REAL e-mail validation

NeoGeo

Hi, does anyone know if there is a way to actually send an e-mail to the server and see if it bounces or not? What I'm trying to do is require users to enter a valid e-mail address on the front page before entering the site. I don't want to do simple character validation (check for @ and no special chars, etc, etc) but actually see if the e-mail account truly exists before letting them into the site.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance

vaaaska

I don't believe you can do that. You could check if the domain exists. How are you going to use PHP to send a note AND recieve the bounce (on a shared server most likely). And what happens if there is a lag in the bounce?

Make it simple...

NeoGeo

Yeah it's a request from a client unfortunately, i'll tell them they just can't do it if I have to but i'd like to at least try and find a solution first.

I know that there are mass e-mail scripts that you can import a list of e-mails and then have it check each one by send a message to the the server and checking if it bounced or not... it doesn't actually send an e-mail just some sort of probe (really no idea). I also believe this is a good way to get your server blacklisted as spammers use the tactic, I was hoping there was some alternative way, I could even send them a welcome e-mail so it isn't considered spam...

vaaaska

Make the user respond to a registration email before they get access. A pretty reliable way of doing this. Also, validate their email address to see if the domain exists first.

NeoGeo

That's a pretty good idea... maybe if I do char validation, check the domain, and possibly make them respond to a reg e-mail that will be acceptable to the client.

Do you know how to check a domain with PHP? I can look it up but if you know a good way off hand that's be sweet.

Thanks!!

NeoGeo

with all the sqautting won't that make checking the domain difficult? I meak noone.com, asdf.com, etc are real domains... but they are being squatted right now.