Rails - Send emails through an exchange server

Question

How does one use an exchange server to -

1. Send an email from a rails application
2. Authenticate credentials (user name / password)

Thanks.

Answer 1

(Disclaimer: I know next to nothing about Microsoft Exchange.)

If you can use Exchange as an SMTP server then it should just be a question of configuring ActionMailer's SMTP settings appropriately. See http://guides.rubyonrails.org/action%5Fmailer%5Fbasics.html#action-mailer-configuration

Answer 2

Using Exchange as an SMTP server is an option as indicated by John, but starting with Exchange Server 2007, it has a feature called Exchange Web Services - EWS for short.

1. Sending e-mail is one of its features. You can also manipulate other types of items in the mailbox, but that doesn't seem to be your case.
2. It does need to be authenticated in order to access the mailbox.

EWS may give more control over what is sent than SMTP, but on the other hand, SMTP may be a simpler choice and good enough for your scenario.