Windows 2003 and mail - noob needs help!

[Admiral Huddy]

I've set up a server running a trial version of Windows 2003 and i have a few noob questions I'd like to ask about mail.

Firstly, I have set up a domain controller called huddysworld.co.uk and I have setup Active Directory with a few fictional users.

I've not setup Exchange 2003 as there is no trial version for this anymore and I'm not sure if I need it. So I have setup the the server as a mail server using Active Directory and configuring the POP3 service.


Ok, now my questions:

Can I add new email accounts on the server or do they have to coexist on the web-host domain first? Currently, Crystal Hosting hosts huddysworld.co.uk. If so, I take it this is just done by adding new mailboxes to the domain.

If that's the case how are the emails recognised outside the server?

Is there any advantage of using Exchange?

Many thanks

 

[dave-lew99]

AD and Exchange is not for the light hearted, i strongly recommend that you either buy some printed books or get some eBooks on the subject, they will be able to go into it in much more detail than any of us would be able to here in a forum.

If you intend to run your 2k3 as your mailserver for your domain (even it is hosted elsewhere) you must set up an MX record in your public DNS record - this is likely to be managed by your domain registrar.

This way when another public server sends an email to [email protected] it looks up the MX record to find the IP of the mail server. Your mail server will have to have at least port 25 open to the public for SMTP.

Exchange gives you full task, calendering, meeting and contact management, plus a very nice web interface and the use of ActiveSync for windows mobile smartphones. It will keep multiple devices fully syncronised at all times.

It's also good in offices where you require shared calanders to know what other people are up to.

I hope that goes some way to helping you on your venture into 2k3, AD and exchange, but as i said, get some eBooks or normal Books, they'll teach you a lot more than you'd think and are well worth the time and expense taken. (I don't remember if there is an O'Reilly book on 2k3/Exchange but they are generally the best ones about, or at least i think so).

 

[Admiral Huddy]

That points me in the right dirtection so thanks for that

 

[LordSplodge]

Skip 2003 and get a trial for 2008 and Exchange 2007, er, as long as you have x64 hardware. Unless you need to learn 2003?

Your mail accounts don't have to exist on your web host. As long as your MX records are setup and the upstream DNS (your ISP) is made aware of this entry all will work as if my Witch Craft - well as in they will send mail to yourdomain to the server listed in the MX records and it will then propagate that mail to the appropriate AD account. This is why DNS and AD are so important when it comes to Exchange.

I set up 2003 R2 and Exchange 2007 up at home. Set the MX records in DNS and sent myself a test mail from Gmail to my AD account and BOOM it just works.

 

[Ev0]

Skip 2003 and get a trial for 2008 and Exchange 2007, er, as long as you have x64 hardware. Unless you need to learn 2003?

The trial I had for Exchange 2007 ran on 32bit as it was for trial/training purporses only so might be ok on 32bit systems for testing purposes