Small Scale Mail Server

[Guest richard]

I have been asked to come with a small scale mail server for a junior school as they haven't got one at the moment. What I'm looking for is a simple and cheap solution for some 20 odd staff. I can do it with exchange but a) I think that it would be over kill and b) the cost would be to much. Any suggestions gratefully received.

[webman]

You can achieve this result by using a linux distro such as SME Server which has a web GUI.

[Guest richard]

I'd forgotten about SME Server

[Guest richard]

I've just been digging through SME's documentaion andi it has a lot of additional bits that I don't need so back to the drawing board.

[webman]

Those bits you don't need: can't you just "not use them"; or are they part of the base functionality?

[Guest richard]

Its all bits to do with dns, dhcp, file server, web server etc. I could get with out using them as the school already has a small 2k3 network doesn't want to over complcate things as I am just helping to provide a solution and will not be able to support them on a day to day basis.

[Guest]

Does the school have a Cachepilot / Espresso Box?

 

If so these can be used for basic E-mail server duties. Then all you need is a IMAP client. Safemail works with the Cachepilots. Very basic web based client, but might suite your needs for a primary school.

[Guest richard]

Does the school have a Cachepilot / Espresso Box?

 

If so these can be used for basic E-mail server duties. Then all you need is a IMAP client. Safemail works with the Cachepilots. Very basic web based client, but might suite your needs for a primary school.

 

No they don't.

 

There is already an MX setup pointing to one of the stsic IP's assigned to them by their ISP which is one of the reasons they want their own mail server. The other reason is to give the Head and other key staff access to email from home as well.

[webman]

You could knock one together yourself if you know your way round a linux system and can read a howto, there are plenty on the web. I did the same nearly 2 years ago, using postfix and with Windows domain authentication. Unfortunately I didn't know what I was doing and didn't document any of it but can have config files if you need them.

[Guest richard]

I think thats what I'm going to do. I've got a test rig at home so I'll play with that first.

[spc-rocket]

Hi,

 

How about something like this:

 

http://www.hmailserver.com/?page=frontpage

 

It has AD support and above all its free with with all standard functions i.e. pop3, smtp etc.

 

HTH,

 

Ashok.

[Guest richard]

Hi,

 

How about something like this:

 

http://www.hmailserver.com/?page=frontpage

 

It has AD support and above all its free with with all standard functions i.e. pop3, smtp etc.

 

HTH,

 

Ashok.

 

Thanks ashok It looks like its just what I need

[Ric_]

@richard: Also have a look at http://www.phpgroupware.org/ - never had too much of a play but it has some of the other functions that Exchange has... e.g. calendars and messaging.

[ajbritton]

@richard: Also have a look at http://www.phpgroupware.org/ - never had too much of a play but it has some of the other functions that Exchange has... e.g. calendars and messaging.

 

Wow! What an amazing system. It's got everything plus comics!!

[kingswood]

Ahhh...secure PHP...

[john]

I use Mailenable at home, comes in about 3 flavours now, a free version, without Webmail, but the other versions costs peanuts and include web mail, its nice, clean and simple. Don't forget Server 2003 has some E-mail functionalities built into it, I cannot remember exactly what, but its got some in there now for SOHO situations where you don't use SBS or don't need the full size of Exchange.

[kingswood]

Yep- we use the internal email facilities of Server 2003 and it's fine for intranet use and small-scale deployment. It isn't a solution but it can work. Some of the Open Source solutions would be best though- something knocked up with an easy distro like Ubuntu might be a good start..