What are the e-mail servers? Well, in general, it is a computer that works as your own virtual post office. The e-mail server will consist of a database to store the e-mails and e-mail accounts and communicate with the internal and external networks to deliver the e-mails among the recipients. Mail servers are automatic, and you can set certain configurations, on how you would like your e-mails to be handled.

There are many types of mail servers, some are free, based on open source (Linux) and some are bought for a price that depends on the scale of your organization. The priced ones, are usually more complex and enable more features, and more control over your e-mails.

There are mail servers that are based on basic e-mail services, which only delivers and sends the e-mails, with minor basic ways of maintaining the user accounts. The most common ones are Linux based, like SendMail, Postfix etc… Mostly they support simple protocols like SMTP, POP3, etc… when more complex servers are using MAPI protocol.

You can also use hosting mail services, which means you can define your mail server or your mail relay at a hosting location (which means it will not be in your organization’s server room, it will be placed on the internet at a hosting place). This hosting can be your ISP (Internet Service Provider) or at a hosting place you choose and where you will need to configure your own mail server/mail relay.

Microsoft Exchange Server
Whenever people hear about the “Microsoft Mail Exchange Server” they get nervous, which I basically can understand that, but when you get to know how Exchange server works, you should take comfort in knowing that if you are familiar with the Windows operating system environment, and how things get configured and installed, you should be just fine. There is nothing much about Exchange server than just getting to know it better, and what it provides.

There are advantages for using Exchange Server – you can see the features of Exchange Server 2007 here as an example.

•    MS Exchange Server – Technical Articles by Microsoft – You can find on this link technical articles about the Exchange server 2003, 2007, 2010 – including installation tips etc…
•
•    Installing Exchange – Video guides (yes you can follow a video that shows you how to install exchange).

ZIMBRA mail server
This mail server – is an open-source application, running on Linux operating systems, and can be used with Microsoft’s Outlook application using a suitable connector (the application you download from ZIMBRA’s website). ZIMBRA even has connectors for MAC (If you are a MAC user, you should know there is a Macintosh outlook application as well).

Anyway, this mail server, is a bit complex to install, even though it seems to be pretty straight forward, it sometimes requires some deep Linux configuration file editing skills which makes it suitable only for professionals, but it is a cost-effective solution in comparison to the expensive Exchange server, which you might want to consider as an alternative.

ZIMBRA also has a ZIMBRA desktop client which you can install and use, with either ZIMBRA mail server, or any other mail server you want like the Gmail, Yahoo mail, etc…

•    ZIMBRA Home Page
•    How To Install Zimbra Collaboration Suite (ZCS) On Ubuntu
•    Updating ZIMBRA Connector for Outlook – Video
•    POP3 Gmail with ZIMBRA – Video
•    Zimbra-Zmail – Online E-mail server hosting Solution.

MDaemon Email Server
MDaemon Email Server by alt-n technologies, for Windows, Includes mail server features, world client webmail, web admin – remote admin, com agent – secure IM client, blackberry connectivity, e-mail archiving, exchange migration and, mobile device solutions.

Alt-N technologies have a full e-mail solution, which you might consider suitable for your organization, so give it a look, and check it out 🙂

•    MDaemon Email Server For Windows Overview – Video
•    Alt-N Technologies – E-mail solutions

Summarizing the whole e-mail servers subject, you just need to get some idea of how mail servers work, and you can just decide which of the e-mail servers you would like to implement in your business. They all have their own benefits, some are cost-effective, some are more expensive but more common. You make the choice 🙂