I frequently have to set up a CRM system and it needs to talk to the email server in order to send emails or relay emails.  But cannot tell whether or not the SMTP server needs logon credentials or not.  Also, it may be setup, but you don’t know if it is responding without going through tons of logs.

1. Telnet into Exchange server hosting IMS service using TCP port 25.

at the Command prompt type: telnet <servername> 25

2.If you don’t see anything or if you type and nothing shows, turn on Local Echo.
type : set local_echo

3. Now lets start by typing the parts in red

type: helo <your domain name><enter>

250 OK

type: mail from: <your Email Address><enter>

250 OK – mail from <your Email address>

rcpt to: <recipient address><enter>
250 OK – Recipient <recipient address>

data<enter>
354 Send data.  End with CRLF.CRLF

To: <recipient’s display name><enter>
From: <your display name><enter>
Subject: This is a test message<enter>
<Enter you body text><enter><enter> . <enter>

250 OK

quit<enter>

If all goes well, you should receive an email to the address that you put in the To section.  If there are any errors, then likely relaying is not on, or you need to issue a username and password to the server to send the email.