I have set up a new Moodle (3.4) on a unmanaged Ubuntu VPS but the SMTP configuration is giving problems. I have used a 3rd party SMTP server in the past and I thought it was easy. In Administration / Server / Email I set up SMTP Hosts username and password and so on following the 3rd party instructions. I tried this again and no emails were sent. Sometimes I get "Error sending password change confirmation email" and sometimes no message at all.
I also tried configuring a gmail account. This asks me to configure Settings > Site administration > Plugins > Message outputs > Email, a label which has an eye but can not be configured on my system.
I have even tried installing a Postfix server and can confirm emails are sent from the command line.
Have I missed a config step somewhere?
What log can I search for more clues?
Have you asked your hosting company if they provide an SMTP gateway you can use?
I have an account on smtp2go which should be enough for my modest needs - usually passwords resets. They provide fairly clear instructions but I am not getting emails sent.
My first attempt was with Sendgrid which I had already set up to send emails from another Moodle installation. I have also tried gmail so after 3 attempts I am starting to think the fault is not in the server.
Have you used this hosting before? Do they allow emails to be sent to other email servers? Many sites block port 25 to discourage spammers.
I am setting this one up on a new host. The install was fine and I have installed a Postfix server which has sent emails. Part of the problem is where to look - is it my host, smtp server selected or the Moodle configuration? Are there logs which can show the problem? I will also raise a support ticket.
Also still confused by this
Configuring SMTP settings in Moodle
Configuring SMTP settings in Moodle
- Log into the Moodle Dashboard.
- Navigate to Site administration > Plugins > Message outputs > Email in the settings section.
- On the Email page, configure the SMTP settings. By default Moodle will use the PHP mail function to send emails.
I have been setting up smtp under Site administration > Server > Email > Outgoing mail configuration. Am i missing a plugin?
Site administration > Server > Email > Outgoing mail configuration.
Don't ever set up your own Postfix server or MTA. You are opening up a nightmare for yourself.
I still come back to the original question you didn't answer - does your hosting company have an SMTP relay you can use?
Checked - those instructions do not apply to the latest version.
emails were under plugins in 2.8.
So I am configuring in the right place.
Yes - they keep moving. Just to confuse people. Sorry - I meant, make things better
It is an unmanaged server so I am on my own. Log files would be useful but I can't find anything useful in /var/log.
I still can't get this to work. I have configured php to work and this will send emails from my server so php is able to send emails.
If myserver can send emails where is the problem?
echo "This is the body of the email" | mail -s "This is the subject line" your_email_addressIf myserver can send emails where is the problem?
Hi James,
I seem to be having a similar issue. The really odd thing is some things in the system send emails, and some don't. Specifically:
- Backup summary email notifications come through each night (From noreply@xxx)
- Face to Face (plugin) reminders come through (From noreply@xxx)
- Face to Face (plugin) confirmations do not come through (no error)
- Password reset requests do not work (generates error)
- Forum emails come through (From noreply@xxx)
Would be interested to see if anyone else is having a similar issue.
Cheers
Peter