# Configuring SMTP server connection for event notifications

The **Mailbox** tab in the **Administration** category allows you to configure an SMTP server for outgoing emails. The SMTP server is required for the administrator to receive system event alerts (as described in the previous sections) and to send invitation emails to users.

To configure an SMTP server:

1. In the RAS Console, select the **Administration** category and then click the **Mailbox** tab.
2. In the **Mail Server** field, type your mail server FDQN or IP address.
3. In the **TLS / SSL** drop-down list, select whether to use it the protocol.**\***
4. Select the **SMTP server requires authentication** option if required and then type the SMTP server username and password in the fields provided.
5. In the **Sender information** section, type the sender email address (e.g. your email).
6. The **Test mailbox settings** section can be used to test your SMTP server configuration. Enter one or more email addresses separated by a semicolon. Click **Send Test Email** to test the settings.

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\
\* The correct setting depends on the remote mail server configuration and cannot be arbitrary chosen. Please follow this guide table:

| Setting                    | Description                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| -------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Do not use                 | <ul><li>Do not use any encryption when connecting to the remote mail server</li><li>The remote mail server does not expect any communication to use TLS/SSL</li><li>All communication is unsecure</li></ul>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| Use TLS / SSL              | <ul><li>Use TLS/SSL immediately when connecting to the remote mail server</li><li>The remote mail server expects all communication to be over TLS/SSL</li><li>Negotiate whether to use v1.0, v1.2, or v1.3 in the TLS handshake</li><li>All communication is secure and encrypted</li></ul>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| Use TLS / SSL if available | <ul><li>Do not use any encryption when connecting to the remote mail server</li><li>Negotiate with the remote mail server to upgrade the connection to TLS/SSL (using the STARTTLS command)</li><li>The remote mail server does not expect to use TLS/SSL before upgrading</li><li>The remote mail server expects all communication to be over TLS/SSL after upgrading</li><li>Negotiate whether to use v1.0, v1.2, or v1.3 in the TLS handshake</li><li>All communication after upgrading to TLS/SSL is secure and encrypted</li></ul> |
| Use TLS 1.2 if available   | <ul><li>Do not use any encryption when connecting to the remote mail server</li><li>Negotiate with the remote mail server to upgrade the connection to TLS/SSL (using the STARTTLS command)</li><li>The remote mail server does not expect to use TLS/SSL before upgrading</li><li>The remote mail server expects all communication to be over TLS/SSL after upgrading</li><li>Negotiate whether to use v1.2 or v1.3 in the TLS handshake</li><li>All communication after upgrading to TLS/SSL is secure and encrypted</li></ul>        |
| Use TLS 1.3 if available   | <ul><li>Do not use any encryption when connecting to the remote mail server</li><li>Negotiate with the remote mail server to upgrade the connection to TLS/SSL (using the STARTTLS command)</li><li>The remote mail server does not expect to use TLS/SSL before upgrading</li><li>The remote mail server expects all communication to be over TLS/SSL after upgrading</li><li>Negotiate whether to only use v1.3 in the TLS handshake</li><li>All communication after upgrading to TLS/SSL is secure and encrypted</li></ul>           |


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.parallels.com/landing/ras-admin-guide/parallels-ras-21-administrators-guide/common-management-tasks/system-event-notifications/configuring-smtp-server-connection-for-event-notifications.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.