Hands on: How to install and configure a network server

Send/receive options

Depending on how you’re connected, you may have to tweak the settings that control the way messages are sent and received over the Internet.

Sending isn’t that much of an issue, as all mail servers use SMTP to do this, and it doesn’t matter if you’re using dial-up or ISDN.

However, you will need to choose between sending directly, with the mail server resolving addresses via DNS, and simply forwarding all outgoing mail to your ISP for its servers to handle.

When it comes to receiving mail, however, life gets a little more complex. You can, again, use SMTP with – assuming always-on Internet connectivity and suitable DNS entries – incoming messages pushed directly to the server.

For Pop3 mail, however, you’ll need to tell the mail server where to get the messages from, provide an appropriate username and password and, in most cases, set up a schedule to check for and download waiting mail.

SMTP delivery is the most efficient approach, but it is not always convenient; for example, where the mail server is hidden behind a Nat firewall or you only have dial-up or an ISDN connection to the Internet.

In this case, you can use Pop3, although not all mail servers provide this facility so check before you buy.

Plus, you’ll need a multi-drop mail account with your service provider, typically where you’re allowed as many email addresses as you want and don’t have to supply the details of each user separately.

Client setup

Having got your mail server working, you then have to configure the clients, and what’s required here will vary depending on the application and type of mailbox involved.

The basic requirements, though, are much the same.

First configure the network name or IP address of your email server, both for sending and receiving mail.

Then give the client a username and password to log on with – again, both to retrieve incoming messages and, if you’ve specified it as a requirement on the server, to authenticate before sending messages out.

Another consideration is whether to pull messages down using the Pop3 protocol and store them on the local hard disk, or keep them in an Imap (Internet Message Access Protocol) mailbox on the server.

Mailserver6 supports both approaches, and includes a web-based client that can be accessed from a browser. However, unlike some other packages, you don’t have to specify the type of mailbox on the server itself, just at the client end.

Note too that the Kerio software includes groupware functionality, giving users access to a global address book and allowing them to share their local contacts, calendars and task folders.

This functionality is available immediately via the web client but, because it relies on the Mapi (Mail API) protocol used by Microsoft’s Exchange Server, additional setup work is required if you’re using Outlook.

Indeed, you have to install a custom Outlook Connector (supplied with the email server) on each client PC and configure Outlook to use this to connect to the mail server.

Other options

Finally, most mail server packages include facilities to centrally apply and manage anti-virus, anti-spam and other security tools.

Mailserver6 is no exception, with built-in McAfee anti-virus protection plus a range of anti-spam and more general content-filtering options, including attachment blocking.

You can also add disclaimers on the bottom of all outgoing messages, monitor and log all activity and generally stay on top of your mail server.

Then, once you’re happy with the setup, all that remains is to license it and get on with your work.