SORBS on autopilot?

Tue Jan 12 18:56:01 UTC 2010

Jed Smith wrote:
> Depending on the chain of delegation, a server operator may not have access to
> modify his PTR record and might not be able to change it.  

It's a common belief among network operators that if a "server operator" 
doesn't have access/ability to modify the PTR record for a server, it's 
a good sign that the server shouldn't be used to send email, but instead 
should send email thru an email server provided by their upstream access 
provider.

The people who manage those servers, who can't or won't fix the PTR *or* 
send email thru an email server provided by their access provider, think 
it is critically important that the rest of the internet receive their 
missives.  They are mistaken.  Their missives come from "a bad 
neighborhood" (IPs with PTR formats that are strongly associated with 
botnets) where the odds of any email being desired by the recipient are 
extremely low.  If they want their email to avoid being treated as spam 
then they need to move to a better neighborhood (fix the PTR) or send 
from a server located in a better neighborhood (a server with a correct 
PTR for a mail server).

Endlessly whining "I wanna, I wanna, I can't, You should, I wanna" over 
and over isn't going to change anything.  Other networks aren't going to 
change how they filter based on PTR for someone who can't properly 
assign the PTR for their mail server.

jc