# Persistent SMTP Timeout Issue with Spacemail on Discourse (VPS, Docker)

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/persistent-smtp-timeout-issue-with-spacemail-on-discourse-vps-docker/383452
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [September 21, 2025, 5:56pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/persistent-smtp-timeout-issue-with-spacemail-on-discourse-vps-docker/383452 "2025-09-21T17:56:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
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<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![errorexee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/errorexee/32/522322_2.png) [@errorexee](https://meta.discourse.org/u/errorexee)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2025, 5:56pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/persistent-smtp-timeout-issue-with-spacemail-on-discourse-vps-docker/383452/1 "2025-09-21T17:56:30Z")

</div>

Hello Discourse Support/Community,

I have been struggling for several days to resolve an issue with outgoing emails from my Discourse instance. I am running Discourse in a Docker container on a Spaceship VPS (Phoenix, US). My mail provider is Spacemail (SMTP).

**Issue:**

- Discourse cannot send emails. Every attempt to send a test email results in a timeout error:

- The problem persists regardless of whether I use `mail.spacemail.com` or `smtp.spacemail.com` as the SMTP server.

**What I have tried:**

- Verified all SMTP settings (address, port 465 for SSL, full email as username, correct password) with Spaceship/Spacemail support.

- Reset and re-entered the SMTP password multiple times.

- Confirmed with Spacemail support that there are no restrictions or blocks on their side.

- Telnet from the VPS to `mail.spacemail.com` on port 465 is successful (connection opens, no firewall issue).

- Changed the Docker network MTU to 1400 as suggested in Discourse forums and restarted Docker and the Discourse container.

- Tried both `destroy/start` and full `rebuild` of the Discourse app.

- Checked that Redis, PostgreSQL, and all other services are running correctly in the container.

- Verified that all DNS records (MX, SPF, DKIM) are set up and propagated.

- Tested from multiple browsers and devices to rule out client-side issues.

- Successfully sent and received emails using the same Spacemail account in Gmail (SMTP works outside Discourse).

**Environment:**

- Discourse running in Docker on Ubuntu 22.04 VPS (Spaceship, Phoenix, US)

- SMTP provider: Spacemail

- SMTP settings: SSL, port 465, [mail.spacemail.com](http://mail.spacemail.com) (also tried [smtp.spacemail.com](http://smtp.spacemail.com))

- All DNS records are correct and propagated

**Logs:**

- No errors in Discourse logs except for the timeout on email sending.

- Redis and other services are running without conflict.

- Unicorn worker timeouts coincide with email sending attempts.

**Additional context:** Today alone, I have spent about 7 hours working with Spacemail support via live chat to troubleshoot this issue. Despite their efforts and confirmation that everything is set up correctly on their end, the problem persists.

**What I need:**

- Any advice on what else to check or try?

- Is there a way to get more detailed SMTP debug logs from Discourse?

- Has anyone encountered a similar issue with Spacemail or another provider?

Thank you very much for your time and support!

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/persistent-smtp-timeout-issue-with-spacemail-on-discourse-vps-docker/383452)._