Question

SOA fails for external domains with smtpdiag

Asked by: sunstonecircuits

We have two sits. Our offices and manufacturing in the middle of nowhere and a co-location that houses our website,database and dns server.

For some reason, previous management set up the linux firewall at the colocation as our dns server. NS1, NS2 are pointed to this server. This server is not part of the domain or connected to our local network in our office.

our mx records point to postini for incoming mail. External mail does not go through postini

When I run smtpdiag i get this error sending to external domains

Checking TCP/UDP SOA serial number using DNS server [69.30.46.55].
Failed: DNS server [69.30.46.55] may be down.
DNS server [69.30.46.55] did not return a valid SOA record.
SOA serial number match: Failed with one or more failures.

internal emails on our domain are fine.
Checking TCP/UDP SOA serial number using DNS server [69.30.46.55].
Failed: DNS server [69.30.46.55] may be down.
DNS server [69.30.46.55] did not return a valid SOA record.
SOA serial number match: Failed with one or more failures.

How can I fix this?

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Asked On
2009-06-22 at 09:25:19ID24511717
Tags

soa

,

smtpdiag

,

email

Topics

Email Servers

,

Linux Networking

,

Domain Name Service (DNS)

Participating Experts
1
Points
500
Comments
7

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Answers

 

by: jar3817Posted on 2009-06-22 at 09:31:35ID: 24684054

Who is responsible for this linux firewall, you or someone else? If it's a firewall, are DNS requests getting forwarded to some internal server or are then handled on that linux machine? What are the SOA records exactly? You can get them via a cmd window:

nslookup -type=soa <domainnamehere> <ip of dns server>

 

by: sunstonecircuitsPosted on 2009-06-22 at 09:48:08ID: 24684184

I guess I am responsible for the server. The guy who was managing it is no longer here.

NS1 and NS2 are pointing to 69.30.46.55 and NS3 is pointing to a linux server here at the office it looks like 63.150.66.126

C:\smtp\SmtpDiag>nslookup -type=soa sunstone.com 69.30.46.55
*** Can't find server name for address 69.30.46.55: Query refused
Server:  UnKnown
Address:  69.30.46.55

sunstone.com
        primary name server = fire.sunstone.com
        responsible mail addr = hostmaster.sunstone.com
        serial  = 2008050352
        refresh = 1800 (30 mins)
        retry   = 900 (15 mins)
        expire  = 86400 (1 day)
        default TTL = 3600 (1 hour)
sunstone.com    nameserver = ns3.sunstonecircuits.com
sunstone.com    nameserver = ns1.sunstonecircuits.com
ns1.sunstonecircuits.com        internet address = 69.30.46.55
ns3.sunstonecircuits.com        internet address = 63.150.66.126

I did the same thing to the other server
C:\smtp\SmtpDiag>nslookup -type=soa sunstonecircuits.com 63.150.66.126
*** Can't find server name for address 63.150.66.126: Query refused
Server:  UnKnown
Address:  63.150.66.126

sunstonecircuits.com
        primary name server = fire.sunstone.com
        responsible mail addr = hostmaster.sunstone.com
        serial  = 2008050352
        refresh = 1800 (30 mins)
        retry   = 900 (15 mins)
        expire  = 86400 (1 day)
        default TTL = 3600 (1 hour)
sunstonecircuits.com    nameserver = ns1.sunstonecircuits.com
sunstonecircuits.com    nameserver = ns3.sunstonecircuits.com
ns1.sunstonecircuits.com        internet address = 69.30.46.55
ns3.sunstonecircuits.com        internet address = 63.150.66.126

 

by: sunstonecircuitsPosted on 2009-06-22 at 09:49:49ID: 24684202

Sunstone and Sunstonecircuits are both used and interchanged show the same results above.

 

by: jar3817Posted on 2009-06-22 at 09:51:27ID: 24684221

Looks fine. You might want to remove references to NS2 at the registrar level as that isn't listed as an NS record and because it's a pointless repeat on NS1 (same IP)

 

by: sunstonecircuitsPosted on 2009-06-22 at 09:53:31ID: 24684241

Here is the whole smtpdiag report, if it helps.

C:\smtp\SmtpDiag>SMTPDIAG shernandez@sunstone.com slschietromo@xxxxxxx.com /v

Searching for Exchange external DNS settings.
Computer name is HERMES.
VSI 1 has the following external DNS servers:
There are no external DNS servers configured.

Checking SOA for raytheon.com.
Checking external DNS servers.
Checking internal DNS servers.

Checking TCP/UDP SOA serial number using DNS server [10.1.2.27].
TCP test succeeded.
UDP test succeeded.
Serial number: 2008013531

Checking TCP/UDP SOA serial number using DNS server [10.1.2.26].
TCP test succeeded.
UDP test succeeded.
Serial number: 2008013531

Checking TCP/UDP SOA serial number using DNS server [69.30.46.55].
Failed: DNS server [69.30.46.55] may be down.
DNS server [69.30.46.55] did not return a valid SOA record.
SOA serial number match: Failed with one or more failures.

Checking local domain records.
Starting TCP and UDP DNS queries for the local domain. This test will try to
validate that DNS is set up correctly for inbound mail. This test can fail for
3 reasons.
    1) Local domain is not set up in DNS. Inbound mail cannot be routed to
local mailboxes.
    2) Firewall blocks TCP/UDP DNS queries. This will not affect inbound mail,
but will affect outbound mail.
    3) Internal DNS is unaware of external DNS settings. This is a valid
configuration for certain topologies.
Checking MX records using TCP: sunstone.com.
  MX:    sunstonecircuits.com.s8a1.psmtp.com (100)
  MX:    sunstonecircuits.com.s8a2.psmtp.com (200)
  MX:    sunstonecircuits.com.s8b1.psmtp.com (300)
  MX:    sunstonecircuits.com.s8b2.psmtp.com (400)
  A:     sunstonecircuits.com.s8a1.psmtp.com [64.18.7.10]
  A:     sunstonecircuits.com.s8a2.psmtp.com [64.18.7.11]
  A:     sunstonecircuits.com.s8b1.psmtp.com [64.18.7.13]
  A:     sunstonecircuits.com.s8b2.psmtp.com [64.18.7.14]
Checking MX records using UDP: sunstone.com.
  MX:    sunstonecircuits.com.s8a2.psmtp.com (200)
  MX:    sunstonecircuits.com.s8b1.psmtp.com (300)
  MX:    sunstonecircuits.com.s8b2.psmtp.com (400)
  MX:    sunstonecircuits.com.s8a1.psmtp.com (100)
  A:     sunstonecircuits.com.s8a2.psmtp.com [64.18.7.11]
  A:     sunstonecircuits.com.s8b1.psmtp.com [64.18.7.13]
  A:     sunstonecircuits.com.s8b2.psmtp.com [64.18.7.14]
  A:     sunstonecircuits.com.s8a1.psmtp.com [64.18.7.10]
Both TCP and UDP queries succeeded. Local DNS test passed.

Checking remote domain records.
Starting TCP and UDP DNS queries for the remote domain. This test will try to
validate that DNS is set up correctly for outbound mail. This test can fail for
3 reasons.
    1) Firewall blocks TCP/UDP queries which will block outbound mail. Windows
2000/NT Server requires TCP DNS queries. Windows Server 2003 will use UDP
queries first, then fall back to TCP queries.
    2) Internal DNS does not know how to query external domains. You must
either use an external DNS server or configure DNS server to query external
domains.
    3) Remote domain does not exist. Failure is expected.
Checking MX records using TCP: raytheon.com.
  MX:    dfw-gate.raytheon.com (10)
  MX:    lax-gate.raytheon.com (10)
  MX:    tus-gate.raytheon.com (10)
  MX:    inbound.vetted.raytheon.com (5)
  MX:    bos-gate.raytheon.com (10)
  A:     dfw-gate.raytheon.com [199.46.199.195]
  A:     lax-gate.raytheon.com [199.46.200.195]
  A:     tus-gate.raytheon.com [199.46.245.195]
  A:     inbound.vetted.raytheon.com [199.46.199.203]
  A:     inbound.vetted.raytheon.com [199.46.200.203]
  A:     inbound.vetted.raytheon.com [199.46.245.203]
  A:     inbound.vetted.raytheon.com [199.46.198.203]
  A:     bos-gate.raytheon.com [199.46.198.195]
Checking MX records using UDP: raytheon.com.
  MX:    lax-gate.raytheon.com (10)
  MX:    tus-gate.raytheon.com (10)
  MX:    inbound.vetted.raytheon.com (5)
  MX:    bos-gate.raytheon.com (10)
  MX:    dfw-gate.raytheon.com (10)
Both TCP and UDP queries succeeded. Remote DNS test passed.

Checking MX servers listed for slschietromo@raytheon.com.
Connecting to inbound.vetted.raytheon.com [199.46.198.203] on port 25.
Received:
220 AVG ESMTP Proxy Server 8.5.305/8.5.339 [270.12.63/2169]

Sent:
ehlo sunstone.com

Received:
250-localhost Hello sunstone.com; ESMTP commands are:
250-AUTH LOGIN
250-AUTH=LOGIN
250-SIZE 1713082368
250 HELP


Sent:
mail from: <shernandez@sunstone.com>

Received:
250 Sender ok

Sent:
rcpt to: <slschietromo@raytheon.com>

Received:
250 Recipient ok

Sent:
quit

Received:
221 Asta la vista

Successfully connected to inbound.vetted.raytheon.com.
Connecting to inbound.vetted.raytheon.com [199.46.245.203] on port 25.
Received:
220 AVG ESMTP Proxy Server 8.5.305/8.5.339 [270.12.63/2169]

Sent:
ehlo sunstone.com

Received:
250-localhost Hello sunstone.com; ESMTP commands are:
250-AUTH LOGIN
250-AUTH=LOGIN
250-SIZE 1713078272
250 HELP


Sent:
mail from: <shernandez@sunstone.com>

Received:
250 Sender ok

Sent:
rcpt to: <slschietromo@raytheon.com>

Received:
250 Recipient ok

Sent:
quit

Received:
221 Asta la vista

Successfully connected to inbound.vetted.raytheon.com.
Connecting to inbound.vetted.raytheon.com [199.46.200.203] on port 25.
Received:
220 AVG ESMTP Proxy Server 8.5.305/8.5.339 [270.12.63/2169]

Sent:
ehlo sunstone.com

Received:
250-localhost Hello sunstone.com; ESMTP commands are:
250-AUTH LOGIN
250-AUTH=LOGIN
250-SIZE 1713078272
250 HELP


Sent:
mail from: <shernandez@sunstone.com>

Received:
250 Sender ok

Sent:
rcpt to: <slschietromo@raytheon.com>

Received:
250 Recipient ok

Sent:
quit

Received:
221 Asta la vista

Successfully connected to inbound.vetted.raytheon.com.
Connecting to inbound.vetted.raytheon.com [199.46.199.203] on port 25.
Received:
220 AVG ESMTP Proxy Server 8.5.305/8.5.339 [270.12.63/2169]

Sent:
ehlo sunstone.com

Received:
250-localhost Hello sunstone.com; ESMTP commands are:
250-AUTH LOGIN
250-AUTH=LOGIN
250-SIZE 1713078272
250 HELP


Sent:
mail from: <shernandez@sunstone.com>

Received:
250 Sender ok

Sent:
rcpt to: <slschietromo@raytheon.com>

Received:
250 Recipient ok

Sent:
quit

Received:
221 Asta la vista

Successfully connected to inbound.vetted.raytheon.com.
Connecting to bos-gate.raytheon.com [199.46.198.195] on port 25.
Received:
220 AVG ESMTP Proxy Server 8.5.305/8.5.339 [270.12.63/2169]

Sent:
ehlo sunstone.com

Received:
250-localhost Hello sunstone.com; ESMTP commands are:
250-AUTH LOGIN
250-AUTH=LOGIN
250-SIZE 1713008640
250 HELP


Sent:
mail from: <shernandez@sunstone.com>

Received:
250 Sender ok

Sent:
rcpt to: <slschietromo@raytheon.com>

Received:
250 Recipient ok

Sent:
quit

Received:
221 Asta la vista

Successfully connected to bos-gate.raytheon.com.
Connecting to tus-gate.raytheon.com [199.46.245.195] on port 25.
Received:
220 AVG ESMTP Proxy Server 8.5.305/8.5.339 [270.12.63/2169]

Sent:
ehlo sunstone.com

Received:
250-localhost Hello sunstone.com; ESMTP commands are:
250-AUTH LOGIN
250-AUTH=LOGIN
250-SIZE 1713008640
250 HELP


Sent:
mail from: <shernandez@sunstone.com>

Received:
250 Sender ok

Sent:
rcpt to: <slschietromo@raytheon.com>

Received:
250 Recipient ok

Sent:
quit

Received:
221 Asta la vista

Successfully connected to tus-gate.raytheon.com.
Connecting to lax-gate.raytheon.com [199.46.200.195] on port 25.
Received:
220 AVG ESMTP Proxy Server 8.5.305/8.5.339 [270.12.63/2169]

Sent:
ehlo sunstone.com

Received:
250-localhost Hello sunstone.com; ESMTP commands are:
250-AUTH LOGIN
250-AUTH=LOGIN
250-SIZE 1713008640
250 HELP


Sent:
mail from: <shernandez@sunstone.com>

Received:
250 Sender ok

Sent:
rcpt to: <slschietromo@raytheon.com>

Received:
250 Recipient ok

Sent:
quit

Received:
221 Asta la vista

Successfully connected to lax-gate.raytheon.com.
Connecting to dfw-gate.raytheon.com [199.46.199.195] on port 25.
Received:
220 AVG ESMTP Proxy Server 8.5.305/8.5.339 [270.12.63/2169]

Sent:
ehlo sunstone.com

Received:
250-localhost Hello sunstone.com; ESMTP commands are:
250-AUTH LOGIN
250-AUTH=LOGIN
250-SIZE 1713008640
250 HELP


Sent:
mail from: <shernandez@sunstone.com>

Received:
250 Sender ok

Sent:
rcpt to: <slschietromo@raytheon.com>

Received:
250 Recipient ok

Sent:
quit

Received:
221 Asta la vista

Successfully connected to dfw-gate.raytheon.com.

C:\smtp\SmtpDiag>

 

by: jar3817Posted on 2009-06-22 at 10:05:01ID: 24684352

Do you have internal and external dns servers set on this machine? It looks like it works fine when querying your internal nameservers, but fails when looking at the external one. I tried querying the SOA record from 69.30.46.55 and it worked fine. Are you blocking/rejecting dns traffic from certain internal clients or something?

 

by: sunstonecircuitsPosted on 2009-06-22 at 12:25:42ID: 24685649

the smpt diag was run on our exchange server internally. I don't know of any other dns issues. There isn't a specific port for SOA requests is there?

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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