Configuring a free windows mail server on AWS
I have an Amazon Web Services windows server (which costs me a small fortune every month!). I really like the scalability of AWS and what you can do with it.
Until recently I was using a Linux VPS with mail I decided it was an additional expense I didn’t need now that I have the windows server… but shelling out for a copy of Microsoft Exchange wasn’t on the cards so I had a look around and decided to try hMailServer as I only have a handful of domains and only wanted a couple of few POP3 addresses.
hMailServer is a free e-mail server for Microsoft Windows. It’s used by Internet service providers, companies, governments, schools and enthusiasts in all parts of the world.
http://www.hmailserver.com/
So where to start?
- First things first set up Route 53 with an MX record directly to the public DNS, server IP [or elastic IP] of the EC2 instance- I found out the hard way that AWS doesn’t support port 25 through the load balancer.
- Secondly set up Route 53 with an A record, again direct through to the public DNS, server IP [or elastic IP] of the EC2 instance
- Now go to the security group of the EC2 instance and add the POP3 (Port 110) and SMTP (Port 25) ports to your security group
- Now within your EC2 instance open windows firewall and add and enable the same ports
- Now follow the tutorial here http://www.hmailserver.com/documentation/v5.3/?page=basic_configuration
- Thats it everything should be up and running!
Couple of points to note
- Your DNS might take a while to update, so be patient with your MX and DNS additions and check them with a web based tool like http://www.mxtoolbox.com/ before you give up
- To check the ports are open and communicating, run the following command from the EC2 instance and your desktop computer
- telnet [mail IP or DNS] 110
- telnet [mail IP or DNS] 25
- Some ISPs block port 25 so you might not be able to send email, your ISP may have a specific SMTP address you need to use
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January 27, 2015 at 2:06 am
Thanks man! Saved me a lot of time!!!