Note: I’m using Unix Telnet to connect to the SMTP sever.

Let’s get started by trying to connect to the server:

Open a telnet session and login to the server box you would like to test sending emails from. I will be logging in to a DEV environment.

Step one:
Once logged in successfully, type:
$ telnet <Your-SMTP-Server> 25

And you shoud see…
Trying…
Connected to <Your-SMTP-Server>.
Escape character is ‘^]’.
220 <Your-SMTP-Server> ESMTP Sendmail 8.11.7p3+Sun/8.11.6; Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:24:56 -0500 (CDT)

Great our DEV box allowed to connect to the SMTP server.

Step Two:
Send an email manually:
Lets identify ourselves with the HELO command and the domain name we are coming from. For example, if your work email address is your-name@yourcompany.com then your domain name would be yourcompany.com
helo yourcompany.com

And you should see…
250 <Your-SMTP-Server> Hello serverbox.yourcompany.com , pleased to meet you

Now type the email address you want the email to appear from:
mail from:test@yourcompany.com
250 2.1.0 test@yourcompany.com… Sender ok

Now type the email address you would want the message to go to:
rcpt to:you@yourcompany.com
250 2.1.5 you@yourcompany.com… Recipient ok

Now, lets type the email message. You will need to issue the command “data” then start typing your message, once done click enter and type “.” And then enter. A single point “.” On a line by itself followed by and enter means you are done typing your message.
data
354 Enter mail, end with “.” on a line by itself
This is a test email using SMTP.
.
250 2.0.0 m3EJaMf21424 Message accepted for delivery

To send your message just type “quit” in the command line and your done.
quit
221 2.0.0 <Your-SMTP-Server> closing connection
Connection closed.

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