Mail setup for Windows 2003 Servers

Flashster · 26th May 2006

Background:
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I am setting up (or will be soon) a colo w2k3 server mainly for hosting web sites I design for my clients (small businesses). The clients will only have 'write' access to the server by way of the content managment system I integrate with their web site.

I will only have 1-2u of space (i.e. 1 server which I've yet to build), 1 power socket, and a small number of IP addresses. I am familiar with w2k server, but have yet to get my hands on w2k3, hence some of my questions below.

I think it would be useful to be able to a limited number of pop mail accounts with my web offering - say 10-15 pop addresses per domain.

My questions are:
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1) Has w2k3 got any built-in functionality for handling mail, or is this not technically possible/advised?

2) What POP/SMTP mail servers do you recommend? (I don't think a web interface is absolutely necessary for the mail - besides I don't want the client storing all the mail on the server - rather it was all downloaded) MailEnable Standard and Hmail have already been suggested and I've yet to look at them.

3) Is it ok to have the POP/SMTP mail running on the same server and the web sites?

4) Do I need to consider IP addresses when it comes to the mail, or is it like the web side of things in that I can set up virtual domains under the one IP.

5) What about blacklisting of mail servers - is this something I need to consider and if so how would you guard against it?

6) Do I need an integrated anti-virus solution if running a mail service such as this?

7) How do you deal with disk quotas on Windows 2003 regarding mail (if I were opting for a web mail feature for example)?

8) *Should I forget all this and use a free/cheap third party mail service? If so who do you use?*

Thanks - sorry for all the questions but I've been up all night thinking about this.....

Flash

richard · 26th May 2006

My answers below

My questions are:
-----------------------
1) Has w2k3 got any built-in functionality for handling mail, or is this not technically possible/advised?

Technically yes, SMTP and POP but I wouldn't advise using them on their own

2) What POP/SMTP mail servers do you recommend? (I don't think a web interface is absolutely necessary for the mail - besides I don't want the client storing all the mail on the server - rather it was all downloaded) MailEnable Standard and Hmail have already been suggested and I've yet to look at them.

MDaemon was always good, slighty expensive though

3) Is it ok to have the POP/SMTP mail running on the same server and the web sites?

Depends on how loaded the server will be

4) Do I need to consider IP addresses when it comes to the mail, or is it like the web side of things in that I can set up virtual domains under the one IP.

You could run it all on 1 IP if you wish, but I like spreading them out

5) What about blacklisting of mail servers - is this something I need to consider and if so how would you guard against it?

Buy a decent mail package and it should protect your mail server from being used badly

6) Do I need an integrated anti-virus solution if running a mail service such as this?

Most will have AV support; usually additional cost; Don't expect to be able to use normal AV software as it will play havoc with your mail queues

7) How do you deal with disk quotas on Windows 2003 regarding mail (if I were opting for a web mail feature for example)?

Any good mail software will allow you to set limits per account

8) *Should I forget all this and use a free/cheap third party mail service? If so who do you use?*

Any serious host should invest in a good infrastructure

Dhosting · 26th May 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flashster

Background:
---------------
I am setting up (or will be soon) a colo w2k3 server mainly for hosting web sites I design for my clients (small businesses). The clients will only have 'write' access to the server by way of the content managment system I integrate with their web site.

......

My advice, go and grab http://www.hosting-controller.co.uk/...-software.html £99 one off purchase, 50 domain license and you can upgrade in the future, currently they are giving a free 50 domain license for smarter mail and smarter stats with each purchase, so you get a control panel, mail server software for up to 50 domains! all for £99 or £6.90 a month. (24x6 support)

I wouldn't use the built in windows pop3 it just sucks thats all i can say.

IP's usually you can get away with 3-4 ip's,
1 for mail
1 for iis - all sites run on the same ip
2 for dns (you could just use 1 ip for dns and then get secondary dns services off your ISP)

Hope this is useful for you, what sort of spec server are you going to be building?