**Send anonymous emails!!!**Must see**

[rohan]

Offtopic again

php mail() does not need any authentication and thats how we can send emails like in the form. You need not have an email account in the server to use it.

But on the other hand, smtp one need authentication. If you do not have a valid email address in that server, you can't use the class.

d00d.. i am just not gonna argue about this anymore... If you are php developer with clientele, I suggest you learn about protocols and networking before you endager your clients. This is the last statement i'm gonna have with this:

In Unix, php uses sendmail to power the mail() functions. The sendmail binary acts as an SMTP server in itself and sends the email. Under Windows, you need to have an SMTP server installed and then php uses port 25 [or some other port that u may specify] to use the installed server and send emails. Now, If i download and install mercury.. but then use the gmail servers for outgoing messages.. i still need to authenticate myself. Then and then only can i use the mail() function and send emails. If, however I set mercury itself as the outgoing server, the need of authentication then depends on the server settings I make.

 

[din]

@rohan

Well, I never meant to go too technical in this matter and I never meant to argue on this.

Only thing I mentioned is about the differences (yes, that may be settings at server, no arguement on that).

For example, hostgator - one of the biggest webspace providers allow php mail() function to run in their servers. At a customer point of view (having a dedicated server with them or a eseller or just a customer) there is no authentication there. We can send email to any using the function without any authentication, like we can specify any imaginary email address, etc.

On the other hand, lot of server disable mail() function. They allow authenticated SMTP only, of course security reasons. Unless you have a valid email address, password and you use only that to send emails, it will not work.

That is the difference I meant to mention, and nothing about how php mail work internally, whether it use binary or nothing about the protocols. Never too technical as the topic was not meant for that.

Hope that clears.

Now, shall we stop this as its all explained ?