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hmmmm007's avatar
hmmmm007
Copper Contributor
Sep 07, 2023
Solved

Change the server name in the HELO exchange in SQL Server Database Mail

When my SQL Database mail connects to my SMTP provider (SendGrid) it shows the local server name rather than the FQDN. I would like to find the configuration setting so that the HELO exchange uses the FQDN. For example, the email header shows the following:

 

Received: from XXXXXXXXXXSQLSVR (unknown)
    by geopod-ismtpd-8 (SG) with ESMTP
    id hd6Gp5D_QYKF9OEZESI-tA
    Thu, 07 Sep 2023 18:49:36.406 +0000 (UTC)

 

and I would like it to be:

 

Received: from MailServer.XYZDomain.com (111.111.111.111)    
by geopod-ismtpd-8 (SG) with ESMTP    
id hd6Gp5D_QYKF9OEZESI-tA    
Thu, 07 Sep 2023 18:49:36.406 +0000 (UTC)

 

I am looking to to find where I can change the HELO server name from XXXXXXXXXXSQLSVR to MailServer.XYZDomain.com. I have not been able to find a config setting anywhere that controls that HELO value.

 

Thank you

  • hmmmm007's avatar
    hmmmm007
    Sep 08, 2023

    olafhelper  It turns out there is one. I received the answer from another forum. Excerpts below:

     

    "since DatabaseMail.exe is the application that actually sends the emails, and it uses SmtpClient apparently, you can try adding to the XML configuration file at DatabaseMail.exe.config. This is located in your SQL Server instance location, in a folder called Binn."

     

     

    <configuration>
  <system.net>
    <mailSettings>
      <smtp>
        <network clientDomain="MailServer.XYZDomain.com" />
      </smtp>
    </mailSettings>
  </system.net>
</configuration>

     

     

    This solved the issue for me. HTH

     

    PS: It is important to note that the database mail service must be stopped and restarted after the configuration changes have been made, if the database mail service was running running when the changes were made. This can be done with the "EXECUTE msdb.dbo.sysmail_stop_sp" and "EXECUTE msdb.dbo.sysmail_start_sp" commands.

  • olafhelper's avatar
    olafhelper
    Bronze Contributor
    Sep 08, 2023

    I have not been able to find a config setting anywhere that controls that HELO value.

    Because there isn't one.

    SQL Server acts as a very simple email client, you can't modify the behaviour.

    • hmmmm007's avatar
      hmmmm007
      Copper Contributor
      Sep 08, 2023

      olafhelper  It turns out there is one. I received the answer from another forum. Excerpts below:

       

      "since DatabaseMail.exe is the application that actually sends the emails, and it uses SmtpClient apparently, you can try adding to the XML configuration file at DatabaseMail.exe.config. This is located in your SQL Server instance location, in a folder called Binn."

       

       

      <configuration>
  <system.net>
    <mailSettings>
      <smtp>
        <network clientDomain="MailServer.XYZDomain.com" />
      </smtp>
    </mailSettings>
  </system.net>
</configuration>

       

       

      This solved the issue for me. HTH

       

      PS: It is important to note that the database mail service must be stopped and restarted after the configuration changes have been made, if the database mail service was running running when the changes were made. This can be done with the "EXECUTE msdb.dbo.sysmail_stop_sp" and "EXECUTE msdb.dbo.sysmail_start_sp" commands.

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