SMTP Gateway
What is SMTP?
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) is the standard protocol for sending email — it's the postal system for electronic mail. Whenever you send an email, SMTP is the technology that routes it from the sender's mail server to the recipient's. By connecting your own SMTP server to eCourtDate, you can send court notifications through your agency's existing email infrastructure rather than using eCourtDate's default email delivery.
This section describes the anticipated SMTP gateway configuration. Details may change — verify with eCourtDate support.
The SMTP gateway enables email delivery through your own mail server or a third-party SMTP provider. This allows your agency to send court notifications using your existing email infrastructure.
Configuration
The following fields are anticipated for SMTP gateway configuration:
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| SMTP Host | Hostname of your SMTP server | smtp.example.com |
| Port | SMTP port number (587 is the standard for modern email submission; 465 is used for legacy SSL connections; 25 is used for server-to-server relay) | 25, 465, 587 |
| Username | SMTP authentication username | user@example.com |
| Password | SMTP authentication password | — |
| Encryption | Connection encryption method | TLS, SSL, None |
| From Address | Sender email address | notifications@court.gov |
| From Name | Sender display name | Court Notifications |
Use Cases
- Agency email infrastructure: Send court notifications through your agency's own mail servers to comply with internal IT policies.
- Email routing compliance: Meet requirements that mandate email be sent from specific domains or through approved mail servers.
- Third-party SMTP providers: Use services like Amazon SES, SendGrid, or Mailgun through their SMTP interfaces.
Benefits
- Use existing infrastructure: Leverage mail servers your agency already manages and maintains.
- Maintain sending reputation: Messages are sent from your domain, preserving your email deliverability reputation.
- Full control: Manage bounce handling, SPF/DKIM records, and other email authentication through your own systems.
Setup
To configure an SMTP gateway, navigate to the gateway settings in the eCourtDate Console and provide your SMTP server details.
For troubleshooting SMTP gateway issues, see Gateway Troubleshooting.