When configuring email sending through UCSD, it can be surprisingly unclear which SMTP server to use. The official documentation mentions three options: smtp.ucsd.edu, smtp.gmail.com, and smtp.office365.com. This ambiguity often leads to trial-and-error, making it difficult to set up applications or scripts that reliably send emails. To cut through the confusion, I developed a simple script to systematically test connectivity and sending capabilities for all three servers.
This script, available on GitHub at https://github.com/zonca/test_smtp_ucsd, helps identify the most suitable SMTP server for your specific needs within the UCSD environment. It provides a clear way to determine which server offers the best reliability and performance, saving you the hassle of manual testing and configuration guesswork.