PowerChute Serial Shutdown: emails not being received

[fedd3]

I configured Serial Shutdown's email notification and hit Test, but nothing is coming through. Our mail server settings have been confirmed as correct by our hosting service. They - and I - suspect that either Windows Defender and/or ESET NOD32 antivirus may be blocking ports. Hosting service recommends SSL and port 465 or 587.

Nothing is being received regardless of settings. I do recall when I installed PCSS the installer asked for permission to unblock ports - which I did. I do not know exactly WHICH exceptions refer to PCSS in the Defender list. When it comes to NOD32, similarly, I do not know where or what the exceptions should be.

This failure to send was observer on 2 different Windows 11 workstations connected to 2 different SMC 1500C UPS units. Does anyone have any insight as to how to fix this?

[Teken]

I suggest you start by disabling both antivirus & firewall applications. Next provide the PCSS logs to see what error codes are being declared.

Lastly, provide an image capture of the SMTP settings while obscuring any PI data.

Questions Ask . . . 👍

[fedd3]

Thanks for your suggestions. The PCSS logs only show routine events (Both Data and Event logs). I assume you mean the logs available off the PCSS menu. Here is a screen shot of the e-mail settings. I confirmed the mail server settings with my ISP.  Both firewall (Windows) and Antivirus (NOD32) switched off. I don't know how an "exception" might be specified  in the NOD32 or firewall lists.

[fredkm · Accepted solution]

It's very unlikely your ISP will allow SMTP access without authentication. Did you try enabling authentication and entering username (usually your email address) and password for your email account?

There might be additional error information in the application logs. You can find these in PCSS installation folder (usually "C:\Program Files\APC\PowerChute Serial Shutdown\agent\log\pcss.log").

PCSS, upon installation, only gives option to open TCP port 6547 for remote Web UI access and UDP ports for SNMP. This option is only shown if enabled Windows Firewall is detected. PCSS does not add firewall rules for SMTP.

Outgoing SMTP traffic on the default SMTP ports (25, 465, 587) should not be blocked by Windows Defender Firewall. Unless you added your own rules. If SMTP remains blocked it's probably your AntiVirus (NOD32), and you will have to refer to documentation on how to enable outgoing SMTP for it.

[fedd3]

It is now working! The problem was a mis-specification of the mail server on my behalf. The web host pointed it out to me when I sent them a copy of the last set of log entries to review. (Sound of palm hitting forehead...)