[Exim] malformed smtp connection string

Just started up a new server and compiled the latest version of exim.

The problem is it will not accept mail from outside. Tested from the
old server running exim 3.5 (debian) it puts up an smtp message
on the first line saying "Exim is an mta....etc" and the old machine
just says goodby. When I first started it up it would accept mail
so this is something I have managed to do :-(
linux 2.4 (debian)  exim4.30
TIA for any suggestion.
bob               vhs@???