[Lvlug] Mail Handling Recommendations

[Tom Walsh]

> Do you happen to know whether the Netscape Mail 4.75 file format (on
> Linux) is the same as the Netscape 3 file format on Windows?
> 

That is the beauty of the IMAP protocol, it is client neutral, POP3 is
client specific.  If you use IMAP, then you can use whatever client you
desire and not corrupt the file format so that it becomes un-usable by
another client.

> Can you run Netscape Mail 4.75 without running Netscape as the browser?
> (I have some difficulty in Windows -- I use IE 5 as my browser, and
> Netscape as my mail client.  Even though I set Netscape to start only
> the email client, it insists on starting the browser also, and then IE
> and Netscape fight over which is the default browser which causes me
> some problems that I can work around.  I like my applications lean but
> functional -- I will look carefully at KFM, Konqueror, Opera, and others
> before I settle for Netscape as my browser on Linux.)

I don't like Konqueror as a browser, it has some nice features, but it
doesn't do JavaScript very well.


> 
> I've been thinking about registering a domain.  Not so much for this
> purpose but because I want to start creating some Web sites, and, as I
> understand it, if I have my own domain name, I can move that with me
> even if I move the web site from one hosting service to another.  Does
> that match your understanding?

Correct, a domain is simply a name, DNS is what resolves names into
network numbering, if you move to another IP (static / dynamic) then it
is the responsibility of DNS to tell where the domain is located.

> 
> I already do some of this -- I have a 386 with 1 MB Ram and 1 floppy
> disk that runs IPRoute under Dos and serves as my Internet gateway.
> Some day I may upgrade that to Linux, but I think I will deal with my
> mail problem 6 months to a year before I upgrade the gateway to Linux.
> 
> Can I run Qmail in a box "behind" the gateway?

Yes, and no..  Placing a mail server on a private network address is,
generally, useful only to the private network. If you want to be able to
recieve mail from the Internet, you will have to "tunnel" (masquarade)
the port number into the private network from the gateway and route that
traffic to/from the machine hosting the mail.  While this certainly
something that is being done in other networks, it is a sophisticated
technique requiring a good understanding of TCP/IP networks.  I question
the value of doing this?



TomW

-- 
Tom Walsh - WN3L - Embedded Systems Consultant
'www.openhardware.net', 'www.cyberiansoftware.com'
"Windows? No thanks, I have work to do..."