is there a free isp account available?

masood131

I live with couple of other people. Our internet connection comes from Comcast originally as my roomate is the account holder, and then it is routed to me and the third roomate. As far as him and I know COMCAST is only our ISP provider and we don't have a mail server.

My roomate tells me that he does not have a mail server even as the original account holder. He mentioned that "only corporations get mail servers, and although it can be created it takes too long."

1) Do I have to have an ISP mail account to enable my mail server in php and send myself mail?

2) How can I get an ISP mail account, so I can enable my php mailserver?

3)What is PEAR::Mail, and is that easier to set up and use than mail()?

I appreciate any help

ShawnK

1) PHP does not have a mail server, it simply sends mail to a SMTP server you specify in "php.ini". For example my test server my "php.ini" file has these lines:

[mail function]
; For Win32 only.
SMTP = smtp.gmail.com

; For Win32 only.
sendmail_from = shawnkurtz@gmail.com

2) The only way to get an ISP account is to call up your ISP and ask them for one. Considering the fact that you weren't given one in the first place, you'll probally have to pay.

3) I don't use PEAR so I wouldn't know but setting up mail() is VERY easy. Just open up your "php.ini" file and find and edit these lines:

[mail function]
; For Win32 only.
SMTP = smtp.yourisp.com

; For Win32 only.
sendmail_from = youraccount@yourisp.com

masood131

Hi,
I called comcast, my ISP provider, and the lady told me to put "SMTP = mail.comcast.net", but the whole thing happened in less than a 30 sec, and I didn't get the feeling she really understood what I wanted or what I was talking about!!

Shawnk, I thank you for your feed back. The mail is still not working. Maybe you can look at it if you have time.

Here is my php.ini file, after I made the changes:

[mail function]
; For Win32 only.
SMTP = smtp.comcast.net
smtp_port = 25

; For Win32 only.
;sendmail_from = masood131@yahoo.com

Here is my "feedback.html". Please note my '$toaddress" in the codes below is different from the 'SMTP = smtp.comcast.net'. Could that be the reason it is not working? What suggestions would you have?

<html>
<head>
<title>Bob's Auto Parts - Customer Feedback</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Customer Feed Back</h1><br />
Please tell us what you think

<form action="processfeedback.php" method="post">
Your name <br />
<input type="text" name="name" size="40" /><br />
Your email address<br />
<input type="text" name="email" size="40" /><br />
Your feedback<br />
<textarea rows="5" cols="30" name="feedback"></textarea><br />
<input type="submit" value="Send feedback" size="40" />
</form>
</body>
</html>

Here is my "processfeedback.php"

<?php
//create short variable
$name = $_REQUEST['name'];
$email = $_REQUEST['email'];
$feedback =$_REQUEST['feedback'];

$toaddress = 'masood131@yahoo.com';
$subject = 'Feedback from web site';
$mailcontent = 'Customer name: '.$name."\n"
               .'Customer email: '.$email."\n"
               ."Customer comments: \n".$feedback."\n";
$fromaddress = 'From: [email]masood131@yahoo.com[/email]';

if(mail($toaddress, $subject, $mailcontent, $fromaddress) === false) 
{
  echo "There was an error sending the email.";
}
else{
  echo"<html>
<head>
  <title>Bob's Auto Parts- Feedback Submitted</title>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Feedback Submitted</h1>
<p>Your feedback has been sent.</p>
</body>
</html>";
    }
?>

And finally here is what I get everytime I run "feedback":

There was an error sending the email.

ShawnK

The lady is correct about what you have to type in, but it won't work unless you have an account. Try putting smtp.yahoo.com and see if that works.

masood131

Shawn,
I do have an account, actually my roomate does, and it is being routed to me via a router. I don't know if that makes a difference. Well, I am exhusting all my avenues here. Sooner or later I find a way to fix this issue.

ty
masood