E-mail server...

[Cyberkiller6]

I am looking to setup an internet e-mail server. First off how do I go about setting up the mx record if I am running the email server off the same machine as my webserver? Do I even need an mx record then? Second what would be the best email server to use on my win2k server? I am currently thinking of using exchange, any problems I may run into? Also whatever email server i use needs to have webmail access. I am quite new to running email servers so any input would be appreciated.


Thanks,

 

[Nothinman]

Email and web server's have nothing to do with each other, the MX record is necessary no matter what box you put the email on. Exchange is quite expensive, are you sure you want to drop that much cash on a personal mail server?

I've been running Courier-IMAP-SSL + Postfix + procmail filtering + Apache + IMP which gives me server side filtering (all my mail gets deposited in the correct folder automatically), webmail access via IMP, IMAP access over SSL for a while and it works great. All running on Linux, so all I had to pay for was the box (got a nice dual 300Mhz Ultra2 on eBay cheap for it) and put in a little time setting it all up and really it wasn't that much work to get setup.

If you really must use a Win2K server please subscribe to NTBugTraq or something, otherwise you'll be spreading CodeRed/Nimda type worms in a day or so if you aren't already.

 

[Cyberkiller6]

The server is secure as far as code red and such, I keep track of all the latest security exploits and patches. I've been running webservers for a few years now so I know what im doing there. It's just i've never gotten into the whole e-mail thing. As far as the mx record goes, should I create a mail subdomain to point to my webbox, then just use that domain for the mx record? It said I couldn't point an ip address it in or use the same domain as I am using for my webserver. That's what confused me.

 

[Nothinman]

It said I couldn't point an ip address it in or use the same domain as I am using for my webserver. That's what confused me.

It?

 

[Soybomb]

My personal peference for this setup dns wise would be to make an A record for mail and set your MX to mail

Then if you want you can setup the webserver for a virtual domain of mail.domain.com to host your webmail package

 

[Cyberkiller6]

How do I go about keeping spammers from using it as a relay? SMTP Authentication?

 

[skyking]

Depends on wether you need it to forward at all. Mine is set to forward from a specific IP range, and the internal stuff, and nothing else. That will block the spammers. If you intend to have clients out there with dynamic dns connections, I suggest you have them use their own ISP's mail server for outgoing. It is set up to allow relaying from within the ISP's range of IP's, in most cases, without login.

 

[WarmAndSCSI]

I'd download the Exchange 2003 Beta from Microsoft. It's completely stable (as far as I've seen so far) and since it's a BETA release, there's no trial timer on it.

 

[Nothinman]

I'd download the Exchange 2003 Beta from Microsoft. It's completely stable (as far as I've seen so far) and since it's a BETA release, there's no trial timer on it.

That's a bit overkill I'd think.

 

[Cyberkiller6]

don't you need a bunch of stuff just to run exchange? such as ms sql server running and others?

 

[WarmAndSCSI]

Originally posted by: Cyberkiller6
don't you need a bunch of stuff just to run exchange? such as ms sql server running and others?

No, not at all. All you need to run Exchange is a copy of Windows Server (2000 or 2003) and Active Directory setup.

 

[Nothinman]

No, not at all. All you need to run Exchange is a copy of Windows Server (2000 or 2003) and Active Directory setup.

Which is a lot of setup and money. I had my current setup done in just a few hours and it was 100% free (not counting hardware), minus migrating of mail which took a while because of how much mail I have.

 

[Cyberkiller6]

Let the Linux Vs MS War Begin!

 

[skyking]

no war, no contest. Unless you are a software pirate, or too rich to care, or work for MS, the 'nixes save you enough $$$ to buy the server

 

[Nothinman]

Let the Linux Vs MS War Begin!

There's no war to be had, who can really justify buying Win2K(3) server and Exchange for a handfull of mailboxes for personal use?

 

[MonkeyK]

Many students can get W2K server from their school for free. The MS academic alliance can be a wonderful thing!

so far I have got for free:
-W2K Advanced Server (not installed yet)
-SQL Server
-VS Pro
-MS Project
-Visio

According to the license you are even allow to continue using the software after you graduate.

 

[Nothinman]

According to the license you are even allow to continue using the software after you graduate.

Maybe at your school, but each student needs to check their license because they vary from school to school.

Personally I wouldn't take the software anyway, it's not worth the price even with the discount. I can get better performance and customizability from an Open Source solution with just a little reading.

 

[WarmAndSCSI]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

No, not at all. All you need to run Exchange is a copy of Windows Server (2000 or 2003) and Active Directory setup.

Which is a lot of setup and money. I had my current setup done in just a few hours and it was 100% free (not counting hardware), minus migrating of mail which took a while because of how much mail I have.

Actually it's free. Windows 2003 Server RC2 (360 day trial) and Exchange 2003 Beta 2.

 

[Nothinman]

Actually it's free. Windows 2003 Server RC2 (360 day trial) and Exchange 2003 Beta 2.

And what happens after 360 days? And how long does the Exchange beta last?

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

Actually it's free. Windows 2003 Server RC2 (360 day trial) and Exchange 2003 Beta 2.

And what happens after 360 days? And how long does the Exchange beta last?

I am accustomed to 360 day uptimes, not end of life on software!

 

[WarmAndSCSI]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

Actually it's free. Windows 2003 Server RC2 (360 day trial) and Exchange 2003 Beta 2.

And what happens after 360 days? And how long does the Exchange beta last?

it just stops working. But by then there will either be a crack for the RC2 or a cracked version of the full version. The Exchange Beta doesn't have a trial timer.

 

[Nothinman]

it just stops working. But by then there will either be a crack for the RC2 or a cracked version of the full version

So he goes from trial to either spending a ton of cash or pirating it? Seems like a dumb idea to me.

 

[WarmAndSCSI]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

it just stops working. But by then there will either be a crack for the RC2 or a cracked version of the full version

So he goes from trial to either spending a ton of cash or pirating it? Seems like a dumb idea to me.

Quit blindly supporting Linux. It's never going to be superior to Windows or even the Mac OS, so get over it. The Linux world is an enthusiast's one - it'll never be mainstream.

edit: BTW, I do have 3 RH Linux boxes - only for educational purposes... I'll never be running RH on any of my servers.

 

[WarmAndSCSI]

I only answered with the W2k3S + E2k3 solution because this individual said "on my win2k server". Exchange is obviously the best mail server for Win2k and since he's either already purchased Win2kServer or doesn't mind pirating software, I would figure he'd want to go with the best solution for his current platform.

 

[Nothinman]

Quit blindly supporting Linux. It's never going to be superior to Windows or even the Mac OS, so get over it. The Linux world is an enthusiast's one - it'll never be mainstream.

You're the one that's blindly limiting yourself, Linux is already better than both in many ways, why else would Apple toss OS 9 and below and replace it with unix? All they did was take the Mach kernel add the FreeBSD userspace and drop a pretty GUI on top of it. Microsoft is releasing the WinCE source because they're scared of Linux on the embedded front, it's even under a license that permits changing and redistributing it.

My company writes specialized software for some really big clients and most of them are requesting parts of that (the Oracle database and one of the parts of our software that normally runs on 'big iron' unix boxes) be certified on Linux so they don't have to buy the huge unix boxes. What's great is that one of our softare pieces runs better on Linux than on HP-UX or Solaris on equal hardware so it's an easy sell. The only part of the software that doesn't run on Linux yet is the user-side GUI, but even that'll probably change as more of it is converted to web or java based.

I only answered with the W2k3S + E2k3 solution because this individual said "on my win2k server". Exchange is obviously the best mail server for Win2k and since he's either already purchased Win2kServer or doesn't mind pirating software, I would figure he'd want to go with the best solution for his current platform.

Anand doesn't condone software piracy and neither do I. If you want to waste ~$400 on 5 Exchange CALs plus whatever for the software itself but that's your business but to me it seems extremely dumb when there's better, free solutions out there.