diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index e37f11f..14aa895 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -8,4 +8,4 @@ RUN apt update && apt install -y bind9-host iputils-ping
 
 COPY . .
 
-CMD [ "python", "./survBot.py", "-html", "www" ]
+CMD [ "python", "./survBot.py", "-html", "www", "-parfile", "conf/parameters.yaml" ]
diff --git a/parameters.yaml b/parameters.yaml
index fcf609f..1be3d16 100644
--- a/parameters.yaml
+++ b/parameters.yaml
@@ -137,13 +137,18 @@ html_logo: "logo.png"
 
 # E-mail notifications
 EMAIL:
-  mailserver: "smtp.rub.de"                   # mail server
-  port: 465                               # mail port
+  # specify mail server and credentials
+  # port, auth_type, user and password are only required if mailserver is not set to "localhost"
+  # user and password can be set to "ENV" or "DOCKER" to read from environment variables or docker secrets
+  mailserver: "smtp.rub.de"           # mail server
+  auth_type: "SSL"                    # mail authentication type, can be "SSL", "TLS" or "None"
+  port: 465                           # mail port, default 465 for SSL, 587 for TLS
   user: "DOCKER"                      # mail user, read from environment variable if set to "ENV" or from docker secret if set to "DOCKER"
   password: "DOCKER"                  # mail password, read from environment variable if set to "ENV" or from docker secret if set to "DOCKER"
+  # specify mail recipients, sender and blacklists
   addresses: ["marcel.paffrath@rub.de", "kasper.fischer@rub.de"]  # list of mail addresses for info mails
-  sender: "RUB SeisObs <seisobs@ruhr-uni-bochum.de>" # mail sender
-  stations_blacklist: []                     # do not send emails for specific stations
-  networks_blacklist: []                           # do not send emails for specific network
+  sender: "RUB SeisObs <seisobs@ruhr-uni-bochum.de>"              # mail sender
+  stations_blacklist: []                                          # do not send emails for specific stations
+  networks_blacklist: []                                          # do not send emails for specific network
   # specify recipients for single stations in a yaml: key = email-address, val = station list (e.g. [1Y.GR01, 1Y.GR02])
-  external_mail_list: "mailing_list.yaml"
+  external_mail_list: "conf/mailing_list.yaml"