Setting up a mail server - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

sailor · 11-17-2003, 02:33 PM

Is it possible to set up a mail server for a domain that I own? For example, if I were to register a domain but didnt want to pay extra for the email service, could I set up my own POP3 or IMAP and SMTP server for that address? Im thinking some flavor of Linux, but I want to make sure it can be done first... Thanks...

hrdwareguy · 11-17-2003, 02:44 PM

Sure. The only thing you have to do is get your MX record pointed to the IP where your mail server is located. Whoever you register your domain name with should be able to do this for you.

By the way, you really need a static IP to run a mail server.

Moskie · 11-17-2003, 03:35 PM

www.mydomain.com

Offers free mail forwarding. You don't even need to have bought your domain from them, it's still free. You just have to set up your DNS servers for your domain as MyDomain's servers. Not sure if that'll work for ya, but it's what I do.

hotdogg · 11-17-2003, 04:08 PM

godaddy .com allows you to park your domain names for $4.00-$8.00 per year (.biz,.net, are cheaper than .com). Then for as low as $9.95 per year you can get a webbased email account which you can use your domain name(s)...for $29.95 per year you can get a business email account which has like 250 mail boxes and tons of storage...I use them and find them great to work with.

sailor · 11-17-2003, 05:50 PM

Yeah, but I dont want to pay them for my email. I want to have control over it. Besides, it would be a good project.

sailor · 11-17-2003, 05:58 PM

Maybe I should clarify more.

I am planning on setting up a Linux box to use as a router, firewall, my new webserver, and a mail server. I would like to have control over it for several reasons--one, it would be a fun project, I need something new to tool around with, and two, I can set up as many accounts as I want and control my own spam filtering.

I want to have an email address that will stay. My current address (from my school) will disappear when I graduate, and I want an email that I wont have to change every few years. When I get tired of maintaining the email server, then I will think about paying someone to do it for me.

micah67 · 11-18-2003, 12:42 PM

Completely do-able. To reiterate, though, the key is a static IP.

hrdwareguy · 11-18-2003, 01:43 PM

You could do it with a dynamic IP with some services, but you don't get to use your own domain name, you have to use one of theirs. If you want to use your own, then it would cost some money.

I guess you could register with one of those services and use their free domain name. Register your domain name and in the DNS record, set it up as a CNAME that points to the free name. That should work. Might want to check with someone that knows a bit more about DNS than me though.

sailor · 11-18-2003, 01:59 PM

Yeah, I would do it with what I have now. For example, I own (well, sorta... its a long story) theravenel.net--which redirects you to theravenel.mine.nu, which is a service that I update when the IP changes, so theravenel.mine.nu just loads whatever is at the IP I have at the time (which rarely changes anyways). I was thinking I could have theravenel.net redirect the MX to theravenel.mine.nu, which will give it the most current IP address for my machine, and then I can have mail for theravenel.net.

dragonhawk · 11-18-2003, 02:00 PM

You can even do it with non-static IP's. There are services that provide DNS names for dynamic IP's. Only problem with mail is that these are often blocked because SPAMMERS love to use this service.

Static IP's are safer and really the way to go.
If you need more detail on how to configure anything, just ask.

11-17-2003, 02:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
sailor beauty in the breakdown Location: Chapel Hill, NC	Setting up a mail server Is it possible to set up a mail server for a domain that I own? For example, if I were to register a domain but didnt want to pay extra for the email service, could I set up my own POP3 or IMAP and SMTP server for that address? Im thinking some flavor of Linux, but I want to make sure it can be done first... Thanks... __________________ "Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws." --Plato

11-17-2003, 02:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
hrdwareguy "Officer, I was in fear for my life" Location: Oklahoma City	Sure. The only thing you have to do is get your MX record pointed to the IP where your mail server is located. Whoever you register your domain name with should be able to do this for you. By the way, you really need a static IP to run a mail server. __________________ Gun Control is hitting what you aim at Aim for the TFP, Donate Today

11-17-2003, 03:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
Moskie Pure Chewing Satisfaction Location: can i use bbcode [i]here[/i]?	www.mydomain.com Offers free mail forwarding. You don't even need to have bought your domain from them, it's still free. You just have to set up your DNS servers for your domain as MyDomain's servers. Not sure if that'll work for ya, but it's what I do. __________________ Greetings and salutations.

11-17-2003, 05:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
sailor beauty in the breakdown Location: Chapel Hill, NC	Yeah, but I dont want to pay them for my email. I want to have control over it. Besides, it would be a good project. __________________ "Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws." --Plato

11-17-2003, 05:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
sailor beauty in the breakdown Location: Chapel Hill, NC	Maybe I should clarify more. I am planning on setting up a Linux box to use as a router, firewall, my new webserver, and a mail server. I would like to have control over it for several reasons--one, it would be a fun project, I need something new to tool around with, and two, I can set up as many accounts as I want and control my own spam filtering. I want to have an email address that will stay. My current address (from my school) will disappear when I graduate, and I want an email that I wont have to change every few years. When I get tired of maintaining the email server, then I will think about paying someone to do it for me. __________________ "Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws." --Plato

11-17-2003, 04:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
hotdogg Crazy Location: NYC Metro Area	godaddy .com allows you to park your domain names for $4.00-$8.00 per year (.biz,.net, are cheaper than .com). Then for as low as $9.95 per year you can get a webbased email account which you can use your domain name(s)...for $29.95 per year you can get a business email account which has like 250 mail boxes and tons of storage...I use them and find them great to work with.

11-18-2003, 12:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
micah67 Thor Location: 33:08:12N 117:10:23W	Completely do-able. To reiterate, though, the key is a static IP. __________________ ~micah

11-18-2003, 01:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
hrdwareguy "Officer, I was in fear for my life" Location: Oklahoma City	You could do it with a dynamic IP with some services, but you don't get to use your own domain name, you have to use one of theirs. If you want to use your own, then it would cost some money. I guess you could register with one of those services and use their free domain name. Register your domain name and in the DNS record, set it up as a CNAME that points to the free name. That should work. Might want to check with someone that knows a bit more about DNS than me though. __________________ Gun Control is hitting what you aim at Aim for the TFP, Donate Today

11-18-2003, 01:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
sailor beauty in the breakdown Location: Chapel Hill, NC	Yeah, I would do it with what I have now. For example, I own (well, sorta... its a long story) theravenel.net--which redirects you to theravenel.mine.nu, which is a service that I update when the IP changes, so theravenel.mine.nu just loads whatever is at the IP I have at the time (which rarely changes anyways). I was thinking I could have theravenel.net redirect the MX to theravenel.mine.nu, which will give it the most current IP address for my machine, and then I can have mail for theravenel.net. __________________ "Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws." --Plato

11-18-2003, 02:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
dragonhawk Psycho Location: In Games.	You can even do it with non-static IP's. There are services that provide DNS names for dynamic IP's. Only problem with mail is that these are often blocked because SPAMMERS love to use this service. Static IP's are safer and really the way to go. If you need more detail on how to configure anything, just ask. __________________ ---------------------------------------------- "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.