Win2k as web/mail server

[Henry Kuo]

First I'd like to thank NauthyusMaximus for giving me some info on the setup. But I'd still like to know more.

For example I got a domain name www.xcom.com already. Now I want to set up a web sever and also a mail server using win2k, how to do it? Is there anywhere I can read about it?

1) is Win2k Pro enough? Or I need Win2k Server or advanced server?
2) I know in order to set up web server, I need to enable IIS. What is it, and how it is going to help me? Any more detailed info?
3) Can I set up the mail server to provide individual emails for difference users? For example an email henrykuo@xcom.com for myself, and mydad@xcom.com for my dad, etc? How to do it?

I am definitely to this arena, so I'd appreciate any help. I definitely want to know this asap, especially the mail server. Thanks a lot.

 

[err]

I would definetely go for Win2K adv server. I might be wrong, but if I remember it correctly, there are limits to the number of users that can access IIS in Win2K Pro at the same time. That limit is gone in Win2K Server family.

You can definetely use IIS bundled with Win2K server as your webserver. As for email server, I would suggest Ipswitch Imail server for simplicity. Their tagline: "20 minutes email solutions" is flawed though. It is more like "The 5 minutes email solution"

Yes you can create multiple username with Imail. You can also create multiple domain with this simple mail server.

If you are adventerous enough, Exchage is one damn powerful email server

Anyway, please feel free to ask me questions

eRr

 

[Henry Kuo]

Thanks for the reply. I guess I will go for the easier stuff fist (hence imail -- though it is darn expensive!! 1k bucks!!!)

Hmmm, so what is IIS? what does it do?

Thanks again.

 

[radarnbo]

I think you will have to send questions on set-up to err, but I use W2K Server, not advanced, for my web/e-mail server. I also use iMail. It has worked great for me and even though I know almost nothing about software, with a little help I was able to get it set-up and and I can usually make all the adjustments for it myself. I currently support two sites, but I will probably pick up a couple more for some friends. I used Exchange at the beginning and it worked, but I had a hard time with it. Most of it is still on my server. I could never get it to use the right domain name and once it was up it didn't want to change. Very stubborn software. Anyway, I am just supporting the above recommendations for iMail.

 

[Henry Kuo]

thanks! I guess iMail is the best to go with. Now time to find it for free

Anyone know to get it for free, email email

 

[urbantechie]

If you need any of ther server editions, heck any win2k version PM me .

 

[Ender510]

Actually, I was planning on doing a similar setup actually.. i was going to install Win 2K advanced server, IIS, and Exchange 2000. I was also going to be hosting 3-4 web sites with all 3-4 domains already purchased.. I would also be running w/ 1 static IP. I've heard it's fairly easy to setup IIS and Win 2K since I've had experience w/ NT before.. but I've never really played around with Exchange..

I was wondering if Exchange is able to handle multiple domains or would i need to run several instances or point it to different directories, like the mail folders? Are there any online sites that would give more of a setup instructions on how to setup the web servers? Any help would definitely be appreciated! Thanks in advance..

 

[Henry Kuo]

actually, what is IIS??

 

[Sunner]

Exchange can handle multiple domains, no problems.
But unless you need the advanced functionality, such as team folders, etc etc that comes with the Outlook+Exchange combo, I wouldnt go for Exchange.
As a mailserver alone, it sucks, and hard at that, and there are several much better solutions for mail servers out there.

IIS = Internet Information Server.

 

[err]

Setting up and installing IIS is not that hard. However it might be quite intimidating for a new IIS user.

I would recommend that you pick a good IIS book with perhaps some chapters on Win2K DNS to go with that.

Btw, you can download an eval of Imail I think. And the 250 user version cost about $299, I think.

Let me know if you want to learn IIS, I'll be glad to help

eRr

 

[nEoTeChMaN]

Of course it is free, Henry Kuo. It is a matter of looking in the right place.

 

[Conroy9]

sigh

for a mail server that's *really* free, I use "1st class mail server"; you can find it at 1cis.com

To get rid of their ad banner, it costs $99 for the first domain and $49 each afterwards

Also, I use win2k server for my web (IIS) and mail server
NOT advanced server
(of course you can use advanced server, if you want to spend more)

Conroy

 

[urbantechie]

I want a motherboard damnit!

 

[Sunner]

Cant resist...

Just use Linux, why go with Win2K?

Sorry, was too hard to resist

 

[Henry Kuo]

well, I do agree that Linux is a cheaper solution (it's free anyway), but I just have hard time using Linux... I guess I am just too stubbon to learn new OS

Thanks guys for all the replies. I will look into IIS and DNS, etc. Seems something interesting to learn about. If I have questions, I will definitely go to you guys!

Now my dream starts to wake up a little bit

 

[rahvin]

Advanced server? I've seen two recommendations for advanced server here, and I'm baffled why people are recommending a much more expensive product? Unless I'm mistaken the only difference between advanced server and server is the number of processors (in the server) it supports.

 

[Ender510]

Sunner: Thanks for the tips.. so I am now considering iMail vs Exchange 2K... now what would I be gaining w/ Exchange now? All I really want to do is setup around 20 or so at MOST email accounts on each domain name (3-4). I wanted to have a decent interface so I don't have to use Yahoo anymore w/ their 6 MB limit on email.. and also wanted a central location for my friends to dump stuff, email stuff to each other, and have a listserve going on.. thanks in advance!

 

[urbantechie]

<< Advanced server? I've seen two recommendations for advanced server here, and I'm baffled why people are recommending a much more expensive product? Unless I'm mistaken the only difference between advanced server and server is the number of processors (in the server) it supports. >>


Nope. Alot more power to it. Henry Kuo is taken care of.

 

[Henry Kuo]

ssshhh..... no one hears anything

now the thing I have to do is learning about IIS and DNS, etc... excited!

oh wait, hw tomorrow? midterm next week?? hmm...

 

[urbantechie]

Haha, your secret is safe with me!

 

[NaughtyusMaximus]

Just curious if you ever got yourself up and running.

 

[Henry Kuo]

Thanks for the headup. I have gathered quite something, but time again comes in as the main problem... Seemingly school is one hassle, research is another one. Teaching definitely takes quite some time, and the pile of motherboards in my room simply takes away the rest of my time :|

I think it's better for me to put aside the server thing first, since I think (and I hope) you guys prefer to see more reviews as soon as the boards arrived!

btw, I didn't mention sleep time... heee....

Thanks guys!

 

[Superunknown]

Henry, if you are setting up a web/mail server make sure DNS is taken care of. You need to contact your ISP/hosting provider and have them provide DNS entries for you. Otherwise when someone goes to www.xcom.com it wont find your server. Most ISP's charge about $20/mo for DNS hosting...or you can run your own DNS but you need to have a DNS server on the net as authoritative. If you get your domain name through register.com they do dns for free..

 

[WoundedWallet]

Kuo, when you have more time check out this site http://www.Stamey.nu/DNS/

It gives a good step-by-step approach to MS DNS. That's what saved me when I was setting up my server.

WW

 

[Sunner]

Ender, I havent looked into E2K yet.
However, the benefit of Exchange is not that its a good mail server, but that its a complete collaboration solution, with such things as team folders, an internal mail system, global address lists etc etc.

But if you're looking to setup a mail server that will be used as &quot;just a mail server&quot;, ie you wont use all the advanced features, then Exchange is not the way to go, since its pretty expensive, is much harder to learn than your avarge &quot;simple&quot; mail server, and doesnt really provide any special benefits.

Without knowing more specifically what you're looking for its hard to recomend anything, but from what I've heard, it sounds like a more &quot;lite&quot; solution would be more appropriate.