Merchant Tips

Mail Configuration

An often asked question from first time Merchant users is "What do I put in the Mail Server field on the Site Configuration screen?".

The answers are usually:

1. The name of your Mail Server.
2. Ask your IHP (Internet Hosting Provider).

The answers are not much help, so lets try and figure out exactly what information Merchant wants here.

When an order is placed, Merchant will attempt to send a confirmation E-Mail to the customer and an Order notice to the Merchant. In order to do this, it must connect to your Mail Server.

When you send an E-Mail message, you must compose the message, connect to your ISP (Internet Service Provider), and send the message. Your ISP provided you with the name of the SMTP server that you need to use in order to send mail. Merchant needs the same information, except that it needs the name of your Web Site's SMTP server.

The Merchant SMTP Mail Server is not the same as your ISP Mail Server (the one you use with your Dial Up connection to send mail). Merchant uses the Mail Server connected with your Web Site.

Ok, so, what's the name of my Mail Server?

For starters, just enter your Domain Name (without the www prefix). Enter a test order. Did you receive an E-Mail order notice?

If an E-Mail notice was not received, then prefix your domain name with smtp. (example: smtp.mydomain.com). Enter a test order. Did an E-Mail arrive this time?

If no E-Mail notice was received, try the mail. prefix (example: mail.mydomain.com). Enter a test order.

Did you receive an E-Mail notice? If No, then you need to ask your IHP what the name of your Mail Server is.

MvSMTP Errors

You don't have any problems with your Mail Server. You know its name and told Merchant what Server to use. However, when you enter a test order, Merchant gives you a strange error. Something about "authenticating" and to POP first. Or "relaying denied".

If you receive this error, it is actually a good sign because it means that your Mail Server has anti-SPAM measures in place and it is preventing un-authorized users from sending mail through it.

As far as your Mail Server is concerned, Merchant is just another user on the Internet trying to access it. You need to tell your Server that it is OK for Merchant to use it.

POP before SMTP is a method of SPAM prevention that nearly every Internet Hosting Provider uses. Basically, it means that you must first "check mail" before you can "send mail". In other words, you have to "authenticate" and tell the Mail Server that you are authorized to use its services.

When checking mail, your Mail Server will record your IP address and add it to a database of "allowed  relayers". This is the POP part of the equation. Since the Mail Server requires that you "authenticate" before you can check your mail, it knows who you are and, therefore, allows you to send mail (the SMTP part of the equation) while you are authenticated. How long you remain authenticated depends upon your Server configuration. It could be for a day, a year, or forever (actually, the year 2038).

Since Merchant does not "check mail", it somehow needs to be authenticated so it can "send mail".  The way you authenticate Merchant is to add your own Domain's IP address to the Relayers database file. You do this with a utility provided by your Hosting Provider. If you do not have root access to your Server, you will need to ask your IHP to add your IP address to the Relayers database.