Macintosh Outlook Express Fails with SOCKS Proxy

ID: Q187038

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

The e-mail function of Microsoft Outlook Express fails to connect to Internet Mail servers when used with the Microsoft Proxy Server 2.0 SOCKS service.


CAUSE

Outlook Express Mail supports SOCKS version 4.0. It does not support the Microsoft Proxy 2.0 version of the SOCKS protocol (version 4.3a), which gives support for DNS resolution.


WORKAROUND

Outlook Express must either be configured by using the IP address of the SMTP and POP mail server along with the IP address of the Proxy Server's internal network interface or by configuring an internal DNS server that does internet resolution.

To ensure Outlook Express is configured properly, perform the following steps:

  1. Start Outlook Express.


  2. Click Edit/Preferences from the Macintosh Menu.


  3. In the Preferences window, click E-mail under the Accounts section in left pane.


  4. For each of the following sections in the E-mail pane (on the right side), set the values as follows:
    Sending Mail Section:
    SMTP Server - Set this value to the SMTP Server's IP address (not the DNS name)

    Receiving Mail Section:
    POP Server - Set this value to the POP Server's IP address (not the DNS name)


  5. In the left pane, click Proxies under the Network section.


  6. In the right pane, verify that Enabled is checked. If not, click the Enabled option.


  7. In the Protocol drop-down list, choose Other.


  8. In the Method drop-down list, choose SOCKS.


  9. Type in the IP address of the Microsoft Proxy Server's internal network interface in the Address section under Method (for example, http://ProxyServer's_IP_address).


  10. Enter 1080 for the Port value (the option next to Address). This value is the control channel used to communicate with the Microsoft SOCKS service so that the client can request the commands it needs to reach the Internet.


  11. Click OK to save the above changes.


  12. On the Proxy Server computer, verify that permissions have been granted for the Macintosh clients on port 1080 by performing the following:


  1. Open Internet Service Manager.


  2. Right-click SOCKS Service and click Properties.


  3. Click the Permissions tab.


  4. Click Add.


  5. Set the permissions to the following settings:
    Action - Permit
    Source - All (this can be on an individual IP basis)
    Destination - All (this can be on an individual IP basis)


  6. Create the following three filters for mail to be sent and received (if trying to secure protocols):
    Port - EQ (equal) - 1080
    Port - EQ (equal) - 25
    Port - EQ (equal) - 110

    -or-

    Create one filter that permits all to go through SOCKS on any port connection:
    Port - GE 0


  7. Click OK, and then click OK again.



With these settings Outlook should be able to send and receive mail appropriately.

NOTE: When you add permissions in the SOCKS interface and apply changes, the next time the permissions list is viewed, the values may reflect a zero value for the ports. For more information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q176958 Socks Port Number Always Shows as Zero (0) in Permission List 


Keywords          : prx2faq kbfaq 
Version           : MACINTOSH:4.0,4.0c,4.5; winnt:2.0
Platform          : MACINTOSH winnt 
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: June 10, 1999