Server Crashed, no more php mail()

Hot to use hotmail SMTP server for Pop3 mail/sendmail?

[ikbenhet1]

I used php mail(); to send e-mail messages, and it all worked fine, until the server chrashed yesterday.

Now if i send a mail, it sais 'message sent', but the message doesn't arrive.

The question:

Can i use my hotmail account to send text mail through php by specifying my usename and password and a smtp server?

What are my alternatives to send mail with php?

<Added> It's clearly a problem with my server, since my provider can't auto-mail their own documents to sell domains. I've send a mail to them mentioning the problem. Hope they fix it.</added>

[jatar_k]

ikbenhet1,

have you heard back from your host yet, it sounds a little strange. I would think there isnt much you can do about it except work eith your host.

[ikbenhet1]

My host is a lazy deadbeat, no response as usual and still the php mail(); doesn't work. I even send another e-mail to 2 of their contact adresses and still no response.

Now one of my site is useless, people can't mail each other.

Transferring a domain name to a diffrent host cost just as much as registering a fresh one (45eur).i have more than 40 domains and multiple hosting accounts.
I don't want to spend my money this way, it would mean double costs for one year.

They do domain hyjacking as well, about half of the domains with just 'http:// url.nl' point to some kind of domain selling service of theirs.

[jatar_k]

have you looked at the settings using phpinfo();?

could it just be that it isnt configured? or is there no mail at all on the server?

[ikbenhet1]

It mentions this:

sendmail_from
[e-mail] [e-mail]
sendmail_path
/usr/sbin/sendmail -t -i /usr/sbin/sendmail -t -i

what does that say, it's installed?

[jatar_k]

looks like it is right, have you tried it recently?

[ikbenhet1]

Yes i tried again, no luck. The weird thing is, when use the php mail(); function it sais message sent, nothing arrives.

[ncsuk]

Maybe they havnt setup the MX records right and its stuck in teh server somewhere.

[jatar_k]

I assume you have a mail account with them, can you send and/or receive from that account?

[ikbenhet1]

now i feel silly. Yes, they provide 1 pop3 email box ,but i've never mailed with that, and haven't got a clue how to.

[ncsuk]

Could you not use a formmail script?

[ikbenhet1]

I've been searching and downloaded a formmail that was simple enough for me to use, turns out to be a php-file that uses php mail(); as well.

When i try to mail with the previous settings i get the following error message:

Cannot connect to host 'ns1.ex.com' on port 25 - Connection refused - Connection refused.

Does this message say anything to anybody?