Hotmail Stops Working

[bktong]

Hi ISY users, 

I have been using hotmail for notification for years.  All of sudden it stops sending out e-mails.  I have Gmail and SMS configured in ISY as well.  When I Test Gmail and SMS, both work fine and I get the message.  I upgraded to the latest firmware.   Please help.  Hate to have to switch everything to Gmail which I don't check very often. Thanks. 

Billy

[Geddy]

Have you changed your Hotmail password or authentication method recently? You might need to make (or update) an app specific password if you're using hotmail as your SMTP settings and update the password used in those settings.

I haven't updated to v5 firmware so can't help you specifically for that, but the thought of what might have broken is probably still the same just making sure you're using the proper password and server settings.

I'd suggest making sure the password is correct or change it just to be sure it's correct when you log in online and then in admin console. 

You said "it stops sending out emails" what are your SMTP settings? Using Hotmail SMTP or ISY Default settings. If ISY Default have you checked in the junk/spam folder on the web host for Hotmail? I attempted to use the default settings for a while, but Outlook.com (same as hotmail) would trigger a lot of the notifications as junk unless you add it to safe sender list. 

I've always been happier using Gmail SMTP and sending it to @outlook.com address doesn't give me any issues (on 4.7.5).

 

[bktong]

Hi Geddy, 

Thanks for replying.  I am current using v5.0.16c but it was happening with v5.0.16b as well.  Only using ISY default configuration ("Use Default"), always have.    I have not changed my password and I have checked my Delete folder and Junk folder...nothing.  

It shows no errors. 

[gviliunas]

If you have the "Use Default" box checked in your SMTP settings then you are sending all of your notifications through UDIs outbound mail server. This is not an optimal choice as you need to rely on the UDI server availability and any outbound mail limits imposed by their ISP.

It is better to configure ISY to use gmail or your ISPs outbound SMTP server instead of using default.

[bktong]

Thanks gviliunas, 

I have given that a thought.  Trying to configure the SMTP settings.  

SMTP Server: smtp.gmail.com 

SMTP Port: 465 or 587

username/password

 

It gives me either bad password or Mail server failure.   And that's with all the configured recipients (hotmail, gmail, and SMS).  Leaving to Default, only hotmail.com is not receiving notifications. 

[Geddy]

@bktong,  If you setup the gmail one make sure you're following both the account setup and then settings found in the wiki...

https://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=ISY994:Configure_Mail_Server_Settings

The key is the user name must be your full gmail address (username@gmail.com).  I've also had additional security on the gmail account so setting up an app specific password was super easy and worked just fine. 

Make sure you also set the "Timeout (ms)" to 5,000 or higher! I think it reset when I tested something with the default server that I forgot this part and it also gave me mail failure.

It's quite possible that Hotmail has blocked the IP for UDI Default server for spam so it wouldn't even end up in your junk folder. It would just be returning bounce messages back to UDI server and it's an automated process so nobody is getting those bounces. There's no real good way to check/test this theory other than changing to off default settings and it works. I'm with @gviliunas that you'd be better off using your ISP SMTP or perhaps Gmail SMTP since it wouldn't rely on the 3rd party default servers from UDI. As they grow the automated messages being sent out from their server could be seen as "spam" or bot messages and some spam filters will given them bad reps and get blocked more often. 

I just attempted the default option again and like you was able to receive notification at my gmail account, but never got anything at my outlook.com address. That makes me think they're rejecting all inbound from UDI IP/server. I did not get any bounce messages or other notifications of errors, but if UDI checks their server logs maybe they see bounces coming from hotmail/outlook/live servers. 

Good luck getting it resolved. 

 

[markens]

My experience with messages not arriving at hotmail is that they silently drop such messages (with neither bounce errors to be logged at sender nor notification to intended hotmail recipient).  Makes it really hard to debug such problems.  So probably nothing in UDI logs to look for anyway.  Using another smtp server is probably a good idea here.

[bktong]

Thanks Geddy and Markens!

Geddy, thanks for reconfigured your setting to mirror mine and you are getting the same result of not receiving in your hotmail account.  That proves that the problem is not on my end. 

I followed the link of instructions with gmail SMTP.  I don't get any sent notifications in any of my recipient accounts but also don't get any Server Mail failure error either.   The only thing difference from playing around with it yesterday is I increased the Timeout(ms) to 8000 (was defaulted to 1000).  At 8000 ms, I don't get the server error but no e-mail notification either.   I do get "Mail server failure" [Password not accepted] with <=5000 ms timeout.  I am 100% sure it's NOT my password.  

Worst case, I can leave it as User Default and get notifications in my gmail and SMS.  Not sure what the deal is with the SMTP configuration.

I will continue to play with it but the SMTP configuration is not complicated.  

Thanks again guys!!!!!

[bktong]

A Quick Update.  I have gotten all my e-mail accounts working.  It was in my gmail Account side configuration (below).  Once I got that turned on, everything works.  

Go to Accounts and Import | Other Google Account settings:

1. Click on Change Account Settings | Other Google Account settings
2. Click on Security Checkup
3. Click on the highlighted buttons till you reach Disable access for less secure apps
4. Click on Turn on
5. Click on the Done button

 

Will keep an eye on it for the next few days.  Thank!!!!