SMTP Configuration Guide

Purpose

The kernel of the SAP Web Application Server supports SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol). This enables e-mail exchange between the SAP system and each SMTP mail server, without having to use additional external components.  The SAP system sends the outbound e-mails to a separate mail server, whilst the e-mails in the inbound direction can be received by any number of mail servers.

Exchanging faxes and text messages (pager/SMS) using SMTP is also possible. For this, faxes and messages are packed as e-mails. For the send process, the mail server analyzes the domain of the recipient addresses and either forwards the e-mails to an internal fax-/text message server (for example SMS=[e-mail]) or to an external provider (for example FAX=[e-mail]). For receiving, the fax-/text message server or provider sends e-mails to addresses that have the domain of the SAP system (for example FAX=[e-mail]).

Prerequisites

The mail server in question must be SMTP-compatible.

If you want to send text messages in the SAP system, the names of the corresponding data transfer services (such as SMS) have to be defined in transaction SA14.

Process Flow

Settings for the Profile Parameters (Transaction RZ10)

You have to adjust the profile of the SAP Web Application Server if you want to use the SMTP function. The SAPconnect send job can only be scheduled for servers on which SMTP has been activated. For this reason, you must activate SMTP for all of the SAP system’s application servers.

The following profile parameters have to be configured. The placeholder <*> stands for the sequence number (starting at zero) of frequently occurring parameters.

·        icm/server_port_<*> = PROT=SMTP,PORT=

Parameter icm/server_port_<*> opens a TCP/IP port for receiving mails through the SMTP plug-in. describes the number of the port that is to be used. The port cannot yet be used by another program on this host. If no mails are to be received in this SAP system (including notifications about the status), set <port> to 0.

Optionally, you can use TIMEOUT to define a maximum waiting time (in seconds) to be applied until the mail server responds.

·        is/SMTP/virt_host_<*> = :,,...;

This parameter defines a virtual mail host for receiving mails. If all incoming mails (including status notifications) are to be received and processed by one single client of the SAP system, this parameter is not required. In this instance, is/SMTP/virt_host_0 = *:*; is used by default. If multiple clients are to be used as recipients, a virtual host has to be created for each of these clients. describes the name of the host to which the incoming mails are addressed. You can enter * here if the mails are to be sent independently of the host being addressed. describes the number of the port to which the incoming mails are addressed.

For UNIX, the profile parameters may look like this:

   rdisp/start_icman = true

   icm/server_port_0 = PROT=HTTP,PORT=1080

   icm/server_port_1 = PROT=HTTPS,PORT=1443                     

   icm/server_port_2 = PROT=SMTP,PORT=25000,TIMEOUT=180         

   icm/server_port_3 = PROT=SMTP,PORT=25001,TIMEOUT=180         

   is/SMTP/virt_host_0 = *:25000;                               

   is/SMTP/virt_host_1 = *:25001; 

For more information, see Profiles.  

User Maintenance (Transaction SU01)

·        Service user

You have to create a service user for processing incoming mails in every SAP system client in which you want to receive mails (or status notifications). Call transaction SU01 to create a user with type Service and assign the profile S_A.SCON to this user.

·        User addresses

Every user that is to receive e-mails in an SAP system requires an Internet mail address. This is also used as a sender address. Enter the Internet mail address for a user in transaction SU01, under E-Mail on the tab page Address.

Assigning the Client (Transaction SICF)

Every SAP system client that is to receive and process incoming mails (or status notifications) must have an SMTP server. One SMTP server (SAPconnect) has already been created in transaction SICF and is delivered with every SAP system. Use this to create the first client and then create another SMTP server for each additional client. Configure the following settings on the SMTP servers:

·        Host data

Enter the sequence number of a parameter is/SMTP/virt_host_<*> from the profile. If you have only created one client and therefore have not specified this parameter type, enter 0.

·        Service data

Enter the client to which the mails received through the virtual mail host are to be forwarded, and then enter the logon data of the system user that you created for the incoming mails.

·        Handler list

Enter CL_SMTP_EXT_SAPCONNECT at position 1.

Note that each SMTP server must be activated (Service/Virt. Host → Activate) after being created or changed. Inactive servers are grayed out.

SAPconnect Administration (Transaction SCOT)

You have to configure SAPconnect settings for every client that is used for send processes.

·        Default Domain

Under Settings → Default Domain, define the domain of the SAP system client. This allows for the following to take place:

·         The SMTP plug-in logs on to the mail server using the domain as ID.

·         The message ID of the outbound e-mails is assembled with this domain.

·         If an SAP user who does not have an Internet mail address sends an e-mail, a sender address consisting of the SAP user name and this domain is generated.

·        Nodes

Each client has an SMTP node. This node is created by the SAP system and cannot be deleted. The following steps need to be carried out to configure the node so that sending Internet mail is possible:

i.         Make sure you are in the Node view.

ii.       Double-click the node name.

iii.      Choose Node in use.

iv.      In the Mail Host and Mail Port fields, specify the mail server to which the outbound mails are to be sent.

v.        Next to Internet, choose Settings.

vi.      Enter the address area of the recipient addresses that are to be reached using this node. In general, * is used if all e-mails are to be sent using SMTP.

vii.     Enter the output format for SAP documents. We recommend that you use the following settings:

SAPscript/Smart Forms	PDF
ABAP list	HTM
Business Object / Link	HTM
RAW Text	TXT

viii.   Confirm your selection.

If you also want to configure the node for sending faxes:

i.         Next to Fax, choose Settings.

ii.       Enter the address area of the recipient addresses that are to be reached using this node. In general, * is used if all faxes are to be sent using SMTP.

iii.      Enter the output format for SAP documents. We recommend that you use the following settings:

SAPscript/Smart Forms	PDF
ABAP list	PDF
Business Object / Link	TXT
RAW Text	TXT

iv.      Enter the domain of the fax server or fax provider under Conversion into Internet Address. The system generates the local part of the Internet address automatically. The address therefore takes this format: FAX=+RecipientNumber@Domain.

v.        Confirm your selection.

If you also want to configure the node for sending text messages (pager/SMS):

i.         Next to Pager (SMS), choose Settings.

ii.       Enter the address area of the recipient addresses that are to be reached using this node. In general, * is used if all text messages (pager/SMS) are to be sent using SMTP.

iii.      Enter the domain of the text message (pager/SMS) server or provider under Conversion into Internet Address. The system generates the local part of the Internet address automatically. The address therefore takes this format: SMS=+RecipientNumber@Domain.

iv.      Confirm your selection.

·        Send Job

E-mails sent from an SAP application are first stored in a queue. A periodical background process, the SAPconnect send job, gets the e-mails from this queue and sends them over the Internet. To schedule this job in SAPconnect: Administration, proceed as follows:

i.         Choose View → Jobs.

ii.       If no other job has been scheduled, choose Job → Create.

iii.      Enter a job name and confirm it.

iv.      Select the variant SAP&CONNECTALL by positioning the cursor on it.

v.        Choose Schedule Job.

vi.      Choose Schedule periodically.

vii.     Select the interval you require, such as 10 minutes.

viii.   Choose Create.

·        Inbound

If you want incoming e-mails that have a particular address or particular content to automatically start a program that processes these mails, you can configure this under Settings → Inbound Processing.

If you want incoming e-mails that have a particular address or come from a particular sender to be automatically forwarded to another recipient or another distribution list, you can configure this under Settings → Inbound Processing.