SMTP Manager — Authenticated Email & Log
Authenticated SMTP for OpenMage — finally, and done properly
OpenMage core ships no working SMTP authentication at all: the auth fields in the core config are literally commented out, and host/port only affect PHP mail() on Windows. The one free extension everyone reaches for, Aschroder SMTP Pro, hasn't shipped since 2015, rewrites core classes and never covered newsletters. Imavio SMTP Manager is the modern, maintained, rewrite-free, PHP 8 answer — you own it per domain, and it just works.
Every email leaves through your SMTP server
Transactional mail, the core_email_queue (new-order emails sent via cron), the legacy checkout path, and newsletters all route through authenticated SMTP over TLS/SSL. Newsletter coverage alone is something the old free extension never offered.
Conflicts with nothing
Zero core class rewrites. SMTP Manager hooks OpenMage's native transport-injection events (available since OpenMage 19.5.0 / 20.1.0), with a documented fallback for older cores. Nothing is overwritten, so it coexists cleanly with your other modules.
See — and recover — every send
- Complete email log, including failures with the raw SMTP server reply. The core silently swallows send errors; this is the only place they surface.
- Filterable log grid, detail view with the body previewed in a sandboxed iframe, one-click resend, CSV export and mass delete.
- Automatic failover to a second SMTP server when the primary fails — both attempts logged.
- GDPR-friendly retention cron (default 30 days, body capped at 256 KB).
Deliverability that survives 2026 relays
- 15 provider presets with current 2026 guidance: Gmail/Workspace & Google relay (app passwords; basic auth dead since 2025), Microsoft 365 & Outlook (SMTP AUTH off-by-default warning for end of Dec 2026), Amazon SES (region + sandbox), SendGrid (username literal
apikey), Mailgun US/EU, Brevo (SMTP key, not API key), Postmark, Mailjet, SMTP2GO, Zoho, Mailtrap and generic cPanel. - Deliverability doctor: MX / SPF / DMARC DNS checks for your sender domain with concrete fixes, plus DKIM guidance.
- Test email with step-by-step diagnostics — config validation (including the classic 465+STARTTLS mismatch), socket connectivity and a real send, each with friendly hints.
- HELO/EHLO name and Envelope-From (Return-Path) controls that modern relays care about.
Built for real operations
- Developer/sandbox mode: reroute all mail to one test address (original recipients kept in a header) or suppress with log-only — safe staging without a mailcatcher.
- Recipient blacklist: exact address,
@domainsuffix or wildcard patterns; matches suppressed and logged. - Queue hygiene: a configurable pause between queue sends (rate limiting) and a dead-letter limit that stops OpenMage's endless every-minute retry of a failing message — protecting your sender reputation.
- Conflict detector flags other modules rewriting the email classes, plus a one-click importer for your existing Aschroder SMTP Pro settings.
- Per-store-view configuration — a different SMTP account per store.
Your email never depends on your license
Email sending is never gated by license state. An expired license only shows admin notices and stops updates — it will never stop your store's emails. The license unlocks updates and support, nothing more.
Technical requirements
OpenMage LTS 19.x/20.x (best on >= 19.5 / 20.1; older cores use the documented fallback) or Magento CE 1.9.x · PHP 7.2–8.3 · ionCube Loader (free) on the server.
Platform
OpenMage
Latest version
1.1.3
PHP
7.2+
Updated
2026-07-17
1. Requirements
- OpenMage LTS 19.x/20.x (best on >= 19.5 / 20.1) or Magento CE 1.9.x
- PHP 7.2–8.3 with the ionCube Loader enabled (most hosts have it; check with a
phpinfo()page or ask your host) - SMTP credentials from your provider (host, port, username, password or API key)
2. Install the files
- Download the package from your Imavio account (Downloads) after purchase.
- Unzip it and upload the contents over your Magento root — it merges into
app/code/local/Imavio/Smtp,app/etc/modules/Imavio_Smtp.xmland the admin layout. No core files are overwritten. - Flush the cache: System → Cache Management → Flush Magento Cache. The setup script creates the
imavio_smtp_logtable automatically. - The extension ships disabled by default — installing it changes nothing about how your store sends mail until you turn it on in step 4.
3. Activate your license
- Go to System → Configuration → Imavio Extensions → SMTP Manager → License.
- Paste the license key from your Imavio account and save.
- Sending never depends on license state — the license only unlocks updates and support (validated in the background).
4. Configure & test — before you enable
- Choose the sending channel. SMTP is the classic connection on ports 587/465/2525. HTTP API sends through your provider's API over HTTPS (port 443) and needs only an API key — pick it if your host blocks the SMTP ports (see step 6). Supported API providers: Brevo, SendGrid, Mailgun, Postmark, Mailjet, Resend.
- On the SMTP channel, pick your provider from the presets to autofill host, port and encryption, then enter your credentials. Set HELO/EHLO name and Envelope-From if your relay needs them. On the API channel, pick the provider and paste the key — the form shows exactly which key each provider wants and its usual pitfalls.
- Configure a failover route. The most robust pairing is an external provider as the primary route and your server's own mail server as the backup (host
localhost, port 25, no encryption, no authentication) — the local server keeps working even when outbound SMTP is blocked. - Open the dashboard at Imavio → SMTP Manager and send a test email. The step-by-step diagnostics validate the config (including the 465+STARTTLS mismatch), check connectivity and perform a real send, with friendly hints on any failure.
- Only once the test succeeds, flip the Enabled switch to route your store's mail through SMTP Manager.
5. Verify
- Place a test order and trigger a newsletter — confirm both arrive from your sending account.
- Open Imavio → SMTP Manager and review the log grid: successful sends and any failures appear with the raw server reply. Use resend, CSV export or the detail view (body shown in a sandboxed iframe) as needed.
- Run the deliverability doctor on the dashboard to check MX / SPF / DMARC for your sender domain and apply the suggested DNS fixes.
6. Emails stopped arriving — what to check
SMTP Manager warns you before your customers do: when several sending attempts fail in a row, every admin page shows a warning with the last error, and the log records the exact server reply. The warning clears itself on the first successful send.
The classic case: sending worked for weeks, then stopped overnight. On cPanel hosting this is almost always the SMTP Restrictions feature, which blocks outbound connections from user accounts to ports 25, 465 and 587 and forces all mail through the server's own mail system. Because cPanel updates itself nightly, a restriction that was not being enforced can start being enforced from one day to the next — your settings never changed, but the port is now closed. The log shows Connection timed out or Could not open socket.
Three fixes, best first:
- Switch the channel to HTTP API. Sending then goes over HTTPS on port 443, which no SMTP restriction can touch. This is the permanent fix and needs nothing from your host.
- Ask your host for an exception for your provider's server. It works, but the exception may not survive a panel update or a server migration.
- Add the local mail server as failover (host
localhost, port 25, no encryption, no authentication). Deliverability is lower than a dedicated provider, but emails keep going out instead of stopping completely.
Other frequent causes: an expired or revoked API key (log shows HTTP 401), a sender address that is no longer verified at the provider (HTTP 403 or 422), or a daily sending quota reached (HTTP 429 — set a pause between queued emails in the sending rules).
7. Updates & support
New versions appear under Downloads in your account while your update window is active. An expired license never stops your emails — it only shows admin notices and pauses updates. Need help? Open a ticket from your Imavio account — support is included with your license.
Changelog
Security hardening: the email-log CSV export now neutralizes spreadsheet formula injection (recipient/subject values).
Frequently asked questions
Does SMTP Manager work with Magento 1.9 or only with OpenMage?
Both. The extension is developed and tested on OpenMage 19.x–20.x, which is fully compatible with Magento 1.9.x — the same codebase, maintained by the community.
Can it replace the old Aschroder SMTP Pro module?
Yes. SMTP Manager is a maintained alternative that runs on modern PHP (7.4–8.3). Disable SMTP Pro, install SMTP Manager and re-enter your SMTP credentials — the switch typically takes a few minutes.
Which SMTP providers are supported?
Any provider that offers authenticated SMTP (TLS/SSL). 15 presets are included — Gmail / Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Brevo, Mailgun, SendGrid, Amazon SES and more — plus a fully manual configuration.
Does it rewrite Magento core classes?
No. SMTP Manager uses events and configuration only — no core rewrites and no code pool overrides, so it does not conflict with other extensions.
What happens when my update window expires?
The extension keeps working — the license is perpetual per domain. Renewing only re-opens access to new versions and support.
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