Manual: Features-BulkMail

BulkMail

Internet Email (as a mechanism) is a wonderful tool for communicating amongst individuals. It is, arguably, one of the key mechanisms that caused the Internet to grow from it's humble beginnings to the massive network it is today.

Utilizing Email as a mass communication tool has also proven valuable for most organizations. However, the increase of Email Abusers (SPAM!!!) has complicated the use of "computer generated Email" and made the delivery and verification of delivery problematic (ok, ok, occasionally very difficult). That said, communications in bulk remains a viable and beneficial mechanism (just don't rely on it for critical notifications, etc.). Feature=BulkMail is the set of functions and routines that permit a RidgeStar site to generate automated Email for individual notification or the transmission of the same message to multiple recipients.

Configuration

The BulkMail mechanism is configured through the establishment of Setting=BulkMail, which has the following operational characteristics:

Method=PHPMail

This is the default Method of mail transmission for RidgeStar Sites (Versions earlier than 4.7.9) and utilizes the PHP Mail function. This has the benefit of being simple to use and configure (as nothing has to be configured), but suffers from relatively poor performance when transmitting larger volumes of Email.

Method=SMTP

Using SMTP as the mail delivery protocol instructs the site to logon to a Mail Server with a specific Account and Password ONCE and then deliver the necessary Email via the SMTP Session. This has the benefit of removing the overhead of connecting and disconnecting from the Mail Server for each transmission, which speeds up total throughput.

The downside is that the Site must be configured to recognize which Mail Server, Account, and Password should be used for the SMTP Session (although it's only defined once for the entire Site). For sites desiring this Method as a standard for their site, RidgeStar recommends a single Email Account (broadcast@RidgeStar.com). In this way, all transmissions technically originate (the FROM Address) from one Email address, which preserves SPF validation. Further, the REPLY-TO address is set to identify the actual user initiating the Email.

Non-RidgeStar Mail Servers

It IS possible to configure Setting=BulkMail to specify a Mail Server other than mail.ridgestar.com to service outgoing BulkMail transmissions. Of course, any processing requirements, restrictions, and/or rules that are in effect for the designated Mail Server must be followed (complied with).

Personalized Server, Account, and Password

It is also possible to add the Server, Account, and Password specifications to individual User Profiles, which has the effect of permitting each BulkMail User to transmit his/her outgoing BulkMail out the SMTP Server of their choice. Again, all applicable Rules, Policies, and Guidelines in place at the designated Mail Server need to be complied with.

Recommendation

While Email and, in fact, the Internet itself continues to evolve, RidgeStar DOES recommend the use of Method=SMTP via mail.ridgestar.com in conjunction with SPF Principles. Contact your Technical Representative if your site does not already have Feature=BulkMail enabled and see about implementing improved Email communications.