Problems with authenticated smtp on Mac mail 2

Question

I do support for a small ISP and we are seeing problems with Mac Mail authenticating to the smtp server. The settings that should work are:
outgoing server: asmtp.gorge.net
Username: full email address
Outgoing server port: 2525 or 587
We typically turn on password for the authentication type. In some customers, nothing seems to work. They get an error that their email address can't authenticate. Any ideas on what settings might work for this?

Answer 1

Teri,
Reading the guidance for Outlook Express, I note:
"Step 11. On the Servers tab under Outgoing Mail Server, check the box titled My server requires authentication. Then go to the Advanced tab. Below select the option use same settings as incoming server. (emphasis added)"
In Mail, this is normally the same as specifying authentication of None, and not entering the Username or Password again for the Outgoing Server. This type of authentication, does not result in appending the Username entry (Username corresponds to Account Name in Outlook Express). Mail will authenticate to the SMTP with the Username and Password used for the Incoming, if prompted by the server, and the separate, hard, (and redundant) authentication resulting from using Password in the Outgoing Server entry boxes will cause a failure. However, this type of authentication (which is often called SMTP after POP3, or POP3 before SMTP) is normally conducted on Port 25. In my experience, the use of Port 587 is meant for those SMTP that must have a separate authentication, and where you will see the name altered to include the Username. Hopefully this will work with Port 2525, but I have not confirmed. SMTP after POP3 authentication does not help sending from remote providers, such as found in internet cafes, and this is why some ISPs provide a SMTP that does require separate, Password Authentication.
In the new Mail Setup Assistant, there is now the option to specify to use the same settings, but not enter the Username and Password -- this is not obvious, but well known by some ISPs, but not all -- this is really the same as changing to None in an existing account, and removing the Password and Username entries. Also, in Mail, I would NOT expect any default names to appear, unlike what your Mac Mail instructions imply.
Keep me posted.
Ernie