Fix yahoo smtp mail error code 554 Message not allowed PH01 not accepted for policy reasons

Blocked by yahoo smtp server

For some reasons, my mail server has been denied by yahoo smtp server, I can not send email to yahoo.com domain, the mail log is something like this :

B078B14A8008: to=someone@yahoo.com, relay=mta5.am0.yahoodns.net[66.196.118.34]:25, delay=2.9, delays=0.04/0/0.78/2.1, dsn=5.0.0, status=bounced (host mta5.am0.yahoodns.net[66.196.118.34] said: 554 Message not allowed - [PH01] Email not accepted for policy reasons. Please visit http://postmaster.yahoo.com/errors/postmaster-27.html [120] (in reply to end of DATA command))

I have tried changing my mail server using another IP but no luck. I also tried contacting with yahoo webmaster but no responses.

After a while digging the problem, I realize that the yahoo mail server does block my domain (which using as mail-from address to send out) and not block my server IP address.

So how did I overcome this ? Suppose that my mail-from address = ads@mydomain.com

The trick is quite easy :

- Filter all outgoing mail destine to yahoo.com to another postfix server / or postfix instance.

- Rewrite the mail-from-domain to something else, for exam to : ads@mydomainmail.com before sending to yahoo servers.

- Add the header field Return-To : <ads@mydomain.com> to make sure the users can reply to the original mail from.

- Make the mail-from (after rewrite) to more user friendly, for exam : <ads@mydomainmail.com> to Ads info by mydomain.com - user will see this at their mail client (more beautifull).

Steps in detail :

1. Filter all outgoing mail to yahoo.com to another postfix instance :

Suppose that my main postfix instance listens at [1.2.3.4]:25 and the config files stay at /etc/postfix1.2.3.4/ :

# vim /etc/postfix1.2.3.4/main.cf
transport_maps = hash:/etc/postfix1.2.3.4/transport

# vim /etc/postfix1.2.3.4/transport
yahoo.com      smtp:[1.2.3.5]:25 #filter mail to yahoo.com to other postfix instance on the same host
*     :

# postmap /etc/postfix1.2.3.4/transport
# /etc/init.d/postfix1.2.3.4 reload

# tail /var/log/maillog :

May  5 10:32:47 Postfix postfixOUTGOING/smtp[19854]: D0F3F11B8001: to=<someone@yahoo.com>, relay=1.2.3.5[1.2.3.5]:25, delay=0.05, delays=0.02/0/0.02/0.01, dsn=2.0.0, status=sent (250 2.0.0 Ok: queued as D90E91340001)

2. Rewrite the mail-from domain and add the Return-To header :

At the 1.2.3.5 postfix instance config dir :

# vim /etc/postfix1.2.3.5/main.cf
sender_canonical_maps = hash:/etc/postfix1.2.3.5/rewritesender
header_checks = regexp:/etc/postfix1.2.3.5/header_checks
transport_maps = hash:/etc/postfix1.2.3.5/transport

# vim /etc/postfix1.2.3.5/rewritesender
@mydomain.com @mydomainmail.com

# vim /etc/postfix1.2.3.5/header_checks
/^(From|from):.* (.*)@(.*)/ PREPEND Reply-To: ${2}@${3}

# vim /etc/postfix1.2.3.5/transport
*     smtp:[1.2.3.6]:25

# postmap /etc/postfix1.2.3.5/rewritesender 
# postmap /etc/postfix1.2.3.5/header_checks
# postmap /etc/postfix1.2.3.5/transport

# /etc/init.d/postfix1.2.3.5 reload
# tail /var/log/maillog :

May 5 10:32:47 postfix postfixYAHOO/cleanup[19941]: D90E91340001: prepend: header From: ads@mydomain.com from unknown[1.2.3.4]; from=<ads@mydomainmail.com> to=<someone@yahoo.com> proto=ESMTP helo=<mx1.mydomainmail.com>: Reply-To: <ads@mydomain.com>

May 5 10:32:47 postfix postfixYAHOO/smtp[19942]: D90E91340001: to=<someone@yahoo.com>, relay=1.2.3.6[1.2.3.6]:25, delay=0.04, delays=0.01/0/0.01/0.01, dsn=2.0.0, status=sent (250 2.0.0 Ok: queued as DFD6914A8001)

3. Make the mail-from (after rewrite) to more user friendly :

This step will rewrite the mail-from to : Ads info by mydomain.com

# vim /etc/postfix1.2.3.6/main.cf
header_checks = regexp:/etc/postfix1.2.3.6/header_checks

# vim /etc/postfix1.2.3.6/header_checks
/^(From|from):.* (.*)@(.*)/ REPLACE From: Ads info by mydomain.com <${2}@${3}>

# postmap /etc/postfix1.2.3.6/header_checks

# /etc/init.d/postfix1.2.3.6 reload

# tail /var/log/maillog :

May  5 10:32:47 postfix postfixYAHOO1/cleanup[19946]: DFD6914A8001: replace: header From: ads@mydomainmail.com from unknown[1.2.3.5]; from=<ads@mydomainmail.com> to=<someone@yahoo.com> proto=ESMTP helo=<mx.mydomainmail.com>: From: Ads info by mydomain.com <ads@mydomainmail.com>

May  5 10:32:50 postfix postfixYAHOO1/smtp[19947]: DFD6914A8001: to=<someone@yahoo.com>, relay=mta6.am0.yahoodns.net[98.136.216.26]:25, delay=2.4, delays=0.01/0.01/1.2/1.2, dsn=2.0.0, status=sent (250 ok dirdel)

At last, the message has been delivered to yahoo mail server (status=sent), no more blocking.

That's it.