SMTP in Azure

Question

I have set up a worker role with a startup task that is supposed to start the smtp-server and grant access for 127.0.0.1 to send emails through it.

see http://richardprodger.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/using-the-windows-smtp-server-in-azure/

 

When the instance is newly rebooted everything works like a charm but after a few hours I am no longer able to send emails.

Any Ideas as to what I can have missed in setup, I have followed the guide to the letter(three times) without any success...

I have searched and searched but been unable to find anything except that it is not recommended to use the built in smtp for blacklist reasons but since we are only using it to send error messages we don't really care about that.

 

 

Answer 1

Hi,

I have searched and searched but been unable to find anything except that it is not recommended to use the built in smtp for blacklist reasons but since we are only using it to send error messages we don't really care about that.

Here is an article that provides some solutions for how to install an SMTP server in Windows Azure dynamically, please check it and see whether it helps.

Dynamically Install an SMTP Server in Windows Azure

but after a few hours I am no longer able to send emails.

As far as I know, if you send large quantities of email from Azure, chances are that the ip address will be blocked by anti-spam systems. Normally, Windows Azure does not provide an SMTP service.  We recommend using the following patterns for enabling emailing capabilities for applications deployed to the Windows Azure platform:

1. Use a custom on-premise e-mail forwarder service.
2. Use E-mail server’s web service API’s.
3. Use a third party SMTP service.

You can refer the link below for the detailed information:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/windowsazure/archive/2010/10/08/adoption-program-insights-sending-emails-from-windows-azure-part-1-of-2.aspx

 

Best Regards,

Ming Xu.

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Answer 2

I have followed that guide as well and I have been able to send messages via the smtp in azure but from reason it stops working after a few hours.

The Smtp server seems to be online and no error messages but still no messages.

Any ideas as to what the problem might be, I know about the other solutions but I would like to get this working.

Answer 3

Hi,

I am trying to involve someone familiar with this topic to further look at this issue. There might be some time delay. Appreciate your patience.

 

Best Regards,

Ming Xu.

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Answer 4

Hi Shaiolle,

Could you RDP to the VM and enable SMTP logging to see whether you can get some clues from the log?

http://forums.iis.net/t/1144476.aspx

 

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Answer 5

@shaiolle : may i know how u have done? 

i have deployed my wcf service over azure but it isn't allowing me to send emails from there. i know i have to create relay but m not getting it excatly.

i tried with localhost and it's working fine but from azure it isn't.

m developing a client application in windows store apps.

Answer 6

Hi Shaiolle,

You could also consider using SendGrid, instead.

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Best Regards,
Carlos Sardo

Answer 7

Hi Nikki

Unfortunately Microsoft doesn't allow the use of an Azure-server as a smtp-server because they are worried that people would use them to send spam. Instead you need to use an external smtp provider

Se Ming Xu:s answer

As far as I know, if you send large quantities of email from Azure, chances are that the ip address will be blocked by anti-spam systems. Normally, Windows Azure does not provide an SMTP service.  We recommend using the following patterns for enabling emailing capabilities for applications deployed to the Windows Azure platform:

1. Use a custom on-premise e-mail forwarder service.
2. Use E-mail server’s web service API’s.
3. Use a third party SMTP service.

You can refer the link below for the detailed information:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/windowsazure/archive/2010/10/08/adoption-program-insights-sending-emails-from-windows-azure-part-1-of-2.aspx