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Hi,

I’m a newbie and was hoping one of the experts here could help me with some advice in my quest to setting up a mail solution for home? (Please be gentle with me I’m new to setting up email)

Currently I have a Windows Home Server with my own domain name setup on it. Let’s call it: - mydomain.org  (i.e. www.mydomain.org which will take you to my self hosted website etc….)

I use 123.reg to forward emails sent to email@mydomian.org to a POP3 mail box located at pop.orange.net. Outbound email currently goes out through my ISP’s SMTP on mail.btinternet.com. All this is facilitated through Outlook 2007 on my workstation.

If it’s feasible I would like email to continue to go to the pop.orange.net server and then use the free version of SmarterMail to get the mail and hold it on my own WHS ready for when my family want to read their mail with Outlook 2007 on our PC’s at home.  Whilst away from home I would like remote access to the email on my WHS using the SmarterMail Web Mail interface. I would also like to access email with the built-in email reader on my iPhone when away from home.  (The reason I wanted to keep the pop.orange.net is as redunacy just in case my server or internet is down).

1)      Is this possible with the free version?

2)      If so how would I set all this up?

This is where I am in readiness:-

I have downloaded and installed SmarterMail Free 6.5 on a workstation as a test server before putting it to work on my WHS.  I have remote access too SmarterMail over the web setup and working ok and I can send emails with no problem. 

Issues I need to resolve:-

1)      I cannot find how to set SmarterMail to download my email off of  pop.orange.net.

2)      How would I set Outlook 2007 to download or view email which is on my SmarterMail server on my WHS box locally?

3)      What setting do I use to set mail retrieval from my SmarterMail server on my iPhone when away from my home?

I apologise for the long post but thought it was best to provide all the information I can.

Many thanks any help would be appreciated..

Steve

1. You should be able to use POP Retrieval to get email from pop.orange.net.

2. Setting up Outlook should be straight forward. Fill in the blanks for a POP account with the name or IP of your WHS.

3. I'm no iPhone expert, but I think you need to use IMAP for that one. The problem there is that if you use POP internally it will remove the email from the server when retrieved (by default). The iPhone is almost against my religion so others may have better advice for you there.

Good luck.

 Thank you for your reply...  My first hurdle is how to I retrieve my email from my ISP POP server. (pop.orange.net)

I can't find anywhere in SmarterMail to input their POP details.  If that’s what I need to do?

Steve

 I searched for the help page on the SmarterTools web site and found the instructions. You first need to enable POP Retrieval for the domain and then make sure it is enabled for your users. The settings should propagate but in my case they didn't. I think that was because I am the domain administrator and the user was created before I enabled POP Retrieval.

Go here: http://help.smartertools.com/SmarterMail/v6/

And then search for POP Retrieval.

1. Enable on the domain

2. Confirm it is enabled on each user

 Ah that's why it wasn't working for me.  I deleted the Domain and reset it up and I now get the pop retrieval option.  Thank you for your help!

Am I right in saying I cannot use the free edition with Outlook on my desktop.  I have to upgrade to the Enterprise edition even for home use?

I use Outlook with my free edition all the time.

The free edition's only limitations (that I know of) are:

1. One domain limit

2. Ten user limit

That's it.

 Fantastic news!

Of course you know what question is coming next!  How do I set it up to do the same?.  When I looked at the help files they talk about only with Enterprise.

Steve

 I think the POP service is enabled by default. So the only thing you have to do is setup a new POP account on the Outlook client. Make sure to use your internal server name or IP address for the POP and SMTP server. You will probably also have to check the box that says "My server requires authentication".

Good luck.

 You are a bloody star!

That works a treat also.  Many thanks

Do you sync your contacts and calendar with outlook also?  If so does it work ok?

The only criticism so far is it seems to be a bit slow checking/downloading from my ISP POP server. I think it’s set for retrieval every minute but its taking longer than that.  Do you find the same?

Steve

 I think I was a bit premature with my eureka moment.  I need to keep my desktop Outlook synchronised with my server for mail, contacts and calendar.  I guess that means only with SmarterMail Enterprise right?

 For email you could use IMAP instead of POP. That would keep them sync'd.

I haven't really looked at keeping contacts sync'd.

Hi pdecker,

Many thanks for all your help getting me up and running.  It very much appreciated.

I have tried your suggestion of using IMAP and yes this keeps a copy of items received in both inboxes.  Two new issues have arisen:-

1)      If I delete a message that’s in my Outlook inbox it only puts a strike line though the message (which is echoed on the server side also).  I guess the server will auto delete it sometime in the future, but again I can’t find where, how or is it possible to instantly move this to the deleted items folders.

2)      If I send an email from Outlook it’s not appearing in my servers sent items folder.  Is there another option hidden anywhere?  Sorry ignore point 2. I have now found the option to change where to save sent items within out look.

Thanks again

Steve

 IMAP just flags emails as deleted rather than actually deleting them. They refer to deleting them as "purging" them. I don't think the mail server will purge them either, but there may be an option I haven't looked at. Below is the help item for Outlook 2007 regarding purging of IMAP email.

There is also an option to "leave a copy on the server" when using POP. You can leave it on the server for a certain number of days, or until deleted from your Outlook Inbox, or forever. That can create problems because it doesn't really sync. IMAP would be better if you want more pain free syncing.

You amaze me with your knowledge……

I can’t thank you enough.

Have a great Christmas.

Steve

Hi

I am also new .I need help from expert.I think you know the wanting of new person in this arena.so you can help me better than anyone else.so please help me to get familiar with this new world.