8. Enabling Mail ServicesAlthough email has changed greatly over the years, the methods used to get email from one location to another have remained rather constant, and it is still a key component for any organization's Internet infrastructure. The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is used to pass a single message from server to server until it reaches its intended recipient. Once the message arrives at its destination mail server, the recipient has a choice of two primary protocols to retrieve the content of that message. The Internet Mail Access Protocol (IMAP) is common among users who may access email from multiple computers and want their inboxes to remain on their mail servers. Post Office Protocol (POP) downloads a copy of each message from the server and often deletes it from the server immediately, reducing the amount of resources required on the server. Choosing the right protocol depends on the server infrastructure you're willing to set up and maintain along with the needs of your users. You will have to make many other decisions before you settle on a particular mail access protocol. The good news is that with Mac OS X Server, you can offer many to your users, letting them choose which method is best for them. |