Hi Chris, Your mention of the specific domain and the fact that you don't presently use it for email is important information. Based on the information available through MXToolbox.com, it looks like you're using Digital Ocean to host both the Koha server(s) and the domain's DNS. The consortium I support does that, too. As you probably know by now, Digital Ocean doesn't offer separate email services. Your registrar seems to be a subsidiary of GoDaddy, which also does not include basic email services with each domain.
Arrowmail may be a simple solution for your libraries, but make sure you can satisfy their conditions – see https://www.arrowmail.co.uk/index.php/smarthost-smtp-service#who-is-this-service-for – in which reputation maintenance is mentioned. I wonder if you might be able to obtain cost-free services through TechSoup UK (or Goodstack): https://www.techsoup.uk/getting_started/eligibility_criteria. That could mean a dedicated Google Workspace <https://support.google.com/nonprofits/answer/3215869?ref_topic=3247288&sjid=16295864262961504608-EU&co=GENIE.CountryCode%3DGB> instance for your own domain, something similar with Microsoft 365 (specifically, Azure Communication Services), or a setup with Amazon (AWS) Simple Email Services (SES). Yes, I've just mentioned three of the big companies that some seek to avoid. They do, however, offer many free services to non-profit organizations, so it might be reasonable to channel your inner Robin Hood and rob the rich to feed your need to send email notifications. Our consortium is part of a Google Workspace instance, so we're sending mail that way. In another role I had, I recently switched all email notifications to Azure ACS, and that works well, too. In all cases, maintaining a good email reputation is critical. Hopefully this additional information will help you get closer to a solution. Regards, David On Fri, Jan 2, 2026 at 8:06 PM Chris Brown <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi David et al, > > As I mentioned in my original post, we have been using gmail as an email > relay up until now. I would assume we don't have any control over the DNS > entries for gmail.com. > > We do have control over the DNS records for our domain salcirc.org (which > is where our koha instances live) but we don't have any mailboxes hosted > in that domain. > > Best Regards, > > Chris Brown > > > > > On Fri, Jan 2, 2026 at 5:10 PM David Liddle <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Hello again, Chris... some of the fields you're looking for are in each >> library's settings and in the following system preferences in the section >> Administration > Interface options: >> >> - AddressForFailedOverdueNotices >> - KohaAdminEmailAddress >> - ReplytoDefault >> - ReturnpathDefault >> >> Related to this and your other message, can you share what email domain >> you have been using to this point and the degree of control you have over >> its settings and that of the DNS host for the domain? If you can, we might >> be able to provide better information and advice about your options. >> >> Regards, >> >> David Liddle >> >> System Administrator | Email Administrator >> >> Seminar für Sprache und Kultur, https://spracheundkultur.org >> >> On Fri, Jan 2, 2026 at 12:09 PM Chris Brown <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> Gentle Reader >>> >>> Following on from my previous email about configuring outbound email in >>> Koha, I have received several helpful replies urging me NOT to "go it >>> alone" and set up Postfix, SPF, DKIM and DMARC but instead to use an SMTP >>> mail relay. (I am considering a UK-based service called Arrowmail.) >>> >>> It looks straightforward to point Koha to a new SMTP server using the >>> staff interface, but I have a dumb question. If the recipient replies to >>> the messages (or the mailer generates an "undeliverable" message) where >>> does the reply go? How do I set the From: header in the message that is >>> generated? >>> >>> Thanks and Best Regards, >>> >>> Chris Brown >>> _______________________________________________ >>> >>> Koha mailing list http://koha-community.org >>> [email protected] >>> Unsubscribe: https://lists.katipo.co.nz/mailman/listinfo/koha >>> >> _______________________________________________ Koha mailing list http://koha-community.org [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://lists.katipo.co.nz/mailman/listinfo/koha
