Setting up Mail Server? MX records, etc

[Brian Huether]

I would like to set up an email server on my home computer. I did it once
before and forget the process. I recall needing to use some free DNS service
so that my computer has an IP or something to that effect. Do I really need
to do that? I plan on uing my web host email address as the return and so I
am not interested in having people email to a POP server on my home
computer.

Anyway, I am just a little confused...

thanks,

brian

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I would like to set up an email server on my home computer. I did it once
before and forget the process. I recall needing to use some free DNS
service so that my computer has an IP or something to that effect. Do I
really need to do that? I plan on uing my web host email address as the
return and so I am not interested in having people email to a POP server on
my home computer.

Anyway, I am just a little confused...

thanks,

brian

You need an MX Record if you set up an Exchange server.
If you only have a POP3 server then you don't. However,
if you wish to receive mail from outside your network then
you must use your ISP's POP3 server and get your own
server to poll it at regular intervals. AFAIK, you can't do
this with free Hotmail or Yahoo mail boxes.

To set up the server, follow the instructions included with
your particular server.