How to Configure SMTP server mail() in PHP

Hello,

I would like to configure mail() to send automated email to a user who registers with my site. I am currently developing the system with PHP and IIS on widnows vista and am using Comcast for internet services.

The mail() command is failing. Following is the code I am using. The mail() function always return 0 and the page displays "Mail failed". I suspect it has to do with the SMTP configuration.

I tried the following on cmd:
----------------------------------------------------
telnet smtp.comcast.net 25
220 OMTA10.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net comcast ESMTP server ready
HELO [my IP address]
250 OMTA10.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net hello [my IP address], pleased to meet
you
mail from: abc@xyz.com
250 2.1.0 <abc@xyz.com> sender ok
rcpt t0: ilakshmir@gmail.com
250 2.1.5 <abc@xyz.com> recipient ok
data
354 Please start mail input.
Entering mail: test
.
250 Mail queued for delivery.
quit
221 Closing connection. Good bye.
----------------------------------------------------

So looks like port 25 is open. I used my email ID in place of abc@xyz.com. But no mail gets delivered. Can you help me understand why this fails?

Further, in my php.ini file I tried the following settings. It did not help.

[mail function]
; For Win32 only.
SMTP = smtp.comcast.net
smtp_port = 25

; For Win32 only.
sendmail_from = me@comcast.net

Earlier it was
; For Win32 only.
SMTP = localhost
smtp_port = 25

; For Win32 only.
; sendmail_from = me@comcast.net

The php.ini gets loaded correctly - I verified it via: <?php phpinfo();?>

Please recommend a solution to get mail() function working in PHP.

I am not sure where to look for mail error logs. Please provide pointers on this too.

Thanks
ilakshmir

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<?php
//define the receiver of the email
$to = 'abc@xyz.com';
//define the subject of the email
$subject = 'Test email';
//define the message to be sent. 
$message = "Hello World!\n\nThis is my mail.";
//define the headers we want passed. 
$headers = "From: abc@xyz.com\r\nReply-To: abc@xyz.com";
//send the email
$mail_sent = @mail( $to, $subject, $message);
//if the message is sent successfully print "Mail sent". Otherwise print "Mail failed" 
echo $mail_sent ? "Mail sent" : "Mail failed";
?>