UnknownHost in email header shows email as spam

[ViperGTI]

So I've finally managed to set up a mail server on our Win2008 box and it is finally working.

One thing that I've noticed though (and I've noticed it with emails from other sources as well), that emails sent from this mail server to my current email account, are automatically picked up by the Spam filters which adds "***** spam *****: " to the beginning of the subject line. When I look at the email headers, it says something like:

Received: from mail.domain.za.net (UnknownHost [??.??.???.??]) by mail3.zadns.co.za with SMTP;
Fri, 18 Jan 2013 13:31:19 +0200
Received: from myServer (127.0.0.1) by myServer (Axigen)
with ESMTPSA id 2DADC4; Fri, 18 Jan 2013 13:30:32 +0200
Received: from [196.215.137.24] by domain.za.net with HTTP;
Fri, 18 Jan 2013 13:30:32 +0200
...
Subject: *****SPAM*****: [Fwd: FWD:Welcome to Vodacom E-mail!]
Importance: Normal
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
boundary="===axigen=7188022819630882818936778581340456227838=axigen==="
X-SmarterMail-Spam: Reverse DNS Lookup, ISpamAssassin 5 [raw: 3], SPF_None, DK_None, DKIM_None, Custom Rules [], l2.apews.org
X-SmarterMail-SpamDetail: 3.3 NSL_RCVD_FROM_41 Received from 41.0.0.0/8

Now I suspect the "UnknownHost" part on the first line is what is causing the email to be identified as spam. Any idea how I can get this gone?

The IP address next to "UnknownHost" is our server's IP address and in the domain's DNS records, the "mail" A and CNAME records are both pointed to that IP address.

 

[Ipwn 4]

is your server a published relay server with a public IP?

If not I would suggest setting the SMTP settings to that of your ISP ie if you are using IS, use smtpdsl.is.net.

edit : in general, we always push mail from our clients Exchange servers through cpanel servers we host for them. Shout if you don't manage, will have one of my techies take a look for you.

 

[server-admins.net]

So I've finally managed to set up a mail server on our Win2008 box and it is finally working.

One thing that I've noticed though (and I've noticed it with emails from other sources as well), that emails sent from this mail server to my current email account, are automatically picked up by the Spam filters which adds "***** spam *****: " to the beginning of the subject line. When I look at the email headers, it says something like:



Now I suspect the "UnknownHost" part on the first line is what is causing the email to be identified as spam. Any idea how I can get this gone?

The IP address next to "UnknownHost" is our server's IP address and in the domain's DNS records, the "mail" A and CNAME records are both pointed to that IP address.

Hi ViperGTI

The reason for this is that SmarterMail (mail3.zadns.co.za) is giving your email a score based on the following issues
X-SmarterMail-Spam: Reverse DNS Lookup - You need to get ptr records created
ISpamAssassin 5 [raw: 3] - content of your email is fishy
SPF_None, DK_None - no spf record exists for your sending domain
DKIM_None - No DKIM rule exists
Custom Rules [] - a word or phrase within the email has triggered our custom spam traps
l2.apews.org - your IP is listed on this RBL

If you need any assistance then feel free to ticket us and we can assist with this

 

[ViperGTI]

Thanks for the feedback.

I've decided to take the easier route and simply route it via an ISP. Works like a charm.

 

[guest2013-1]

Yea I was going to say, Reverse DNS Lookup is very important and easy to setup. But if routing via your ISP is easier, cool. Just remember that when you change ISP or if your ISP outgoing email gives issues, you're screwed

 

[ViperGTI]

Yea I was going to say, Reverse DNS Lookup is very important and easy to setup. But if routing via your ISP is easier, cool. Just remember that when you change ISP or if your ISP outgoing email gives issues, you're screwed

Haha... no, with ISP, I'm actually referring to a provider that provides web hosting and email accounts and not dialup. That ISP will never change as we already have dedicated servers and everything with them.

 

[sahostking]

Try going to MXToolbox and do "dignostics" on that SMTP Server IP. May be the SMTP Banner,etc.

 

[PsyWulf]

SA.net's response is spoton