How can I create my own Email Server?

Discussion in 'Site & Server Administration' started by Shimurai, Mar 19, 2010.

  1. #1
    Hello,

    I've been using XAMPP for my webserver to work for a long time already and also have been using google's SMTP server so my forum activation emails work and password recovery etc..

    I've been having a lot of problems with emails this last week, I see a lot of un-activated users on my forum due to email issues so I checked on my dedicated server for the error logs and got this:

    "sendmail: Error during delivery: Socket Error # 10054
    Connection reset by peer."

    When I try to send an email from my websites i get that error, I believe it's a problem with google's email server because the problem persists in the 2 dedicated servers I have.


    So now what I'm looking for is to create my own email server, I've seen that XAMPP comes with something called Mercury, not sure what it is and/or how it works but all I want is to send emails from my own server, I have multiple domains .com/.net etc. working on my server and some of this domains are working with windows live domains ( domains.live.com ) so I can easily create new accounts & use with msn and wouldn't like to stop using it.

    I would like to know if this is possible, I don't really care about the domain used on the email, I just want an email server on my own dedi to send emails and stop using smtp.

    I would appreciate a lot some help with this, I'm really not experienced at all with email servers.

    Thanks !
     
    Shimurai, Mar 19, 2010 IP
  2. dach

    dach Peon

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    #2
    If you are using Linux, try to search for some beginner tutorials for Exim mailserver. It is easy to install and manage.
     
    dach, Mar 20, 2010 IP
  3. PsyHost

    PsyHost Well-Known Member

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    #3
    I've never understood anyones reason for hosting websites using windows unless ofcourse they specifically need frontpage extentions or windows owa/web based remote access.

    My suggestion, move to a linux server :)

    Despite that...
    The error message you received, it is a reoccuring error, or is it just one line that says that?
    Please post a partial of your logfile for us to diagnose.
     
    PsyHost, Mar 20, 2010 IP
  4. adublin

    adublin Well-Known Member

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    #4
    Check to see if Google updated their policy on SMTP relays - or if they changed the ports on you.

    Also, if you're using windows, you can install IIS and use the SMTP relay on that too.

    Hope this helps,
     
    adublin, Mar 20, 2010 IP
  5. Shimurai

    Shimurai Well-Known Member

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    #5
    The OS I use is:
    Windows Server 2003 Enterprise SP1

    Well I can't move to a linux server because I use this server to run a game server not just webserver.

    but, about the logs, The only error related to the emails is the one I already posted on the thread, that's all I get, nothing else.


    I would appreciate if you could tell me more about IIS and if installing that it will affect my actual webserver using XAMPP 1.7.1.

    Thank you.
     
    Shimurai, Mar 20, 2010 IP
  6. olddocks

    olddocks Notable Member

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    #6
    olddocks, Mar 22, 2010 IP
  7. PsyHost

    PsyHost Well-Known Member

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    #7
    I doubt that will help seeing as he previously stated he is using windows.

    Shimurai; can you not possibly purchase a small VPS to handle your website/mail side of things and keep your windows box dedicated to running the gameserver.

    Either that or virtualise a linux box on your server, or look around, there are a few "descent "smtp servers" as such, for windows.
     
    PsyHost, Mar 22, 2010 IP
  8. Shimurai

    Shimurai Well-Known Member

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    #8
    Yeah I can get a VPS and I believe all you will recommend me to get a linux server to have only the mail server on it but there are 2 problems.

    1.- I never used a linux server
    2.- I have no idea how to install a mail server in linux ( either in win but I have more experience with windows platforms )

    and, what specs do you recommend me to look on a VPS for a mail server? we're a small community, mail server will be only for the emails sent by our forum, the account activation emails and lost password stuff, nothing big.

    And about a descent smtp server, I think that would be the best option for me, and if you could let me know of some of them here or by PM I would appreciate it a lot.

    Thank you.
     
    Shimurai, Mar 22, 2010 IP
  9. PsyHost

    PsyHost Well-Known Member

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    #9
    Even the smallest VPS will be fine for running mail for a small community, probably no less then 256mb ram and atleast 1gb cpu just to be safe, there are plenty out there just take a look.
    and im sure there are plenty of people around that wouldn't mind helping you through the install/setup, just be careful who you get to help you, unfortunately cannot trust everyone these days.

    Feel free to pm me if you need some help
     
    PsyHost, Mar 22, 2010 IP
  10. Shimurai

    Shimurai Well-Known Member

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    #10
    Thanks PsyHost, I've sent you a PM regarding the VPS plans of your hosting.
     
    Shimurai, Mar 22, 2010 IP