Sending Email From Sql Azure

Hey all, just quick question about sql azure. My App is running on windows azure and the database is on sql azure. Everything is working great. However, I would like to send email

Solution 1:

As far as I know, there is no way to send an email from SQL Azure directly. You will have to use a web, worker or VM role to actually send email. In general, sending email from Azure data centers is tricky because spam filters flag Azure IP addresses as unsafe (see https://alinirimie.sys-con.com/node/1404827). To avoid this problem, you must use a third party SMTP service (we use Amazon SES) or your own SMTP server. If you want to connect to your own SMTP server through a firewall, you can use Windows Azure Connect to establish a secure tunnel from Azure to your local network.

Solution 2:

I realize you stated that you do not want to use a 3rd party services, but for others that might be reading this and would be open to this. Cotega allows you to send emails directly from SQL Azure.

Full disclosure, I work on Cotega.

Solution 3:

There is some documentation on hacks you can do here: http://vpolizzi.wordpress.com/2010/09/11/database-mail-on-sql-azure/

However I think using a worker role would be more robust and maintainable.