Is necessary to install exchange server for sending emails in sharepoint 2013?

Question

Need little clarification about email configuration. I'm using sharepoint 2013 and I have configured SMTP server, incoming mail config, outgoing mail config but I couldn't success to send emails.

I have done all configurations well . I have read some articles about exchange server for emails. So,Is necessary to install exchange server for sending/receiving emails?
Can you please anyone give little suggestions for email configurations?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

No, it is not necessary to use Exchange server to send e-mails. An advantage of SharePoint is in that You can use any smtp server You want. By example You can configure to send with gmail. You can use local smtp too, but imho You should be carefull with spam attacks in that case