Error "connection timed out" when configuring SMTP on Aria Operation for logs using smtp.azurecomm.net and sending a test email

Products

• VCF Operations/Automation (formerly VMware Aria Suite)

Issue/Introduction

• Performing a send test email when configuring SMTP in Aria Operations for logs while using Azure Communication Services (smtp.azurecomm.net) fails with Connection time out.
• Checking port connectivity between Aria Operations for logs node and smtp.azurecomm.net fails.
  
  [Root@vrli]# curl -v smtp.azurecomm.net:587
* Host smtp.azurecomm.net:587 was resolved.
* IPv6: (none)
* IPv4: ###.###.###.###
*   Trying ###.###.###.###:587...
* connect to ###.###.###.### port 587 from ###.###.###.### port 35842 failed: Connection timed out
* Failed to connect to smtp.azurecomm.net port 587 after 129438 ms: Could not connect to server
* closing connection #0
curl: (28) Failed to connect to smtp.azurecomm.net port 587 after 129438 ms: Could not connect to server

Environment

Aria Operations for logs 8.18.x

Cause

• TLS/StartTLS has to be enabled while configuring SMTP instance using smtp.azurecomm.net
• VMware Aria Operations for logs only uses port 587 for secure TLS and hence port 587 has to be open between Aria Operations for logs nodes and smtp.azurecomm.net

Resolution

• Ensure connectivity between Aria Operations for logs nodes and smtp.azurecomm.net on port 587 is present.
  
  

Additional Information

How to set up SMTP AUTH client submission for Azure Communication Services