with full install of slack 8.1 (which seems to come default with sendmail 8.12) I can't seem to send mail out.

on my old machine my problem was recieving mail and not sending it.. to which I added 2 lines to my sendmail.cf file:

Cwdomain1.com
Cwdomain2.com

at which point I was able to get mail for both of my domains. I added these to the /etc/mail/sendmail.cf file on this new box and I can now recieve mail fine, but any time I try to send it out I get it bounced back after a while saying:

<name@domain.com>... Deferred: Connection timed out with
mail.domain.com.
Warning: message still undelivered after 4 hours
Will keep trying until message is 5 days old

also.. I see now that in the sendmail.cf file it mentions things should be edited in the sendmail.mc file?

I get the feeling that basically what's happening is that other mail servers won't recognize me as a legitimate mail server? or that I'm speaking the wrong language or something... anyone have any ideas?

here's a bit from maillog.. I changed ip's and domains for obvious reasons.

domain1 = my domain
domain2 = the domain of the company I work for
test = a friend at comcast
machine1 = my server
bubba = my username at work
joebob = the username on my server

so basically what you see here is me (joebob@domain1.com) sending 2 emails.. 1 to test@comcast.com and one to myself at work (bubba@domain2.com)

2.2.2.2 is a rep for my work mailserver.

Feb 21 14:45:39 machine1 sendmail[14839]: h1LJjdWG014839: Authentication-Warning: machine1.domain1.com: joebob owned process doing -bs
Feb 21 14:45:39 machine1 sendmail[14839]: h1LJjdWG014839: from=<joebob@domain1.com>, size=925, class=0, nrcpts=1, msgid=<Pine.LNX.4.50.0302211445080.14838-100000@machine1.domain1.com>, proto=ESMTP, relay=joebob@localhost
Feb 21 14:45:39 machine1 sm-mta[14842]: h1LJjd2Z014842: from=<joebob@domain1.com>, size=1194, class=0, nrcpts=1, msgid=<Pine.LNX.4.50.0302211445080.14838-100000@machine1.domain1.com>, proto=ESMTP, daemon=MTA, relay=IDENT:1000@localhost [127.0.0.1]
Feb 21 14:45:39 machine1 sendmail[14841]: h1LJjdWG014839: to=<test@comcast.net>, delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=relay, pri=30400, relay=localhost.domain1.com. [127.0.0.1], dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent (h1LJjd2Z014842 Message accepted for delivery)
Feb 21 14:48:48 machine1 sm-mta[14845]: h1LJjd2Z014842: to=<test@comcast.net>, ctladdr=<joebob@domain1.com> (1000/100), delay=00:03:09, xdelay=00:03:09, mailer=esmtp, pri=30669, relay=mx00.comcast.net. [24.153.64.1], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mx00.comcast.net.
Feb 21 15:02:22 machine1 sm-mta[15025]: h1LJjd2Z014842: to=<test@comcast.net>, ctladdr=<joebob@domain1.com> (1000/100), delay=00:16:43, xdelay=00:03:10, mailer=esmtp, pri=120669, relay=mx00.comcast.net. [24.153.64.1], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mx00.comcast.net.
Feb 21 15:20:42 machine1 sm-mta[1167]: gethostbyaddr(192.168.0.1) failed: 2
Feb 21 15:20:42 machine1 sm-mta[1168]: starting daemon (8.12.6): SMTP+queueing@00:25:00
Feb 21 15:20:42 machine1 sm-msp-queue[1171]: starting daemon (8.12.6): queueing@00:25:00
Feb 21 15:48:51 machine1 sm-mta[1397]: h1LJjd2Z014842: to=<test@comcast.net>, ctladdr=<joebob@domain1.com> (1000/100), delay=01:03:12, xdelay=00:03:09, mailer=esmtp, pri=300669, relay=mx00.comcast.net. [24.153.64.1], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mx00.comcast.net.
Feb 21 16:02:41 machine1 sendmail[1583]: h1LL2f5N001583: Authentication-Warning: machine1.domain1.com: joebob owned process doing -bs
Feb 21 16:02:42 machine1 sendmail[1583]: h1LL2f5N001583: from=<joebob@domain1.com>, size=275, class=0, nrcpts=1, msgid=<Pine.LNX.4.50.0302211602330.1582-100000@machine1.domain1.com>, proto=ESMTP, relay=joebob@localhost
Feb 21 16:02:42 machine1 sm-mta[1586]: h1LL2gQu001586: from=<joebob@domain1.com>, size=544, class=0, nrcpts=1, msgid=<Pine.LNX.4.50.0302211602330.1582-100000@machine1.domain1.com>, proto=ESMTP, daemon=MTA, relay=IDENT:1000@localhost [127.0.0.1]
Feb 21 16:02:42 machine1 sendmail[1585]: h1LL2f5N001583: to=<bubba@domain2.com>, delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=relay, pri=30270, relay=localhost.domain1.com. [127.0.0.1], dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent (h1LL2gQu001586 Message accepted for delivery)
Feb 21 16:05:51 machine1 sm-mta[1589]: h1LL2gQu001586: to=<bubba@domain2.com>, ctladdr=<joebob@domain1.com> (1000/100), delay=00:03:09, xdelay=00:03:09, mailer=esmtp, pri=30539, relay=mail.domain2.com. [2.2.2.2], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mail.domain2.com.
Feb 21 16:09:47 machine1 sendmail[1607]: h1LL9fSB001607: from=joebob, size=2, class=0, nrcpts=0, relay=joebob@localhost
Feb 21 16:10:13 machine1 sendmail[1609]: gethostbyaddr(192.168.0.1) failed: 1
Feb 21 16:13:51 machine1 sm-mta[1611]: h1LL2gQu001586: to=<bubba@domain2.com>, ctladdr=<joebob@domain1.com> (1000/100), delay=00:11:09, xdelay=00:03:09, mailer=esmtp, pri=120539, relay=mail.domain2.com. [2.2.2.2], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mail.domain2.com.
Feb 21 16:17:00 machine1 sm-mta[1611]: h1LJjd2Z014842: to=<test@comcast.net>, ctladdr=<joebob@domain1.com> (1000/100), delay=01:31:21, xdelay=00:03:09, mailer=esmtp, pri=390669, relay=mx00.comcast.net. [24.153.64.1], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mx00.comcast.net.
Feb 21 16:38:52 machine1 sm-mta[1640]: h1LL2gQu001586: to=<bubba@domain2.com>, ctladdr=<joebob@domain1.com> (1000/100), delay=00:36:10, xdelay=00:03:09, mailer=esmtp, pri=210539, relay=mail.domain2.com. [2.2.2.2], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mail.domain2.com.
Feb 21 16:42:01 machine1 sm-mta[1640]: h1LJjd2Z014842: to=<test@comcast.net>, ctladdr=<joebob@domain1.com> (1000/100), delay=01:56:22, xdelay=00:03:09, mailer=esmtp, pri=480669, relay=mx00.comcast.net. [24.153.64.1], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mx00.comcast.net.
Feb 21 17:03:52 machine1 sm-mta[1674]: h1LL2gQu001586: to=<bubba@domain2.com>, ctladdr=<joebob@domain1.com> (1000/100), delay=01:01:10, xdelay=00:03:10, mailer=esmtp, pri=300539, relay=mail.domain2.com. [2.2.2.2], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mail.domain2.com.
Feb 21 17:07:01 machine1 sm-mta[1674]: h1LJjd2Z014842: to=<test@comcast.net>, ctladdr=<joebob@domain1.com> (1000/100), delay=02:21:22, xdelay=00:03:09, mailer=esmtp, pri=570669, relay=mx00.comcast.net. [24.153.64.1], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mx00.comcast.net.
Feb 21 17:28:51 machine1 sm-mta[1678]: h1LL2gQu001586: to=<bubba@domain2.com>, ctladdr=<joebob@domain1.com> (1000/100), delay=01:26:09, xdelay=00:03:09, mailer=esmtp, pri=390539, relay=mail.domain2.com. [2.2.2.2], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mail.domain2.com.
Feb 21 17:32:01 machine1 sm-mta[1678]: h1LJjd2Z014842: to=<test@comcast.net>, ctladdr=<joebob@domain1.com> (1000/100), delay=02:46:22, xdelay=00:03:10, mailer=esmtp, pri=660669, relay=mx00.comcast.net. [24.153.64.1], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mx00.comcast.net.
Feb 21 17:53:51 machine1 sm-mta[1705]: h1LL2gQu001586: to=<bubba@domain2.com>, ctladdr=<joebob@domain1.com> (1000/100), delay=01:51:09, xdelay=00:03:09, mailer=esmtp, pri=480539, relay=mail.domain2.com. [2.2.2.2], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mail.domain2.com.
Feb 21 17:57:01 machine1 sm-mta[1705]: h1LJjd2Z014842: to=<test@comcast.net>, ctladdr=<joebob@domain1.com> (1000/100), delay=03:11:22, xdelay=00:03:10, mailer=esmtp, pri=750669, relay=mx00.comcast.net. [24.153.64.1], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mx00.comcast.net.
Feb 21 18:18:52 machine1 sm-mta[1709]: h1LL2gQu001586: to=<bubba@domain2.com>, ctladdr=<joebob@domain1.com> (1000/100), delay=02:16:10, xdelay=00:03:09, mailer=esmtp, pri=570539, relay=mail.domain2.com. [2.2.2.2], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mail.domain2.com.
Feb 21 18:22:01 machine1 sm-mta[1709]: h1LJjd2Z014842: to=<test@comcast.net>, ctladdr=<joebob@domain1.com> (1000/100), delay=03:36:22, xdelay=00:03:09, mailer=esmtp, pri=840669, relay=mx00.comcast.net. [24.153.64.1], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mx00.comcast.net.
Feb 21 18:30:09 machine1 sendmail[1734]: h1LNU9Zj001734: from=<root@machine1.domain1.com>, size=273, class=0, nrcpts=1, msgid=<Pine.LNX.4.50.0302211829570.1733-100000@machine1.domain1.com>, proto=ESMTP, relay=root@localhost
Feb 21 18:30:10 machine1 sm-mta[1737]: h1LNUAQu001737: from=<root@machine1.domain1.com>, size=460, class=0, nrcpts=1, msgid=<Pine.LNX.4.50.0302211829570.1733-100000@machine1.domain1.com>, proto=ESMTP, daemon=MTA, relay=IDENT:25@localhost [127.0.0.1]
Feb 21 18:30:10 machine1 sendmail[1736]: h1LNU9Zj001734: to=<bubba@domain2.com>, ctladdr=<root@machine1.domain1.com> (0/0), delay=00:00:01, xdelay=00:00:01, mailer=relay, pri=30265, relay=localhost.domain1.com. [127.0.0.1], dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent (h1LNUAQu001737 Message accepted for delivery)
Feb 21 18:33:19 machine1 sm-mta[1740]: h1LNUAQu001737: to=<bubba@domain2.com>, ctladdr=<root@machine1.domain1.com> (0/0), delay=00:03:09, xdelay=00:03:09, mailer=esmtp, pri=30452, relay=mail.domain2.com. [2.2.2.2], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mail.domain2.com.
Feb 21 18:43:52 machine1 sm-mta[1746]: h1LNUAQu001737: to=<bubba@domain2.com>, ctladdr=<root@machine1.domain1.com> (0/0), delay=00:13:42, xdelay=00:03:09, mailer=esmtp, pri=120452, relay=mail.domain2.com. [2.2.2.2], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mail.domain2.com.
Feb 21 18:43:52 machine1 sm-mta[1746]: h1LL2gQu001586: to=<bubba@domain2.com>, ctladdr=<joebob@domain1.com> (1000/100), delay=02:41:10, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=esmtp, pri=660539, relay=mail.domain2.com., dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mail.domain2.com.
Feb 21 18:47:01 machine1 sm-mta[1746]: h1LJjd2Z014842: to=<test@comcast.net>, ctladdr=<joebob@domain1.com> (1000/100), delay=04:01:22, xdelay=00:03:09, mailer=esmtp, pri=930669, relay=mx00.comcast.net. [24.153.64.1], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mx00.comcast.net.
Feb 21 18:47:01 machine1 sm-mta[1746]: h1LJjd2Z014842: h1LNegQv001746: sender notify: Warning: could not send message for past 4 hours
Feb 21 18:47:01 machine1 sm-mta[1746]: h1LNegQv001746: to=<joebob@domain1.com>, delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=local, pri=32435, dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent
Feb 21 19:08:51 machine1 sm-mta[1795]: h1LNUAQu001737: to=<bubba@domain2.com>, ctladdr=<root@machine1.domain1.com> (0/0), delay=00:38:41, xdelay=00:03:09, mailer=esmtp, pri=210452, relay=mail.domain2.com. [2.2.2.2], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mail.domain2.com.
Feb 21 19:08:51 machine1 sm-mta[1795]: h1LL2gQu001586: to=<bubba@domain2.com>, ctladdr=<joebob@domain1.com> (1000/100), delay=03:06:09, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=esmtp, pri=750539, relay=mail.domain2.com., dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mail.domain2.com.
Feb 21 19:12:01 machine1 sm-mta[1795]: h1LJjd2Z014842: to=<test@comcast.net>, ctladdr=<joebob@domain1.com> (1000/100), delay=04:26:22, xdelay=00:03:10, mailer=esmtp, pri=1020669, relay=mx00.comcast.net. [24.153.64.1], dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Connection timed out with mx00.comcast.net.

sorry for all the spam... one more thing.

I see this line in here twice (I presume once for each email?)

Feb 21 16:10:13 machine1 sendmail[1609]: gethostbyaddr(192.168.0.1) failed: 1

quick bit about my network, my slack box is my 'do it all' machine, it's my router/dns server/mail server/http server etc.

since it's doing routing it has 2 nics.. eth0 is the pppoe interface to the outside world, and eth1 is my inside network and it's ip is 192.168.0.1.

when I see 192.168.0.1 coming up here.. it makes me wonder if somehow sendmail is somehow trying to send email to the outside world from my internal network.. if that makes sense?

ie, is there something special that I need to configure since this machine is the gateway between 2 networks?

Same problem here...

It is a first time install for me though!

Michel

Similar type of problem, i am facing. stat=deffered Connection Timed Out.

Is it due to network or DNS resolve?

Possibilities:

1. Slow network - congestion in network
2. DNS resolver not working - try adding 208.67.222.222 as dns resolver in your /etc/resolve.conf