Test Mail Server Tool

Question

I've finally moved to Ubuntu 14.04 from Windows. I had xampp installed for web development.

For testing of sending/receiving emails I used this tool http://www.toolheap.com/test-mail-server-tool/users-manual.html Things were straight forward. I send email using PHP, it's saved and opened automatically in Windows Live Mail. How can I achieve that in Ubuntu?

I currently have LAMP installed. Where to go next?

Thanks, Fouad

Answer 1

I finally figured it out after a month! This is how it is done

1. Create a folder in your Documents named TestEmails

2. Open the terminal and enter the following command

   sudo chmod 777 ~/Documents/TestEmails/

3. Open the php.ini file that is located in your /opt/lampp/etc directory

4. Press CTRL+F and then type "mail function"

5. Under the [mail function] remove comment from sendmail_path

6. Set sendmail_path to sendmail_path = "cat > /home/USERNAME/Documents/TestEmails/date '+%Y-%m-%d - %H-%M-%S'.eml" BUT MAKE SURE TO REPLACE USERNAME with your own username

7. If Apache is running, restart it

Answer 2

The easiest solution would be to use MailCatcher: https://mailcatcher.me/

An in my opinion better alternative is postfix with pcre to have a proper catch-all.

Setup a Local Only Email Server.

1. Point localhost.com to your machine

   Most of programs will not accept an email using just @localhost as domain. So, edit /etc/hosts file to make the domain localhost.com point to your machine, including this content to the file:

   127.0.0.1 localhost.com
   

2. Install Postfix

   sudo apt-get install postfix postfix-pcre  
   

3. Configure Postfix to Local only.

   During postfix install process, the configure text dialog will display five options:

   General type of mail configuration:

   No configuration Internet Site Internet with smarthost Satellite system Local only

   Select "Local Only".

   For the domain name, use the default suggested and finish the install.

4. Configure a Catch-all Address

   Enabling this, you can use any email address.

   Example: here, my unique account is [email protected]. But while testing systems, I can use any address like [email protected], [email protected], etc., because all will be redirected to [email protected]

   If it dies not exist, create file /etc/postfix/virtual: sudo nano /etc/postfix/virtual

   Add the following line content, replacing with your user account:

   /.*/ <your-user>
   

   Save and close the file. Configure postifx to read this file:

   Open /etc/postfix/main.cf: sudo nano /etc/postfix/main.cfand check if this line is enabled, or add it if not exists:

   virtual_alias_maps = pcre:/etc/postfix/virtual
   

   Activate it: sudo postmap /etc/postfix/virtual Reload postfix: sudo systemctl restart postfix If you're under non-systemd distro, like Ubuntu 14.04, service restart command probably is: sudo service postfix reload

5. Install Thunderbird.

   sudo apt-get install thunderbird`
   

6. Configure Thunderbird.

   Skip the welcome screen (click in the button to use existing accounts); Click in the Settings button at top right (similar to Chrome settings) then click on Preferences > Account Settings Under Account Actions choose "Add Other Account" Select "Unix Mailspool (Movemail)" Your account will be @localhost (of course, replace with your user account). Don't use @(none), use @localhost Outgoing server will be: localhost at port 25. Restart (close and reopen) Thunderbird.

7. Start your Mail Spool file

   This step have two purposes: test your install and stop the Unable to locate mail spool file. message. Using Thunderbird, send new email to @localhost, replacing with your user account Click on "Get Mail" Test catch-all: send new email to averagejoe@localhost Click on "Get Mail" and you'll see the message at Inbox.

Answer 3

Try

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install postfix