[Info-vax] SMTP and POP/IMAP through SSH

[Michael Austin]

Michael Austin wrote:
> Crni Gorac wrote:
>> Now when Eisner is hopefully on its way back (many thanks to everyone
>> involved in starting resolving this issue!):
>>
>> In the meantime, I used an account on a Linux server as my main mail
>> account.  My desktop machine is also Linux, and am using mutt to
>> handle e-mail.  Previously, I was forwarding my e-mail to Eisner, and
>> was fetching it to my desktop machine through POP3; I was also sending
>> my e-mail through Eisner, using SMTP - in both cases, SSL extensions
>> were employed, to avoid sending my Eisner password in plain text
>> around.  Now, while working with the Linux server in the meantime, I
>> learned about rather nice ways to simplify these: in mutt, it is
>> possible to specify remote sendmail program to be launched through SSH
>> for mail delivering, and in fetchmail (that I'm using for getting mail
>> from the server to my desktop machine) it is also possible to use so-
>> called SSH plugin to start talking directly with remote IMAP server
>> (and to practically get authenticated this way).  The advantages of
>> this approach are that there is no need to mess with SSL certificates
>> (which is nice simplification, if one already setup password-less SSH
>> authentication), and that at least one external program less is needed
>> (mutt has to use external programs for sending/fetching mail, so while
>> I have to keep fetchmail, at least I could get read of auxiliary SMTP
>> program on the desktop machine).  So, my question is then: is it
>> possible to employ VMS server to work with e-mail this way (to talk
>> with SMTP server on remote machine through SSH, and to fetch mail
>> through SSH too)?
>>
>> Thanks.
> 
> If you just need to configure VMS for POP/IMAP:
> 
> http://h71000.www7.hp.com/doc/732final/6526/6526pro_042.html
> 
> I have not figured out how to SEND email via my VMS box because the ISP 
> blocks ALL outbound SMTP (port 25) except from their mail 
> [authenticated] servers - therefore eliminating infected DSL/Dialup/ 
> DynamicIP systems from becoming spambots.  If the spambot pulls 
> authentication in from "lookout" then they get shutdown due to the 
> traffic. Also, most mail servers reject anything from the posted list of 
> "DSL/Dialup/DynIP" addresses so I still lose.
> 
> I am not yet at the point I want to pay for STATIC and go full blown 
> DNS, mail etc... (these addresses that are set for rDNS are not affected 
> by the above scheme.

forgot to mention, that I can also get my email on my Sprint MotorolaQ 
via this mechanism (secure SSL 995)

Not sure how long I will keep the Sprint phone though... you develop 
hard feelings when you are a target of "forced workforce reduction".