Topic: newbie questions on SME server setup (specifically domain na

[ghopper]

I'm home sick today and my only joy is that I got the ISO image of SME server 5.1.2 burned on to a cd and installed (finally). I looked throught he manual and searched the forums but didn't find anything that covered my qurey.

When setting up the server, it asks for a primary domain name. I'm not sure what to put in there.  I'm planning to hook the server up to a new network at home with internet access through a firewall with a dialup connection to my ISP. The ISP is eskimo.com Is that the domain I want to use, or do I just make one up?  Ultimately I want to use the server to handle all the email, and serve a web page for personal use, and maybe news if I get a DSL connection. This is in addition to acting as the file and print server for a mixed mac and win 98 network.

Now that I think about it, I am presuming that I can set the server up to act like a pop3 client to get the email and as a imap mail server(?) for all the computers in the house. Can this be done?

Thanks for any help you can offer. I think the cold medicine has slowed me down a bunch.

GH

[robert]

Just make a domain name up. Don't put the ISP's domain in, that would cause problems.
Re your POP client/IMAP server question: yes, that can be done. POP client is fetchmail.
Make sure you read the bug reports and fixes. There's one about printing from a mac client.

[Kees Blokland]

To warm you up quickly:

for a primary domain name try something like   hopper.home  (or anything else that sort of looks like a domainname, but is not really one.

lastname.home  lastname.iglo  lastname.snow
anything.home  anything.iglo anything.something

you get the drift...

these names are not proper domain names, when you hook your system to the net, and want it to be visible form the net (do you really want that??)  then you can simply change it to another domain name.
I always make up a name for internal use, therefore there is less risks my box is visible on the net.

the sme box believes anything you tell it, as long as it is in the format
 something.somethingelse

but DO NOT use an existing (someone elses) domainname!

get better quick, read the manual, start experimenting, and you will see that all your questions have already been answered!

kees

[ghopper]

Wow! Lunch, a nap and back on line- my questions answered!  Thanks Guys!  Eventually I do wnat to make the server visible to the web, but there's a lot to cover between now and then. Mostly I just want to learn about this stuff.  Thanks again.

GH

[Ray Mitchell]

When you finally want to do it, you will need to register (and pay for) a domain name in order to provide web services to the Internet. This will be your "real" domain name, and you use it to access your server remotely via internet as well as provide a web/ftp site etc to external users. You will only be able to use a domain name that is available and not already used by somemone else.

You can use any domain name for internal purposes as it is not registered externally and will never be seen by any body.

Hope this adds a bit more to your knowledge. Do have a look at ALL the links on e-smith.org site, especially FAQ, HOWTO's and contibuted rpms, and also make searches here on these forums as a lot of issues have already been answered.

Nothing like a play with computers to make a sick person well again !!!

Regards
Ray Mitchell

[ryan]

When you set up your real domain, take a look at mydomain.com.....this service is linked to namesdirect.com for registration.  They charge 14.95 per year and provide you with free web based DNS service that allows you to toally control your IP pointing, MX records, CNames, etc.  Best of all, you can adjust your DNS records at anytime, don't have to wait for your ISP to do it.  I am very satisfied with this service and it is cheaper than network solutions.

Good luck,

RS