Local SMTP server in Windows 7? (works IIS7)

Question

I am trying to send mail through python code through a local SMTP server (localhost, port 25) in Windows 7 Enterprise version. I obviously get annoying [Errno 10061] No connection could be made because the target machine actively refused it because I don't have an SMTP server installed. Due to the controversial Microsoft documentation, I thought that I could use the Server manager tool to install the local SMTP service, only to find that it does not work on Windows 7.

I read here in other threads that Windows 7 no longer includes the SMTP service, so it does not have a local SMTP server. All flows were sent by respondents to other, third-party SMTP services. The question is, is there any other way to configure the local SMTP server? Or is it still an open problem, and I have no choice but to use third-party software?

Answer 1

This answer is a bit late, but may help the next person ...

No, Windows 7 does not ship with an SMTP server. Presumably, the remote server administration tools include the SMTP server, but according to this link it does not work.

Some options for sending email from a Windows 7 machine:

For development purposes, I like smtp4dev https://github.com/rnwood/smtp4dev . It is open source and emulates an SMTP server. However, instead of sending email, it is stored in the application on the taskbar. Great for not spamming users by accident.

If you plan to send emails for real, I would recommend using an SMTP server with a static IP address, since most spam filters do not like dynamic addresses and block email.

I have not used it, but if you have to send an email from your local Windows machine and I do not care about SPAM filters, the free SMTP server from www.softstack.com seems pretty popular.

[Edited link to new repository]