Re: How do I start using the real-time blackhole listconnections restriction? -- MIDRANGE-L

I've been an AS/400 person for a long time, but I've found there are some very reliable and inexpensive unix systems available that handle e-mail tasks quite well. I have an intel box running redhat linux (www.redhat.com). E-mail is handled by qmail (www.qmail.org), and spam limiting by SpamAssassin (www.spamassassin.org). There are also a number of virus scanners available for this platform.

The linux box could be set up to store incoming mail, and users configured to download mail from it. Or, some folks have set up the linux box to just filter the mail, and then send it on to their exchange server, or in your case, the AS/400.

SpamAssassin will consult any configured RBL lists. RBL servers are run by various groups, and each have their own criteria for what goes on their lists. Some charge fees for commercial usage, so you want to watch that. http://www.ordb.org is one of the RBL servers we use over here.

There are also some services that collect e-mail 'signatures'. If enough folks report the same signatures, then a message must be a bulk message. Razor, and DCC are the ones I use with my SpamAssassin install.

Hope this helps.

At 09:10 PM 8/17/03, William A.\(Tony\) Corbett wrote:

Hi all,
I'm currently running V5R2, Win2000Pro, AMD 2500cpu, 1.5G memory in the PC,
nearly 1G memory in the 170, and I'm using the AS400 to serve email.

The volume of spam is just killing me.  I'm personally up to well over 100
spam messages a day (myself, on multiple email addresses).  I'm using
Spamnet from Cloudmark and it works great, for the client.  But, I've got to
stop some of this spam email from ever getting into my AS400.

I'd like to start using the "real-time blackhole server" list in the
Connections Restrictions.  It looks like I just need to enter an RBL server
name, but where do I get one?  Is this a free service, or do I need to
subscribe to or purchase something?  If anyone is using this feature, HELP!
I've look at mail-abuse.org/rbl, but it is not clear to me how to implement
this, ie., what do I enter for host name in the connection restrictions?

At least 1 or 2 times a week now (with all the spam lately), my email gets
hung up and won't download into Outlook.  I have to go into the
mail/username directory and start deleting the JW* files (sometimes 100 of
them at a time) until I get the problem email, then the rest will download.
(I got this from Supportline a few years ago).  I first thought it was the
CCSID, talked with Supportline and decided this wasn't it.  Now, I'm
thinking it's some kind of "mal-formed" email header, but I don't know
enough about it to tell.  I've even identified one particular JW* file which
consistently causes (my) Outlook to give an error message and emailed it to
IBM Supportline.  Still, no help.

I've had the same problem for a few years, using V4R4, V4R5,
V5R2/Windows98SE, Windows2000Pro/Outlook 98, Outlook 2000/2 different PCs
and called Supportline at least once at each configuration.  Each time I
upgraded something, I hoped the problem would disappear.  This problem just
keeps following me.   It's probably a Windows/Outlook problem, but with the
prevalence of Outlook in the business world, IBM simply HAS to help with
this problem. (I keep thinking)

And, yes, I've sent a "trace" to IBM also. (several, over time)  They, of
course, say it's an Outlook problem.  Maybe so, but it BECOMES an AS400
email reliability problem.  I believe THEY should work this problem out with
Microsft support and just give me the answer.  This should (has to?) be
resolved by IBM.

Anyway, does anyone have any experience using the RBL?  I'd really
appreciate some advice.

Sorry so long-winded.

TIA

AS/Resources, Inc.
William A.(Tony) Corbett
IBM Certified Specialist - AS/400 Developer
http://www.asresources.com
corbett@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
770-587-4812 (office)
678-935-5006 (mobile)
fax:  678-935-5005

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