If you are connected to Internet, emails will be sent out.

If your computer doesn't have Internet connection, you can still use it to send emails but instead actually sending out emails, they will be stored in C:\Inetpub\mailroot\Queue folder. The email filename would be in a format like NTFS_2b15732801c54a4f00000002.EML

The good thing about this practice is that you can test your PHP mail() function locally and offline. For example, you can double click the email filename and examine subject, body text, To and From address, etc.

The default mail function setup in php.ini looks like this:

The above code can be left as is. "SMTP = localhost" means you will use local SMTP Virtual Server that came with IIS for email message relay. However, in order for PHP mail() function to work locally, you must do two things:

1. Always include From address in your PHP mail() function. This is because the sendmail_from was commented out.

   If you left out the From address in mail() function, you will get error because Apache will try to find the default sendmail_from address specified in php.ini file. If found one, it will be used as the From address. If not, error message will be displayed.

   For development, you can make sendmail_from = me@example.com as the default sender address or you can change it to your real email address.

   Comment in the sendmail_from. Remember, always restart Apache server every time you change php.ini file.

2. Configure SMTP server to allow relay from the local machine. If you don't, you will receive error message similar to this:

   Warning: mail(): SMTP server response: 550 5.7.1 Unable to relay for recipient@test.com in c:documents and settingsadministratormy documentstesttest.php on line 3

Steps to enable SMTP server for local relay

1. Open IIS, right click SMTP Virtual Server. Select Properties from the dropdown menu.

2. Select Access tab and click the Relay button.

3. The Relay Restrictions window is opened. Click the Add button.

4. When the window opens, type in 127.0.0.1 in IP address field. Then click OK.

5. Now local IP address is granted for relaying. Then click OK.

Note: You can also use your ISP's SMTP server. But for development, testing, and debugging purpose, use localhost should be fine.

How to fix a common error

Here is a common error you may enconter:

Many people have tried to fix this error by changing the default mail function setting in php.ini file.

The default mail function setup in php.ini looks like this:

The default setting does not have to be changed. Instead, check your SMTP server availability and configuration.

1. Check if SMTP server has been installed.

Microsoft SMTP Virtual Server is bundled with Internet Information Server (IIS). So, if you don't have IIS installed, you don't have SMTP server.

To look for IIS, follow this path from Start menu.

Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Internet Services Manager

Internet Services Manager has three basic components: Default FTP Site, Default Web Site, and Default SMTP Virtual Server.

If you can't find Internet Services Manager, you need to install it.

Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs

When the window opens, click Add/Remove Windows Components on the left hand side navigation bar. Next, click Components button to bring up Windows Components Wizard. Find Internet Information Services (IIS) and install it.

2. If SMTP server has already been installed, check if it is running.

3. If SMTP server is running, check if it has been configured to use TCP port 25.

3.1 Open IIS, right click on SMTP Virtual Server. Select Properties from the dropdown menu. Then, click Advanced button on the General tab.

3.2 When the new window opens, check the TCP port number.

3.3 Next, click Connection button.

3.4 When the new window opens, check the TCP port number. Change it to 25 if it is not.

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