Configuring emails and SMTP
With an SMTP server, users can register and verify their email with a special link sent to them. Users can also request a new password if they forget their current one.
Info
Apleno Server can work without SMTP settings. Users will not be able to register or use the "forgot password" feature; the administrator will have to manually create users from the admin panel instead.
Configuring the SMTP server
SMTP is configured with environment variables (or a .env file), not through
the admin panel:
| Setting | Environment variable | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| smtpHost | SMTP_HOST |
SMTP server hostname. |
| smtpPort | SMTP_PORT |
SMTP port (defaults to 587). |
| smtpSecure | SMTP_SECURE |
Use implicit TLS. Typically true for port 465, false for STARTTLS on port 587. |
| smtpUser | SMTP_USER |
SMTP auth username. Leave user/password both empty for an unauthenticated relay. |
| smtpPassword | SMTP_PASSWORD |
SMTP auth password. |
| smtpFrom | SMTP_FROM |
Default "From" address for outgoing mail. |
On Linux and Windows, add these to your .env file (see the
configuration file page); under Docker, add them to
docker-compose.yml or your docker run command. Restart Apleno Server after
changing them.
If you need an SMTP server, you can check these providers: Mailgun, Sendgrid, Mailjet, Elastic Email. Many others exist, and they generally offer a free plan of several thousand emails per month, which should be more than enough for Apleno Server.
Testing your configuration
Once configured, verify it works from the admin panel:
- Open a browser and navigate to Apleno Server.
- Sign in with an administrator account, click on your name in the top right, then Admin panel.
- On the second navigation bar, click on Server then Settings.
- Under Network & SMTP, enter a recipient address and click Send to receive a test email.
You can also run this test from the command line: