DMail Email Server -- Basic POP3, SMTP, and List services for WinNT, Linux, and Unix

DMail Email Server is a suite of e-mail server tools that provides basic e-mail functionality as drop-in replacements for standard mail tools like sendmail and POP3 servers. There are several components to the DMail Email Server package:

DPOP - a scalable POP3 mail server that runs as a single process (under Linux) or service (under Windows NT), designed as a drop-in replacement for other POP3 servers.

DSMTP - a scalable SMTP mail forwarder that runs as a single process (under Linux) or service (under Windows NT), designed as a drop-in replacement for sendmail. Outgoing e-mail is routed by DSMTP for both local and Internet users.

DLIST - a mailing-list manager similar to the venerable Listserv that can be controlled entirely from e-mail, with configuration and administration messages sent to and from a special user normally called dlist. The manager utility allows creation of new mailing lists and moderators, modification of DLIST configuration settings, and monitoring of DLIST status.

DMSetup - a setup wizard that automatically installs and configures DSMTP for you.

DManager - a configuration utility for the DSMTP, DPOP, and DLIST servers. Currently this program runs only under Windows NT or Windows 95, but it can be used to control a UNIX version of DSMTP or DPOP remotely.

DPOPManager - a utility that controls the DPOP server, either on a local machine under Windows NT or remotely to a UNIX DPOP server.

TellSMTP - a command-line utility that works under all operating systems and provides a method of editing configuration files and then loading the new configuration file in the DSMTP server.

TellPOP - another command-line utility that works under all operating systems and provides a method of editing configuration files and then loading the new configuration file in the DPOP server.

E-mail performance is enhanced by the programming model underlying the DMail servers. Dedicated internal multithreading is claimed to provide greater efficiency, while single process servers handle all users connections. For those servers that must handle e-mail for different domains, DMail supports virtual domains.

DMail features a standard collection of e-mail security tools. The server can control access by username, password, IP name, IP address, or wildcards. Authentication is performed via UNIX name/password, APOP, and Kerberos DPOP, as well as a designated external authentication routine. However, currently there are no safeguards against SPAM. Another missing security feature, LDAP authentication, is promised to be included in a future version.

Configuration differs based on the operating system. Windows NT and Windows 95 users on a network with administrative privileges can run the DManager configuration program to configure the DSMTP, DPOP, and DLIST servers. Linux and UNIX users, however, need to rely on the editing of configuration files (a typical process in the UNIX world, actually) in order to configure the servers. Future versions of DMail are expected to feature a unified configuration utility.

The full suite of DMail Email servers and support products is available for Windows NT, Linux, and FreeBSD operating systems. The DPOP server is also available for download separately and runs on a wider range of operating systems including two of the three above (no Windows NT version) as well as Solaris (SPARC and x86 platforms), FreeBSD, BSDI, and Macintosh.

Pricing for the servers ranges from a free 5-user license to a $245 20-user license to a $345 "Enterprise" 20,000-user license and a $445 "Gold" unlimited-user license. All of the pricing plans include 12 months free e-mail support and upgrades (even the free 5 user license). While DMail lacks a number of features found in competing releases, its inexpensive price tag will make it an attractive option for many SOHO users.

Pros: POP3/SMTP/List services all in one product; Inexpensive server solution (and free for five users or less); Supports a wide range of authentication schemes; Support for virtual domains

Cons: Lacks IMAP4 capabilities; Complete suite is only available for Windows NT, FreeBSD, and Linux; No remote browser-based administration; Lacks Anti-SPAM support

New: Multi-threading capabilities for greater efficiency, Automatic logging of connection statistics, APOP and Kerberos DPOP authentication services; List of Features
Upgrade Meter: 5

New in v2.8c: POP DELE command changed; fixed the NT permission log-in bug; changed settings for ban_mailfrom,ban_rctpto,reverse_name_ban, and etrn_relay,orbs_action,virtual_user_pre,suspend_domain auth_cache; Release Notes
Upgrade Meter: 1

New in v2.8d: Fixed unintentional DSTMP change (bug with host_domain setting in versions, 2.7p and 2.8a,b and c, where all host_domain settings starting with the same characters were ignored except for the first one); various DPOP and DSTMP fixes; various new DPOP settings; Release Notes
Upgrade Meter: 1

Version Reviewed: 2.8c Date of Review: 5/21/99 Reviewed by: Kevin Reichard Last Updated: 3/6/02

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Operating Systems / Latest Versions:

DMail: Windows NT: Intel - v2.5e, Alpha - v2.4j. UNIX: Linux, Sun Solaris, and BSDi - v2.5e. OSF - v2.4j. IBM AIX and FreeBSD - v2.4f