Knowledge Base

Validate that each troubleshooting step below is true for your environment. Each step will provide instructions or a link to a document to eliminate possible causes and take corrective action as necessary. These steps should help isolate the issue and identify the proper resolution.

1. Verify that the mail server configuration set in vCenter Management Server Configuration is correct.
   
   For more information, see the Preparing for Email Message SMTP Alarm Notification section of the Basic System Administration guide, located in the Main Documentation Set for the version of vCenter Server you are using,see VMware Documentation Sets.
   
2. Verify that network connectivity exists between the vCenter Server and the mail server that has been configured in vCenter Server. For more information, see Testing network connectivity with the ping command (1003486).
   
3. Verify that you can connect from the vCenter Server to the mail server on port 25. For more information, see Testing port connectivity with Telnet (1003487).
   
4. Verify that the mail server configuration allows for mail to be sent from the vCenter Server.
   
   The ability to send mail may be restricted so that anonymous email is not allowed or that specific user accounts are required to send mail. If this is the case a rule must be created to allow the vCenter Server to send email, as there is currently no way to configure SMTP authentication with vCenter Server.
   
5. Verify that email is not being blocked by software such as antivrus or spyware.
   
   To test if email is being blocked, disable any such software and create a condition that generates another alert from vCenter Server. If the email is sent successfully, a rule must to be created to allow traffic from vCenter Server. For more information on configuration of any third party service, contact the vendor of the product.

Note: If your problem still exists after trying the steps in this article, you should:

• Gather the VMware Support Script Data. For more information, see Collecting diagnostic information in a VMware Virtual Infrastructure Environment (1003689).
• File a support request with VMware Support and note this KB Article ID in the problem description. For more information, see How to Submit a Support Request.