How to setup SSMTP on linux/ubuntu for sending mails from commandline

This tip explains how to setup SSMTP on linux/ubuntu for sending mails from commandline. Below is short description on it.

Using SSMTP we could send mails from linux commandline

1.) Install SSMTP package
sudo apt-get install ssmtp

2.) Set up ssmtp configuration (mail id,port and credentials)
nano /etc/ssmtp/ssmtp.conf

Edit the following lines with your credentials

mailhub=smtp.gmail.com:587
UseSTARTTLS=YES
AuthUser=testjasrep@gmail.com
AuthPass=XXXXXXXXX
TLS_CA_File=/etc/pki/tls/certs/ca-bundle.crt

3.) Now test the mail by following commands
ssmtp ssmtp user@gmail.com
SUBJECT:Test Mail
HI
This is test mail from linux terminal
Thanks,

4.) Press Ctrl+d after done it will send the mail

5.) Another alternate way is
ssmtp sender@gmail.com -a < messagebody.txt
(Content written in message body would go as body of mail)

6.) If you want to sent an attachment in mail then install mpack (other packages like mutt also available)

sudo apt-get install mpack

Then run the below command
mpack -s subject attachment.txt user@gmail.com.

Amit Pandey , Sr Developer, Mindfire Solutions.

Author : Amit Pandey