sSMTP is a send-only sendmail emulator for Linux. It replaces sendmail, in place, but implements only send features.
Create an App password in Gmail¶
Only required when Two-Factor-Authentication (2FA) is enabled, but:
- everyone should have 2FA enabled
- prevents storing the email's password in plain text configuration files
Procedure:
- go to
Google Account>Security>2-Step verification - scroll to the bottom to
App passwords
Install ssmtp¶
sudo apt install ssmtp
Configure sSMTP, edit /etc/ssmtp/ssmtp.conf:
#
# Config file for sSMTP sendmail
#
# The person who gets all mail for userids < 1000
# Make this empty to disable rewriting.
root=postmaster
# The place where the mail goes. The actual machine name is required no
# MX records are consulted. Commonly mailhosts are named mail.domain.com
mailhub=mail
# Where will the mail seem to come from?
#rewriteDomain=
# The full hostname
hostname=Acme
# Are users allowed to set their own From: address?
# YES - Allow the user to specify their own From: address
# NO - Use the system generated From: address
#FromLineOverride=YES
# added by me below
AuthUser=acme@gmail.com
AuthPass=secret_application_password
mailhub=smtp.gmail.com:587
UseSTARTTLS=YES
FROM:acme@gmail.com
make a test¶
{ echo "Subject: test's subject"; echo; echo "This is another test"; } | ssmtp donut@gmail.com
Sources