"The SMTP host was not specified." - but it is specified?

Question

I'm slightly baffled here - I'm receiving the following error:

The SMTP host was not specified.

Even though my code appears to be correct (from what I can see).

I am able to do it manually by including all the details inside of the controller, e.g.

SmtpClient smtpClient = new SmtpClient("smtp.gmail.com");
smtpClient.Port = 587;
... etc

But I shouldn't have to do this, as I want to use the details inside mailSettings (Making it re-usable for various different controllers).

mailSettings in my Web.Config file:

<system.net>
   <mailSettings>
     <smtp from="[email protected]" deliveryMethod="Network" >
       <network host="smtp.gmail.com" defaultCredentials="true" 
                port="587" enableSsl="true" userName="[email protected]"
                password="example"/>
     </smtp>
   </mailSettings>
</system.net>

My Controller action:

 [HttpPost]
 public ActionResult SubmitFeature(FormData formData)
 {
     SmtpClient smtpClient = new SmtpClient();

     MailMessage mail = new MailMessage();
     mail.To.Add(new MailAddress("[email protected]"));
     mail.Body = "Test";

     smtpClient.Send(mail);

     return View("Example");
 }

Is there anything I'm missing which may be causing this? I haven't messed around with any other settings in Web.Config, they are as is when setting up a new MVC5 project.

Solution 1

In a clean MVC project, I am unable to replicate your issue. Following the ScottGu blog post here, I was able to get a gmail sent email without issue (VS 2013, .NET 4.5.1, MVC 5). Note the the <system.net> element is a top level element and not nested inside of AppSettings or <system.web>.

Important

There are a few web.config files in your solution, ensure that the mailSettings is inserted into the root level web.config (and not the one located in the Views folder)

Web.Config

<configuration>
  <system.net>
    <mailSettings>
      <smtp from="[email protected]">
        <network host="smtp.gmail.com" 
                 port="587" 
                 enableSsl="true" 
                 userName="[email protected]" 
                 password="SuperSecretPwd" 
                 defaultCredentials="false" /> <!--This must be false on Gmail-->
      </smtp>
    </mailSettings>
  </system.net>
</configuration>

Controller

var smtpClient = new SmtpClient();
var msg = new MailMessage();
msg.To.Add("[email protected]");
msg.Subject = "Test";
msg.Body = "This is just a test email";
smtpClient.Send(msg);

It is unclear if some of the extra attributes you have included are causing issues (thought they shouldn't) such as delivery method. Also, is there a setting for allowing SMTP access or is that just for IMAP/POP delivery?

If you can test and are successful in a clean project, then this would point to either a web.config transformation problem or some other setting(s) in your project overriding the web.config settings that you have in place.

Solution 2

The solution was mentioned in the Chat, but never edited into the answer above.

Make sure that you make these settings in the web.config of the Root Level and not in the Views folder.

@Tommy: ...this looks like the web.config from your Views folder and not the web.config at the root of the application

Comments

[turtlepick]

Any chance you added this to "Release.Web.Config" instead of the actual Web.Config?

[user2381114]

@flaviotsf Nope, it's inside Web.Config. Am I supposed to reference using the Web Config inside the controller elsewhere or?

[Wiktor Zychla]

I believe you should change defaultCredentials to false to authenticate with provided credentials.

[user2381114]

@WiktorZychla I receive the exact same error after this change sadly

[user2381114]

Hello, I am actually able to send emails, however I have to specify the attributes (such as port, enableSsl) inside the controller. The Web.Config file doesn't seem to have any effect at all. When I change new SmtpClient(); to new SmtpClient("smtp.gmail.com");, I actually receive a different error - "A from address must be specified", which makes me think the Web.Config file isn't even being recognised?

[Tommy]

@user2945993 - thats what I am saying though. I can set this up in the web.config and it works without issue. Can you try the code I posted above in a new/clean project? Do you still have the issues?

[Tommy]

@user2945993 Are you 100% that these values are not being overwritten by a web.config transformation? Are you debugging locally or publishing to a server?

[user2381114]

I'm unsure if they're being overridden - just testing a new project now and will let you know.

[Tommy]

@user2945993 - good deal. Literally copy the code I have above and replace the necessary values. Also, the <system.net> is a top level web.configuration element. Ensure you don't have it buried under some other element (like inside system.web or appSettings)

[user2381114]

It works 100% fine in a new project. You're right, I'm going to have to look at what could be overriding this.

[Tommy]

@user2945993 Good deal. Double check your configuration settings, make sure you don't have a funny typo, elements in wrong position inside the configuration file and that the compiler isn't transforming and erasing your settings. Beyond that, I am not sure I can help much more at this point :/

[user2381114]

Thanks. Would seeing my config file help? I could chuck it in a pastebin quick.

[Tommy]

@user2945993 - sure, just be sure to scrub PWDs out of there first :)

[Tommy]

@user2945993 let us continue this discussion in chat