SMTP Server

A lot of people, who travel to various countries use SMTP server to increase security and privacy of their email, instead of using the Internet Service Provider's server. There are a number of free SMTP servers, which one can make use of, as well. Scroll down to know, more about it.
SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. It is an Internet standard for sending emails across Internet Protocol (IP) networks. It was in RFC 821, that SMTP was first defined and it was last updated by RFC 5321, which includes the extended SMTP (ESMTP) additions. It is indeed the protocol, which is used widely today. SMTP is a specified protocol, which is used for outgoing mail transport and uses TCP port 25. To explain this in simpler words, a SMTP server, like a web server, is a computer, which works like a router, as it receives outgoing mail messages from users and routes them to the intended recipients. It makes use of either the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol or use Unix sendmail program. Often the mail messages have to pass through a number of servers to reach their destinations.

SMTP Server Settings

You can have SMTP service installed on your local machine using the steps mentioned below.
  • To install the SMTP service, go to the Start menu and then click on 'Control Panel'.
  • Then double-click on 'Add or Remove Programs'.
  • In the left pane, you will notice 'Add/Remove Windows Components'. Click on it
  • In the Components list, you will see 'Application Server'. Click on Application Server, and then click on Details.
  • In the sub-components of 'Application Server' list you will see Internet Information Services (IIS), click on IIS, and then click on Details.
  • In the sub-components of Internet Information Services (IIS) list, check the SMTP Service check box and then click on OK.
  • Now click on Next. Here you may be prompted for the Windows Server 2003 family CD or the network install path. Provide the required details and then click on Finish.
After you have installed the SMTP service, a default SMTP server configuration is created. The message store is located in LocalDrive:\Inetpub\Mailroot. While setting up the SMTP service for the first time, you may want to configure global settings for a SMTP virtual server, as well as settings for individual components of the virtual server. Some of the SMTP server commands include:
  • HELO / EHLO: This is a command, which is used to identify the sender (client) to the SMTP server.
  • MAIL FROM: This is where the e-mail address of the sender is specified.
  • RCPT TO: Here the e-mail address of the recipient is specified.
  • DATA: It is the actual data (body text, attachments etc).
  • RSET (RESET): This command specifies that the current mail transaction will not be carried forward and aborted.
  • VRFY (VERIFY): This command asks the receiver to confirm, that the argument identifies a user or a mailbox.
  • HELP: With this command the server sends helpful information to the client.
  • QUIT: This command means, the server quits the session
How to find SMTP Server Address

In case you are collecting your email from your ISP, then you can find your SMTP server address from your existing settings. You will have to follow the steps mentioned below to retrieve your SMTP settings.
  • Start Outlook Express, go to Tools and select Email Accounts. You will navigate to the next page.
  • In the new window, that appears, select "View or change existing e-mail accounts" and click on "Next".
  • Now to select the name of your ISP account, click to select it, if it isn't already highlighted, then click on "Change".
  • Under the heading Server Information, you will come across an entry for "Outgoing mail server (SMTP). Write down the entry in this box, which will usually appear in a format similar to: "mail.myisp.com.". This is your SMTP server address, which you are looking for and you will need it to configure your domain name based email.
Free SMTP Server

There are a number of free SMTP servers, which can be used to send email directly. Most of these programs do support, email programs like Outlook Express and Eudora, but it is often seen, that they work the best with Outlook Express. One of the commonly used SMTP server these days is Gmail SMTP server. You will have to follow the instructions to set and test SMTP server, before you are able to communicate with people all around the world. You will have to make the changes in the IIS, as mentioned in the instructions for installing SMTP.

SMTP servers are best, when you are traveling or accessing the Internet from various public places, or you have to send a large bulk of emails. It will take care of security and privacy of the data, that is being transmitted through your emails.
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Published: 6/22/2010
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