Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 12:50:36 -0700 From: Gary Kline <kline@thought.org> To: Bill Moran <wmoran@potentialtech.com> Cc: FreeBSD Mailing List <freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG> Subject: Re: way to check an email without sending it?? Message-ID: <20091005195036.GC44739@thought.org> In-Reply-To: <20091005135924.be749247.wmoran@potentialtech.com> References: <20091005173717.GA44563@thought.org> <20091005135924.be749247.wmoran@potentialtech.com>
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On Mon, Oct 05, 2009 at 01:59:24PM -0400, Bill Moran wrote: > In response to Gary Kline <kline@thought.org>: > > > > Hey Guys, > > > > Is there a way I can tell that an email address, say > > > > joe@foo.com > > > > is still valid without joe knowing that I am curious? --And, > > yes, this isn't a FBSD-specific question... . > > > > thanks for any insights, > > Sure. Telnet to the service and start a SMTP transaction, but then abort it: > > $ telnet mail.potentialtech.com 25 > Trying 66.167.251.6... > Connected to mail.potentialtech.com. > Escape character is '^]'. > 220 mail.potentialtech.com ESMTP If you spam me I will bounce you > helo mail.potentialtech.com > 250 mail.potentialtech.com > mail from: <wmoran@potentialtech.com> > 250 2.1.0 Ok > rcpt to: <joe@potentialtech.com> > 450 5.7.0 <joe@potentialtech.com>: Recipient address rejected: User unknown in local recipient table > quit > 221 2.0.0 Bye > Connection closed by foreign host. > > If you don't get a rejection after the "rcpt to:" line, then you know the > server will accept the mail and you can close the connection without > completing the transaction. > > Note, that this is no guarantee. Some spam catching nonsense may accept > the mail right up to end, then throw it away without delivering it. telnet couldn't connect for unknown reason but thabks for the tip. I usually just write and say HI, Howzit hanging... or whatever. Anyway, the sendmail -bv ploy indicates that this person is still at the address i have. no big deal; i was just wondering. thanks, people, gary > > -- > Bill Moran > http://www.potentialtech.com > http://people.collaborativefusion.com/~wmoran/ -- Gary Kline kline@thought.org http://www.thought.org Public Service Unix http://jottings.thought.org http://transfinite.thought.org The 5.67a release of Jottings: http://jottings.thought.org/index.php
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