Technical Tip: How to configure email alerts with Gmail

[odahy]

Description

This article describes how to configure email alerts because sometimes FortiGate cannot access the account to send the email alert.

Scope

FortiGate.

Solution

This is an example of the configuration in FortiGate:

Configure the Gmail account in the FortiGate.

config system email-server
    set server "smtp.gmail.com"
    set port 587
    set authenticate enable
    set username "test"
    set password SGKSDHFK
    set security starttls
end

Configure the destination of the email alert.

config alertemail setting
    set username "test@gmail.com"
    set mailto1 "test@fortinet.com"
end

Configure the Gmail account to use an App Password:

An App Password is a 16-digit passcode that gives a less secure app or device permission to access the Google Account.

App Passwords can only be used with accounts that have 2-Step Verification turned on.

Give a name for the app-specific.

Copy the password and paste it into the email server password.

config system email-server
    set server "smtp.gmail.com"
    set port 587
    set authenticate enable
    set username "test"
    set password SGKSDHFK <-------
    set security starttls
end

Note:

App Password may generate a password with a space, and it is necessary to put the password inside brackets to avoid a command syntax error.

For more information on how to set up an App Password on the Google account, refer to the document below:

Sign in with app passwords

Following this, it will be possible to send alert emails.

Test this with the following command:

diagnose log alertmail test