How can I run an Exchange email server from my home?

[Staz]

What I want to do:
Send and receive email from my own email server.
Use my name as my email address, ie <first name>@<last name>.com
Provide this service for family members on remote systems.
Learn how to administrator an Exchange Server.

This is what I have:
Exchange Server app installed on a dedicated server.
Cox Cable Home Internet service with dynamic IP addressing.
My last name registered as a domain.



I don't know if this is even possible or what would be needed for it. I own my last name as a registered domain name, now I want to run an email server using that domain. Using a pay DNS service, I can have this DNS service point to my current IP, and they offer a service that automatically switches IP addresses when my IP address changes. In order to get a static IP from Cox, I have to pay another $100 more a month for a business account, which is too rich for my blood. What would I need to do or obtain in order to make this work, pending I can?

 

[Saltin]

You must be rolling in the dough to afford a pricey piece of software like that for home use!

 

[Staz]

umm...I probably paid as much as you did for your current OS...

 

[martind1]

it sounds liek you are good to go. just have to open up ports 25 and 110 for your server and then set it up with the accounts and you should be good to go.


what version of exchange serveR?

 

[azev]

I run exchange server at home and it is very easy to do. You need to install win2k domain then install exchange 2000. If you have firewall, make sure you open port 25 and 110 for smtp/pop3 access. These are pretty easy to setup, but when comes to MAPI access over wan, it gets quite complicated especially when security is involved.

 

[groovin]

careful about running exchange servers... theyre big targets.

id rather just prop up a qmail server on linux or something.

 

[dpain]

You can use DYNDNS.org to keep track of your changing IP address. The problem that you are going to have is that I believe Cox blocks incoming smtp requests for home accounts. That may have changed, I am not sure.

-dpain

 

[bozo1]

Cox will block your outgoing emails. You'll have to send your outgoing SMTP traffic to one of Cox's SMTP servers. I do not know if they block incoming SMTP traffic but they definitely block outbound.

 

[AKA]

Cox blocks port 25 for receiving email on an email server (email clients send on port 25).. so no incoming port 25.
You can send mail just fine.. its just that nobody can send to your email server.

When you send an email using an email client it goes out on port 25.. but an email server receives it on port 25.

I know cause I had cox and dsl at same time and found out I couldn't run my email server on cox.. so i dropped them.

However.. if you get a Home business account with Cox (something like $75/month) then all ports will be open.

 

[Need4Speed]

Originally posted by: Staz
umm...I probably paid as much as you did for your current OS...

some people actually paid for their OS

 

[Saltin]

umm...I probably paid as much as you did for your current OS.

$130 ?

Wow, that's a steal for Exchange! Last time I looked into it, it was 12k with 25 seats!

Either you're the best barginer in the world, or you're a software pirate (yarrr!)

 

[dpain]

It falls somwhere inbetween. You can get a 5 user lic for about $1,250 retail. Even the 25 user retail is about $6,995. More than $130 and Less than 12K...... And like there are any pirates on these boards. Next you be tellin me that they are using them there P2P networks to illeagally share programs, movies, and music. Come now!

 

[dpain]

By the way, Windows 2003 now comes with a free email server built in. It only supports pop3, but it works pretty good. Well free if you don't count the price of the Server software.

 

[cmetz]

Anyone want to take bets on when Staz will be posting here asking why his Internet connection seems to be loaded down a lot even when he's not doing anything?

If you want to learn Exchange, please do so on a closed network. On the public Internet, you can do damage administering systems you really don't know too well. Thanks go to Microsoft for creating such quality products.

 

[martind1]

when i had the beta for w2k3 the pop server was real simple, very limited in what it could do (for one thing no wildcard/catchall account).


they improve this at all?

 

[dpain]

It is pretty limited and simple, that is what makes it ideal for small offices. I am not sure about the catch all / wildcard account. I run Exchange here at the office, and have only played with the pop3 in Win2k3. I was impressed with it's ease of use, and its simplicity. I did not try to create a fully functional email system with it yet. Like all Microsoft products, it works and it's good enough! That should actually be their slogan. I wonder if I will get royalties if they use it?

Dpain

 

[Thor86]

Originally posted by: Staz
What I want to do:
Send and receive email from my own email server.
Use my name as my email address, ie <first name>@<last name>.com
Provide this service for family members on remote systems.
Learn how to administrator an Exchange Server.

This is what I have:
Exchange Server app installed on a dedicated server.
Cox Cable Home Internet service with dynamic IP addressing.
My last name registered as a domain.



I don't know if this is even possible or what would be needed for it. I own my last name as a registered domain name, now I want to run an email server using that domain. Using a pay DNS service, I can have this DNS service point to my current IP, and they offer a service that automatically switches IP addresses when my IP address changes. In order to get a static IP from Cox, I have to pay another $100 more a month for a business account, which is too rich for my blood. What would I need to do or obtain in order to make this work, pending I can?

http://www.msexchange.org/