Hotmail, a popular email service provider, has strict guidelines to prevent spamming and maintain the integrity of its network. As a result, many users have faced issues with their emails being blocked or filtered out as spam. In this article, we will discuss how to avoid these issues by setting up an SMTP relay and configuring your Moodle server to use it.

The Problem:

Hotmail, like many other email service providers, has strict policies against sending bulk emails from unverified sources. This includes IP addresses that are not associated with a valid sending mail server. As a result, if you try to send emails from your Moodle server using PHPMailer, the recipient's email client may flag it as spam.

The Solution:

To avoid these issues, you need to set up an SMTP relay. An SMTP relay is a server that acts as an intermediary between your Moodle server and the recipient's email server. By configuring your Moodle server to use an SMTP relay, you can ensure that your emails are sent from a valid sending mail server with proper MX, SPF, DMARC, and DKIM records.

Why SMTP Relay?

An SMTP relay provides several benefits, including:

* Validating your IP address as a legitimate sender

* Relaying your emails through a trusted and reputable email server

* Ensuring that your emails are properly formatted and compliant with spam filters

Setting Up an SMTP Relay:

There are many free SMTP relays available online, such as SendGrind. These services offer a limited number of messages per month, making them perfect for small-scale emailing needs.

To set up an SMTP relay, you need to:

1. Sign up for a free SMTP relay service

2. Configure your Moodle server to use the SMTP relay service

3. Verify your domain and IP address with the SMTP relay service

In conclusion, setting up an SMTP relay is the best way to avoid email blocks and spam filters when sending emails from your Moodle server. By configuring your Moodle server to use a valid sending mail server with proper records, you can ensure that your emails are delivered successfully and without any issues.

Remember, it's always important to follow best practices for emailing and to respect the policies of email service providers like Hotmail.

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