FME Flow: 2024.2

Configuring FME Flow to Receive Email

FME Flow can receive email via Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) or Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP). Using Automations, you can publish emails to Notification Service topics using either the Email - SMTP or the Email - IMAP trigger.

SMTP or IMAP?

When deciding between SMTP or IMAP, keep in mind the following:

  • IMAP is a pull-based mechanism. The Email (IMAP) Trigger polls an existing IMAP server (such as imap.gmail.com) for messages. As long as IMAP access is enabled on the email account, no additional configuration is needed. However, because polling is conducted at intervals, FME Flow may not receive email messages as immediately as those sent over SMTP.
  • SMTP is a push-based mechanism. FME Flow acts as is its own lightweight SMTP server, and receives emails directly, rather than polling for them. As a result, emails may be sent to FME Flow topics (and their subscribed workspaces) more immediately than emails delivered over IMAP.
  • SMTP functions only on an instance of FME Flow with a proper DNS record (that is, the server is accessible over the internet). If your instance of FME Flow runs locally or on an intranet, you must use IMAP.
  • SMTP is not supported in a fault tolerant installation of FME Flow.

Changing the Default SMTP Port (Optional)

By default, SMTP operates over port 25 on Windows and port 7125 on Linux. If you want to change the default port (non-FME Flow Hosted installations only), follow these steps:

Note  Be sure to configure your network firewall settings to allow transmission of emails to FME Flow on the applicable port.
  1. Determine the port on the FME Flow Core host that will be used to receive emails.
    2. Note  Be sure to configure your network firewall settings to allow transmission of emails to FME Flow on this port.
  2. Open the SMTP publisher configuration file:

    3. <FMEFlowDir>\Server\config\publishers\email.properties

  3. Locate parameter SMTP_PORT, and update the setting to the desired port. By default, this parameter is set to port 25 on Windows installations, and 7125 on Linux.
    4. Note  To specify a port under 1024 on Linux, configure either of the following:
    • Elevated privilege on the FME Flow System Services (run as root). For more information, see Starting and Stopping FME Flow Manually.
    • Port forwarding: Configure the FME Flow Core to route and forward from a source port to a destination port. For example, route traffic on port 25 to port 7125.
  4. Restart the FME Flow Core service.