Your thoughts

[JunkMale]

I installed a default Ubuntu 8.10 install.

From day one being able to send email has been an issue. Collection of email via pop and imap is not an issue.

Despite going to the unhelpful ubuntu forums, and being as graphic I can about the problem. Everyone on Ubuntu is pointing their fingers in all directions despite eliminating them via various trouble shooting episodes with my web host and the ISP.

We have ruled out ISP blocking, the internet connection I have is a no frill connection, you do not get an email account or any webspace like other ISP's.

I checked with the web host and they agree that the issue is with ubuntu and nothing to do with the host as they themselves us Linux and they tested conectivity and I checked it too with a windows install that still works and not conectivity issues which rules out both the ISP and the web host.

The Firewall settings! Nope, not them. SMTP is allowed. The funny thing is that theirs is no setting for POP in the firewall but POP collection or IMAP collection works a charm. This rules out the actual connection with the email server being blocked by the ISP as the URI os the same URI for SMTP as it is for POP. The only diifference is the port and seeing as that is not blocked my end or with the ISP or at the web host, it only leads to the conclusion that its being blocked by some setting in the OS.

I then start getting static about MX records and Checking the DNS settings for the email server... Something that I have no actual control over as they are maintained by the web host.

Then they start latching on to the word "Config" and start asking whar wmil client I am using and having problems configuring... I have stated more than enough times that this is not the issue but a "CONFIG" issue within the operating system.

I also stated that this is a "DEFAULT" install and I tried to rectify the problem with the install of the MTA sendmail client as per FAQ trouble shooting episode.

Then I get more static about what ports may be blocked when I have clearly stated that theirs no blocked ports.

SO....I have given up with the ubuntu forum, theyre not helping one bit, if I didn't know better I would swear that their continual nit picking at stuff other than what I am asking for help with is purely to wind me up.

Did I mention that I have used all available email clients in ubuntu including Opera, like on my windows laptop that has no issue collecting or sending emails? This is how I know that the issue is in the OS because windows has no issues with connection and collection. This alone rules out blocking of ports but the ISP or the HOST or even the firewall.

So can anyone here tell a Linux Ubuntu newbie where to find the config for the "Operating System" settings for email (outgoing)?

OR does anyone know what might be on the install that is blocking?

[JunkMale]

Well another round of forum ping pong.

Now I am getting attitude and provocation from people who are accusing me of attitude... WTF!!!

Thought that Linux users want people to use Linux but clearly from the attitude and lack of assistance I am wrong.

I guess all the money I paid out for phone calls and phone support would have been better of spent on a new XP install disc, would have saved me £25 on what I have already coughed up for support and calls to my ISP and web host.

So at this point in time, Linsux.

[JPnyc]

have you tried asking here (http://justlinux.com/forum/index.php?s=)? If anybody gives you an attitude there, please let me know. Thanks

[JunkMale]

OK, I will, thanks.

[JunkMale]

I gave them chance to come up with a reasonble answer and as I had suspected all along, the issue is at "System Level" and completely out of my control.

While the email program may have the right information in it, the problem lies with the underlying archetecture in the form of the actual programs that deal with the sending and recieving of email.

It turns out, despite the recieve portion of the system is aware that the internet is on a USB stick (HSDPA modem) the MTA / sendmail portion sends its stuff via Ethernet despite Ethernet is neither enabled or set up as I am on a USB connection.

So this problem is like the APTonCD (which aprantly from my investigaions was not functioning for 3, yes 3 Ubuntu releases!) and in the hands of Ubuntu who need to spend more time on getting the programs to work rather than drooling over how nice they can make the desktop look.