Mail Server

[haynakoo]

I would like to start a mail server on my VPS. I'm totally new to this so I don't know where to start. I currently have XAMPP installed which manages my webserver. Any ideas are most welcomed.

Thank you

[Edge100x]

If you're using Windows, it would be easiest to use the one that Microsoft provides. Here's a tutorial that helps with how to install and configure it under Windows 2003: http://www.ilopia.com/Articles/WindowsS ... erver.aspx

Under Linux, I'd recommend using Postfix or Qmail, if you need a comprehensive mail-handling solution. These are both very popular and easier to configure than the old standard of Sendmail, though they are still a bit complicated. If you just need simple email sending support, something like ssmtp is generally best, as it "just works".

[haynakoo]

Upon the installation, i got this prompt:


How do I virtually insert the installer cd?

[haynakoo]

scratch that. I found out how to do it pardon the double post. there's not edit button

[Edge100x]

. For the benefit of anyone who might read this thread later, the virtual DVDs can be inserted through the "Server control" page in the control panel.

[haynakoo]

I can't seem to start the SMTP server. When I hit start, it gives me a error pop up saying:

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The service has returned a service-specific error code. 
Check the Windows Event Viewer for details.

So then I go to Event Viewer and the error description is "The service could not bind instance 1. The data is the error code. For more information, see Help and Support Center at .....

When I click on "Information" it says "Time spent on preparing to reset routes: [0] milliseconds Time spent on recalculating next hops:[0] milliseconds Queue length: [0]. For more information, see Help and Support Center at ....."

I don't know where the problem started.

[haynakoo]

additional info:
i did a netstat -b and i saw these:

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Proto     Local Address       Foreign Address   State                 PID
TCP       RXVPS:smtp         RXVPS:4531        TIME_WAIT         0
TCP       RXVPS:pop3         RXVPS:4532        TIME_WAIT         0

While the rest are shown as established.
e.g.
TVP RXVPS:3306 RXVPS:4035 ESTABLISHED 2288

[Edge100x]

It looks like something else is running on your port 25 already: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/907971

"netstat -ano" will give you a list of all the listening sockets and their corresponding PID #s, which should allow you to determine what it is so that you can shut it down through the task manager.

[haynakoo]

OOOOO that worked! Next problem: As I was trying to send a test email to the same address, its giving me this error:

[Edge100x]

It looks like you have it set to use test.com instead of localhost.

[haynakoo]

the guide said i can choose my own domain. should i pick "localhost" for this to work?

[TimeX]

You could use your own domain, but for that to work, it would need to be a valid domain that is registered. In this case, localhost will work if you are running it from the hosting machine.

[haynakoo]

if my domain is a .net, would the email address be xxx@xxx.net?

[Edge100x]

It would be something@yourdomain.net, yes. Exactly what would depend on the account that you create in the mail server.