Using phpmailer I keep getting a 110 timeout and "Unable to connect to host" when sending email from my web server. The authentication details are right and they work on another server I have (login, pwd, ports etc and gmail acct set up for SSL connections on 465), but it's failing on my new server. FIREWALL: I allow related/established, port 80 and a port for SSH on INPUT, then this on OUTPUT: 7906 474K DROP tcp -- any any anywhere anywhere tcp dpt:smtp 0 0 ACCEPT tcp -- any any localhost.localdomain yw-in-f109.1e100.net tcp dpt:submission 0 0 ACCEPT tcp -- any any localhost.localdomain gx-in-f109.1e100.net tcp dpt:ssmtp 0 0 DROP tcp -- any any anywhere anywhere tcp dpt:submission 9 540 DROP tcp -- any any anywhere anywhere tcp dpt:ssmtp This output chain works on my other server and disabling it doesn't get mail delivered either. WEB SERVER: Varnish (80) Nginx (8088) Drupal 7 PHP5-FPM APC MySQL All works beautifully, except for outgoing email. What else could it be? I understand phpmailer does NOT require a local MTA or procmail (this is sort of the point - I don't want the security or admin overhead of a full blown MTA on my web server). Am I wrong? Do I need an MTA as well? What local ports and programs are used to authenticate over SSL and route mail using phpmailer? Any ideas at all greatly appreciated - wasted a day on this nonsense already!