A DNS Block List is a database of IP addresses which have been flagged for Internet misuse. This may include origination of junk email (spam), a virus propagation source, an open relay or an open proxy. Email administrators program their servers to consult these IP databases before permitting delivery to their users.

An open relay is a mail server that permits anybody on the Internet to send email through it. Optimally, relaying should only go through one's own Internet Service Provider which would ensure that misuse would be trackable. An open proxy allows users to connect to a remote SMTP server and send mail fully disguising their source of origin, thus promoting abuse without accountability.

http://ordb.org/faq/#how_to_close provides links which will help you find the necessary information to secure your relay. The key is knowing the name of the software you are using & the version number thereof. If you are using Microsoft Exchange Server 2000, use the link below to find directions on securing your server: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q310380

I get one of the following errors when mailing any Grande user:

You do not have permission to send to this recipient. For assistance, contact your system administrator.

• 550 5.7.1 Refused. See http://www.dnsbl.sorbs.net/cgi-bin/lookup?IP=X.X.X.X
• 550 5.7.1 Refused. See http://spamcop.net/bl.shtml?X.X.X.X
• 550 5.7.1 Refused. See http://www.abuse.net/sbl.phtml?IP=X.X.X.X
• 550 5.7.1 Refused. See http://njabl.org/cgi-bin/lookup.cgi?query=X.X.X.X
• 550 5.7.1 Refused. See http://some.other.host/program?ip=X.X.X.X

The IP address of the Email server that you are using to send mail (this may include your own computer if you are running a local mail daemon on it for sending purposes) is listed in a DNS Block List.

No, we cannot because this is not 'our' block list and Grande did not add you to it. These lists are administrated by 3rd party organizations whom Grande has no affiliation with other than as an end-user of the service.

If you are an Internet Service Provider or Systems/Network Administrator for an IP network, and manage the IP space which is blocked, simply follow the hyperlink in the error message (as shown above) which will take you to the reason for the listing. Each site contains clearly marked directions for removal. If you are a customer of an ISP, school, office, etc. please copy the full error message, and pass it on to whomever supplies your Internet access.

Perhaps this analogy will work. The clerk at the grocery store hands back your corporate credit card, saying it is "declined". This is because the 3rd party entity, the credit card company, has denied the transaction. Your only course of action is to have your company now contact the credit card company to settle the probable mixup. There is nothing that you or the store clerk can do about it.

Consider Grande to be the clerk. We want to accept your email and we have no reason in the world not to. However the company that we use to validate your credentials tells us that we must refuse the transaction! Like the example above, you must now have your ISP contact the DNS block list maintainer to fix the problem. Once they "clear" your ISP, your email will once again be able to reach us. Neither you nor Grande need make any changes for this to happen!