Eudora TM Search Contact Us
Support - Technical Support Resources and Knowledgebase User Forums - See users' online questions and answers about Eudora products, or post your own questions to the Eudora Community. Developers - Resources for Developers writing code to interact with Eudora Press - Press Releases and News Articles Testimonials - Read what others are saying about Eudora
Qualcomm


This is a compilation of the most common questions and answers concerning the Eudora WorldMail Server solution.

About WorldMail Server
Comparing WorldMail to other products
Internet Connection Issues
Using WorldMail
Security Issues
Performance Issues
Protocols


About WorldMail Server


What is the Eudora WorldMail Server?

The Eudora WorldMail Server is a high-performance Internet and intranet mail server that runs on Windows NT workstation and Server.

WorldMail Server is scaleable, rich in functionality, and consists of a native SMTP/MIME message transport, a POP3/IMAP4 message store, integrated specialized Web server, directory services (LDAP and Ph), and comprehensive management facilities.

WorldMail Server features a graphical administration application, WorldMail Management Center, which can be installed on multiple computers to allow remote administration of your WorldMail Server from various locations, even your laptop. It can also be used to manage multiple servers remotely from a central management station.

The extensive features of WorldMail Server are built on the standards and protocols of the Internet to provide an interoperable, open platform for messaging.


What are the system requirements for WorldMail Server?

WorldMail Server has the following system requirements:

_ Windows NT Server or Workstation 4.0 or higher

_ Intel Pentium or equivalent or better processor (multiple processors supported)

_ 32 MB RAM (64 MB recommended)

_ CD-ROM drive

_ 1 GB hard drive


What is included with the Internet Mail component of WorldMail Server?

The Internet Mail Services in Eudora WorldMail Server implement the ESMTP, POP3, and IMAP4 protocols, allowing users to send and receive mail over the Internet. Full support is provided for MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions), allowing for multimedia and multi-part messages. There is also support for MIME conversion of unlabelled 8-bit data.

As a comprehensive implementation of ESMTP, Delivery Status Notifications are implemented per Internet Protocol RFCs 1891, 1892, 1893, and 1894. This provides confirmation that a message was actually delivered to an intended recipient. In addition, SMTP Pipelining, which expedites SMTP transactions, and other extensions are supported.


What is included with the Directory Services component of WorldMail Server?

The Directory Services component of WorldMail contains:

_ An LDAP Directory. The LDAP directory provides a repository for information on users and other entities.

_ A Web/Directory Gateway. The Web/Directory Gateway allows this information to be searched and modified through any web browser.

_ Ph support. Ph allows information to be searched and accessed through Ph clients, such as Eudora® Pro&tm; and Eudora Light&tm;.


Do I need a DNS server to use WorldMail?

Though a DNS server is not required when using WorldMail, it is strongly recommended. You will need a DNS server to process mail on a local TCP/IP network that may not be able to connect to your ISP's DNS servers.


Does WorldMail need to run on a dedicated server?

Because WorldMail is so efficient, the server can easily run other NT services as well as WorldMail at the same time, and thus does not require a dedicated machine.


How much space does WorldMail and each account require?

A common recommendation is 100MB for the software and 5MB per user, but you have the option to limit user mailboxes. IMAP users generally take more disk space than POP users. Each account uses just three disk clusters for the account to be created (one for the account directory, one for the account index file, one for the directory services entry), plus the space you allocate for mail. You can set mailbox quotas.


On how many computers can I install WorldMail Server and how many users can I set up?

A single WorldMail Server box gives you the right to install WorldMail on one server. We have successfully tested WorldMail with over 15,000 user accounts.


On what platforms does WorldMail run?

WorldMail must be set up on an Intel-compatible machine running Windows NT 4.0 (Workstation or Server). Clients may be on any platform and must communicate with WorldMail via TCP/IP only. We are considering making WorldMail Server available for other platforms. A powerful server product for the Mac OS, the Eudora Internet Mail Server (EIMS), is available from QUALCOMM via the Eudora web site at www.eudora.com.


Does the Management Center run on the Windows 95 platform?

The Management Center is the graphical mail administration application that comes with Eudora WorldMail Server. The Management Center is currently configured for the Windows NT 4.0 platform. In the future, it will be configured for Windows 95.


What clients does WorldMail Server support?

Eudora WorldMail supports all SMTP and POP3 or IMAP4 clients, as well as Ph and LDAP clients. Eudora Pro software is ideally suited to work with the Eudora WorldMail Server; however, any standards-based client should work with Eudora WorldMail Server. Clients can run on any platform, including Windows, Mac, and Unix.


Why would I want my users to be running Eudora Pro software?

For optimal integration and the convenience of single-point-of-contact customer and technical support, we strongly recommend using Eudora Pro with Eudora WorldMail; however, any POP3/IMAP4 client works with WorldMail, including Netscape mail clients.

Advantages of a Eudora Pro/Eudora WorldMail system include:

_ Eudora Pro and Eudora WorldMail have a high degree of integration, which makes the administrators' job much easier.

_ Eudora offers award-winning technical support services.

_ Eudora is a leader in Internet messaging solutions. Simply put, Eudora software is the "Best of its Class" in Internet messaging.

_ QUALCOMM and Eudora are known for high quality communication products: wireless communication technology, ASICs, satellites, and Internet software.


How does WorldMail scale and perform?

Because it is a pure Internet mail system utilizing highly optimized code, Eudora WorldMail runs very fast and scales very well.


What are the future plans for WorldMail?

Future plans for WorldMail Server include ongoing feature enhancements, performance improvements, additional security options, and conformance to emerging standards.


Comparing WorldMail to other products


How does WorldMail compare to Exchange?

Eudora WorldMail and Microsoft Exchange are both email servers, yet they are fundamentally different. WorldMail is a thoroughly Internet standards-based server. Exchange is a LAN-based server that has been modified with "connections" that allow it to serve mail on Internet-style networks. If you plan to run your messaging environment primarily via the Internet or an intranet, WorldMail is a more straightforward, cost-effective, natural choice.

WorldMail Server: designed to Internet protocols

Eudora WorldMail Server is a simple-to-administer, open, Internet standards-based, powerful, complete Internet mail solution. WorldMail provides native support for the following Internet standards:

_ SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)

_ POP3 (Post Office Protocol)

_ IMAP4 (Internet Mail Access Protocol)

_ Ph (a directory services protocol)

_ LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol)

WorldMail also supports mailing lists, remote server administration, remote user administration, automatic responses, shared IMAP4 folders, aliases, multiple remote Domains, multiple virtual Domains, disk quotas, forwarding/copying, APOP authenticated access, store-and-forward ("ETRN") SMTP access, and many other powerful Internet Mail features. WorldMail can be installed on any Windows NT 4.0 machine.

Microsoft Exchange: modified "traditional" LAN-based server

Microsoft Exchange 5.0 is a very complex LAN-based server with "connections" for SMTP and POP3 mail clients. The mail store is in a proprietary format, and must be converted between Internet Mail format and the proprietary Microsoft format. The server has a great deal of additional functionality, including a proprietary calendaring/scheduling server. Two restrictions limit administrator flexibility: the server must be installed on a Primary Domain Controller, and all mail accounts must be based on NT Domain accounts.


Can I connect WorldMail to Exchange?

Mail sent via WorldMail can be routed to a user on an Exchange 5.0 server. Any SMTP mail server should work with any other SMTP mail server. Both WorldMail and Exchange 5.0 support SMTP, so mail should be able to pass to and from both SMTP servers.

WorldMail and Exchange can share their LDAP directories, as per the LDAP protocol. However, WorldMail and Exchange cannot transparently share users, mail, or directory services.


Does WorldMail handle more users than Exchange?

Each server is scaleable to support many users. Because WorldMail uses a native Internet mail store, it requires less overhead. Less overhead means WorldMail works more efficiently, and thus can support more users more rapidly. Exchange converts Internet mail to its own proprietary format, and so incurs overhead when processing mail.


What is RAS and how do I set it up?

RAS is the Remote Access Service. It allows computers to dial into a Windows NT server. Microsoft's Knowledge Base provides information on how to set up RAS.


Does WorldMail use NT Domain Names and passwords?

WorldMail does not use NT Domain Names or passwords. WorldMail uses its own authentication based on Internet standards for POP (the Post Office Protocol) and IMAP (the Internet Message Access Protocol), including the more secure APOP (Authenticated POP via MD5 Hash) and CRAM (Challenge-Response Authentication Mechanism). These mechanisms do not send passwords in plain text over the network, which reduces the risk of unauthorized access. In a computing environment made up of different types of computers, operating systems, and Domain names (like many organizations) WorldMail is simpler to administer and use than Exchange because WorldMail is based on Internet protocols. For example, an ISP (Internet Service Provider) running an Exchange server would need a different NT Domain account for each POP account.


How does WorldMail work with Schedule+ and calendaring?

WorldMail is a mail server, and does not handle calendaring or scheduling, including the Schedule+ calendaring application from Microsoft. Currently there is no Internet protocol for calendaring/scheduling. Eudora is committed to Internet standards, and WorldMail does not support a proprietary calendaring/scheduling tool. An Internet standard for calendaring/scheduling is in the proposal stages.


How does WorldMail Server compare to Sendmail?

The SMTP implementation utilized in WorldMail Server is based on Internet standards. It is designed to eliminate security and performance problems commonly found in UNIX sendmail products. WorldMail Server has security features designed into its enhanced implementation of SMTP, whereas sendmail products must be specifically configured and maintained by a knowledgeable administrator to overcome their inherent security problems. Eudora WorldMail Server has also taken advantage of NT multi-threaded architecture to optimize performance.


Can WorldMail work as an MTA with GroupWise?

Eudora WorldMail can communicate with any SMTP server and POP3/IMAP4 client, just as any SMTP server and POP3/IMAP4 client can communicate with any WorldMail Server.

WorldMail cannot communicate with proprietary clients directly, but proprietary clients can send mail through a LAN-to-SMTP gateway which can then communicate with WorldMail.


Internet Connection Issues


What is the difference between an intranet and the Internet?

The Internet generally refers to the global, public network of computers that are connected using Internet protocols. An intranet refers to an organization's internal, or private, network that is also based on Internet protocols. WorldMail Server can send mail on both the Internet and intranets.


What are the network requirements for WorldMail Server?

Eudora WorldMail Server and any mail client machines must communicate over a TCP/IP network. To send and receive messages over the Internet, you must have an operating network connection to the Internet or to a smart relay.


Do I need my own domain to use WorldMail?

No separate domain name is needed to serve mail on an intranet network. However, if you are connected to the Internet, then you need your own Domain.


Does WorldMail Server support multiple Domains?

Eudora WorldMail Server allows you to support as many Domains as desired. Each of your local Domains has its own set of users, so you can have "Sales-Requests" in each Domain that reach different (or the same!) email clients.


Does WorldMail dial out?

Yes, Eudora WorldMail Server can be configured to initiate a connection to an ISP or relay host at preset times or intervals.


If I dont have a permanent connection to the Internet, how does WorldMail work?

Eudora WorldMail Server can be configured to initiate a connection to an ISP or relay host at preset times or intervals, to pick up and receive mail. NT RAS (Remote Access Service) also allows an NT system to accept incoming connections from less well-connected machines, so WorldMail can be used for either side of an intermittent connection.


How do I establish an intermittent connection?

The CMC (Connection Management Center) allows WorldMail to poll a server periodically. When WorldMail and CMC poll the server, RAS (Remote Access Service) can then establish the dialup connection.


Do I need a static IP address or is dynamic OK?

Continuous connections usually get static addresses, but a dynamic address is more common for intermittent connections.

A dynamic IP address is acceptable for WorldMail Server and clients. A static IP address is not required for WorldMail Server or for client machines. However, certain optional security features may require a static IP address.

In other words, clients can access WorldMail using either static or dynamic IP addresses.

WorldMail itself may require a static IP address depending on how you intend to use it, how you are connected to the Internet, and what your ISP can support.


Does WorldMail work over an ISDN line?

WorldMail works over any TCP/IP connection, whether that connection uses an ISDN, dial-up, or other network line.


How does WorldMail work on my Novell LAN ?

WorldMail works using the Internet protocol TCP/IP. For example, if your Novell LAN supports TCP/IP in addition to IPX, then WorldMail can work via your Novell LAN.


How can I have WorldMail dial up my ISP and retrieve mail?

You can configure WorldMail to initiate a connection to your ISP or your corporate intranet at designated times. During these sessions, you can:

_ send all queued mail

_ issue an ETRN command to retrieve mail queued for you.

Your ISP must support ETRN and you either need a static IP address, or your ISP must be able to handle ETRN with a dynamic IP address.


How does WorldMail download mail from my companys many ISP POP3 accounts?

If the ISP supports the SMTP extended command "ETRN," your ISP stores all mail for your Domain. Then WorldMail connects to your ISP and pulls down all of the mail for your Domain. Next, instead of using the several POP3 accounts located at your ISP, your ISP would provide DNS services for your local WorldMail Server, which could have as many POP3 accounts as you require.


How can I have WorldMail pick up mail from multiple POP accounts at my ISP and redistribute the mail locally?

WorldMail does not act as a POP client. POP is the Post Office Protocol. POP is not designed for mail transport, only final mail delivery. Consequently, important routing and delivery information is lost when using POP. While routing messages received via POP may work for some messages, it will not work for all. As a result messages can be misdirected or lost.

Instead, direct your ISP to convert the accounts so you retrieve mail using SMTP.

You can configure WorldMail to initiate a connection to your ISP or another relay server at set intervals or times, send all queued mail, and issue an ETRN command to retrieve mail queued for you. Your ISP must support ETRN. You also need a static IP address, or your ISP needs to be able to handle ETRN with a dynamic IP address.


How can I make WorldMail work with my cc:Mail SMTP gateway?

WorldMail can communicate with any SMTP server, just as any SMTP server can communicate with any WorldMail Server.

In addition, Eudora Migration Utilities is a tool to help migrate your users away from cc:Mail version 2 to a Eudora client such as Eudora Light or Eudora Pro.


Using WorldMail


How do I set up WorldMail Server?

WorldMail has an easy-to-use Installer which walks a new administrator through all of the basic installation steps.


How do I manage WorldMail remotely?

WorldMail Management Center performs remote management of all WorldMail components over TCP/IP. WorldMail Management Center allows the administrator to manage the server from multiple systems (even a laptop), and to manage multiple servers at the same time from a central management station. The management facilities provided by the Management Center include domain and user configuration, routing configuration, fault notification, performance monitoring, system management and message tracking.

WorldMail Management Center allows you to connect to a remote server for administering from anywhere you happen to be.

Some important points:

_ Use any Windows NT 4.0 workstation or server.

_ WorldMail Management Center must be installed on the local machine

_ The remote WorldMail Server must not be configured to exclude the local machine's address

_ Intermediate firewalls MUST NOT block the connection.


Do I have to have a fully qualified email address to send mail over my intranet?

A fully qualified email address (that is, a completely typed address, such as "joe@eudora.com" versus simply "joe") is required to send mail over your intranet. However, Eudora client software can be set to have a default domain name automatically added to an unqualified address. So, you can set Eudora clients to add "@eudora.com" to any shortened address. When the user of that client types "joe" in the Address line of the Eudora software, the domain "@eudora.com" will be automatically added.


How does WorldMail check each domain name with my ISP?

WorldMail sends multiple ETRN commands to check each Domain name.


How do I send mail to a large group of people?

WorldMail Server includes powerful list creation and management tools. You can create mailing lists, and specify the amount of control or automation you desire, as well as the security level. You can allow users to automatically add or delete themselves from the list, or allow them to add or delete anyone, or only permit the list owner to add or delete users. You can permit anyone to send to the list, or only members, or only moderators. You can allow anyone to see the list membership, or only members, or keep this information private. You can always add or delete users yourself.

To create a mailing list, simply right-click the domain in which you want to create the list, then choose "Add", then "Distribution List". The on-line help provides complete step-by-step instructions and examples.


Can anyone set up a distribution list?

Only administrators can set up a list, but once it is set up the list can be managed by anyone. The lists are very configurable once they are created. You can configure the list to modify:

_ Who can be added (anyone, just approved people, or no one)

_ Who can post to the list (anyone, just members, just owners)

_ Who can see the membership list (anyone, just members, just owners)


Can I restrict who sends mail to that distribution list?

You can control who sends mail to each distribution list. You can configure WorldMail so that:

_ Anyone can post messages to a distribution list

_ Just list members can post messages

_ Only moderators can post messages to the list


Does WorldMail Server support mailing lists?

Yes, WorldMail Server makes it easy to create and administer mailing lists. The degree of automation can be configured from fully manual to fully automatic, with levels in between. The desired level of security can also be configured.


Can users modify their own accounts?

Users are able to modify their own accounts using a web browser. They can change their passwords and set up auto-reply options.


How can you set up web pages to create accounts?

Accounts can be created via WorldMail Management Center or via NIBL (the Bulk-Load utility). Since NIBL is a command line utility, a web page can be set up with a form that launches a CGI script that runs NIBL to add user accounts.


Does WorldMail have web-based management?

Administrators can manage the directory structure via a browser that supports security. Users can manage their accounts via a secure Java applet. So-called "demi-administrators" can be specifed, who can use Java applets to create, modify, and delete user accounts and mailing lists. Each "demi-administrator" can be permitted to do any or all of these as desired.


Can I check my mail with an HTML web browser?

If you have a POP3/IMAP4 browser mail client, you can check mail on a WorldMail Server. If you do not have a POP3/IMAP4 browser mail client, you can administer your account and access directory services information, but you cannot check mail.


How does WorldMail Server handle backup?

WorldMail should be backed up with the rest of the software on its hardware server.


Security Issues


What type of security is included in WorldMail Server?

WorldMail Server has enhanced security features that include access control to services based on IP address, APOP and CRAM-MD5 authentication, and multi-level access control.

The IP address access control feature provides administrators with the ability to allow or deny access to specific services based on the IP address of the request. The services which can be restricted are the message store (POP3 and IMAP4 access to messages), SMTP relay (mail going outside your server), total SMTP (mail going to local users or outside your server), and the management center (the ability to administer your server).

The APOP and CRAM-MD5 authentication facilities use a challenge-response authentication mechanism to avoid sending the actual password over the network. This helps prevent theft of password information and protect against replay attacks.

WorldMail Management Center also supports multi-level access control (different passwords for access to different areas). This protects WorldMail Server configuration information as desired.

Additionally, detailed transaction logs are provided which allow an administrator to audit and locate sources of attempted security breaches and break-ins.


How can I restrict access to my WorldMail Server?

You can configure WorldMail to allow or deny access to specific services based on the IP address of the requester. The services which can be restricted are:

_ The message store (POP3 and IMAP4 access to messages)

_ SMTP relay (mail going outside your server)

_ Total SMTP (mail going to local users or outside your server)

_ Management Protocol (administrative access through Management Center)

Note that if you restrict access to total SMTP, no one else will be able to send you mail. If you only want to prevent outside people from accessing your message store or using your system as a mail relay (and possibly a spam injection point), set the message store access and the SMTP relay restriction to only accept IP addresses within your subnet. Additionally, to provide additional protection against unauthorized access or alteration, you should restrict access to the management protocol to only addresses within your subnet or other known addresses which require administrative access.


How can I prevent unauthorized relaying through my WorldMail Server?

You can configure WorldMail Server to reject relayed messages (mail going outside your server) by setting the SMTP relay restriction to only permit access from IP addresses within your sub-net.


Performance Issues


How does WorldMail Server perform versus NTMail, post.office, Exchange, IPSwitch?

Servers perform differently in different environments. For example, WorldMail excels at serving large messages, as well as multiple messages. WorldMail handles frequent mail checks exceptionally well. This is where many mail servers perform very poorly.


Why is a native GUI (Graphical User Interface) better than web or email management?

A programmatic GUI is preferred because the interface is tuned to the job at hand; it is much easier to use, as well as being faster and more flexible than a web or email form. More information can be managed easily and quickly using the Windows GUI. Feedback is immediate and specific. The protocol used by WorldMail Management Center can also be used in custom local scripts or applications to meet specific needs.


What are the advantages of using the Windows NT platform?

The Windows NT platform is a powerful 32-bit operating system which is multi-threaded, multi-tasking, and runs applications for MS-DOS, OS/2, and Windows environments, including applications for Windows 95 and POSIX. The NT platform is government-rated for mission-critical applications and supports multiple processors. It offers high-level client/server facilities and WorldMail Server takes advantage of Named Pipes, Remote Procedure Calls, and Windows Sockets with built-in security facilities.


Protocols


What is the difference between SMTP and MIME?

SMTP (or ESMTP for Extended SMTP) is the protocol used to exchange messages between mail servers.

WorldMail Server supports the transfer of SMTP messages with either text or MIME content. SMTP is the most widely used Internet application. WorldMail Server provides an enhanced implementation of ESMTP for the NT platform. This implementation is designed from the ground up for high performance and scalability.

MIME expands the messaging abilities of SMTP and supports formats such as audio, image (GIF, JPEG), video (MPEG), and application content types with various types of encoding methods (7-bit, Base64, 8-bit, and binary). MIME allows multimedia and other non-textual formats to be handled reliably throughout the message transport process.


What is POP3 and how does it compare to IMAP4?

POP (Post Office Protocol) is used to provide simple remote access to mailboxes. POP3 is the latest version of POP. With POP3, once mail clients connect and download their messages, the messages are typically removed from the server and stored on the client's local machine.

IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is richer in functionality than POP and is designed to allow clients to access and manage mailboxes on the server as if they were local. IMAP is a much more complex protocol than POP, with less client support.

For example, POP clients can typically only download their messages. IMAP allows the client to select which messages and parts of messages a client wishes to download, allows mailboxes to be created, and allows messages to be moved among mailboxes. IMAP lets the client ask the server for headers and message parts, or search for messages that meet a certain criteria. IMAP4 is the latest version of the IMAP protocol. Improvements include:

_ Support for synchronization with off-line and mobile clients when they are connected to the IMAP4 message store

_ Extensive text searching capabilities

_ Hierarchical and shared folders

_ Status flags

_ Remote folder management


What is Ph? What is Finger?

Both Ph and Finger are directory protocols which allow email users to look up information on other users.

Ph is a mature, established directory services protocol. Ph information is stored in specific fields, which can be searched or returned in a query. This allows a Ph client, for example, to search by name or email, and return the email address and recognize it as such. More than 200 large sites have Ph directories, including BigFoot.com. For example, you can point a Eudora client to ph.bigfoot.com to look up someone's email address.

Finger is a simple, unstructured query protocol. Finger does not have individial fields; all information is returned as a single chunk. The results of a Finger query vary by server and query. Finger is usually used to find out which users are currently logged in to a server, not to find email addresses.


What is LDAP and why do I want it?

LDAP is the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol, an emerging directory services protocol. It allows you to dynamically provide a wide variety of information to your users.


When using WorldMail, how do you add LDAP fields?

WorldMail contains templates to help you add fields to the LDAP directory structure.


Can a user change his or her LDAP information?

Only managers can change LDAP information. However, users can change their own copying/forwarding and automatic responses via a secure Java applet called "PAM" (Personal Account Manager), and can change their own password via their mail client.


How do I know if my ISP supports ETRN?

We recommend you ask your ISP system administrator if they support ETRN.


Why is it better to use ETRN than POP and IMAP?

POP and IMAP allow a mail reader to access mail that has already been delivered into a mailbox. ETRN, on the other hand, is a way to continue delivery of the mail to your server.

Here's an analogy to help make this more clear. Think of email as if it were regular paper mail. The envelope contains the destination information, and usually the return address. Inside the envelope is the letter, which usually says who it is to and from, and the date. The to and from addresses (and even the date) on the letter do not have to match what is on the envelope. If the Post Office cannot deliver the envelope, it returns it back to the return address.

In email, there is also an envelope which contains the letter. However, this envelope is usually thrown away when the mail is delivered. Trying to reconstruct the envelope from the information in the letter might work most of the time, but there will always be cases where it just can't be done. As a result, mail can be misdirected or lost, and confidential information (such as bcc addresses) may be inadvertently disclosed.

When email for different people is delivered into the same mailbox, trying to redeliver it to the correct person is an error-prone process. Yet that is what happens when all mail for a domain is dumped into the same mailbox, picked up via POP (or IMAP), and then redelivered.

ETRN, on the other hand, lets your ISP store mail for your Domain(s) until you connect and ask for it. The email envelope is preserved, and is delivered by your server. This results in more accurate delivery, and makes advanced functionality such as delivery status notifications work properly.


Are there security concerns with ETRN?

ETRN is generally deployed such that security is not an issue. Because ETRN asks your ISP's server to open a new connection to your server to send you your mail, your ISP's server needs to be able to find your server. If someone other than you issues an ETRN for your domain(s), they will not be able to get your mail. This is because your ISP's server will look for your server. If you are connected, it will send you your mail as if you had asked for it. If you are not connected, your mail will remain queued and not be sent.

The issue is to make sure your ISP's server can find your server. There are a number of ways to do this. The easiest, and the most common, is for your ISP to assign your server a static IP address. That way your server always has the same address, and your ISP's server knows your server is always at that address (connected or not).

Some ISPs assign your server a dynamic IP address, which means it can change every time you connect. When you issue an ETRN, the ISP's mail server checks to see if you are connected, and if so, what your IP address is.

There are proposals, including a mechanism called On-Demand Mail Relay, to make this easier by having your server authenticate to your ISP's server before issuing the request for your mail. The ISP's server is then assured that you are who you say you are, and uses the same connection to send you your mail.


Is ETRN widely supported?

Most popular email servers including WorldMail support ETRN. It is also supported by recent versions of the standard UNIX SMTP server, Sendmail, used by many ISPs. Ask your ISP if they support ETRN.

In some cases ISPs might support ETRN but front-line sales or technical people might not be aware of this since it is relatively new. In our experience, most ISPs utilize mail servers that support ETRN. We are currently surveying 2,000 ISPs to establish if they support ETRN.


Are there other ways to do the same thing that ETRN does?

Besides ETRN, ISPs use a number of techniques to determine when to try to send your queued mail. One method is very simple: the ISP assigns your server a static IP address, and instructs its server to contact your server every half hour or so. Sooner or later you will be connected.

Or, your ISP's server could be set up to notice when you connect. The server would start sending your outbound mail when it sees you are connected. Your ISP's server realizes it has some queued mail for you, and determines now would be a good time to try to connect to you.

Other methods involve non-standard substitutes for ETRN. Some servers implement their own proprietary command such as QSND. Some servers require that your server open a special port.




 

| Home | Support | Developers | Forums | Contact Us |

| QUALCOMM | Investor Relations | Section 508 | Privacy Statement | Terms of Use |


© 1999-2008 QUALCOMM Incorporated. All rights reserved. QUALCOMM and Eudora are registered trademarks of QUALCOMM Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.