I am new to Server management,
I have a static Ip address
and I bought recently a domain name, I configure the domain name to target my Ip address.
I am running windows server 2003 standard.
what are the steps to host my email adresses?
Do I need to buy anything else, or what I have is enough (static ip address, domain name, win server 2003, exchange server 2003) ??
thanks Guys
First run a check on your IP to make sure it is not out of a dynamic IP pool. If it is - even if you have it static - there simply is no sense, because basically, every major email server will reject you as spam. Depends on the reverse domain name for the ip address ;) Use http://www.mxtoolbox.com/blacklists.aspx to find out. There is a reverse lookup link at the end after checking your blacklist.
Find out the reverse domain name attached to the ip address. You want to use THAT NAME as server name for email. Yes, may suck, but - a standard check for email servers is to check whether the domain name they have and the one the ip thinks it has match. No match -> spam.
Then you need a server ;) http://www.smartertools.com/ - smartermail, free for 1 domain, 10 email addresses. Open port 25 (SMTP) and route accordingly if you have a hardware firewall. You can also use exchange, but it is really very heavy for a handfull of users. Plus it does antispam pretty badly - smartertools handles that a lot better.
Make sure your domain IN A entry uses the name find out in my second step for MX.
FInished.
