MS Outlook on LAN

[uganda]

I have 15 PCs on LAN. None connected to Internet (no dialup or Braoadband). All PCs have MS Outlook installed.
Without using exchange server, is it possible to exchange emails with the 15 users within the LAN?

All 15 emails can be on the same domain. I want to be able to configure Outlook such that simply clicking 'send/receive' button should send/receive emails.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I'd setup a Linux box (low-spec) and run SMTP/POP3/IMAP. I am not aware (ignorance?) of an ad-hoc method of using Outlook to directly communicate with outlook.

 

[uganda]

I agree tht setting up a server would be the best way to go but I would really like to know if there is an(as you pointed out)"Ad-Hoc" way.

 

[Oyeve]

No, you will need some type of email server, whether pop,imap or smtp.

 

[uganda]

Is it possible to setup one of the MS Outlook as a server?(without adding any aditional software)

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Keep in mind that the hardware requirements for running a POP3/SMTP server is very low. I bet my oldest PC in the house could be used, and the software can be free (Linux). Also, applications like Outlook and Outlook Express are clients that need a server.

 

[oynaz]

Is it possible to setup one of the MS Outlook as a server?(without adding any aditional software)

No.

 

[Lifted]

Is it possible to setup one of the MS Outlook as a server?(without adding any aditional software)

As was said above, no.

But you can run a very light weight linux server as a virtual machine on one of the PC's. You could probably find a linux iso or pre built VM appliance that comes configured with an IMAP or POP server, so all you'd have to do is download and run/install it. It shouldn't eat up much more than a few hundred MB of RAM.

You can probably find a light weight IMAP or POP server to run directly in Windows as well, but I don't have any experience or suggestions for such a solution.

If you could use a NAS on your LAN, a lot of them come with IMAP servers built in.

 

[AFurryReptile]

http://www.hmailserver.com/

You can run that on any windows computer, with very little performance hit. Took me all of 15 minutes to learn/setup, and was stable for the ~3 months that I used it.

Or maybe try Google Apps. You get 10 mailboxes for free.