How to test a receiving mailserver via Telnet

If you are having problems sending email to a source from your VPS, VM, or server but aren't getting any bouncebacks or errors you can try the following test:

This is done from the command prompt on your VPS or server.  If you have a linux machine then SSH into it, if you have a Windows VPS\server then connect to it via Remote Desktop and open the command prompt (start >> run >> type in cmd and press enter)

Run the following commands:
# telnet RECIVING.MAILSERVER.COM 25
wait for the "220 ..." response from the mailserver then:

# ehlo VPSHOSTNAME
the mailserver should return some information on it and give a greeting back so when that is returned command:

# mail from: <YOURSENDING@EMAILADDRESS.COM>
You should get a 250 Sender OK response so then:

# rcpt to: <RECIEVING@EMAILADDRESS.COM>
You should also hopefully get a 250 Recipient OK response here

# data
the mailserver should tell you to put in your contents of the email and end with a . on a single line so type in some test information, press Enter, type in . on it's own and press enter again


Hopefully during one of these steps you will see an error or failed message back from the receiving mailserver letting you know what the error might be.