When I am testing Oracle and other software, I want to verify functions like sending alert mails. On Linux systems it’s easy. The most distributions have packages like sendmail already preconfigured and ready to use. But for example on Windows systems, there is no built-in solution. The goal was to have a small virtual machine running as mailserver which can be used for all my test cases.
CommuniGate Pro
CommuniGate Pro is a groupware which supports a lot of solutions like SMTP, POP3, Webmail and many more. In this post I describe how you can easy install the software and configure the SMTP component in Oracle Enterprise Linux 6.
The goal is to use CommuniGate Pro for the Enterprise Manager 13c to send mail alerts. Note: If you want to use CommunigatePro in your company, then you have to license it.
Software Download
The Software is available for the most platforms here: http://www.communigate.com/main/purchase/download.html
Link to the installations guides: https://www.communigate.com/communigatepro/Install.html
Installation
I use the rpm file which I have already transferred to my server olten.trivadistraining.com into directory /tmp. The installation has to be done as user root.
[root@olten tmp]# rpm -i CGatePro-Linux.x86_64.rpm installing Startup Script Removing the old mail link creating a link for the new mail application creating startup script links
The software is now installed in directory /opt
[root@olten tmp]# ls -la /opt total 16 drwxr-xr-x. 4 root root 4096 Feb 3 08:35 . dr-xr-xr-x. 25 root root 4096 Feb 3 08:30 .. drwxr-xr-x. 8 root mail 4096 Feb 3 08:35 CommuniGate drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root 4096 Mar 26 2015 rh
The installation routine creates the runlevel startup script that the software will be started automatically during server boot.
[root@olten tmp]# ls -la /etc/rc.d/init.d/CommuniGate -r-xr-xr-x. 1 root root 2795 Feb 3 08:35 /etc/rc.d/init.d/CommuniGate
If you have already mail solutions like sendmail or postfix up and running, you have to stop and disable it.
Oracle Linux 6 – Stop postfix
[root@olten ~]# /sbin/chkconfig postfix off [root@olten ~]# service postfix stop
Oracle Linux 6 – Stop Sendmail
[root@olten ~]# /sbin/chkconfig sendmail off [root@olten ~]# service sendmail stop
Start CommuniGate Pro
You can a) reboot your server or b) start it manually:
[root@olten tmp]# /etc/rc.d/init.d/CommuniGate start CommuniGate Pro Base Directory /var/CommuniGate created Starting CommuniGate Pro Server... Started.
Web Access Configuration – Step by Step
Initial Configuration: https://www.communigate.com/communigatepro/Install.html#Config
Quick Start: https://www.communigate.com/communigatepro/QuickStart.html
When the server is started, you can now access the web GUI by server URL and Port 8010.
Step 1 – Master Password
Set master password for user postmaster – I agree.
Step 2 – Server Name and Interface Mode
Verify server name and language, set interface mode to Advanced – Update.
Step 3 – Create Account
Tab Users – insert new account name – Create Account.
Step 4 – Set Real Name and Password
Set the Real Name and the CommuniGate Password for the new created user – Update.
Step 5 – Add Client IP
In tab Settings – Network – Client IPs add your client ip address or address range – Update.
Configure Client – for Example Oracle Enterprise Manager 13c
Set Host, User Name and Password – OK.
Now you will receive the messages from EM13c.
Troubleshooting
With telnet you can verify if the correct SMTP service is running on port 25 and if the firewall is open.
Wrong Service
[root@solothurn ~]# telnet olten 25 Trying 192.168.58.111... Connected to olten. Escape character is '^]'. 220 olten.trivadistraining.com ESMTP Postfix Quit
Right Service
[root@olten ~]# telnet olten 25 Trying 192.168.58.111... Connected to olten. Escape character is '^]'. 220 olten.trivadistraining.com ESMTP CommuniGate Pro 6.1.8 is glad to see you!
Summary
Communigate Pro offers you an easy to configure SMTP platform. I have configured a small virtual machine which I start whenever I want to test some email functions.
Sure, this software can do much more. But all I want is to send emails from my test servers – Mission accomplished!