Email (SMTP)
Send HTML notifications via any SMTP server. Supports multiple recipients and per-user delivery for login/account events.
Configuration
| Field | Description | Default | Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMTP Host | Mail server hostname | - | ✅ |
| Port | SMTP port | 587 | ❌ |
| Security | none, ssl, or starttls | starttls | ❌ |
| User | SMTP username | - | ❌ |
| Password | SMTP password | - | ❌ |
| From | Sender email address | - | ✅ |
| To | Recipient email address(es) | - | ✅ |
Security modes: none (port 25, unencrypted), ssl (port 465, implicit TLS), starttls (port 587, upgrade to TLS - recommended).
Setup Guide
- In DBackup: Notifications → Add Notification → Email (SMTP)
- Enter your SMTP server details (host, port, credentials)
- Set the From and To addresses (multiple recipients supported)
- Click Test → check the recipient's inbox (and spam folder) → Save
Common SMTP provider settings
Gmail: smtp.gmail.com:587 (STARTTLS) - requires an App Password, not your regular password.
SendGrid: smtp.sendgrid.net:587 (STARTTLS) - User: apikey, Password: your API key.
Amazon SES: email-smtp.{region}.amazonaws.com:587 (STARTTLS) - SMTP credentials from SES console.
Mailgun: smtp.mailgun.org:587 (STARTTLS) - User: postmaster@your-domain.mailgun.org.
How It Works
- HTML template with colored header bar (green = success, red = failure, blue = info)
- Multiple recipients: Add multiple email addresses in the To field
- Per-user delivery: For login and account events, DBackup can email the affected user directly - configure in Settings → Notifications (see System Notifications)
Troubleshooting
Connection Refused / Timeout
Verify host and port are correct. Check firewall allows outbound connections on the SMTP port. Common mistake: using port 25 instead of 587. In Docker, ensure the container can reach the mail server.
Authentication Failed
Double-check credentials. For Gmail, use an App Password (requires 2-Step Verification enabled). Verify the security setting matches the server's expected protocol.
Email Not Received
Check spam/junk folder, verify the To address, and check sender domain reputation. Configure SPF/DKIM/DMARC records for the sender domain to avoid spam filters.