TFS 2012 Team Alerts not sending emails

Question

I am unable to get Team alerts for TFS 2012 to work. My question is basically the same as this one (TFS 2012 Team Alerts do not work). But since i am able to elaborate a bit in my question i decided to ask it again.

• Personal alerts DO work, so it is not an obvious smtp server error
• Team alerts DO NOT work
• Our TFS is not connectd to an active directory
• All users have specified "Preferred email" in their preferences
• Users are assigned to teams as specified by my alerts

This is an example of a personal alert that works fine

And here is an example of a team alert that does not work

The setup is basically the same except for the "wildcard" parameters in the filters

Where does TFS pick [Members' Default Alert Address]? Is that not the same as Preferred email?

Any pointers would be appreciated

Addendum

Looking at the Tfs cammand prompt tool (tfsconfig configuremail) and Administration Console raises further questions

Team Foundation Server Administration Console shows enabled alerts and correct settings

But the command prompt tool, tfsconfig configuremail says the alerts are disabled

I have found no way to acivate alerts with the command prompt tool (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/vstudio/dd236903.aspx), only the checkbox in Administration Console

Main clues as of now:

1. Where do TFS pick [Members' Default Alert Address]?
2. How come there is a mismatch of enabled/disabled alerts?

Answer 1

I have decided to answer this one myself, mainly because it might not be a proper solution for a tfs without an active directory (based on answer/comments in this post)

These are the steps i have taken to make sure that team alerts are sent

1. Make sure your setup is correct http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms400808(v=vs.110).aspx
2. Make sure that you have the Team Project filter in your team alert
3. Enable team alerts in Team Foundation Server Administration Console
4. Enable team alerts with tfsconfig command prompt tool (this is an undocumented feature) tfsconfig configuremail /Enabled:True
5. Check Event Viewer logs
6. make sure all names are straightforward without any apostrophe or special characters, try to have only one member and test and start increasing the number of members each time with test till you get your problem. (Thanks to M. Radwan from this answer)
7. Diagnosing Email and SOAP subscription failures using this guide http://blogs.msdn.com/b/granth/archive/2009/10/28/tfs2010-diagnosing-email-and-soap-subscription-failures.aspx
8. Make sure your users in your ad have correct emails