How To Configure Your Email Software
For Use With Your 101-Host Account

Note: If you use your webmail to send & receive email then please disregard this notice as it does not apply to you. However, if you use the Outlook or Outlook Express software (or similar) this article is for you.

We support the Microsoft ‘Outlook’ and ‘Outlook Express’ email programs. If you use a different mailer your instructions will be somewhat different. Your goal is to enable ‘SMTP Authentication’ in your mail software so you can send email using our SMTP Server.
NOTE: If you use our (your) SMTP server to send your email out to the world you won't appear as a spammer. However, if you use any other server on the Internet to send your domain email out to the world (e.g. your ISP's server) then you risk getting blocked by major networks like Microsoft, Yahoo and Google. If you use any other SMTP server on the Internet to send your email you will have to configure a custom SPF record using your DNS Manager in your Control Panel to avoid being blocked by the major networks. If your account doesn't include the DNS Manager option you will need to purchase one in your Extra Features area of your Control Panel.

Your POP3 (incoming) Server Address: mail.yourdomain.com
Your SMTP (outgoing) Server Address: mail.yourdomain.com

Microsoft Outlook Settings:

1. Open Outlook
2. Click ‘Tools’
3. Click ‘Email Accounts’, Click Next
4. Double-click your email account
5. Click ‘More Settings’
6. Click ‘Outgoing Server’ tab
7. Check ‘My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication
8. Check ‘Use same settings as my incoming mail server’
9. Click OK to save your changes
   *Note: if you still cannot send email then your ISP is blocking your connection. Click the Advanced tab and change your default Outgoing Server (SMTP) from port 25 to port 26.
   

Microsoft Outlook Express Settings:

1. Open Outlook Express
2. Click Tools
3. Click Accounts
4. Double-click your 101-host.com email account
5. Click the ‘Servers’ tab
6. Check ‘My server requires authentication’
7. Click ‘Settings’ button
8. Check ‘Use same settings as my incoming mail server’
9. Click OK to save your changes
   *Note: if you still cannot send email then your ISP is blocking your connection. Click the Advanced tab and change your default Outgoing Server (SMTP) from port 25 to port 26.
   

Common Question - I'm getting SMTP Error Msg "10051"

Problem/Error: You are recieving one of the following errors when sending email.

"Unable to connect to the server. (Account:'account', SMTP Server: 'mail.101-host.com', Error Number: '0x800ccc0e')."

Or

“The connection to the server has failed. Account: 'your account', Server: 'mail.101-host.com', Protocol: SMTP, Port: 25, Secure(SSL): No, Socket Error: 10051, Error Number: 0x800CCC0E”

Or

Could not connect to "mail.101-host.com" cause:network is unreachable (10051)

Answer/Solution: Some ISP's prevent their users from accessing "outside" SMTP servers using conventional e-mail programs like Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, Netscape.

To verify that your ISP is blocking SMTP connection (port 25) you need to telnet to our SMTP server from the Command prompt (DOS prompt):

1. Click Start -> Click Run -> Type the word "command" -> Click OK
2. Type "telnet mail.101-host.com 25" at the flashing dos prompt and press Enter

If you see "220 ns1.101-host.com” then you can connect just fine and the problem lays elsewhere. However if you do not see this line then you are being blocked by your ISP. Try this:

Type "telnet mail.101-host.com 26" at the flashing dos prompt and press Enter

If you see "220 ns1.101-host.com” then you‘ve made a connection successfully and you must go into your Outlook settings and change your Outgoing Server (SMTP) setting from Port 25 to Port 26. You should be able to send email through our smtp server now.

If you still do not see “220 ns1.101-host.com” then you need to contact your ISP with the request to open port 25 at their firewall or proxy. Or, try using their SMTP server for your outbound mail connection instead of ours. If you use any other server to send your domain email then you will need to set up a custom SPF record in your DNS settings to avoid being blocked by the major Internet Service Providers such as Hotmail and Yahoo. Or, use your webmail to access your 101-host.com email account and avoid all the headaches. Please do not call us if you’re getting a refused connection as it is not something we can help you with. These errors are most likely due to an issue with your ISP (Internet Service Provider) limiting your connection to the Internet, assuming you are keeping your Windows up-to-date of course. If you require assistance and are running Windows XP you can send a 'Remote Assistance Invitation' to support@101-host.com and we will connect to your computer to troubleshoot it for you. The fee for this convenient service is $60/hr. You can also send us a request for Technical Support on the Customer Support page.