F.A.Q.

Question: I am trying to run a mail-out via my ISP's SMTP server. It only sends 10-25 messages; the rest of the messages end up in the NotSent folder. The Internet connection type is dial-up.
Answer: Usually, in order to eliminate SPAM, Internet service providers set restrictions on the number of outgoing messages that can be sent by dial-up users. Try running your mail-out via the AMS built-in SMTP server. If you have a web site hosted with a commercial service - try running your mail-out via the hosting provider's SMTP server. Usually, hosting providers do not enforce any restrictions on their servers.

Question: I am trying to run a mail-out via the built-in SMTP server. No messages get sent. The delivery logs are full of errors like "Connection refused" or "Connection timed out". I use dial-up to connect to the Internet. I do NOT use proxy servers for sending the mail.
Answer: Some Internet service providers, in order to eliminate SPAM, disable the 25th port for dial-up users and allow them to send their mail ONLY via the provider's SMTP server, which has restrictions on the number of messages allowed for delivery and the delivery speed. If that's the case, the only solution is switching to a different ISP. Here are a few of St. Petersburg's ISPs that have the 25th port disabled: WebPlus, Matrix, Zebra Telecom. These are the ones that have it enabled (for the present moment): Comset, Lanck, ROL. Unfortunately, we do not have such information on ISPs in other cities and countries.

Question: I have found the super-site.com and downloaded the list of 1000 SMTP (or SOCKS proxy) relays. That web site stated that all of these servers are anonymous and fully functional. Indeed, none of them is working!
Answer: As a rule, such free lists either do not have working servers at all or, in the best case, there are about 1% of them working. At the same time, all of those have been enlisted in the blacklists, and pretty much none e-mail services will accept mail from them.

Question: Do you sell anonymous SOCKS proxy (SMTP relay) lists? If no - where could I buy those?
Answer: We do NOT sell proxies, nor do we plan on doing that.

Question: I am trying to run a mail-out via the mail.ru (yandex.ru/rambler.ru, etc.) SMTP server, but it doesn't go through.
Answer: Large e-mail service providers, in order to eliminate SPAM, since long time ago have been enforcing restrictions on the number of messages that can be sent through their servers. You will not be able to run a mail-out through them.

Question: Running a mail-out campaign, I have noticed a message like this:
550- - Access prohibited by administrator
550 rejected: administrative prohibition
Answer: About a year ago, one could run a mail-out via just about any proxy server. Now many of the proxies are blacklisted. Here is the link that e-mail services use for validating IP address of the computer sending a message stream: http://relays.osirusoft.com/cgi-bin/rbcheck.cgi?addr=000.000.000.000 Replace the 000.000.000.000 with the proxy server's IP address you want to check. The above service returns the results of validating DNSBL services (most popular). DNSBL stands for Domain Name Server Black List. Tip: look for the not banned proxies, i.e. those that are not widely known and not listed in the DNSBL lists.

Question: I am trying to run a mail out via smtp.mail.ru (mail.aport.ru, smtp.rambler.ru, etc.) the mail doesn't go through; I get error messages instead.
Answer: You cannot run a mail-out via smtp.mail.ru (and similar servers), since - in order to eliminate SPAM - such server has restrictions for the mailing size and speed. Try sending your messages via your provider's SMTP server or via the AMS built-in SMTP server.

Question: Which SMTP servers are better for the mailings?
Answer: You are recommended to use your Internet service provider's SMTP server. Since it is the closest to you, the mail-out will go at the greatest speed. If you are unable to use your provider's SMTP service for any reason - try finding a free SMTP server on the Internet. Make sure the server you find doesn't have any restrictions for the mailing's size and speed.

Question: In the beginning of the delivery, I get errors like "Too many recipients", "Relaying denied", "Valid RCPT TO (recipient) must precede DATA"; then the delivery halts.
Answer: When you get the "To many recipients" error, try to decrease the CC/BCC Size value
(if the mailing is run via the "regular" SMTP) or the Packet size for domain value (if the mailing is run via the built-in SMTP server). In all other cases, the server you are using, in order to prevent SPAM, has restrictions or prohibits running mail-outs. Try to use a different server or run your mail-out via the built-in SMTP server.

Question: How many threads should be used for achieving the maximum delivery speed?
Answer: For sending messages via the built-in SMTP server: 20-30 if the message size is not great (5-20 kb) or 10-15 if the message size is not greater than 30-40 kb. For sending messages via the regular SMTP servers: not more than 7-15 threads per server - if you set a greater value, the server can be overloaded. If you send messages via 2-3 *different* SMTP servers, then set 5-7 threads per each server.

Question: Why the delivery speed, when messages are sent via the built-in SMTP, is 5-10 times slower than when messages are sent via the "regular" SMTP servers?
Answer: When a message is sent via the "regular" SMTP server, only one message gets sent to the server, and then the server, via its fast fiber optic channels, delivers individual copies of the messages to each recipient. When the messages are sent via the built-in SMTP server, AMS *itself* delivers each copy of the message to individual recipients. Therefore, the built-in server's efficiency depends on your Internet connection's bandwidth.

Question: Does AMS allow hiding sender's IP address?
Answer: Beginning with the version 3.4, AMS supports Socks proxies. Using anonymous proxy servers allows hiding your real IP address.

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