SMPT isn't working for me

TheNetTweets

So I'm trying to configure my forum's outgoing email setting but it's not working. Before I go any further I should say I that I've already looked through almost ever post about this and none have really helped.

Here are the settings I have:

SMTP Host: smtp.gmail.com
SMTP User: ********@gmail.com
SMTP Password: ********
SMTP Port: 465
SMTP Security: SSL (Though I've also tried TLS)

Whenever I try to resend a verification email it just tells me something is wrong and I never receive the email. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Oh and I'm using gmail (obviously)

hbf

@TheNetTweets said:
Also do you know if it's ok if I only say "Powered by Vanilla.", and don't actually link? The reason for this is that I have "Powered by Vanilla" right next to another link and if I make "Powered by Vanilla" a link it will look like it's part of the other link.

its not required at all.

Shadowdare

Your web host might be blocking the connection to the SMTP server via all those ports from going through their firewall. You should contact your web host to see if this is true and if they can unblock outbound connections to smtp.gmail.com through SSL port 465.

hgtonight

You don't need to configure an SMTP server to send out emails. As long as your host has send mail installed, it should work out of the box.

ahmedaladdin

I tried sending emails without the SMTP and some automated emails reached gmail inbox in some accounts and others went to junk folder!

But with my hotmail uk account, the automated emails reached my junk folder

One more thing, if you set an email account in your outlook or cell phone using the SMTP, your emails sent from these devices will never be marked as spam by default.

I am not professional or even in a moderate level, but i tried many times to make sure my visitors receive the automated emails without issues.

Shadowdare

Welcome to the community!

I use the same Gmail host and SSL port on a site with no problems.

@TheNetTweets said:
(Though I've also tried TLS)

Did you try TLS with port 587? If it doesn't work, try no security protocol with port 25.

TheNetTweets

@Shadowdare said:
Welcome to the community!

I use the same Gmail host and SSL port on a site with no problems.

Did you try TLS with port 587? If it doesn't work, try no security protocol with port 25.

Sorry for the late response and thank you for the welcome!

Nope neither of those worked. I get this message when I try to resend the confirmation email: "Bonk
Something funky happened. Please bear with us while we iron out the kinks."

TheNetTweets

Also do you know if it's ok if I only say "Powered by Vanilla.", and don't actually link? The reason for this is that I have "Powered by Vanilla" right next to another link and if I make "Powered by Vanilla" a link it will look like it's part of the other link.

hbf

@TheNetTweets said:
Also do you know if it's ok if I only say "Powered by Vanilla.", and don't actually link? The reason for this is that I have "Powered by Vanilla" right next to another link and if I make "Powered by Vanilla" a link it will look like it's part of the other link.

its not required at all.

TheNetTweets

@hbf said:
its not required at all.

Oh ok

hbf

FWIW i use a non hyperlinked 'pipe' | to separate links if they could be confused as a single link. (or double pipe, see signature)

Shadowdare

@TheNetTweets said:
Nope neither of those worked. I get this message when I try to resend the confirmation email: "Bonk Something funky happened. Please bear with us while we iron out the kinks."

Please follow these steps to see the error behind the bonk error: http://vanillawiki.homebrewforums.net/index.php/Bonk_Errors

TheNetTweets

@hbf said:
FWIW i use a non hyperlinked 'pipe' | to separate links if they could be confused as a single link. (or double pipe, see signature)

Good idea! Do you have any recommendations for plugins? I just started today.

TheNetTweets

@Shadowdare said:

Oh so this error is serious?

TheNetTweets

@Shadowdare said:

Here's the error then:

http://pastebin.com/RDerNHxV

Shadowdare

Your web host might be blocking the connection to the SMTP server via all those ports from going through their firewall. You should contact your web host to see if this is true and if they can unblock outbound connections to smtp.gmail.com through SSL port 465.

TheNetTweets

@Shadowdare said:
Your web host might be blocking the connection to the SMTP server via all those ports from going through their firewall. You should contact your web host to see if this is true and if they can unblock outbound connections to smtp.gmail.com through SSL port 465.

Ok thanks! Also do you know where I can find the favicon.ico?

Shadowdare

You can create a custom theme, add a design folder in the theme folder, and add a custom favicon called favicon.png.

hbf

@TheNetTweets said:
Good idea! Do you have any recommendations for plugins? I just started today.

there are other threads on "favorite plugins" start there.

TheNetTweets

@Shadowdare said:
Your web host might be blocking the connection to the SMTP server via all those ports from going through their firewall. You should contact your web host to see if this is true and if they can unblock outbound connections to smtp.gmail.com through SSL port 465.

So my terrible host told me that they couldnt unblock that port. They said the only unblocked ports were port 80 and 21. Is it possible to use those ports?

Shadowdare

@TheNetTweets said:
So my terrible host told me that they couldnt unblock that port. They said the only unblocked ports were port 80 and 21. Is it possible to use those ports?

It's not possible with Google's SMTP host. You should find another host that allows the SMTP ports if possible.

hgtonight

You don't need to configure an SMTP server to send out emails. As long as your host has send mail installed, it should work out of the box.

TheNetTweets

@Shadowdare said:
It's not possible with Google's SMTP host. You should find another host that allows the SMTP ports if possible.

I just learned that literally just a couple minutes before you posted this. Thanks anyways though!

TheNetTweets

@Shadowdare said:
It's not possible with Google's SMTP host. You should find another host that allows the SMTP ports if possible.

I found that my host has a built in mail service that is actually nicer than using @gmail. Thanks for all the help!

ahmedaladdin

Personally, i prefer using the SMTP simply because most of your emails will reach the inbox of your users not the junk folder.