SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, which is a protocol used for sending email messages between servers. When an email is sent, it is first delivered to the sender's SMTP server. The SMTP server then uses the SMTP protocol to send the email to the recipient's SMTP server.
The recipient's SMTP server then delivers the email to the recipient's inbox. SMTP servers usually require authentication to prevent unauthorized use. This is typically done by requiring a username and password before allowing the sender to use the SMTP server to send email messages.
There are several ways to find the SMTP server IP address. Here are some of the most common methods:
Use the Command prompt/Terminal:
To find the SMTP server IP address, you can follow these steps:
Step 1. Open the command prompt or terminal on your computer.
Step 2. Type "nslookup" and press enter.
Step 3. Type "set type=mx" and press enter.
Step 4. Type the domain name of your email address (for example, gmail.com) and press enter.
The result will show you the list of mail servers for that domain. Look for the server with the "SMTP" service listed and note down its hostname.
Step 5. Type "nslookup" followed by the hostname of the SMTP server and press enter.
For example, Type "nslookup -type=mx gmail.com" (replace "gmail.com" with your email domain). This will return your domain's mail exchange (MX) records, including the SMTP server IP address.
Type "nslookup gmail-smtp-in.l.google.com".
The result will show you the IP address of the Gmail SMTP server.
Use online tools:
Several online tools can help you find the SMTP server IP address. One such tool is MX Lookup Tool (https://mxtoolbox.com/), which allows you to enter your email domain and returns the MX records, including the SMTP server IP address.
Check header:
To get the IP address from email headers, you can follow these steps:
Step 1. Open the email message in question and find the "Full headers", "Show Original" or "Message headers" option. This is usually located in your email client's "Options" or "Settings" section.
Step 2. Once you locate the header information, look for the "Received" lines, which indicate the servers the email passed through before arriving at your inbox.
Step 3. Identify the first "Received" line, which represents the server that received the email from the sender. The IP address of this server will be listed in square brackets [find IP address here] after the server name.
Step 4. Look for the next "Received" line, which represents the server that received the email from the previous server. The IP address of this server will also be listed in square brackets [find IP address here].
Step 5. Repeat step 4 for each subsequent "Received" line until you reach the last one.
For example: Received: from xxxx.xxxxxx.com (xxxx.xxxxxx.com. [xx.xx.xx.xxx])
The IP address listed in the last "Received" line is usually the IP address of the mail server that delivered the email to your inbox. This is the IP address you can use for further investigation or troubleshooting.
Note that the exact location and format of email headers can vary depending on your email client or service, so the above steps may not apply in all cases.
Check with your email service provider:
Your email service provider should be able to provide you with the SMTP server IP address. Check their website or contact their customer support for assistance.
The SMTP server IP address is essential information for identifying and troubleshooting email problems. There are several ways to find it, including using the command prompt/terminal, online tools, checking email headers, and contacting your email service provider. Finding the IP address of the SMTP server can be advantageous for troubleshooting email problems and ensuring the delivery of emails is successful.
