topic Re: Authentication Error in Email

Authentication Error

erazered — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 20:57:30 GMT

Hi

I’m getting an SMTP authentication error when I try and send emails from either my email app on phone or through the plus net webmail.

I’m a force9 user. As far as I know all the settings are correct. Is there a problem at the moment?

Thanks.

Nic

Re: Authentication Error

Townman — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 14:58:25 GMT

Try this is a terminal / DOS window...

curl.exe -v smtp://relay.force9.net:587 -u userID:password --ssl

The response at the end will illuminate the issue.

Re: Authentication Error

Champnet — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 11:57:58 GMT

I'm a F9 user, sending and receiving emails without problem.

@Townman 's test results in :

< 235 ... authentication succeeded

Re: Authentication Error

erazered — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 16:41:07 GMT

Response was:

* Host relay.force9.net:587 was resolved.
* IPv6: (none)
* IPv4: 212.159.9.104, 212.159.8.104
* Trying 212.159.9.104:587...
* connect to 212.159.9.104 port 587 from 0.0.0.0 port 57847 failed: Address not available
* Trying 212.159.8.104:587...
* connect to 212.159.8.104 port 587 from 0.0.0.0 port 57848 failed: Address not available
* Failed to connect to relay.force9.net port 587 after 109 ms: Could not connect to server
* closing connection #0
curl: (7) Failed to connect to relay.force9.net port 587 after 109 ms: Could not connect to server

Re: Authentication Error

Townman — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 17:28:16 GMT

That is very interesting.

I can run the test and connect to the server without issue, as you appear to be doing. The "address not available" suggests something odd; I saw similar when testing these commands for the other brands yesterday evening (Surfree) but that works fine today.

Are you connected over the Plusnet network?

Re: Authentication Error

erazered — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 18:09:33 GMT

I only use plusnet for my email as I have an old force 9 address that I still use mainly accessing it my iphone. Was working fine till yesterday.

I've just checked plusnet webmail for this email account and it's sending from there fine.

Re: Authentication Error

Townman — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 18:34:10 GMT

That proves that the user details and password are fine.

You might have misunderstood the question: in the scenario where this is failing, are you connecting...

On a Plusnet ISP connection
Via a third party connection
Is a VPN in use

Re: Authentication Error

erazered — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 18:52:15 GMT

Ok I understand, I was using a VPN. I’ve just tried turning it off and tested sending out an email and it worked fine.

So basically it was the VPN causing the issue. Any way around that or just need to pause it when sending emails?

Thanks

Re: Authentication Error

Champnet — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 18:55:28 GMT

@erazered There's a similar thread to yours here : Re: Outlook cant send email when using NordVPN - Plusnet Community

Out of curiosity which VPN client are you using ?

Re: Authentication Error

erazered — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 19:29:54 GMT

Yep using Nord VPN as well.