Behind the Blackboard! Xythos Email not Working With SSL/TLS Setting - Behind the Blackboard Skip Navigation
Download PDF Icon Download PDF    Print article

Xythos Email not Working With SSL/TLS Setting

Date Published: Apr 11,2025


CategoryPlanned First Fix Release:3900.108.0 Release; Product:Blackboard Learn SaaS; Version:Ultra
Article No.: 000077737
Product:
Learn SaaS
Release:
SaaS
Service Pack(s):
Ultra
Description:
When configuring a SMTP server to send emails from a Blackboard Learn SaaS instance, the emails are sent without the SMTP authentication causing a few emails to be rejected. 
Steps to Repeat:
There are several replications to get to this bug. 

Prerequisites: Authenticated SMTP server with TLS or SMTPS

First replication: 
 
  1. Log into Blackboard Learn Ultra Experience as an administrator
  2. In the Admin Panel, navigate to Courses
  3. In the context menu next to any folder in the Content Collection where you have 'Manage' permissions, select 'Notifications'
  4. Click Create Notifications
  5. Set Notification Type: Folder Modification
  6. Set Frequency: Immediately
  7. Click on Submit
  8. Upload a file in that folder (that will trigger a notification email)

Observed Behavior:
The email is blocked at the SMTP server. 

Expected Behavior:
An email is received with subject: [WFS] Notice for [Folder Name]. 


Second replication:
 
  1. Log into Blackboard Learn Ultra Experience as an administrator
  2. Navigate to Administrator Panel > System Configuration > Email Configuration
  3. Set SMTP server to your SMTP test server
  4. Set SMTP server port to your SMTP test servers default port (25)
  5. Set SMTP Server Authentication Required: Yes
  6. Set SMTP Server Username: (A username)
  7. Set SMTP Server User Password: (A Password)
  8. SMTP connection type Default
  9. Restart the Learn instance so that Xythos picks up the changes
Then replicate the sending of an email from Xythos:
  1. In the Context Menu next to any folder in the Content Collection go to 'Manage' permissions, and select 'Notifications'. 
  2. Click on Create Notifications
  3. Set Notification Type: Folder Modification
  4. Set Frequency: Immediately
  5. Click on Submit
  6. Upload a file in that folder (that will trigger a notification email)


Observed Behavior:
The email is blocked at the SMTP server. 

Expected Behavior:
An email is received with subject: [WFS] Notice for [Folder Name]. 


Third replication:
  1. Setup a SMTP server that requires SMTPS
  2. Log into Blackboard Learn Ultra Experience as an administrator
  3. Navigate to the Administrator Panel > System Configuration > Email Configuration
  4. Set SMTP server to your SMTP test server
  5. Set SMTP server Port to your SMTP test servers SMTPS port (465 or 587)
  6. Set SMTP Server Authentication Required: No
  7. Set SMTP Server User Name: None
  8. Set SMTP Server User Password: None
  9. SMTP Connection Type: SSL
  10. Restart the Learn instance so that  Xythos picks up the changes.

Then, replicate the sending of an email from Xythos:
 
  1. In the context menu next to any folder in the Content Collection, go to 'Manage' permissions select 'Notifications'
  2. Click on Create Notifications
  3. Set Notification Type: Folder Modification
  4. Set Frequency: Immediately
  5. Click on Submit
  6. Upload a file in that folder (that will trigger a notification email)


Observed Behavior:
The email is blocked at the SMTP server.

Expected Behavior:
An email is received with subject: [WFS] Notice for [Folder Name].
 





Target Release:

SaaS-Fixed (v3900.108.0)






The information contained in the Knowledge Base was written and/or verified by Blackboard Support. It is approved for client use. Nothing in the Knowledge Base shall be deemed to modify your license in any way to any Blackboard product. If you have comments, questions, or concerns, please send an email to kb@blackboard.com. © 2025 Blackboard Inc. All rights reserved