Question

Why has my server been added to a black list for "policy violation, unacceptable generic PTR record".

Asked by: GTKINC

I have an SBS 2K3 Premium server.  It works great with no issues other than this black list problem.  About two weeks ago I started getting delay notices from the server saying that some messages hadn't gone through.  After checking my server black list status I realized it had been added to one list @ http://www.spamcannibal.org.  Funny thing is though it says its listed due to invalid PTR record..

My static IP address is 67.141.224.179.  I've contacted Windstream to try and update our PTR record but I'm not sure I'm doing it correctly.  Please note that our incoming email goes through Trend Micro's Hosted SPAM service before arriving at our server.  I only have issues sending to certain addresses.  Right now its Bellsouth addresses.  My actual mail domain is mail.dmxm.biz.

I've also tweaked the IMF on my server to make sure we weren't sending out Spoofed NDR's.

Thanks in advance.

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Asked On
2008-10-30 at 10:31:04ID23862611
Topics

Spam Black Holes

,

SBS Small Business Server

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
19

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Answers

 

by: epohlPosted on 2008-10-30 at 13:01:26ID: 22844804

A couple of different things. Yes your ISP should be able to setup a PTR record for your server. If not the other option is to also relay your outgoing email through Trend or some other service. Bellsouth (AT&T) has gotten very aggressive with their block list. Fill out the form on the site below and they typically remove your IP from the list with 24 hours. Just don't be surprised if its back on the list in a few months.

http://worldnet.att.net/general-info/block_admin.html

 

by: GTKINCPosted on 2008-11-01 at 10:44:02ID: 22857964

I filled out the form.  I don't think my problem was due to NDR so I don't know if they will process it as the form looked like that was what it was centered around.  Lets hope that fixes it.  Thanks so far...

 

by: epohlPosted on 2008-11-02 at 05:13:12ID: 22861239

FRom your email server telent to port 25 on one of bellsouths email server and if will give you an error message like 550 etc..., post that message along with you server ip on that page and it will get you unblocked. I have done it at least 10 times for differnet servers I manage.

 

by: GTKINCPosted on 2008-11-07 at 09:25:22ID: 22906581

I'll need instructions on how to do this.  Not sure about they syntax I need to use in order to get all of the information that you need.

 

by: epohlPosted on 2008-11-12 at 05:59:12ID: 22939509

Go to the site below and do an mxlookup for bellouth.net, recored the IP of the first server. (this is the ip you enter on the AT&T form above)
http://www.mxtoolbox.com/index.aspx

OK now from your exhcnage server telnet to port 25 of the ip recorded above (instructions on link below) and you should get an error message. This is what you put into the AT&T form for revelant lines, this error should also include the ip of your server.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/153119

For changes on AT&T form i typically enter other and type in new email server.


 

by: GTKINCPosted on 2008-11-14 at 09:08:28ID: 22961386

Ok.  I submitted another instance with the below information.  Hopefully that will help me.  Strange thing is though I'm still listed with SPAM cannibal and can't figure out how to get off of that list.

550-67.141.224.69 blocked by ldap:ou=rblmx,dc=att,dc=net Heres the form that you need to fill: http://worldnet.att.net/general-info/block_admin.html

 

by: GTKINCPosted on 2008-11-15 at 13:20:06ID: 22968477

Looks like that may have worked!  Lets leave it be for a couple of days and see.  Thanks for all of your help to this point.

 

by: GTKINCPosted on 2008-11-16 at 13:13:18ID: 22972011

Spoke to soon.  Its been added back to the black list again.  I'm at a loss.  Please help.

 

by: epohlPosted on 2008-11-16 at 17:55:27ID: 22972789

When you telnet to the server does it give a reason why its blocked?

 

by: epohlPosted on 2008-11-16 at 17:56:25ID: 22972798

Did you get an email from AT&T that it would be removed from the list?

 

by: GTKINCPosted on 2008-11-17 at 13:51:56ID: 22979882

The tel net message was 550-67.141.224.69 blocked by ldap:ou=rblmx,dc=att,dc=net Heres the form that you need to fill: http://worldnet.att.net/general-info/block_admin.html.

I never got a message from them that it was taken off the list however I did get a notice from MXTOOLBOX that it had been removed.  I've signed this server up for their free monitoring service.

 

by: epohlPosted on 2008-11-18 at 05:35:13ID: 22984303

After filling out that form from AT&T you should get an email from them that your server IP has been removed. Typically get this email within a day. If you telnet are you still getting the same error? If so and you have filled out the request you might consider emailing them to see if there is a problem with your request , the email address is at the bottom of the att page.

 

by: GTKINCPosted on 2008-11-18 at 09:40:35ID: 22986851

Again though I think I'm getting added to the list due to something else.  I think they are blocking because they use SPAM Cannibal.  Not necessarily because of something that's happening at their end.  Does that make sense?

 

by: epohlPosted on 2008-11-18 at 10:54:54ID: 22987584

You should at least get a response from att about your request. Do you still show up on any of the blacklists?

http://www.mxtoolbox.com/blacklists.aspx

 

by: GTKINCPosted on 2008-11-19 at 07:26:55ID: 22995009

Its now listed with 3!

 

by: netAdmin069Posted on 2008-12-18 at 10:24:53ID: 23205924

Run a DNS check for your domain at http://pingability.com/zoneinfo.jsp.

 

by: GTKINCPosted on 2008-12-30 at 12:14:24ID: 23265613

When I do this test I get a lot of what appear to be errors but I'm not at all sure on how to correct them.  Could these be my problems?

My domain name is dmxm.biz if it makes things easier.

 

by: GTKINCPosted on 2009-01-13 at 07:46:14ID: 23363860

Haven't gotten a resolution yet but points are for your efforts.  Thanks for your time.

 

by: epohlPosted on 2009-01-13 at 12:00:02ID: 23366579

Looks like now you are using Trendmicro service, hopefully this has taken care of your problem. You might also want to look at your firewall and make sure no machine are sending out email via smtp. I have seen desktops with viruses send out email and cause the external ip it shares with the mail server to get blacklisted.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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