Casnode sends password-reset mail and notification mail over SMTP. Nothing is sent until smtp_host and notification_email are set; notification mail additionally needs email_enabled.
SMTP settings
Set these on /admin/site_settings (group Email):
| Setting | Default | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
smtp_host | empty | The SMTP server, for example smtp.example.com. |
smtp_port | 587 | Port; 465 for implicit TLS, 25 or 587 for STARTTLS. |
smtp_security | starttls | starttls, ssl or none. |
smtp_username | empty | User name, if the server needs one. |
smtp_password | empty | Password. After saving, the admin page shows ******** and never returns the value. |
notification_email | empty | The From address. It should be an address the SMTP server is allowed to send as. |
email_enabled | false | Send members notifications for replies, mentions, private messages and chat mentions. |
email_delay_minutes | 5 | How long a notification waits for the member to read it in the forum before it is emailed. |
new_post_notification_emails | empty | Addresses that receive every new topic and reply immediately, separated by a vertical bar or a comma. Personal messages are not included. |
Use Send test email on /admin/email to check the settings. A wrong security mode or port is the usual reason for a failure: port 465 normally needs ssl, port 587 normally needs starttls.
What gets sent
- Password reset: always available when
smtp_hostandnotification_emailare set, even ifemail_enabledis off. The link is valid for one hour and can be used once. - Notifications: replies, quotes, mentions, private messages and chat mentions. By default, replies and mentions are only emailed when the member has not read them after
email_delay_minutes; private messages are emailed as well. Members can change their email level in their preferences. - New topic and reply copies: every address in
new_post_notification_emailsreceives each new topic and reply immediately, regardless ofemail_enabled. It is meant for a team inbox or a moderator list, not for members.
Imported users have no email address; they get one only if the same person later signs in through Casdoor or a provider that supplies it. Members who signed up with a password have one from the start.
Deliverability
Use an address on your own domain as notification_email, and publish SPF and DKIM records for the SMTP provider. A From address that does not belong to the sending server is the most common reason for mail landing in spam.
Not implemented
- Inbound email (replying to a notification by email posts nothing).
- Digest emails.
- Email verification when signing up.