E-mail webform returning error message

[Gutsy]

On our site we have an e-mail webform automatically setup by the Actinic software. After completing the required fields and submitting the following error message is shown and the message is not sent.
"Unable to connect to the mail socket (Permission denied)".
I have run an network setup test (advanced | network setup) which returned the following error messages:

1st Message
The computer you specified as your mail server is not a valid mail (SMTP) server.Check the computer name or address and try again. If it fails again, then it is possible,you were locked out by a firewall program, or you don't have network connection to this server.

2nd Message
Actinic Mail Test completed successfully
server:passed
connection:failed
sockets:passed
communications:failed
authorisation:failed
message:Permission denied

I have checked the smtp , user name and password settings and they are as they should be.
Would there be any other settings that need to be checked in order to resolve this problem. There is a simple e-mail link elsewhere on the site which is working fine so I know that the e-mail settings should work.

Thanks for any help in sorting this out.

[Gutsy]

I've sorted the problem, by switching the smtp setting to "localhost" and switching off authentication

[gerry_4]

I am having a similar problem but changing the smtp address to localhost seems to have no effect. Any advice from anyone?

[wjcampbe]

Gerry,

First try a forum search on the name of your host. If that turns up nothing helpful, come back here with some information on who the host is and the settings you are using - make sure you edit to hide usernames and passwords if you do post anything.

Note - if you used localhost - did you untick the authentication required box?

[gerry_4]

I got this reply from plusnet support "Unfortunately, we cannot support scripting on the CGI server. If you require further assistance, please see the forums. "
I had to put the site on the CGI server as that was the only way that I could get the shop working as CGI scripts are on a different server to the hosting server.

This therefore means that it seems to be impossible to get ACTINIC working properly on Plusnet !!!!!

[pinbrook]

Unfortunately, we cannot support scripting on the CGI server

Isn't that abot of a contradiction in terms, isn't a CGI server there for CGI scripting?

That aside Plusnet are not known as an Actinic friendly host, there are plenty of threads in the past about them.

Best advise here is to find another host.

[Duncan Rounding]

Seems to me like they only support there own cgi scripts which you may use and not custom cgi scripts of your own.
I agree time for a host change perhaps.

[gerry_4]

I am thinking of Fasthost and they host a few personnal websites of mine, none ecommerce and have been fine. I notice there have been one or 2 adverse comments about them in the fast but another says that these have been resolved. I was thinking of choosing the Linux product. ANy comments?