Need a good Internet Mail Server

  • I can't use Exchange for a number of my SQL Servers for SQLMAIL. Now I've been successful using my SQL Server machine to use a internet mail (POP3/SMTP) server to , although I can't trust that this will be available 100% of the time. I'm interested in purchasing a POP3/SMTP mail server software that will be placed directly on the SQL Server boxes that need to perform SQLMAIL. I'm looking for something that is fairly inexpensive, has good support, has a fairly small resource footprint, and it works 100% of the time. Does anyone have any recommendations? How about any issues with using an Internet Mail server?

    Gregory Larsen, DBA

    If you looking for SQL Server Examples check out my website at http://www.geocities.com/sqlserverexamples

    Gregory A. Larsen, MVP

  • A friend of mine uses NTMail from Gordano.

    Also, there are sendmail variants for Windows out there. It's open source, but can be a real bear to configure and secure. And I do mean bear. As in large grizzly with Sabertooth Tiger teeth.

    K. Brian Kelley

    http://www.truthsolutions.com/

    Author: Start to Finish Guide to SQL Server Performance Monitoring

    http://www.netimpress.com/shop/product.asp?ProductID=NI-SQL1

    K. Brian Kelley
    @kbriankelley

  • Another thought just hit me. If you're just looking for SMTP (not sure why you need POP), you can install SMTP from IIS and have it with the smart host pointed at the Exchange Server you guys are using to handle Internet mail. Of course, you still have to do with the securing issue.

    K. Brian Kelley

    http://www.truthsolutions.com/

    Author: Start to Finish Guide to SQL Server Performance Monitoring

    http://www.netimpress.com/shop/product.asp?ProductID=NI-SQL1

    K. Brian Kelley
    @kbriankelley

  • It is my understanding you need a POP3 server to set up SQL Mail even if you are only sending mail. At least that is what I understand via this KB article on how to set up SQL Mail with and Internet Mail server:http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;263556. I successfully used this article to set up a SQL Server box using my home email account.

    Have you successfully set up SQL Mail using only the "Default SMTP Virtual Server" that comes with IIS? If so don't suppose you know of any good articles in how to configure it would you?

    Gregory Larsen, DBA

    If you looking for SQL Server Examples check out my website at http://www.geocities.com/sqlserverexamples

    Gregory A. Larsen, MVP

  • Probably the requirement for POP3 comes from the need to configure something in the MAPI profile. I'm trying to remember as I did this once... but I don't remember if I used a legitimate POP3 server or just used a dummy one. SMTP was through the default SMTP Server, though.

    K. Brian Kelley

    http://www.truthsolutions.com/

    Author: Start to Finish Guide to SQL Server Performance Monitoring

    http://www.netimpress.com/shop/product.asp?ProductID=NI-SQL1

    K. Brian Kelley
    @kbriankelley

  • I use XMail to great success for a number of SQLMail installations (where I too am unable to utilize an Exschange server). It has been in use for over a year with not a single hiccup. It's documentation is extensive (and somewhat intimidating), but it is worth your time to investigate it.

    It can be found at:

    http://www.xmailserver.org/


    David R Buckingham, MCDBA,MCSA,MCP

  • Thanks for the tip on this EMAIL software. Does anyone else recommend a different software package?

    Gregory Larsen, DBA

    If you looking for SQL Server Examples check out my website at http://www.geocities.com/sqlserverexamples

    Gregory A. Larsen, MVP

  • Merak Mail

    http://www.icewarp.com

    We are a small ISP and we've been using Merak for 2 years. We evaluated *every* mail package out there. Without question, this is the best - for features, simplicity, and value. It's *never* been down.

  • Stalker's Communigate Pro is excellent. http://www.stalker.com/cpro/features.html

    I have been using it for 3 years now and haven't had a problem apart from initially not understanding what an open relay was 🙁 needless to say, i learned pretty quickly! i would definately suggest trying it. it has a fully functional demo version, which just adds a line of text to each email transferred with it. a 50 user license is only about $500, well worth it!

  • We're a ColdFusion house here and we've been running CoolFusion's inFusion Mail Server (IMS). Very Fast, Very Reliable !! Great ColdFusion integration.

    For basic mail services I've used IPSwitch's iMail for years. If all you want os outbound SMTP, you can get the IMail Express for FREE !! It's limited to one domain namespace and 10 mailboxes.

    Good Luck

    Eric

  • It supports all basic mail functions SMTP, POP, Relay. I didn't mean to imply it supports ONLY SMTP services. It also has web-mail for those 10 users and administration.

    quote:


    We're a ColdFusion house here and we've been running CoolFusion's inFusion Mail Server (IMS). Very Fast, Very Reliable !! Great ColdFusion integration.

    For basic mail services I've used IPSwitch's iMail for years. If all you want os outbound SMTP, you can get the IMail Express for FREE !! It's limited to one domain namespace and 10 mailboxes.

    Good Luck

    Eric


  • Another good free alternative could be 'Mercury' which is the complementary Mail Transport for the email client 'Pegasus Mail'. See http://www.pmail.com/.

    While I haven't used it in anger myself I did have a play with it some months back.

    Pegasus/Mercury is highly regarded software used extensively in UK Academic institutions due to it's support for Novell networks.

  • quote:


    ...and it works 100% of the time...


    Just a comment on this. As long as you are going to have to cross the internet there is no guarantee of 100% delivery for any email app. If you need a more guaranteed approach then consider something like Notification Services or messaging system which can talk to the remote point thru a guaranteed connection and fewer failed routing potentials. However even then you can never reach 100%.

    Our first line pagers. I wrote an app to send via web site and confirm delivery, if fails then does a dialup. If that too fails then it is currently marked as such and reason code. Am currently considering a couple of additional ways to continue trying to reach us but nothing better yet.

    Edited by - antares686 on 05/27/2003 04:22:33 AM

  • Thank you for all the comments. If anyone else has suggestions on a MAIL Server software, I'd like to hear from you. I plan to evaluate each of these, and maybe others to deteremine which one provides the best solution to my situation.

    Gregory Larsen, DBA

    If you looking for SQL Server Examples check out my website at http://www.geocities.com/sqlserverexamples

    Gregory A. Larsen, MVP

  • I would recommend either Vpop3 from PSCS (http://www.vpop3.co.uk), or iMail from Ipswitch (http://www.ipswitch.com). There is a free version of iMail available called iMail Express I believe that offers you a basic mail server for no cost.

    Hope this helps.

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