SMTP Server is a part of the application layer of the TCP/IP protocol. Using “store and forward,” SMTP transfers your email on and across networks. Also, it works closely with something called the Mail Transfer Agent (MTA) to send your communication to the correct computer and email inbox.
At each stage, the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol is doing its job. SMTP spells out and directs how your email transfers from your computer’s MTA to an MTA on another computer and even multiple computers. Using that “store and forward” feature, the message can drag in steps from your computer to its destination. This all takes place behind the scenes, and we don’t need to comprehend or operate SMTP.
Using an outgoing SMTP server is the standard method of sending emails. An alternative solution is to bypass the SMTP server and instantly send it to the destination. It is also known as direct send, which is not very trustworthy because :
- It cannot be used if port 25 is blocked by our ISP.
- It is inappropriate for bulk email due to multiple connections between different servers.
- Cannot send non-personalized emails.
- Email filters can block it because emails are not sent from the regular SMTP server.
Benefits of a Local SMTP Server
- No daily and hourly limitation on the number of outgoing emails
- Privacy and control of all our outgoing mail
- Instant reporting
- No shared IP
- Requirements For a Local SMTP Server
Is an SMTP Server Good for Testing?
In many cases, people set up local SMTP servers for testing purposes. It’s not problematic to install and configure a local SMTP server. A real SMTP server operating on our local machine might be a good option.
What is a Fake SMTP Server?
A fake SMTP server is a server that bears Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) messages but doesn’t send actual emails to outer destinations. Fake SMTP servers are generally set up for development and testing purposes: as a developer working on an application that sends email, you often want to double-check all communications from your app to your customers or prospects, including any transactional emails, without sending emails to actual customers.
Why Should I Set Up a Fake SMTP Server for Email Testing?
Using an SMTP server, even if it’s a fake one, can help test your email functionality. Using a dedicated SMTP server for testing is usually more trustworthy for testing emails than mocking email-sending classes and libraries: When mocking or stubbing out libraries, it’s likely to make mistakes in the mocks themselves that would let bugs slip in. On the contrary, when you test email with a fake SMTP server, you follow the same code approaches as those used for sending production emails. You’re therefore more likely to preempt unforeseen issues in production.