[darcs-users] darcs vs sendmail

[Trent W. Buck]

Peter Hercek <phercek at gmail.com> writes:

> So the problems with sendmail people reported are probably because
> they do not have it configured. So, by default, their machine name (in
> may case metod.hck.sk) is used in HELLO command but the machine names
> do not exist in the public DNS zone (only in the private one), and
> they definitely do not have associated an MX record with it (if it is
> checked too). And your server (smtp.osuosl.org) checks that a DNS
> record for the sender exists as an anti-spam measure :-D

That check seems perfectly reasonable to me.  I would say that if you
are sending mail from a machine that has neither A nor MX record
(because it's a NATted workstation, not a mail server) the normal
configuration is to send all mail to a single relay (smarthost) -- NOT
to send it directly to the recipient's mail server.

> The test I did (sending email to myself) worked since I sent it to my
> account on a server which does not do such a anti-spam check or to a
> local mail server we have here. I do not remember where I sent it
> (probably to my gmail account).

Well, smtp.gmail.com is such a smarthost.

> So now you have a good idea what may be the common reason for darcs
> send not working: your own anti-spam measures on darcs.net ... that is
> if you want un-configured sendmail to work (which may be an
> unreasonable requirement).

I think it's reasonable to expect whatever MTA a user is running to be
configured.