🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1993Jan07.035947.15311@i88.isc.com> (mikebo@i88.isc.com), you write:
> If anyone has gone the MS-MAIL with SMTP gateway route, I'd be 
> interested in your experiences so far. Especially...
> 
> 1) How hard it is to get/keep the gateway configured?

I thought it was pretty easy, considering what I think was pretty poor documentation.
One thing, make sure you name your gateway network/postoffice couple to match the fully qualified
domain name of your gateway host.  The docs don't stress this, but it's a MUST!  For
example, if your gateway PC is named "bozo.subdomain.domain"  make sure you install
MS Mail so your gateway postoffice is named "subdomain/bozo".  The docs make this
sound like it's just a suggestion.
> 2) Do MS-Mail postoffices require an additional and expensive
>    "downstream" module to route or send SMTP mail to the gateway
>    or to translate MS-Mail to Internet style addresses? A Microsoft
>    rep has claimed the SMTP gateway package is all we need.

You only need the SMTP postoffice.  The docs seemed misleading about this too, until
I puzzled over them for awhile.  If you have any downstream POs, they will need the
"SMTP Access Component", but not the "SMTP Gateway Component (the expensive one).".

> 3) MS-DOS is single tasking, I assume one SMTP connection at a time?
>    Does this create real problems? What are they?

Yes, one daemon - one connection.  This shouldn't be a problem unless your LAN is
a mighty hefty mail sink.  If that's true, you should be running a "real" gateway
(mini or larger w/Unix).

> 4) Any problem with the gateway wedging up? If so, any workarounds?

I'm not sure what you mean.

> 5) Can you have multiple SMTP gateways on one LOCAL Area Network?

You can have multiple gateway PC / gateway PO couples, as long as you define separate
logical networks during installation.  Remember, the gateway components are serialized
as a copy protection scheme.  Directory synchronization will not work unless you install
from separately purchased packages.

> 6) Can you have multiple SMTP gateways on one WIDE Area Network?

If answer 5 is true, this should be true.  Remember it's GW PC/ GW PO couples that
have to be there.

> 7) If yes to 5 or 6, how do you route mail to the correct gateway?

Each gateway PO is separtely administered with separate group of users.  The logical
drive locations of the MAILDATA must be separate, but could be on the same physical
drive.

I had a very good experience with Microsoft's UK customer support for these products
during installation.

Good Luck!

Eric

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Eric L. Tompkins				Internet: tompkins@dream11.ibmpcug.co.uk
Dream Engineering			  CompuServe: 100013,1444
                                   Phone: +44 638 533 543
"Do not search for the truth, merely cease to cherish opinions."