Need advice on workgroup mail

thrasherfox

BUSA
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I am trying to setup an internal mail system on my home network.

I have Windows 2000 and Windows XP computers

I have never done this so I am not familiar with it. does anyone have any suggestions?

I wanted to used Microsoft Mail using the Microsoft postoffice but I have never done it and it looks as though you require a server in order to create a post office.

Is that correct? can someone give me a starting point?



Thanks for any and all help


Ron
 
My first question would be "WHY?", but I'll ask that later.

If you're going to setup a true server, sendmail is free, but it can be a real pain to configure. Plus you'll need to have some sort of internal DNS (with an MX record) running locally. There are probably ways around it, but if you want to be clean, that's the best way.

I imagine there's got to be some other lightweight sendmail type programs out there with a GUI, so try googling, and see what happens.

Good luck. Let us know how it turns out...
 
I agree with juggler, use some free system. but if you are tryign to learn the whole Micro$oft system, do some google web research for setup guides.

http://ntfaq.com

has many tips and tricks to MS stuff like mail and server OS
 
Seriously - it's FREE! It has ALL the software necessary to setup ALL the servers you would want.


Now, if you're looking for an M$ solution (read: you wanna pay $$ for it), Small Business Server is a good solution. It has a firewall (ISA Server), mail (Exchange), file server (winders 2003).

You will require a dedicated PC for either solution, but they work really well.
 
ok.. I am trying to avoid going with a server.

I have a technet suibscriptoin and I have every copy of the newest everything from Microsoft, including exchange 2003 (I think it is 2003) anyway I have the current version.

I also have my own copies of Exchange 5.5

So if I wanted to do a server (which I already have one, I just dont have it running and dont feel like messing with it) I have the software.


What I am doing is filtering my sons emails.

The two oldest have email accounts on my domain, but they do not have access to retrive the mail themselves, they dont know the passwords anything.

I have my computer pull the emails down and auto route into folders for each boy

What I have been doing which is a total pain is saving emails that I screen to text documents and dropping them in folders on their computers

Any outgoing emails they type up a text document, drop it in a folder and I email it for them.


What I am trying to do is setup an internal mail systems so when I recieve the emails from the internet for my sons, I can scan them I and then I can forward them through an internal system.

My reasons for doing this is so I have a handle on who they are commincating with AND it is the best way I can thing of to prevent pornography and other spam from getting to them.

They know I monitor everything they do on the network.

I do have packet scanning software running and often capture data packets and re-compile them.

I also have individual software running on each computer that emails me a log everyday showing me all sites they have gone to. this software also blocks most bad sites.


So this is where I am at, trying to find a low end solution that I dont have to set my server up. I already have enough monitoring going on and I already have 6 networked computers in my home. I am trying to avoid having to maintain a server at this time. I had it running for a few years and then took it off line.

If I cannot find a solution then I will probably just set my server back up and install exchange server for the internal email.
 
forgot to add, with the technet subscription I have all the current versions of windows server also..
 
ahh - break down and install the server.
tounge.gif


Better yet, get VMware Server - it's free - and setup VMs.

I run Sunbelt Software's Ninja on my Exchange server - it does a great job at catching the porn and spam!

I have Norton Internet Security Suite on my son's PC - it does the site filtering and sends me the logs
 
Unfortunately, you cannot use MS Mail w/ XP and 2000/2003. Bummer, eh? But I'd use Linux, IIWY.

--Wag--
 
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