Mail Server

Configuring a mail server is a pain. There are hundreds of mail servers, each with their own nuances. The Autoresponder attempts to minimize the pain by providing a tool to test your mail server configuration from the start.
Before you create a campaign, you must have a mail server configured. It just makes sense.  To configure a mail server, click on the Mail Servers link from the Autoresponder Home. This will display a list of all mail servers configured.

Operations → Marketing → AutoResponders

Create more than one mail server. Configure and test your campaign with a mail server account you can afford to lose. Some companiescough Google cough are unforgiving when it comes to spam. If Google decides you're a spammer, the suspended account can never, ever be used again. So use a throwaway during development. Then, when everything is in place, switch to your main mail server and run through a final test.

From the AutoResponders section you want to click on 'Mail Servers' as shown below.

Adding/Editing a Mail Server

After click on 'Mail Servers' you will see the following screen, if this is the first time adding a mail server the only option you will have here is to add a new server, as shown below.


Click the Add Mail Server button (shown above). The Mail Server configuration screen will display the fields needed to set up both smtp and pop3 connections.


The following explains the fields for the Mail Server configuration.

Field NameDescription
NameThe name can be anything you desire. Spaces and strange characters are allowed.
SMTP ConnectionChoose smtp or smtp-ssl. For google, choose smtp. For others, it will depend on your method of connecting
SMTP Server AddressExample: smtp.gmail.com. Your mail provider should have this address
SMTP Alternate PortIf your smtp server is running on a non-standard port, enter it here. This is an uncommon situation.
SMTP UsernameEnter your username. Most often this is your email address.
SMTP PasswordThe password for making an smtp connection. This is usually the password used for checking your email.
SMTP Email AddressThe 'from' address. All email will originate from this address.
SMTP Friendly NameThis will appear in the from field of the email. This should be descriptive. Using a friendly name of 'Joe' won't cut it. Represent your store with this name.
POP3 ConnectionPOP3 or pop-ssl. Regular POP3 is most common.
POP3 Server AddressExample: pop.gmail.com. Your mail provider should have this address.
POP3 Alternate PortIf your pop3 server is running on a non-standard port, enter it here. This is an uncommon situation.
POP3 UsernameEnter your username. Most often this is your email address.
POP3 PasswordThe password for making a pop3 connection. This is usually the password used for checking your email.

 

Validating mail server connections
 TipBefore saving, test your connection!
Realize that any failure to send an email will mark a recipient as 'Failed' and suspend campaign execution. You must then reset the recipient and re-activate the campaign if you wish to try again. This is done for your protection. An incorrectly configured mail server will do two things: 1) cause your recipient to end up 'Failed' and probably disable your mail account due to repeated login failures. Test your connection! 

The  button will use your mail server settings to login to both the smtp and pop3 servers. A test email will be sent, and the pop3 inbox will be accessed. The results of this test will display in the dialog box below. 




If a red X appears, the connection was unsuccessful. Click the View Log link for either connection to read the mail server conversation. This may yield clues to the failure. The conversation will pop to a new window (you do allow popups for ultracart.com, don't you??) 




In the example above, the second to last line reveals that either the username or password is incorrect. A response like that should prompt you to attempt to login to your mail server through normal means (i.e. check your mail through normal means). That can often provide insight. This conversation may also be helpful to your mail support staff in diagnosing the problem.

Mail Servers List

The Mail Servers screen contains a list of mail servers that have been configured on the account. The display will shows the smtp and pop3 settings. It's a long list, so you will need to scroll to the far right to see the management button. 



Button

Description

edit

Click the edit button to change smtp or pop3 settings for your mail server. The edit page also contains a test button, so this is a good place to troubleshoot problems.

delete

The delete button will delete a mail server. If a mail server is currently active for a campaign, the delete button is replaced by a message indicating that an active mail server cannot be deleted. Click the message to display a list of campaigns currently using that mail server (see figure below).

The delete button is removed for active mail servers for safety reasons. Deleting an active mail server would be bad – like feeding gremlins after midnight bad.