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How to check if my ISP blocks port 25?


How should I check if my ISP blocks port 25?


Solution

  • cmd> telnet <some well known email provider IP> 25
    

    to determine which exactly host (subdomain) is listening port 25:

    nslookup -q=MX <top-level domain>
    

    For example:

    cmd> nslookup -q=MX gmail.com
    
    gmail.com       MX preference = 50, mail exchanger = gsmtp147.google.com
    gmail.com       MX preference = 50, mail exchanger = gsmtp183.google.com
    gmail.com       MX preference = 5, mail exchanger = gmail-smtp-in.l.google.com
    gmail.com       MX preference = 10, mail exchanger = alt1.gmail-smtp-in.l.google.com
    gmail.com       MX preference = 10, mail exchanger = alt2.gmail-smtp-in.l.google.com
    
    gsmtp147.google.com     internet address = 209.85.147.27
    gsmtp183.google.com     internet address = 64.233.183.27
    gmail-smtp-in.l.google.com      internet address = 64.233.183.114
    
    cmd> telnet gsmtp147.google.com 25
    
    220 mx.google.com ESMTP l27si12759488waf.25
    

    On Linux, you can 'dig', I guess.