Recommended email server

[NRaygun]

OK, I've had it. I'm trying to get cable modem service in my new house and AT&T is screwing up at every turn. I recently found out that they cant transfer my email to my new service so all of my email that has been sent since I turned the service off is no longer available!

Anyway, I think I'll find an ISP that uses static IP address, hopefully DSL. I'd like to setup my own mail server so I dont have the problem of transfering email addresses again.

What do you recommend I use as an email server that would be easy to use and maintain? Exchange Windows? Something on Linux?

The goal is to have a permanent email address. I know about services that provide this, but who knows how long they will be around. I also know about things like Yahoo and Hotmail, but again, who knows how long those services will be around and there might be limitations.

 

[slackware1995]

<< OK, I've had it. I'm trying to get cable modem service in my new house and AT&T is screwing up at every turn. I recently found out that they cant transfer my email to my new service so all of my email that has been sent since I turned the service off is no longer available!

Anyway, I think I'll find an ISP that uses static IP address, hopefully DSL. I'd like to setup my own mail server so I dont have the problem of transfering email addresses again.

What do you recommend I use as an email server that would be easy to use and maintain? Exchange Windows? Something on Linux?

The goal is to have a permanent email address. I know about services that provide this, but who knows how long they will be around. I also know about things like Yahoo and Hotmail, but again, who knows how long those services will be around and there might be limitations. >>



I would say to use Linux running sendmail as your "email server". Most distros install this as default.

Also, you can use a very very low end computer to do this.. a 486 with 8-64mb ram is more than enough. So your total cost could be <$50.

Hope this helps.

 

[Daniel]

You considered just getting a domain name and getting your own email through there instead of setting up your own mail server just so you can maintain email?

 

[N11]

<< You considered just getting a domain name and getting your own email through there instead of setting up your own mail server just so you can maintain email? >>

 

[Wizkid]

Exchange is expensive and overkill for what you need.

Try qmail on linux/bsd...

 

[Garion]

I'm a big fan of Mdaemon. It's got a lot of great features, including the ability to retrieve mail messages for a user from their POP mailbox. Very handy for adding people to your list. It does IMAP, shared address books, the works.

You know, you CAN use a dynamic IP and have a mail server point to it. Check out some of the dynamic DNS solutions that work with your static IP. DynDNS is my favorite, that I've used for many happy years.

Last option, likely the easiest - Register your domain and have someone host it for you. Just pull mail off of the server and you're set! This should be pretty cheap nowadays.

Speaking of that, there's a guy on here, N11 who seems to be affiliated with a hosting company - Network Eleven. For $9/month, you get mail services along with a basic web page. Probably far cheaper to go that route than to switch to a more expensive ISP. (Note - I don't know N11 or anything about his services, so YMMV).

- G

 

[Garion]

.. And I didn't even notice that N11 had posted you a reply.. Take a look at what he's got to offer, seems like a decent deal.

- G

 

[Abzstrak]

use whatever you want, qmail would come to mind.

then register your DNS through ultradns.com and have them do mail caching for you for when your server or its connection is down.... its only like $5/month

 

[Rainsford]

qmail is excellent and a lot more secure than sendmail (IMHO). It is also supposed to be a lot faster, but I don't put that much stress on my server so I wouldn't know.

 

[WarmAndSCSI]

Exchange Server 2000 on MS Windows 2000 all da way!

 

[Daniel]

<< Exchange Server 2000 on MS Windows 2000 all da way! >>



If he wants to do it with legit software he will pay an arm and a leg for that.

 

[DirtylilTechBoy]

Sendmail, from what I understand, must run as root. Qmail however, from what I understand, does not have to run as root. This can make all of the difference in security.

I'm currently engineering a 12 server trading site using a combination of W2kAdvServer, Linux, OpenBSD, and FreeBSD, all running applications such as FTP, Email, Coldfusion, and PHP. My research points to QMAIL.

Any advice for FTP??

 

[AKA]

Easy is the key.

Most people for this very reason register a domain with a register that provides email redirect.

They setup with the register to have all emails forwarded to their current ISP email box.

That is the easiest thing to do. Anytime you change providers.. you go back to register and have it forwarded to your new provider email address.

Now if you really want an easy to use and maintain email server I would recommend Argosoft. You can have as many domains, email addresses etc you want. Also has webmail feature. You can even set it up to redirect email, autoresponders etc.

For DNS services and backup I recommend easyDNS.com. That way incase your connection goes down or your email server is offline any emails someone sends you will go to their server and spool until your email server is back online. Only $19.95 per year.

Brief Steps for email server using easyDNS and Argosoft.

Register a domain name and enter in the information for easyDNS (if you go with them)
Register with easyDNS (no initial charge, you are billed) and setup your ip address, mx records etc.
Install Argosoft (there is a freeware one) and setup the server. Have any problems or question ask in their newsgroup (posted on website)
Wait for the DNS information spread and then try out your new email server.

Here is an example of an Argosoft custom webmail server someone posted at the newsgroup. Click Here!

 

[Kell]

Originally posted by DirtylilTechBoy
Sendmail, from what I understand, must run as root. Qmail however, from what I understand, does not have to run as root. This can make all of the difference in security.


Sendmail 8.12.x runs as smmsp:smmsp. Still, qmail tends to be rather more lightweight and easier to configure.


Originally posted by DirtylilTechBoy
I'm currently engineering a 12 server trading site using a combination of W2kAdvServer, Linux, OpenBSD, and FreeBSD, all running applications such as FTP, Email, Coldfusion, and PHP. My research points to QMAIL.

Any advice for FTP??


I prefer proftpd. NcFTPd is good too, though IIRC it's not quite freeware.

 

[Kell]

* double post *