[SOLVED] Understanding PHP Mail

[smijy]

Sorry if this topic has been beaten to death, I have scowered Google for a definitive answer but all I've found are "ideas or suggestions", what I want to know is.

 

My Win2k3 Serer box, running MySQL 6, PHP5, and PHPBB 3, does it need to have an E-Mail Server configured on it, to be able to E-Mail out notifications, etc, for PHPBB?

 

I can install Exchanged on it, but if PHP has some sort of built in function that will send out Mail I'd rather use that, I know you can configure it to use an SMTP Server, such as my ISP provided E-Mail address, was just wondering if I was completely misunderstanding the PHP Mail function or not.

 

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you in advance,

 

Jason.

[xyn]

I had this at work, stupdi windows server.

basically:

 

1. goto php.ini, open it.

2. goto "SMTP".

3. enter the IP to your mail server. or a web server you have access too.

4. save.

5. copy the php.ini file into C:\WINDOWS

6 copy the php.ini file into C:\WINDOWS\system_32

 

restart your apache. and try again?

[smijy]

I had this at work, stupdi windows server.

basically:

 

1. goto php.ini, open it.

2. goto "SMTP".

3. enter the IP to your mail server. or a web server you have access too.

4. save.

5. copy the php.ini file into C:\WINDOWS

6 copy the php.ini file into C:\WINDOWS\system_32

 

restart your apache. and try again?

 

Thank you for the quick response, now there is currently no E-Mail Server running on this box, it does however run IIS 6, so when you say "enter the IP to your mail server. or a web server you have access too. can I just point it to localhost? as I have access to my own webserver.?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Jason.

[xyn]

Nope. it has to be an IP of a mailserver.

you could try your exchange IP address.

otherwise a website you have aceess too.

 

example: Hotmail. you'd need an SMTP username and password.

but you wont be able to send emails from hotmail.

[smijy]

Ah perfect now I understand what you are getting at, such as gmail?

 

smtp.gmail.com port 465 (I believe they use)

 

So either my own Exchange Server, or a web based one that supports SMTP.