Free Email Server

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Luis Rodriguez

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Hello All,
I just got a client who insists on having his server host his own emails. His company only has 5 users (2 or so come and go every so often). I mentioned that Microsoft exchange would be overkill considering the price tag, so i was looking at some free alternatives since he has such few users. The options that seem the most appealing to me are: XEAMS, hmail server, and banckle. Does anybody have any experience with this software, or are currently managing a simple hosted solution such as the programs i've mentioned? what is you all's input? Thank you in advance.

P.S., He has his own domain already and doesn't want them to host his emails because "since he has a server, he might as well use it."

-Luis Rodriguez
 
Be sure to educate him on the costs of properly doing things....that the whole e-mail shouldn't be free. And me, as an IT consultant, wouldn't want to hang my stamp of approval (nor be associated in any way) with a bubble-gum and duct tape setup that is done free all around.

*Static IP at the business now.
*Mail Bastion Host...to handle both incoming scrubbing of e-mail of viruses/spam, and to handle outbound SMTP.....as well as queue up mail when connections are down.
*Time to setup the RevDNS/PTR
*Added complexity to backup
*Proper setup of the mail server...so that it is secured. And frequent checkups of it to make sure it hasn't been hijacked and is spewing out Viagra e-mails./
 
Thank you all for your input,
And @yeoldestonecat I fully agree with everything you say, however i have indeed spent a decent amount of time educating him on how his email setup right now is perfectly fine, and him "changing things just because" is unacceptable. Also, he already spent a nice chunk of change on a new server about a year ago (different IT company), and whenever i mention costs of software he just thinks i'm trying to get money out of him. I was just looking for something that works for him, but now your post shed some light on me, i do not want to be associated with band aid fixes. I'll take a look at those other paid alternatives and foward the details to him. Thanks again!
 
Mailtraq has worked well for me in the past if it needs to run on a Windows install.
Edited: sorry didn't read the free part, might fall into the "relatively inexpensive" basket though
 
Last edited:
codegreen said:
Is this the same person you were helping transition from a Linux server to Windows? If so, that's unfortunate; I hear Postfix works really well. :D
Click to expand...

No it is not, that guy ended up getting his online domain registrar to handle his emails. This is a different client who just wants his server to host his emails instead of having his registrar handle it, the opposite of the 1st client:rolleyes:.
 
This is such a terrible idea.

I didn't see what kind of server he has...is it a real server with a real server OS? What OS? The most I would do is set him up with something exchange-like, with a pop3 connector, so that he's not ACTUALLY hosting his e-mail (because that's dumb to do in his situation).
 
Yes, it is a real server running windows server 2008 r2. I've also found out about connectors, so that's a route i'm looking into also. I'm very well aware that this whole ordeal is "dumb" but it's what he wants.
 
For that many users I would just set them up with a free Google Apps account.
It just works.
You get up to 10 email accounts plus some other nice features.
10GB of storage now with the free version too. :)
 
Luis Rodriguez said:
P.S., He has his own domain already and doesn't want them to host his emails because "since he has a server, he might as well use it."

-Luis Rodriguez
Click to expand...

This slowly settled as a "wrong reasoning" in my head since my prior reply....so I'll add.

I would counter with "But...your server is built/configured just as a file storage server, not as an e-mail server". When a client needs a file server...I build a server to certain specs to be purposed as file storage...not a huge processor, not a lot of RAM, fast disks. If a client needs an application/database server...I built it differently...lotsa processor, more RAM, different disk setup (like RAID 10). Infrastructure server...yet different again. To take an existing server already doing something..not knowing how it's setup, and slap blindly slap a mail server on it....not wise IMO. Especially a strange unknown "free" mail server..that you have to now support. Are you well versed in supporting whatever free package you're going to get? If something goes wrong, what will you do? What backup methods will you use?

Assuming this existing 1 server is a DC...would it be wise to put some free mail server product on a domain controller?

This post is heavy with "The IT guy needs to sit the client down and educate him/her of proper ways of doing things".....it is certainly not an example of "the customer is always right". (which I am always against...we are the consultants, not the client)
 
I agree with the cat of stone on this one. It sounds like your client is thinking, "Hey, since I have this server, I can get some freeware thrown on it and have email for free!" He's not taking into account that an email server doesn't just sit there churning out email; someone has to administer the thing. That someone is you, of course, and you'll be learning this software as you go. The problem is, I get the feeling that he's not going to want to pay you to properly look after this. You'll be getting frantic calls when there's a problem with the email, and you'll be the one shouldering the blame.
 
Thank you all for your sound advice. I'm still young, both as a freelancer and a technician and you all alone have seasoned me so much. I've mentioned it before but i'm still learning the trade the best i can, even though most of the time i can come off as incompetant.

I agree that this isn't something that makes logical sense and i'm very well aware of that now and i'm going to have a meeting with the client to review all the information i've gathered.
 
cyabro said:
For that many users I would just set them up with a free Google Apps account.
It just works.
You get up to 10 email accounts plus some other nice features.
10GB of storage now with the free version too. :)
Click to expand...

he already has a hosted online domain that is handeling his emails similar to google apps. the thing is, he wants his server to handle the emails instead of the online provider.
 
Luis Rodriguez said:
Thank you all for your sound advice. I'm still young, both as a freelancer and a technician and you all alone have seasoned me so much. I've mentioned it before but i'm still learning the trade the best i can, even though most of the time i can come off as incompetant.
Click to expand...

For the record, I don't think you come across as incompetent; just new to the trade. Everyone starts there.

Luis Rodriguez said:
I agree that this isn't something that makes logical sense and i'm very well aware of that now and i'm going to have a meeting with the client to review all the information i've gathered.
Click to expand...

Some points to consider when meeting with the client:
  • Reliabillity: What happens if there's a hardware failure on the server? Or the power goes out? Or the ISP has issues and the net connection to the office goes down? That means no email comes in or goes out.
  • Administration: Someone has to look after the thing to keep it running properly, and that someone will need to be paid. Also, that someone has to make sure that everything is configured properly. If the mail server isn't set up just right, many ISPs and email providers could flag all email from your customer's domain as spam.
  • Turn-around time: When (not if) a problem crops up, how quickly will they expect you to respond and fix it? What if it happens afterhours? On a holiday? Are you able to provide instant emergency service? Is he client willing to pay for it?

    There is a reason why so many businesses and organizations have been outsourcing their email hosting. Administering an email server consumes time and resources. For small businesses, paying a fixed amount per month usually saves them time, money and aggravation.
 
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