Before You Begin

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As stated above, the primary host is the system on which you install IMail Server. Before you begin the installation, you must (1) check the official name of the primary host, and (2) decide what database the primary host will use to register and authenticate users.

Checking Your Primary Host Name

You should first check the DNS information for the system on which you intend to install IMail Server (the primary host).

To check the DNS information (on Windows NT), double-click the Network icon in the Control Panel, select the Protocols tab, select TCP/IP Protocol, and then click Properties. The TCP/IP window appears. Click DNS to view the domain information.

To check the DNS information (on Windows 2000), double click the System icon in the Control Panel, select the Network Identification tab, then click Properties. The Identification Changes dialog box appears which displays the domain information.

The Host Name and Domain must be registered in the DNS (Domain Name System) if you want remote hosts to be able to communicate with your system. Your DNS must contain the proper entries for the host name. For more information, see your DNS documentation and "Appendix I: Mail Servers and the DNS".

Note: You can use Ipswitch's WS_Ping ProPack to lookup DNS information. An evaluation version is included on the IMail Server CD. For more information about looking up DNS information using WS_Ping ProPack, see the "IMail Server Getting Started Guide".

User Registration and Authentication

The primary host can use one of three databases for registration and authentication of users. (Registration is the process by which user mail accounts are created. Authentication is the process by which user IDs and passwords are verified.)

• IMail Database. User IDs and passwords for mail accounts are stored separately from either the Windows NT or 2000 user database, or any external database, in a proprietary database in the Windows registry.

  You can also import Windows NT or 2000 users into an IMail user database, without having them linked to the Windows NT or 2000 database. For information on importing Windows NT or 2000 users, see "Importing NT Users".

• Windows NT Database. This database provides automatic creation of user mail accounts for any user listed in the Windows NT or Windows 2000 user database on your host machine.

  Note that the primary mail host needs access to the Windows NT or 2000 user database for your network.

  To view a current listing of users in your Windows NT or 2000 user database, use the appropriate administrative tool as described in your Windows documentation.

  You will not be able to add or delete users using the IMail Administrator; instead, you must use the appropriate windows administrative tool (these are different for Windows NT and Windows 2000).

Note: A mailbox and other user files are created for a user when the mail server receives a message for that user, or when a user first accesses the IMail Server through a mail client.

• External Database. IMail Server uses an external database to register and authenticate users. Users that you add and delete using IMail Server will be added to, and deleted from, that external database, and vice versa.

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