Enabling OBIEE 11g to use smtp.gmail.com with SSL

Mark.Thompson

I am working with Windows Server 2008 and OBIEE 11g.  We have had to change email providers.  I have successfully configured BI Publisher's email settings, using the parameters specified later in this post.  Although I initially had trouble making a connection, once I enabled enabled gmail's access to 'less secure apps' feature, BI Publisher is now able to burst reports to email successfully.

Now I'm trying to configure OBIEE's mail for Agents using the Deployment ... Email screen in Fusion Middleware 11g.  I think I have determined that smtp.gmail.com needs the Google Internet Authority G2 certificate in order to use gmail as the mail server for OBIEE, using SSL through port 465 (which works for BI Publisher).  I have downloaded that certificate file, GoogleInternetAuthorityG2.crt, from my browser, and have installed it on the server, specifying that it should be installed in the TrustedPeople location.

I have filled in these fields in the Deployment ... Email screen in Fusion Middleware 11g

SMTP Server: smtp.gmail.com

Port: 465

Email address and Password: Entered my credentials

Connection security: SSL/TTS

Here is where I need some help.

I first specified "File" for the CA Certificate Source and entered GoogleInternetAuthorityG2.crt.  Saved, restarted all OBIEE services.  Attempting to run an Agent produced this error:

[nQSError: 75025] Handshake failed when connecting to SMTP server using SSL.

I tried again, leaving off the '.crt' from the file name.  Same result.

Next, I tried selecting 'Directory' instead of 'File', but I don't know what to put in there.  The certs are stored in the Windows Registry, so there isn't a "Directory" per se.  I have tried specifying TrustedPeople in that field, but got the same error as above.  And the help screen for that page is not helpful, as it is too vague and shows no examples.

Any thoughts?

Message was edited by: Mark T. - Added information about successfully using the same credentials and the same connection information to configure BI Publisher's email settings.