Simple question; Mac Server Setup for Mail, iCal and Address Book Services.

Question

Hi Guys;
I'm new to the Mac Server world and need a few questions answered.
I have purchased a new Mac mini Server for hosting File, Web, Mail, iCal and Address Book Services.
I’m comfortable setting up File and Web Services however I’m a bit uneasy setting up Mail, iCal and Address Book services to be access locally and remotely(via the internet).
My current setup is;
Internet connection (Dynamic IP) -> Router -> Mac mini Server.
I have purchased a domain name (Thornton-net.com) from DynDns.com + a custom DNS service as I can setup my router to update my domain’s IP address automatically.
I can access File and Web Services remotely (thortnon-net.com) perfectly without any issues via the Port Forwarding feature of the Router.
If I setup Mail, iCal and Address Book Services -> will Mail, iCal and Address Book clients be able to access these services hosted by the server via Thornton-net.com?
Message was edited by: Allan.Thornton

Answer 1

Welcome to the forums.
For mail services (and specifically for your outbound mail to be accepted by other mail servers) your mail server needs to have a static IP address and matching forward and reverse and MX records, or a tunnel to a static IP (with matching DNS), or you need another mail server where you have an authorized relay. Without that, your mail will be considered a spam engine, and dropped.
Additionally, your particular tier of service with your ISP (with a static IP) will generally allow server-oriented access and server-oriented network traffic, where a residential or other tier of service (with a dynamic IP addresses) can be firewalled.
The ISP controls the "high ground" of the network connections here, so you pretty much get to play by their rules and requirements. If they don't offer static IP, then (presuming their T&Cs permit it) you get to tunnel (via IPv6, for instance) to a tunnel broker, and receive your network traffic via that (and with matching DNS) point of presence. That could well be a tunnel for your mail at whichever your DNS provider is here, because you'll have issues with your dynamic address. (You get to sort out if they offer that.)
Far and away the easiest approach (if you want to host this stuff yourself) is to work with the ISP. They're inherently involved in your network, and they and they alone have full control over your reverse DNS configuration.