Lab9EmailServer&Client

9. Email Server and Client

OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this lab, student should be able i. ii. iii. Install and configure an email client and server Sending email through the email server Understand the different usage of POP3 and IMAP

9.1

EMAIL SERVER & CLIENT

How Internet email works To administer a mail server on the Internet requires knowledge of how email works. It is important to know how messages are delivered and sent, how mail servers contact each other, and how users retrieve their email. This will help in diagnosing problems, tracking faults, and knowing who to contact when something goes wrong. The information in this section is not specific to MailEnable; this applies to all mail servers. This information is essential to know in order to properly administer an Internet mail server. Email clients An email client is a software application that is used to send, receive, store and view e-mail. Some examples of email clients include Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Outlook Express Mozilla Thunderbird Pegasus Mail Email server An email server holds and distributes e-mail messages for email clients. The email client connects to the email server and retrieves messages. An email server may also be known as a mail server, or a mail exchange server. Sending and receiving mail To send Internet e-mail, requires an Internet connection and access to a mail server. The standard protocol used for sending Internet e-mail is called SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol). The SMTP protocol is used to both send and receive email messages over the Internet. When a message is sent, the email client sends the message to the SMTP server. If the recipient of the email is local (i.e. at the same domain as the email originated from) the message is kept on the server for accessing by the POP or other mail services for later retrieval.

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If the recipient is remote (i.e. at another domain), the SMTP server communicates with a Domain Name Server (DNS) to find the corresponding IP address for the domain being sent to. Once the IP address has been resolved, the SMTP server connects with the remote SMTP server and the mail is delivered to this server for handling. If the SMTP server sending the mail is unable to connect with the remote SMTP server, then the message goes into a queue. Messages in this queue will be retried periodically. If the message is still undelivered after a certain amount of time (30 hours by default), the message will be returned to the sender as undelivered. About MailEnable MailEnable has multiple services that interact in order to deliver a message to a mailbox. This interaction is done by a system of queues, which are used to move the emails around. The actual moving of the messages is done by the MTA service, which is the central service to the whole MailEnable system. The MTA will pick up messages waiting in a queue and move them to the queue of another service to be processed. MailEnable is comprised of Connectors, Agents and Services. These components are described in the table below.
Component Connectors Agents Definition Connectors move mail between systems or subsystems (local or remote) Agents run perform specific management or operating functions for MailEnable itself. An example of an Agent is the Mail Transfer Agent. Its function is to move messages between connectors. Services expose MailEnable functionality to external agents or programs. An example of a service is the POP3 service. This service allows mail clients to access mail from their post office.

Services

Terminologies
Post offices A post office is used to host multiple mailboxes and domains under one area. For example, to provide mail hosting for multiple companies, each company would have a post office. A post office can have multiple domains and mailboxes assigned to it. A small mail server might only have one post office. Post offices can have the same name as a domain. It is common for hosting companies to use a domain name as a post office name and to only have one domain within that post office with the same name. Domains Multiple domains can be assigned to a post office. At least one domain needs to be configured in order to have a valid email address.

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Structure of post offices, domains and mailboxes Mailboxes A mailbox is a repository for email. It is used to store emails for one or more email addresses. When a user connects with a mail client application (Outlook Express, Eudora, etc.), they connect to a mailbox to retrieve their email. When creating a mailbox, MailEnable will automatically create an email address for each domain in the post office, using the format mailboxname@domain. A mailbox can have multiple email addresses. This means a user only requires one mailbox to connect to, from which they can retrieve email from all their email addresses. Email addresses Each mailbox can have one or more email address mapped to it. It is only possible to add an email that matches an existing domain for the post office. When a mailbox is created, MailEnable will automatically create email addresses for each of the domains for the post office. Lists MailEnable contains a list server that enables people to subscribe and unsubscribe to a list. A list is an online discussion group or information mail-out, where emails are sent out to all the members. People are able to post to the list (e.g. list@companyx.com), and the server will duplicate their email and send it out to all the members. Groups A group is an email address that maps to one or more other email addresses. For example, a group which has the recipient as staff@companyx.com can have 50 email addresses as members of this group. When someone emails staff@companyx.com, the email is duplicated and sent to all 50 members.

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9.2 TOOLS/SOFTWARE:
i. ii. iii. iv. Two PCs with Windows XP (a server and a client) User Account with Administrator privilege Email Server Software MailEnable standard edition Email Client Software Mozilla Thunderbird/Outlook

Instruction : Do this task in pair.

9.3 Activity 1 : Install an Email Server MailEnable

1. 2. 3. Get the MailEnable standard edition from ulearn (Standard662.exe ). Double click the exe file in order to begin normal installation. The installation note in Figure 9.1 informing you that MailEnable will try to access the Internet once Installation is completed. Click [OK] to continue. Click [Next] on the Welcome Page as shown in Figure 9.2.

Figure 9.1 Installation Note

Figure 9.2 Welcome Page

4. 5.

In the Get Installation Settings dialog box, type in the name and company as required. Example is shown in Figure 9.3. Read the Terms and Conditions that explains the licensing terms and conditions of using MailEnable. Click [Next] in continue (Figure 9.4)

Figure 9.3 Get Installation Settings dialog box

Figure 9.4 Terms and Conditions

6. 7.

Click [Next] to select Components as in Figure 9.5. Use default location to install the MailEnable. Click [Next]. Refer Figure 9.6.

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Figure 9.5 Select Component Dialog Box

Figure 9.6 Selecting Files Location

8. 9.

Program Manager Group is the location to install the MailEnable icons and shostcuts. Select [Next] as shown in Figure 9.7. MailEnable Repository (Figure 9.8) prompt the location to store MailEnable configuration and messaging data. Select default by clicking [Next]

Figure 9.7 Select Program Manager Group

Figure 9.8 MailEnable Repository

10. 11.

This step require you to create an initial post office that will be used to deliver mail to and from. Follow the example given in Figure 9.9. You need to create a password for the Postmaster. Enter abc123 as password. In the SMTP Connector Configuration, provide the details as shown in Figure 9.10. DNS Host(s) is set to localhost. Click [Next].

Figure 9.9 Creating Post Office

Figure 9.10 SMTP Connector Configuration

12. 13.

In Figure 9.11, click [Next] to start installation. The installation program shows MailEnable ReadMe file as in Figure 9.12. It contains release history and notes. Click [OK] to continue.

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Figure 9.11 Start Installation

Figure 9.12 Start Installation

Figure 9.13 Installation Complete

Figure 9.14 Restart System

14. 15.

Finally, you will get installation complete dialog box. Click [Finish] in Figure 9.13. In order to complete installation, you need to restart system. Click [OK] in Figure 9.14.

9.4 Activity 2 : Getting Started with MailEnable

1. Click Start > All Programs > MailEnable > MailEnable Administrator. Refer to Figure 9.15.

Figure 9.15 Open MailEnable

Figure 9.16 MailEnable Services Status

2.

Check Mail Services. Expand the Servers > localhost > System branch. Then click Services. You should get the window as in Figure 9.16. The icons indicate the status of the service: Indicates that the corresponding service is running Indicates the service is not running, or could not be started

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Figure 9.17 MailEnable Connectors

Figure 9.18 SMTP Properties

3. 4.

Check SMTP Properties. Expand the Servers > localhost > Connectors branch. Then right click SMTP and Select Properties. Refer to Figure 9.17. Look at Figure 9.18. There are several tabs for different property of SMTP. You may have a close look at each tab. For details, please read MainEnable Standard Guide.pdf

Figure 9.19 MailEnable Mailboxes

5. 6.

To create a new mailbox for user, expand the Post Offices > Mailboxes branch. Then right click > Select New > Mailbox. (Figure 9.19) Fill in the required information (Refer to Figure 9.20). Then Click [OK]. Mailbox Name Username for mail clients Password users full name e.g. wahidah Username e.g.wahidah@utememail password for user (usually set to common password, after first login user is require to change it) e.g. abc123

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Figure 9.20 MailEnable Mailboxes

Figure 9.21 MailEnable Mailboxes

7. 8.

In the Mailbox, there are two users in the list as shown in Figure 9.21. You may add more clients later. Edit hosts file In order to handle DNS conversion locally, you need to edit hosts file. Open My Computer, find the hosts file at C:/>Windows/System32/Drivers/etc. Open hosts file with notepad, and and the following IP address and domain name (Refer Figure 9.22). After finish, save the hosts file.

Figure 9.22 hosts file at the server

8.

Postmaster is the manager of the utememail post offices. The manager is allowed to send email to any client.

9.5

Client Email Protocols : POP3 and IMAP

Introduction There are many third-party E-mail programs that can be used to connect to your E-mail accounts from remote computers. The most common E-mail programs, called Clients, are Outlook Mail, and Mozilla Thunderbird. These programs can use either POP3 or IMAP connections to download your mail. We will take a moment to explain the differences between these two. What is POP3 POP, also known as POP3, is an E-mail protocol that is used when people wish to have a copy of their E-mail messages, along with any attachments, to be downloaded to their computer for viewing. Depending on program configuration, these messages may be

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automatically deleted from the server once it is received, or at some future time. Messages sent, moved, or deleted from a computer using POP can only be viewed on that individual computer's folders. They cannot be viewed on other computers connecting to that E-mail account, including Webmail. This option is most recommended for users who like to keep a backup of all their messages. What is IMAP IMAP is an E-mail protocol that is used when people wish to always have their messages, including sent messages and message folders, saved on the server. Depending on program configuration, these messages may be temporarily saved on the computer for offline viewing. All messages and folders can be viewed from any computer connecting via IMAP, including Webmail. This option is most recommended for users who connect to E-mail accounts from many computers.

9.6
1.

Activity 3 : Configure Client Email - Thunderbird

Edit hosts file Edit the hosts file to translate mail servers domain name utememail.com to the servers IP address. Example is given in Figure 9.23. (hosts file is at C:/>Windows/System32/Drivers/etc)

Figure 9.23 hosts file at client

2. 3. 4. 5.

Download the Mozilla Thunderbird from ulearn. Start the installation by using the default setup. Click [Next] to proceed. Once finish, you will get completion page as shown in Figure 9.24. At Account Wizard page as in Figure 9.25, click [OK].

Figure 9.24 Completion page

Figure 9.25 Account Wizard page

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Figure 9.25 Adding new email address 6.

Figure 9.26 Mail Account setup

7. 8.

You will be asked to add a new email address as in Figure 9.25. Click Skip this and use my existing email. Configure the email address that has been setup at the email server. Refer Figure 9.26. At the warning page in Figure 9.27, read the message. Then, tick I understand the risks and click Done.

Figure 9.27 Warning page 9.

Figure 9.28 Email Setup

10.

Now at the left hand side, wahidah@utememail.com mailbox is appeared. Refer Figure 9.28. To get new email, click on the Get Mail button. Now you are able to send and read email from others.

Figure 9.27 Getting new email

Figure 9.28 Reading email

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Figure 9.29 Email client using Microsoft Outlook

9.7
1. 2. 3.

Exercises
Do you able to send email from other email server such as Yahoo to your local email server? Explain you answer. Give TWO(2) email clients that provide POP3 and IMAP for email retrieval. What the differences between POP3 and IMAP? Configure the email client that use POP3 and IMAP and save the screen capture. Show the different from the screen capture.