Vital Documentation
Easy installation guide
This guide is designed for users looking for a no-nonsense guide to getting an MDaemon server up and running in as short a time as possible. The information you need to know prior to installation, the installation itself and the basic configuration steps required are all detailed with simple to follow screenshots. This is a VITAL READ for new users!
Effective Spam Filtering with MDaemon Pro
Out of the box, the SpamAssassin based spam filtering engine in MDaemon is a powerful tool for filtering out spam from genuine email traffic. Achieving the highest levels of accuracy takes a little administrative work and this document describes how to get the very best out of this vital feature. This is a highly recommended read for all MDaemon administrators!
Administrators technical manual
Every MDaemon feature and what it does in one enormous technical manual - ideal material for administrators wanting to know every last thing about MDaemon's incredible feature set. Every MDaemon user should certainly have this to hand for reference even if it's not the best bedtime reading.
MDaemon overview presentation
The presentation considers the benefits of running your own email server, plus the affordability of email for small and mid-size businesses. It shows why MDaemon is a sensible choice for enterprises with small, medium and larger email requirements. The presentation summarizes the major features of MDaemon with appropriate screenshots.
Topical Material
Using DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) with MDaemon
DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) is an open protocol for protecting email users against email address identity theft and email message content tampering. It does this by providing positive identification of the signer's identity along with an encrypted 'hash' of the message content. Alt-N has taken a leadership position in the development and deployment of DKIM. MDaemon supports DKIM as well as Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and DomainKeys classic (DK). This paper provides an overview of the technology.
Feature summary document for MDaemon v8
This overview document from Alt-N, summarises the new features to be found in MDaemon v8. If you're looking for a quick review to the new version, this should be your first stop.
Outlook Connector for MDaemon - new in MDaemon v8
The Outlook Connector for MDaemon will replace the previous GroupWare plug-in for MDaemon and allows Outlook users to interact with MDaemon's built-in groupware features. This document outlines the benefits of using the new Outlook Connector.
Groupware features in MDaemon - new in MDaemon v8
MDaemon Pro v8 includes groupware features allowing users to manage and share information such as calendars, contacts, tasks and memos through it's powerful WorldClient webclient interface. This document highlights the benefits of these integrated features.
Inline SMTP Virus detection - new in MDaemon v8
If your server knows not to even accept a virus infected message, the responsibility for dealing with it and notifying people about it no longer lies with you. When used in conjunction with the AntiVirus plug-in, MDaemon Pro v8 will have the ability to detect and refuse virus infected messages before they're even accepted - this is a huge benefit which is discussed in details in this document.
Benefits of using an MDaemon mail server
Mailing lists
Few people realise the benefits of using MDaemon's powerful list server engine to communicate with staff, customers and suppliers. This document highlights this important and under used feature.
Address aliases
Address aliases are a simple concept that many people overlook or don't use to full effect. This document highlights how aliases can be used to improve basic business functions.
Spam filtering
MDaemon Pro includes a powerful spam filtering engine that correctly managed, will virtually eliminate spam. This document highlights how MDaemon's spam filtering engine operates.
MDaemon AntiVirus plug-in
Many people completely miss the importance of having an anti-virus solution that is designed to operate in harmony with the mailserver. Third party anti-virus applications simply cause unwanted side effects if used with an email server. This document highlights why MDaemon's AntiVirus plug-in is THE definitive way to protect your email from viruses.
Alt-N whitepapers
The following are a number of very informative whitepapers made available by Alt-N's technical staff. Please note that some of the information in these whitepapers will go out of date as features in MDaemon develop with time.
MDaemon Wireless Messaging
Wireless access is a built-in feature of MDaemon PRO. It requires no configuration and works with the PocketPC, WAP 1 and WAP 2 protocols. With wireless access, all of your MDaemon account holders can send and receive emails any time from any location with a mobile connection. This white paper explains the benefits of mobile messaging, highlighting the concepts and offering a high-level view of how wireless technology works. It also covers wireless access from the users' points of view. MDaemon wireless access also benefits from all of the email servers' built-in security options. Screen shots of PocketPC and WAP 2 access are also included.
Using DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) with MDaemon
DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) is an open protocol for protecting email users against email address identity theft and email message content tampering. It does this by providing positive identification of the signer's identity along with an encrypted 'hash' of the message content. Alt-N has taken a leadership position in the development and deployment of DKIM. MDaemon supports DKIM as well as Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and DomainKeys classic (DK). This paper provides an overview of the technology.
Address Book Sync
Deploying a common address book for all users within an email domain provides the advantage of consistent information and the efficiency of centralized maintenance. The application-specific address books for Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express often work against sharing information with other software packages. For its WorldClient web mail service, MDaemon 6.5 addresses this problem by using industry-standard XML technology for global address books. By using MDaemon's free ComAgent tool, each Windows users can synchronize their personal contact information between their Outlook (MAPI) or Outlook Express (WAB) address book and the XML address book. This means the contact information for their Windows-based email client and the web-based WorldClient are the same.
Content Filtering
Content filtering on the server side makes sure filtering gets done. Generally speaking, technical people understand filtering rules better than everyday users. The filtering facilities of MDaemon are diverse, fluid and easy to learn. Senders, receivers and administrators can be notified of filtering actions by using personalized and detailed messages. Filtering can reduce email delivery costs by eliminating undesirable messages and cutting down on bandwidth usage.
Email Gateways
An email gateway collects, stores and forwards messages to a primary domain server. A gateway typically has no individual accounts. Email gateways can help both large and small enterprises solve some of the problems inherit to Internet email services. For a small organization, a gateway can make a private email domain affordable. This is because a service provider supplies the gateway at a reasonable cost by sharing the hardware and software with other smaller ventures. The primary domains in such cases can have either permanent or dialup connections to the Internet. Larger establishments can employ security-hardened gateways to provide protection and content filtering for their more vulnerable enterprise email systems. Gateways can also be configured to supply automatic realtime mail storage backup when a primary domain goes offline for any reason. One copy of MDaemon can simultaneously operate gateways for dozens of email domains, even while running a primary domain server of its own.
IMAP and POP Summaries
POP3 and IMAP are two ways of accessing email over the Internet. POP3, the older of the two methods, works well for users who have one computer and who want keep all of their mail on that one computer. IMAP provides server-side storage and manipulation of email. It works better where users have multiple computers and need to be able to access their mail from any of them, plus via the Web. This document explains both protocols and argues softly for the deployment of IMAP.
MDaemon AntiVirus
Viruses cause billions of dollars (U.S.) of damage each year through downtime, lost productivity and recovery efforts. MDaemon AntiVirus is a complete virus checker with automated update capabilities for its scanning engine and virus signature files. When coupled with other preventative measures, MDaemon AntiVirus can reduce or, possibly, eliminate the encroachment of viruses into your office. It can also prevent the accidental sending of viruses from your business to other people. In addition to signature files, MDaemon AntiVirus uses heuristic detection methods, which examine emails and attachments for 'virus-like' characteristics. MDaemon AntiVirus is a plug-in that runs as an independent service for Alt-N's MDaemon email server.
MDaemon Standard vs. Pro
MDaemon comes in two versions - Standard and Pro. MDaemon Standard offers basic email service build around an SMTP server for transmitting mail and a POP3 server for distributing messages to users. The professional version adds high-end features for the administrator and email subscriber.
MDaemon Standard vs. Pro
MDaemon comes in two versions - Standard and Pro. MDaemon Standard offers basic email service build around an SMTP server for transmitting mail and a POP3 server for distributing messages to users. The professional version adds high-end features for the administrator and email subscriber.
Public Folders Concepts and Applications
Email public folders promote and ease the centralized sharing of information. Discussion groups, announcements and work group inboxes can all be facilitated by email public folders. Public folders can be open to anyone with an account on the supporting mail server. Access can also be limited to smaller groups. Message status flags for public folders can be unique to each user or shared among all members of a group. The email administrator creates public folders and assigns access privileges. MDaemon supports public folders for email. When coupled with the Outlook Connector, public folders can also be used for Outlook calendaring and direct document sharing. Public email is a feature of Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) servers.
Security Tools for Spam Control
Unsolicited Bulk Email (UBE), also known as spam, costs enterprises and individuals billions of dollars each year. It consumes time and resources while delivering content of limited, if any, value. Among the primary tools of spammers are third-party email servers with open relays. This means anyone can send an email through the server to anyone else, even if neither the sender nor the receiver has an account on the server. Spam can also come from authorized users with accounts on a server. To help control spam, modern email servers must have configuration options to stop third party relaying and control access by various other means. All of this must still allow account holders to send and receive mail from remote locations. MDaemon includes the required options to stop unauthorized relays, while permitting account holders to use the server from any location in the world. A server set up to resist spam is also secure from other types of attacks, including break-ins.
Setting Up Email Catalogs
The catalog is an often overlooked yet extremely useful tool for distributing documents and files. Catalogs are quick, structured and more secure than FTP or HTTP servers. They can contain any type of file from pictures and documents, to application programs and scripts. E-catalogs have the added benefit of being easy to change, so the content can be current to the moment. MDaemon contains tools for creating, editing and deleting catalogs. They are easy for beginners and powerful for more advanced administrators.
Using ODBC with MDaemon 6.5
While maintaining user account records on MDaemon is easy, it can be redundant. Redundancy possibly occurs if your enterprise also keeps computerized information about employees or email customers, for example. Redundant record keeping wastes time and adds the risk of information being inconsistent among various data sources. MDaemon 6.5 addresses this problem by allowing account records to be maintained in any database with an Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) interface. MDaemon 6.5 also has the ability to access mailing list records through an ODBC connection.
Web Administration
WebAdmin for MDaemon is email administration software that runs in a web browser. It provides administrative access to the most commonly used system configuration and account settings through any javascript-enabled browser. Through web administration, the system administrator can change settings for the primary domain, plus any sub domains. This includes account administration in any domain. One of the main advantages of web administration is giving domain administrators rights for configuring their own domains and accounts. In addition, individual account holders can change many of their settings. Both system and domain administrators can control who can change what through default and customized settings within their domains.
Product brochures
MDaemon brochure
AntiVirus for MDaemon plug-in brochure
Outlook Connector plug-in for MDaemon
Interviews
3rd June '05, World Business Review TV interview
Alt-N, developers of MDaemon, recently appeared on World Business Review, a promotional television news-magazine. World Business Review is hosted by General Alexander Haig, the former Secretary of State to President Ronald Reagan. Reporter Marc Streeter interviewed Alt-N executives Arvel Hathcock and Jerry Donald and examined the market success of the MDaemon mail server platform for the Microsoft Windows operating system.
31st March '05, Arvel Hathcock - Alt-N's CEO
talks to Forbes Radio again about the new tools in MDaemon 8.0 for sender verification and message integrity. DomainKeys within MDaemon does make it impossible to send forged or fraudulent email and get away with it.
31st March '04, Arvel Hathcock - Alt-N's CEO
talks to Forbes Radio about beating spam with MDaemon
Misc technical documents
DomainPOP process flowchart
Flowchart showing the flow of processes that messages go through when being collected by DomainPOP.
SMTP process flowchart
Flowchart showing the flow of processes that messages go through when being received by SMTP.