What is a Mail Server ?

Mail Server Configuration

1. What is Mail Server?

A mail server (sometimes also referred to an e-mail server) is a server that handles and delivers e-mail over a network, usually over the Internet. A mail server can receive e-mails from client computers and deliver them to other mail servers.

(OR)

“A mail server is an application that receives email from email clients or other mail servers. It is the workhorse of the email system”

2. What is an Email Address:

 

An example email address looks like this:

abcd@wisedolphins.com

abcd--------------------------> Email Account

wisedolphins.com-----> Domain Name

This Address is made up of Two Parts:

Email account:

This is a particular users email account name that, in this case, the WiseDolphins.com mail server can deal with.

Domain name:

This is a name that a Company has Registered so that they can use it on the Internet.

Other examples are: apple.com, or microsoft.com.

3. Types of Mail Servers:

Mail servers can be broken down into two main categories: 

 

1. Outgoing mail servers

2. Incoming mail servers.

1. Outgoing mail servers:

Outgoing mail servers are known as SMTP (or) Simple Mail Transfer Protocol, servers.

2. Incoming mail servers.

Incoming mail servers come in Two main varieties.

You may need to choose any one incoming mail server while configuration

* In Plugleads we are accepting only Imap Details for Incoming mail servers.

Incoming Mail Server Types:

(i) IMAP, or (Internet Message Access Protocol), servers always store copies of messages on

servers. 

(ii) POP3, or Post Office Protocol, version 3, servers are best known for storing sent and

received messages on PCs' local hard drives.

* Most POP3 servers can store messages on servers, too, which is a lot more convenient. 

4. What is SMTP

SMTP is part of the application layer of the TCP/IP protocol. Using a process called "store and forward," SMTP moves your email on and across networks. It works closely with something called the Mail Transfer Agent (MTA) to send your communication to the right computer and email inbox.

SMTP spells out and directs how your email moves from your computer's MTA to an MTA on another computer, and even several computers. Using that "store and forward" feature mentioned before, the message can move in steps from your computer to its destination. At each step, Simple Mail Transfer Protocol is doing its job. Lucky for us, this all takes place behind the scenes, and we don't need to understand or operate SMTP.