XFOR: Verifying Basic POP3 Connectivity Using Telnet

 Last reviewed: November 26, 1997
Article ID: Q165186
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.0

SUMMARY

This article describes how to telnet to port 110 on servers running of Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.0. This is useful for troubleshooting communication problems between a POP3 client and a mailbox located on an Exchange Server 5.0 computer.

MORE INFORMATION

Follow the steps below to ensure that you have proper POP3 connectivity to a mailbox located on Microsoft Exchange.

NOTE: Press ENTER after you type each line:

  1. Start a TELNET session using the following command: 

          Telnet <IP address of server> 110

    If this works, you will see this response from the server: 

          +OK Microsoft Exchange POP3 server version 5.0.1457.10 ready

  2. Begin communication by initiating a login to the mailbox with the following commands: 

          USER domain/NTAccount/Exchangemailbox


        You should see this response:


          +OK

  3. Type the following command: 

         PASS <NT Domain Password>

    You should see this response: 

         +OK User successfully logged on

  4. Type the following command to list all mail in the mailbox: 

          LIST

    You should get the following response (this will vary, depending on the number of messages in the mailbox): 

          +OK
      1 373
      2 388
      3 388

    The "message number"is the number on left

  5. Type the following command to retrieve a message: 

          RETR <message number>

    You should see the message you selected via "message number" response: 

          +OK
      Received: by YOMAN2.dns.microsoft.com
      id <01BC2F60.EA72A8C0@YOMAN2.dns.microsoft.com>; Thu, 13 Mar
      1997 03:44:55 -0000
      Message-ID:
      <A157B5AD9196D011A13A00AA0040DA1D07DB@YOMAN2.dns.microsoft.com>
      From: yoman2 <yoman2@Site-A.Microsoft.com>
      To: yoman2 <yoman2@Site-A.Microsoft.com>
      Subject: test2
      Date: Thu, 13 Mar 1997 03:44:55 -0000
      X-Priority: 3
      MIME-Version: 1.0
      Content-Type: text/plain


          <Body of Message>

If you are able to complete the above steps without error, any POP3 client conforming to RFC 1939 should work to connect to the mailbox. 
Keywords          : XFOR kbtshoot
Version           : winnt:5.0
Platform          : winnt

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Last reviewed: November 26, 1997
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