How To Configure Drobo Dashboard Email for Gmail and Google Apps

One of the cool automatic things that the Drobo “storage robot” can do is send you an email when it wants your attention. Well, to be more accurate, The Drobo Dashboard software on a connected PC or Mac sends the email, but you get the point. But if you’re like me and use Google’s Gmail as your email system, you might be wondering just how to configure Drobo Dashboard. Here’s a quick guide to get it all working!

Drobo Email Basics

In keeping with the Drobo “simplicity” mandate, there are just a few decisions to make regarding Drobo Dashboard email:

1. How much email do you want? Drobo Dashboard can send messages for general information, when an important event arises, or only in critical situations. I selected the middle (default) setting.
2. Where should the email go? You can put in any address you like (perhaps you have a special account for high priority mail) but I decided to send to my regular email address.
3. Who should the “sender” be? You can enter any address you like, but I decided to use a special (but non-existent)  ”drobo@fosketts.net” address so I can filter the messages with Gmail.

Get started by selecting “Email Settings” from the Drobo Dashboard menu, then follow the steps below!

Note that the email messages will be sent from Google, but can be sent to any account. Use these steps regardless of which account you are mailing to.

Configuring Gmail

Configuring Drobo to send mail using regular Gmail is a snap!

If you’re using basic Gmail service (ie, your address is “whatever@gmail.com”) you should fill in the fields as follows:

1. Enter your own address as the “To E-mail Address”
2. Enter anything you like as the “From E-mail Address”
3. Enter “smtp.gmail.com” as the “Mail Server”
4. Enter “587″ as the “Port”
5. Check the “Authentication” box
6. Enter your valid Gmail address as the “Username”
7. Enter your valid Gmail password as the “Password”
8. Check the “Use SSL” box

Now just click “Send Test E-mail” to make sure it works. If you get the message, click OK and you’re done!

Configuring Google Apps

Google Apps configuration is very similar

Google Apps users might be confused what to enter where. But it’s really no different than basic Gmail! Just fill in the fields as follows:

1. Enter your own address as the “To E-mail Address”
2. Enter anything you like as the “From E-mail Address”
3. Enter “smtp.gmail.com” as the “Mail Server”
4. Enter “587″ as the “Port”
5. Check the “Authentication” box
6. Enter your valid Google Apps email address as the “Username”
7. Enter your valid Google Apps email password as the “Password”
8. Check the “Use SSL” box

Now just click “Send Test E-mail” to make sure it works. If you get the message, click OK and you’re done!