Set up a Personal Email Server
This website is about gaining email freedom. You can acquire that freedom in three
different ways; by setting up email service on your own computer by yourself, by setting up an
outside company to host your mail, or by hiring a consultant to set up your email.
Most internet service providers provide free email service, but there are two big problems
with that. Suppose you want to change service providers? If your email is
addressed to you at your service providers "domain", you effectively become handcuffed, unable
to seek better service or better prices. Another problem may be that you can't set up
more mailboxes or choose the exact email address aliases you want.
By taking control of your email, you gain the freedom to put your email service where you
want it, with all the services, mailboxes, and aliases you want. You could put your
email service anywhere, including on your own PC. You'll gain the ability to assign
multiple aliases to mailboxes. For example, one mailbox could receive mail addressed to
both 'john@' and 'info@'. A different mailbox could receive mail sent to both 'karen@'
and 'sales@'. Your options become endless. For those with multiple mailboxes,
you'll find having your own email server is far less expensive than purchasing mail service.
Basic Requirements for Personal Email Servers
To set up your own personal email server and in effect, become your own independent ISP,
you need a full time internet connection, a domain name, and a DNS service appropriate for
your type of IP address. Furthermore, you'll want to set up security including a
firewall, anti-virus, and anti-spam. Before you're done, you'll want to fully test your
setup.
Get a Domain Name
It's owning a domain name that grants you your freedom. Once you own and control your
own domain name, you can decide whether to set up your own personal email server or whether to
hire some other company to host your email service. One big advantage of having your own
personal email server is that you can set up more mailboxes and more email addresses for
virtually no cost, perhaps for free.
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The domain name of this website is "mailmypc.com". In order for mail to be
routed to your own personal email server, you'll need your own personal domain
name. Companies who sell domain names are called registrars. Most
registrars sell domain names for an annual fee of $10 to $20 per year. But
be warned, if you buy your own domain name, be sure to keep it renewed.
There is no greater heartache than forgetting to renew your domain name and
seeing it become someone else's property. A list of registrars is
accredited and maintained by
ICANN.
You can find popular registrars by searching on
Google. |
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Warning
Be sure to keep your domain name renewed. Too many people buy a domain
name and then forget to renew it. |
DNS Service - Static vs. Dynamic IP
DNS makes things simple. On the internet, DNS (Domain Name Service) is an automatic
service that turns domain names into a number called an IP address. While we might think
everything happens by using domain names, in reality, all traffic is addressed and routed
using IP addresses. All domain names must be converted into the IP address where they
live, (i.e. where the server is installed).
In order for a mail server to receive mail, it's not enough to have a domain name.
The server must also have an IP address that can be found and addressed by other computers.
In the internet world, an IP address is the equivalent of having a phone number. A
permanently assigned IP address is called a "static IP". Suppose your phone number
changed every time you used it? Such is the case with most internet services. Most
residential internet services use a changing IP address called a "dynamic IP". On your
telephone, you can successfully dial out no matter what your phone number is or how often it
changes. In the same way, your computer can access the internet and allow you to use
websites and other internet services even if its IP address changes every time. However,
wonder if someone wanted to call your telephone? They need to know your phone number and
therefore you want to have a permanent phone number.
A "static IP" is best. In the internet world, you'll have an easier time setting up
email or other servers if you have a static IP. With a static IP, you can often use a
free DNS service offered by the registrar who sold you the domain name.
However, a "dynamic IP" can work too, it's just harder to set up. The primary
difference is that you'll want to seek out a "Dynamic DNS Service" which will likely come from
a different company than your registrar. You'll also need to install a small piece of
their software on the computer where your email server is installed so that it can discover
and report the IP address each time the dynamic IP changes.
You'll want to try using the free DNS service at your registrar. However if that
isn't available, whether your IP address is static or dynamic, you can always get DNS service
from DynDNS or other DNS service providers.
Mail Happens on SMTP TCP Port 25
You'll need a full-time connection to the internet on a service that allows SMTP/Port 25
communication. For example, most DSL accounts allow Port 25 traffic. However, some
cable service providers block Port 25. You'll want to check with your service provider
before investing too much money in setting up your own personal mail server. Other
internet port information can be found on
IANA.
Routing Email
If you only have one computer, life is easy. Your PC can connect directly to the
internet modem and use the IP address assigned to your account. On the other hand, if
you have more than one computer, then your IP address will be assigned to your router and
you'll need to tell the router to pass Port 25 traffic to the computer where your email server
is installed. This is easier than it sounds. Usually it means finding the "router"
section of your router's control software and entering two numbers; you'll put a 25 in the
"port" column and the network address of your email computer in the "destination" column.
Firewall
Firewalls are important but unfortunately every kind of security software seems to install
its own firewall these days. It's important to install one and only one firewall on your
computer. You'll want to uninstall any extra firewalls. Then, on the firewall you
keep, such as Window's built-in firewall, you'll tell it to open port 25. This is as
easy as launching the Windows firewall from the control panel, going to the "Exceptions" tab,
clicking the "Add Port" button, typing "25" for the port, naming it "SMTP", and keep the
default "TCP" radio button. Now mail messages can reach your mail server.
Antivirus and Antispam
The company who provides your mail server software will be able to make suggestions
concerning antivirus and antispam. The kind of antivirus software you install for the
mail server is different from your normal antivirus software. It specializes in scanning
the email server so that problems can be removed long before the mail reaches your email
program.
Testing
There are many ways to test. The ultimate test is whether or not you can send and
receive email. However, before you do that test, try entering your domain name into a
testing service such as
DNS Stuff or DNS Report.
Set it up yourself or hire someone
Most people hire me to set up big servers with email. But I service all sizes of
email servers. If you live in Oregon and want to hire me, feel free to call me.
Computer Help
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Personal Email Server
hMailServer - Free. open source, GPL-licensed
e-mail server for Windows. It supports IMAP, SMTP and POP3. COM library that can be used
for integration with other software. Support for virtual domains, distribution lists,
antivirus, antispam, aliases, distributed domains.
SurgeMail - Free for up to 5 users.
Supports all versions of Windows.
Mercury Mail Server - Free. Supports Windows and
Novell.
MailEnable - Free. high performance POP3 and
SMTP mail server for the windows platform. It contains some nice features like spam filtering,
SMTP authentication, highly customized relaying options, and a built in list server.
Xmail - open-source
Mac Mail Server
SurgeMail - Free for up to 5 users.
Supports Mac OS X.
Windows Mail Server
Exchange Server
SurgeMail
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