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I'm using smtpmail to send email (via mu4e) in Emacs at my work. When I connect via wireless, I can send mail without problem, but when I connect to the wired connection it doesn't work, producing an error:

 network-stream-open-starttls: smtp.gmail.com/587 System error

Given that I can access the internet via the wired connection, I'm not sure why the wired connection wouldn't work for sending mail.

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    Same network, or different networks? Some folks/ISPs/businesses block outgoing email ports for security reasons.
    – Brian Adkins
    Commented Sep 4, 2013 at 21:31
  • They're both my work's networks.
    – emacsomancer
    Commented Sep 5, 2013 at 17:50

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As BrianAdkins says, this is probably related to the differing security policies on the two networks. You say

I can access the internet via the wired connection

but have you tested specifically whether you can access gmail.com via the wired connection?

My guess is that your company simply does not allow encrypted connections over the wired link to email, social media, or file-sharing sites. You can test this hypothesis by visiting, say, mail.yahoo.com, facebook.com, or dropbox.com. They will all probably be rejected on the wired link.

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  • Yes, I can access the gmail webclient on the wired connection.
    – emacsomancer
    Commented Sep 5, 2013 at 17:40
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when you are on the wired connection, go to a Command Prompt and type the following: 

telnet smtp.gmail.com 587

If you see something like this below, then port 587 is open on the wired connection...

220 mx.google.com ESMTP ct4sm32676792pbb.41 - gsmtp

If you just see, the following for a minute, then that port is blocked.

Connecting To smtp.gmail.com...

If the port is blocked, then you will not be able to send e-mail via smtp.gmail.com

Google always sending e-mail on other ports, but you have to re-configure your e-mail client...

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  • So far I'm not seeing either. I see: Trying 173.194.77.108... for a couple of minutes, and then: Trying 173.194.77.109... [I also get the same when I try ports 465 or 25 ?!] I'm assuming that means that port is blocked?
    – emacsomancer
    Commented Sep 5, 2013 at 17:41
  • Yes, the ports are likely blocked. I know our work blocks the common ports for outgoing e-mail because they want all e-mail sent through a central server. This prevents virus/trojan/worms that may try to send out spam.
    – Sun
    Commented Sep 5, 2013 at 18:09
  • @SunWKim So then would you say that BeSlayed's company has just made an oversight in allowing their wireless network devices to make this external SMTP connection? (In my experience, a company's wireless network has had a separate security policy from the wired network if and only if company devices cannot access the wireless network -- e.g., if the wireless is for cell phones or visitors only. But that does not seem to be the case for BeSlayed.)
    – dg99
    Commented Sep 5, 2013 at 18:17
  • @dg99 depends on the company policy. We have WiFi access that lets the company laptop access and we can send e-mail from there if we want. The WiFi is open to all visitors and MAC addresses are not checked to see if they belong to the company.
    – Sun
    Commented Sep 6, 2013 at 0:11
  • @dg99 There is an open (guest) WiFi, but I'm connecting to password-protected WiFi.
    – emacsomancer
    Commented Sep 6, 2013 at 16:26

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