Attempt to connect to the SMTP port, and ensure you get a line back from it that starts with "220 " and contains the letters "SMTP". A typical example response would be:
220 prod.monadic.cynic.net ESMTP Postfix (2.5.5)
Then be polite and send "QUIT
\r\n" to hang up.
You can do some further testing, if you like, such as testing that the user can likely deliver messages. For this, you'd send a HELO command with your hostname (or any string, really), a MAIL FROM
command using the user's e-mail address, and a RCPT TO:<[email protected]>
. Most servers at that point will tell you if relaying is not allowed. (I'm assuming you're doing this from the computer from which you will later be sending mail.) So long as you QUIT
after that, rather than issuing a DATA
command and
the message data, nothing will be sent.
Here's an example session, done from the shell using the "netcat" command, showing that my server exists, but will not relay mail for people from random IP addresses.
$ nc prod.monadic.cynic.net. 25
220 prod.monadic.cynic.net ESMTP Postfix (2.5.5)
HELO cynic.net
250 prod.monadic.cynic.net
MAIL FROM:<[email protected]>
250 2.1.0 Ok
RCPT TO:<[email protected]>
554 5.7.1 <[email protected]>: Relay access denied
QUIT
221 2.0.0 Bye
$