ucp_register.php block Yahoo and AOL

[The Reverend]

Hiya Jeff,

I have been searching .com for hours now and have searched with google for longer than my eyes could cope with and haven't found anything close to the solution I am trying to find.

Okay, here's the problem, our server wont forward account activation emails through the php mail function to Yahoo or AOL email addresses, our server has told me to set-up a smtp account, I tried doing this and got sooooo lost in it all, download this, install that, configure this account configure that account, password here pop3 this gmail that, my head felt like exploding and the smtp doesn't work either now, I realise it's because I got something wrong but my god what a nightmare.

My solution idea, I have added text in the registration panel where new members enter their username etcetera that states not to use yahoo or aol email addresses, this will resolve some problems with activation emails not being sent out but not all new members take the time to read anything outside of the absolute basic essentials to get registered.

So the idea moved on to how about adding a condition in the php file to give an error message saying:
"Yahoo and AOL email addresses are invalid here, please use a different emails address"

I figure this would probably have to go in the includes/ucp/ucp_register.php, I have no idea what sort of code I should use to attain the result I am looking for, do you have any ideas?

[topdown]

Well if you don't have any currant users with those email addresses, you could use the email ban by wild card in the ACP
like *@hotmail.com

If done in the ACP it may even disregard already registered users with those, I am unsure.

[The Reverend]

I've done that for now, not an ideal solution as the site will tell them their email has been banned, I've added a reason for the ban being our server wont send out email to their email provider, but essentially people will feel they have been banned, not a great solution.

I'll keep searching the net, never know eh.

[Gavo]

it should be simple to set up a smtp mail account.
In cpanel make a new email address noreply@yourdomain.com with a password.

then in phpbb3 ACP email settings enter
SMTP server address: mail.yourdoman.com
SMTP username: noreply+yourdomain.com
SMTP Password: yourpassword

Test it be sending yourself a PM or make a test account, if you dont receive the mail its likely the server IP is on spam blacklists or the mail is down on the server (or disabled) . The host shouldn't disable phpmail in the 1st place, if unsuccessful move to a more reliable host. or if you really dont want to move purchase some cheap hosting to run smtp from.