Mail services

[mashman]

Hey ya'll... I'm looking to send out simple messages to a selected group of system users. As such, I need a mail service that can take a dynamic user list and send a static email to that user. I'm pretty busy, so don't have much time to read all of the API doco or all of these services. This is mainly because all I seem to be able to find are services that require cohorts to be set up.

Any experiences/recommendations?

[Akzle]

Hey ya'll... I'm looking to send out simple messages to a selected group of system users. As such, I need a mail service that can take a dynamic user list and send a static email to that user. I'm pretty busy, so don't have much time to read all of the API doco or all of these services. This is mainly because all I seem to be able to find are services that require cohorts to be set up.

Any experiences/recommendations?

on any linux cli, type "man mail"

[BuzzardNZ]

a quick google found this ...

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-mostly-free-mass-mailing-applications/

You could write something small in java that does it too.

[TheDemonLord]

What platform is this going to be on?

Linux/Unix/Wintel etc?

[mashman]

a quick google found this ...

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/five-apps/five-mostly-free-mass-mailing-applications/

You could write something small in java that does it too.


What platform is this going to be on?

Linux/Unix/Wintel etc?


on any linux cli, type "man mail"

JSON would be preferable, but meh, will likely just dig further into Mandrill (pun intended), but likely won't as it looks to be cohort driven.

http://www.dumpaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/microsoft-word-funny-bill-gates.jpg

[TheDemonLord]

And the Dynamic user list - how/where is this generated? AD/SQL/Other (details would be awesome)

[Gremlin]

And the Dynamic user list - how/where is this generated? AD/SQL/Other (details would be awesome)
Since when did you ever get details until after you needed them? Then you had to go back to the drawing board. Finally you implemented it and then a few months later the wish list emerged... :rolleyes:

Or one where I really don't want that to happen... 5 years being bounced through managers and key stakeholders to assess needs etc... now held up by budget which we thought was allocated but not... :weep:

[mashman]

And the Dynamic user list - how/where is this generated? AD/SQL/Other (details would be awesome)

It will be sent using JSON requests. There are a number of languages and approaches I can use for that, so just doing a bit of knowledge/experience mining in regards to potential mail services that are around. I merely want to create a template, populate it with an email address, and have it send using my security credentials.

Where there is a mail limit, budget constraint, I will have to write something to track and send who got what and who's next etc...

[TheDemonLord]

It will be sent using JSON requests. There are a number of languages and approaches I can use for that, so just doing a bit of knowledge/experience mining in regards to potential mail services that are around. I merely want to create a template, populate it with an email address, and have it send using my security credentials.

Where there is a mail limit, budget constraint, I will have to write something to track and send who got what and who's next etc...

Well - it could be done in Powershell script or as a Batch File - invoked by a Scheduled task, Logging would be limited (output a list of succesful sends to CSV) but if Budget is your main factor - I'd go that way.

[mashman]

Well - it could be done in Powershell script or as a Batch File - invoked by a Scheduled task, Logging would be limited (output a list of succesful sends to CSV) but if Budget is your main factor - I'd go that way.

I have the tools I need, I can't find the service.

[Akzle]

srsly. Mail.
Smtp through your isp/host.
Pipe your list, message, press enter. Donesies.

[mashman]

srsly. Mail.
Smtp through your isp/host.
Pipe your list, message, press enter. Donesies.

The downside to that is that I have to design and build every email template and all templates in the future. Not my idea of fun, and something that sales and marketing would like to do.

[TheDemonLord]

srsly. Mail.
Smtp through your isp/host.
Pipe your list, message, press enter. Donesies.

Eugh - Never use ISP Mail.

I'd just setup IIS SMTP - and let the Box send the email directly.

But I suspect I've missed something in the requirement.

[mashman]

Eugh - Never use ISP Mail.

I'd just setup IIS SMTP - and let the Box send the email directly.

But I suspect I've missed something in the requirement.

You have... and don't worry your pretty little head about that which is irrelevant to my needs. I need the service!

[TheDemonLord]

You have... and don't worry your pretty little head about that which is irrelevant to my needs. I need the service!

Unbecomming...

But I think what you are after is something like MailChimp: http://mailchimp.com

We've used it before as part of a CRM solution and it worked for what we needed at that time.

[BuzzardNZ]

http://www.tutorialspoint.com/java/java_sending_email.htm

Simple :bleh:

[mashman]

Unbecomming...

But I think what you are after is something like MailChimp: http://mailchimp.com

We've used it before as part of a CRM solution and it worked for what we needed at that time.

And Mandrill... Mailchimps transactional sister :innocent: Requires cohorts given the doco I've seen. However I may well have missed something.

[mashman]

http://www.tutorialspoint.com/java/java_sending_email.htm

Simple :bleh:

I've already got that shit sorted already. I'm looking for a little more scale and flexibility with email.

[BuzzardNZ]

I've already got that shit sorted already. I'm looking for a little more scale and flexibility with email.

That's just an example, modify it to suit your scalability + flexibility needs.

[Big Dog]

If you are that determined to inconvenience yourself build your templates in js and send them via powershell or Linux equivalent but you will need an SMTP relay to send outside your domain. Try SES (amazon web service SMTP relay) you will need a few prerequisites but if you afit within the lab rules it's free. Sub 250 sends from memory. Otherwise cheap.


Sent via tapatalk.

[mashman]

That's just an example, modify it to suit your scalability + flexibility needs.

I understand that, thanks. I was hoping to have to avoid being the template guy.


If you are that determined to inconvenience yourself build your templates in js and send them via powershell or Linux equivalent but you will need an SMTP relay to send outside your domain. Try SES (amazon web service SMTP relay) you will need a few prerequisites but if you afit within the lab rules it's free. Sub 250 sends from memory. Otherwise cheap.


Sent via tapatalk.

I'm already sending mail out, I just need something so that others can get involved how they want to get involved. Tis looking too hard mind lol.

[Big Dog]

Or you could set up an internal Web page on a free cms like dnn community edition... then you will need to find appropriate free or lo cost plug ins to be your editor.
Chuck some basic templates up and give them the freedom to create there own. The are plenty of wysiwyg template editors free from the community, or being .net you can use any office template. Js is just more platform agnostic.

Update cms a couple of times a year.

Job done.

You will need an sql instance, if 10 seats is enough and you have another solution for backups express will do.
For stated purpose you could have IIS coexisting on a 4 core 4gb vm. Or a similarly specked desktop would do.

Otherwise look to invest in either infrastructure or a service.

Sent via tapatalk.

[Big Dog]

Hey ya'll... I'm looking to send out simple messages to a selected group of system users. As such, I need a mail service that can take a dynamic user list and send a static email to that user. I'm pretty busy, so don't have much time to read all of the API doco or all of these services. This is mainly because all I seem to be able to find are services that require cohorts to be set up.

Any experiences/recommendations?
At its most basic... you could just educate them to use mail merge in outlook if you are in exchange.
Built in since ages ago and can connect to dls on your exchange.

Sent via tapatalk.

[mashman]

Or you could set up an internal Web page on a free cms like dnn community edition... then you will need to find appropriate free or lo cost plug ins to be your editor.
Chuck some basic templates up and give them the freedom to create there own. The are plenty of wysiwyg template editors free from the community, or being .net you can use any office template. Js is just more platform agnostic.

Update cms a couple of times a year.

Job done.

You will need an sql instance, if 10 seats is enough and you have another solution for backups express will do.
For stated purpose you could have IIS coexisting on a 4 core 4gb vm. Or a similarly specked desktop would do.

Otherwise look to invest in either infrastructure or a service.

Sent via tapatalk.

Been there, done that... could do it again, but was hoping not to.


At its most basic... you could just educate them to use mail merge in outlook if you are in exchange.
Built in since ages ago and can connect to dls on your exchange.

Sent via tapatalk.

Sounds like a cohort driven system. Meh, I'll figure something out.

[mashman]

Thanks for the help. We've decided to add an extra manual step. Essentially using the service we have and changing the database as and when we send out email. It's not ideal, but it does the trick :niceone:

[mashman]

mailgun FTW! (https://www.mailgun.com/)