SQL Server Genius

Your applications can use SQL Server 2005 and higher to send emails using its Database Mail feature. This article describes how to configure Database Mail in SQL Server 2008.

Check out Linux Mail Server Setup and Howto Guide if you need to setup your own email server.

Configure Database Mail

1. Launch the SQL Server Management Studio.

2. Expand the Management folder, right click Database Mail and click Configure Database Mail.

3. In the Database Mail Configuration Wizard window, click Next.

4. In the Select Configuration Task page, click Next. When asked to enable the Database Mail feature click Yes.

5. In the New Profile page, fill in the Profile name and click Add.

6. In the New Database Mail Account window, fill in your mail server details and click OK.

7. In the New Profile page, click Next.

8. In the Manage Profile Security page, click Next.

9. In the Configure System Parameters page, click Next.

10. In the Complete the Wizard page, click Finish.

11. In the Configuring page, click Close.

Testing Database Mail

1. In the SQL Server Management Studio, expand the Management folder, right click Database Mail and click Send Test E-Mail.

2. In the Send Test E-Mail window, fill in the To field with your email address and click Send Test E-Mail.

3. Check your email, you should see a new mail from Database Mail.

4. If you have not received any mail, check the Database Mail Log. Launch the SQL Server Management Studio, expand the Management folder, right click Database Mail and click View Database Mail Log.

Using Database Mail

Type the command below in a query window.

EXEC msdb.dbo.sp_send_dbmail
  @profile_name = 'Alert',
  @recipients = 'johndoe@acme.local',
  @subject = 'Test Mail',
  @body = 'This is a test message'

The sp_send_dbmail stored procedure has a lot more parameter but those used above should be enough to get you started.

• Posted on August 15, 2010 and last updated on August 15, 2010
• Filed under SQL Server 2008