matching your domain (example.com)
> 2) "mx" = the MX(s) for your domain

Sorry, I read too quickly that you used your domain.

"a" = priscillahowe.com = 208.71.138.66

"mx" = hsmail.qwknetllc.com = 208.71.137.138

-----
SPF FAQ: http://www.openspf.org/FAQ
Common mistakes: http://www.openspf.org/FAQ/Common_mistakes

- Steve Yates
- ITS, Inc.
- Politics: poli (many) + tics (blood suckers)

~ Taglines by Taglinator - www.srtware.com ~

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priscilla at priscillahowe

Oct 3, 2007, 3:45 PM

Post #6 of 10 (1384 views)
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Re: I'm lost--apologies for stupid questions [In reply to]

I still don't understand. What exactly do I need to change to make it
not test out as "softfail"? Thanks.

Priscilla

Steve Yates wrote:
> Steve Yates wrote on 10/3/2007 5:00:27 PM:
>
>
>> v=spf1 a mx ~all
>>
>> This means that two sources are OK:
>> 1) "a" = the server matching your domain (example.com)
>> 2) "mx" = the MX(s) for your domain
>>
>
> Sorry, I read too quickly that you used your domain.
>
> "a" = priscillahowe.com = 208.71.138.66
>
> "mx" = hsmail.qwknetllc.com = 208.71.137.138
>
>
> -----
> SPF FAQ: http://www.openspf.org/FAQ
> Common mistakes: http://www.openspf.org/FAQ/Common_mistakes
>
> - Steve Yates
> - ITS, Inc.
> - Politics: poli (many) + tics (blood suckers)
>
> ~ Taglines by Taglinator - www.srtware.com ~
>
> -------------------------------------------
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Archives at http://archives.listbox.com/spf-help/current/ or
> http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/spf/help/ (easier to search)
> To unsubscribe, change your address, or temporarily deactivate your
> subscription,
> please go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?&
> Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
>
>

--

Learn about my programs, recordings and calendar on my website, http://www.priscillahowe.com

Curious about my storytelling life? Read my blog: http://storytellingnotes.blogspot.com/

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steve at teamITS

Oct 3, 2007, 3:51 PM

Post #7 of 10 (1379 views)
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RE: I'm lost--apologies for stupid questions [In reply to]

Priscilla Howe wrote on 10/3/2007 5:45:33 PM:

> I still don't understand. What exactly do I need to change to make it
> not test out as "softfail"? Thanks.

What mail server are you using to send the message? According
to the SPF record, you can use either priscillahowe.com or
hsmail.qwknetllc.com.

Try sending a message to an "e-mail based record tester" at:

http://www.openspf.org/Tools

...and post the resulting bounce message here.

-----
SPF FAQ: http://www.openspf.org/FAQ
Common mistakes: http://www.openspf.org/FAQ/Common_mistakes

- Steve Yates
- ITS, Inc.
- Wisdom of Bart: I will not waste chalk

~ Taglines by Taglinator - www.srtware.com ~

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priscilla at priscillahowe

Oct 3, 2007, 4:03 PM

Post #8 of 10 (1374 views)
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Re: I'm lost--apologies for stupid questions [In reply to]

Thanks for your patience. Here's the bounce message:

Hi. This is the qmail-send program at yahoo.com.
I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following addresses.
This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.

<spf-test [at] openspf>:
72.81.252.18 does not like recipient.
Remote host said: 550 5.7.1 <spf-test [at] openspf>: Recipient address rejected: SPF Tests: Mail-From Result="softfail": Mail From="priscilla [at] priscillahowe" HELO name="smtp121.sbc.mail.re3.yahoo.com" HELO Result="none" Remote IP="66.196.96.94"
Giving up on 72.81.252.18.

--- Below this line is a copy of the message.

Return-Path: <priscilla [at] priscillahowe>
Received: (qmail 48253 invoked from network); 3 Oct 2007 23:01:55 -0000
Received: from unknown (HELO ?172.16.1.33?) (story7 [at] sbcglobal@70.133.218.64 with plain)
by smtp121.sbc.mail.re3.yahoo.com with SMTP; 3 Oct 2007 23:01:54 -0000
X-YMail-OSG: KgYZHF4VM1mQaacLX88MQ92xZRngRVdN30vZhi8VYBbH1Ccy3.Ce6c_6kJvQgZRcub__iH6kp4bg_x5sVrtjIb.CHTUI059SpT6Nx2Fyo9kbNyOsiQcf3NXl.bDQWACVj6A_0DjZSbLFcNNHla8LxT.GeU0OpFu6pD3FQg--
Message-ID: <47041F5B.2030606 [at] priscillahowe>
Date: Wed, 03 Oct 2007 18:01:47 -0500
From: Priscilla Howe <priscilla [at] priscillahowe>
Reply-To: priscilla [at] priscillahowe
Organization: Priscilla Howe, Storyteller
User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.6 (Windows/20070728)
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: spf-test [at] openspf
Subject: test
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Steve Yates wrote:
> Priscilla Howe wrote on 10/3/2007 5:45:33 PM:
>
>
>> I still don't understand. What exactly do I need to change to make it
>> not test out as "softfail"? Thanks.
>>
>
> What mail server are you using to send the message? According
> to the SPF record, you can use either priscillahowe.com or
> hsmail.qwknetllc.com.
>
> Try sending a message to an "e-mail based record tester" at:
>
> http://www.openspf.org/Tools
>
> ...and post the resulting bounce message here.
>
> -----
> SPF FAQ: http://www.openspf.org/FAQ
> Common mistakes: http://www.openspf.org/FAQ/Common_mistakes
>
> - Steve Yates
> - ITS, Inc.
> - Wisdom of Bart: I will not waste chalk
>
> ~ Taglines by Taglinator - www.srtware.com ~
>
> -------------------------------------------
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Archives at http://archives.listbox.com/spf-help/current/ or
> http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/spf/help/ (easier to search)
> To unsubscribe, change your address, or temporarily deactivate your
> subscription,
> please go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?&
> Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
>
>

--

Learn about my programs, recordings and calendar on my website, http://www.priscillahowe.com

Curious about my storytelling life? Read my blog: http://storytellingnotes.blogspot.com/

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steve at teamITS

Oct 3, 2007, 8:47 PM

Post #9 of 10 (1372 views)
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RE: I'm lost--apologies for stupid questions [In reply to]

Priscilla Howe wrote on 10/3/2007 6:03:39 PM:

> <spf-test [at] openspf>: 72.81.252.18 does not like recipient. Remote
> host said: 550 5.7.1 <spf-test [at] openspf>: Recipient address
rejected:
> SPF Tests: Mail-From Result="softfail": Mail
> From="priscilla [at] priscillahowe" HELO
> name="smtp121.sbc.mail.re3.yahoo.com" HELO Result="none" Remote
> IP="66.196.96.94" Giving up on 72.81.252.18.

Hi Priscilla,

You appear to have sent your test message through
smtp121.sbc.mail.re3.yahoo.com (66.196.96.94). Your SPF record, as I
noted, covers:

"a" = priscillahowe.com = 208.71.138.66
"mx" = hsmail.qwknetllc.com = 208.71.137.138

Since 66.196.96.94 is neither of those servers, the last part of your
SPF record, ~all, applies, hence the softfail result.

You have two choices to "fix" this: include Yahoo!'s SMTP
servers in your SPF record, or change your SMTP server setting in
Thunderbird to be one of the above two servers. Since SBC/Yahoo!
probably has several hundred SMTP servers, it would likely be easier to
manage in the long run if you used one of your two SMTP servers instead
of using one of Yahoo!'s.

Around here, SBC blocks SMTP connections on port 25 in an effort
to get its customers to use its SMTP servers. You can get around this
by changing Thunderbird to use port 587 instead. The people providing
your web hosting (presumably qwknetllc.com) should be able to help you
with this.

-----
SPF FAQ: http://www.openspf.org/FAQ
Common mistakes: http://www.openspf.org/FAQ/Common_mistakes

- Steve Yates
- ITS, Inc.
- What?!? This isn't the Files section?!?

~ Taglines by Taglinator - www.srtware.com ~

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priscilla at priscillahowe

Oct 11, 2007, 7:19 PM

Post #10 of 10 (1317 views)
Permalink

Re: I'm lost--apologies for stupid questions [In reply to]

Thank you! I was out of town, finally got back and was able to fix this.
I appreciate the time you took to explain it.
Priscilla

Steve Yates wrote:
> Priscilla Howe wrote on 10/3/2007 6:03:39 PM:
>
>
>> <spf-test [at] openspf>: 72.81.252.18 does not like recipient. Remote
>> host said: 550 5.7.1 <spf-test [at] openspf>: Recipient address
>>
> rejected:
>
>> SPF Tests: Mail-From Result="softfail": Mail
>> From="priscilla [at] priscillahowe" HELO
>> name="smtp121.sbc.mail.re3.yahoo.com" HELO Result="none" Remote
>> IP="66.196.96.94" Giving up on 72.81.252.18.
>>
>
> Hi Priscilla,
>
> You appear to have sent your test message through
> smtp121.sbc.mail.re3.yahoo.com (66.196.96.94). Your SPF record, as I
> noted, covers:
>
> "a" = priscillahowe.com = 208.71.138.66
> "mx" = hsmail.qwknetllc.com = 208.71.137.138
>
> Since 66.196.96.94 is neither of those servers, the last part of your
> SPF record, ~all, applies, hence the softfail result.
>
> You have two choices to "fix" this: include Yahoo!'s SMTP
> servers in your SPF record, or change your SMTP server setting in
> Thunderbird to be one of the above two servers. Since SBC/Yahoo!
> probably has several hundred SMTP servers, it would likely be easier to
> manage in the long run if you used one of your two SMTP servers instead
> of using one of Yahoo!'s.
>
> Around here, SBC blocks SMTP connections on port 25 in an effort
> to get its customers to use its SMTP servers. You can get around this
> by changing Thunderbird to use port 587 instead. The people providing
> your web hosting (presumably qwknetllc.com) should be able to help you
> with this.
>

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