An Easy fix???

[ralwine]

Hi!
I'm not a Linux newbie, but I'm a networking newbie. I have set up a Linux Red Hat 7.0 web server running apache/php/postgres. I can send out email, telnet (outgoing) and even ftp (outgoing). However, I cannot do any of these activities incoming. I would like to at least be able to receive incoming email. I have contacted my ISP. We are behind two firewalls, but the line is apparently wide open. This doesn't seem to help. I still cannot get incoming mail. Help! :mad:

[DMR]

When you say that the line is wide open, is it open for all the network services you need to run? You might have some more port forwarding to do.
Also, do you have the services you need up and actively listening on the proper ports on your box?

[ralwine]

Thanks for the input, DMR.
It is my belief that my ISP has the line open for each of these utilities (telnet/ftp/sendmail). I think the problem is with my server. I can't even telnet to localhost. I keep getting the following message:
trying 127.0.0.1...
telnet: Unable to connect ot remote host: Connection refused
I don't know if these utilities are listening to the correct port. Since I can telnet, ftp and send mail outgoing, I assume the ports are ok?
The story of this server is as follows...
It was loaded and working with our LAN (I could telnet and ftp to it from within our LAN - Linux Red Hat 7.0 - Windows 98 desktops). The system completely puked one day, which was fine because I didn't like the software configuration anyway. So, I reinstalled Redhat 7.0 as a desktop and installed all of the web server software as well. So, the server 'looks' like a desktop (has X installed), but 'acts' as a web server (has apache/postgres/php and other development tools/web software installed).

[ 06 November 2001: Message edited by: ralwine ]

[Lorithar]

If you installed as a desktop in all likelyhood telnetd and the various mail server software didn't get installed..

Not sure what you expect to use for mail, but telnet is not a great idea, consider secure shell .. (sshd) ...it makes *sooo* much more sense...

[mychl]

As su, type setup..
Go to firewall configuration and make sure you allow SMTP, Telnet, FTP, etc....

Also, look into ipchains so you can type out a firewall config yourself. Ipchains is probably loading already... look for the script in /etc/init.d/

DMR is right I think, about the forwarding. Can you get mail etc... from the linux box??

[ralwine]

Thanks for the input. You guys are great.
I'm at setup now, and there is no tool for firewall configuration. Perhaps some more info will help diagnose my problem. What I have been told is this...
Our Linux box is behind two firewalls at our ISP. We are using a DSL line - we are not co-located - we have our box right here my office. I don't know if this helps or not, but these are the facts as I know them.
At this point, I wouldn't begin to know how to type out a firewall configuration. At some point in the near future, I'll get to that - but for now, I'd just like these services (sendmail-outgoing/ftp/telet/ssh)to work.
About the mail...
I can get mail locally - that is... I can send mail from user accounts to one another. I cannot telnet or ftp to localhost, however.
I think Lorithar is right, though. I'm going to install and use SSH instead of telnet.

[ 07 November 2001: Message edited by: ralwine ]