HOW TO: Configure SMTP

Summary

Proper SMTP configuration is required for the operation of several device types and the notification feature. This document describes how to configure SMTP on the Unitrac server.

More Detail

Several links require the use of SMTP for message transport between Unitrac and the tracking device (i.e. TC2K). In addition, the Unitrac notification function must be able to send email to end users.

The Unitrac server must have public domain name. For the sake of this document the domain name of the Unitrac server is assumed to be unitrac.corpten.com.

Configuration of SMTP is accomplished using the Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager applet.

Receiving Email

The public domain name must be added to the list of domains that will be accepted by the SMTP service on the Unitrac server.

To add the domain, open IIS Manager, expand the Default SMTP Virtual Server. Right-click on Domains and in the menu that opens select New and then select Domain. That will open the Domain Wizard:

Select Alias and then click the Next button. On the next window enter the domain name of the Unitrac server and then click the Finish button:

The domain will then be visible in the list of domains:

Sending Email

To send email the Unitrac server requires a fully qualified domain name (FQDN). To configure SMTP with the FQDN open the IIS Manager as above and right-click the Default SMTP Virtual Server. In the menu that opens select Properties. Click on the Delivery tab and then click the Advanced button. In the window that opens enter the domain name of the Unitrac server:

Click OK all the way out of the Properties window.

Testing

To test the reception of email, send email to Unitrac from outside your facility. Address the email to an arbitrary user at the domain configured above. If received correctly the email will appear as a “.eml” file in the mail server’s drop directory (usually c:\inetpub\mailroot\drop). You may open the file using notepad to verify its contents.

To test the transmission of email from Unitrac, perform the following procedure.

1)      Create a text file that contains an email message. Use the following as a guide. Include all lines from the first through the line that contains only a period (the blank lines are required). Fill in the correct email addresses for the sender and the recipient.

To: somebody@adomain.com
From: test@unitrac.corpten.com
Subject: Testing SMTP outgoing email

This is a test.

Copy this file to c:\inetpub\mailroute\pickup.

.

2)      Copy the file created in step 1 into the mail server’s pickup folder (usually c:\inetpub\mailroot\pickup). It will disappear when the mail server processes the file.

3)      Verify that the email is received at the recipient email address.

If inbound or outbound email is not functioning, enable logging for the STMP server and run the tests again. Analyze the log file to determine the cause of the failure.

Troubleshooting

Follow these steps to troubleshoot Unitrac email.

1)      Look in the System Event Log for SMTPSVC error logs.

2)      Look in c:\inetpub\mailroot\badmail. If there are any entries in that folder then use notepad to open the files until you see a text file that contains an error message.

3)      Enable SMTP logging. To do that, open the Computer Management applet, navigate to the Default SMTP Virtual Server, right-click on it then select Properties. On the General tab click Enable Logging. Click the Properties button then go to the Extended Properties tab. Select *all* the properties and then apply changes all the way out. Once logging is enabled try to send/receive email then look at the log file in C:\windows\system32\logfiles\smtpsvc.