Category Archives: E-mail related

Add IP Blocklist provider using Powershell in Exchange 2007

Add-IPBlockListProvider -Name zen.spamhaus.org -LookupDomain zen.spamhaus.org -AnyMatch $True -Enabled $True -RejectionResponse “Your IP is blacklisted! http://www.spamhaus.org

This script adds new provider called zen.spamhaus.org, makes lookups to zen.spamhaus.org and it works on any reply (127.0.0.1,2 …), it does enable this provider and it sets response that is sent to sender.

Exchange 2007 certificates issues…

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb125165.aspx – How to prepare certificate request
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa995942.aspx – How to create certificate for mutiple hosts and how to configure certificate for specific service in Exchange 2007
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb201700.aspx – Modifying Outlook web access on Exchange 2007

It is possible that dedicated servers come in a cheap web hosting deal. However you might need to make certain compromises where the web design or the domain name registration is concerned.

Blacklist providers – to trust…

I am often asked whcih blocklist providers do I use / trust not to get mail filtered becouse of bad blacklist provider.
On my servers I am using three lists (sorted by quality – my personal opinion 🙂 ):

zen.spamhaus.org – a combination of three spamhaus.org lists (SBL, XBL and PBL)
bl.spamcop.net – Spamcop blacklist
list.dsbl.orgDistributed sender blackhole list

I use this three lists without getting in troubles – at least for now. I suggest that you regularly check your SMTP logs to see how list are working.

I always notify sender that it was blocked by a blacklist.

Here is an example from and Exchange 2007 SMTP recieve log:

> “220 mail.mydomain.com Microsoft ESMTP MAIL Service ready”
< EHLO [87.69.94.190],
> 250-mail.mydomain.com Hello [87.69.94.190],
< MAIL FROM:<cathiFerm@flagpeakproperties.com> SIZE=656,
> 250 2.1.0 Sender OK,
< RCPT TO:<xxx.xxx@mydomain.com>,
> 550 5.7.1 Your IP is blacklisted. http://www.spamhaus.org,
< QUIT
> 221 2.0.0 Service closing transmission channel