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    HOWTO: Notifications with GMAIL SMTP

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
    7 Posts 7 Posters 15.4k Views
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    • E
      Eddie55
      last edited by

      This was supposed to be a question but i ended up figuring out my problem

      I kept getting "Error: 530-5.5.1 Authentication Required"

      SOLUTION –> I had to click SAVE at the bottom of the screen PRIOR to clicking Test SMTP Settings for this to work

      Thought i would go ahead and type it out to maybe help someone else out.

      go here to setup a password for pfSense
      https://security.google.com/settings/security/apppasswords
      Select App --> Other Custom Name --> Type in pfSense --> click Generate
      Copy this new password and use it below.

      Email Server: smtp.gmail.com

      SMTP Port 465

      Secure SMTP Connection --> check Enable SMTP over SSl/TLS

      From e-mail address <username>@gmail.com

      Notification E-Mail address <username>@gmail.com

      Notification E-Mail auth username (optional) <username>@gmail.com

      Notification E-Mail auth password --> USE THE NEW PASSWORD CREATED USING
      https://security.google.com/settings/security/apppasswords

      Notification E-Mail auth mechanism --> PLAIN

      CLICK --> SAVE at the bottom of the page FIRST THIS IS THE ONLY WAY IT WORKED FOR ME

      CLICK --> test  SMTP settings</username></username></username>

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
      • M
        Maxburn
        last edited by

        It appears google app passwords are a part of the paid google services (as of Jan 2018). If you try to use the above URL's to get an app password you will see "The setting you are looking for is not available for your account. GO TO MY ACCOUNT".

        What you must do is set up the page as shown in OP, with your regular gmail password. Click test a couple times and it will fail. Then go log into that account and look for the security messages saying account access was blocked. You must click "this was me" and allow the connection. Further test email in pfsense should work then.

        Probably a good idea to not use your main gmail account to send from due to this, just register a secondary.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • JailerJ
          Jailer
          last edited by

          It's still working on my gmail account. I've got passwords set up for a couple different things and they work just fine. Make sure you have 2FA enabled on your account and you shouldn't have any issues.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • E
            Eboman
            last edited by

            I just wanted to say Thank You for doing this.  I know it's easy enough to figure out on my own.  But sometimes finding stuff in the Google settings is a PITA.
            Plus, not actually having to figure stuff out is a nice change of pace.

            Great post.  Quick, easy, and to the point. 
            Thank you again for taking the time to do this.

            Eboman

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • johnpozJ
              johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
              last edited by

              Yeah app passwords still work.. Not sure where you read that you need paid account from Jan 2018?

              An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
              If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
              Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
              SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.7.2, 24.11

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • O
                onshi
                last edited by

                @Eddie55:

                This was supposed to be a question but i ended up figuring out my problem

                I kept getting "Error: 530-5.5.1 Authentication Required"

                SOLUTION –> I had to click SAVE at the bottom of the screen PRIOR to clicking Test SMTP Settings for this to work

                ...

                CLICK --> SAVE at the bottom of the page FIRST THIS IS THE ONLY WAY IT WORKED FOR ME

                CLICK --> test  SMTP settings

                This was bedeviling me - thank you!

                Hopefully this bug (if indeed it is a bug) can be addressed.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • J
                  jpns
                  last edited by

                  I don't see how this is a bug when it clearly says

                  The last SAVED values will be used, not necessarily the values entered here.

                  Directly below the TEST button.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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