Collecting E-mail from Work Server

[JamboUK]

OK.. I am going to see if I can explain my problem.

I want to collect (and send) e-mail directly to and from my Company server even when I am not on site. The server uses a piece of software called Mailgate.

I have set up the company firewall to allow access to POP SMTP ports incoming and set up the relevant details on a laptop and also a PC at home. Works brilliantly! Sends and receives from our server no problem.

The problem occurs when I then use the laptop internally on the company network i.e. on the otherside of the firewall - if you like - the POP and SMTP server is then no longer recognised and I cannot send or receive. The laptop is set up for both POP and SMTP settings to use the Company static IP address (i.e. for example 81.231.21.1).... if I change the setting to local IP address (i.e. for example 192.168.0.1) it works!


It is obviously something to do with trying to access an internal server whilst connected to the internal network but via the external IP address... but I can't figure out what I need to do!!

Help!

Originally Posted by JamboUK

It is obviously something to do with trying to access an internal server whilst connected to the internal network but via the external IP address... but I can't figure out what I need to do!!

Help!

Just needs the firewall to allow the connection through. Probably it doesn't allow outgoing SMTP/POP requests?

[Hom3r]

You will need to speak to the companys IT dept.

They may not let you do this due to security reasons

[KingPhoenix]

Run DHCP on your internal network, and a DNS server (built into all Windows server releases) Create a DNS record for the domain name of your mail server and point it to its internal address... using an external DNS, configure the same domain to point to the outside IP address... Now simply configure the mail client to the domain name, and not the IP

[JamboUK]

Originally Posted by david.ewles

You will need to speak to the companys IT dept.

They may not let you do this due to security reasons

I am the Company IT dept.

[JamboUK]

Originally Posted by KingPhoenix

Run DHCP on your internal network, and a DNS server (built into all Windows server releases) Create a DNS record for the domain name of your mail server and point it to its internal address... using an external DNS, configure the same domain to point to the outside IP address... Now simply configure the mail client to the domain name, and not the IP

You make it sound so easy!! But lost me a little. We run Windows 2000 Server. How come it works when I am not on the network?

[JamboUK]

Originally Posted by ScaredWebWarrior

Just needs the firewall to allow the connection through. Probably it doesn't allow outgoing SMTP/POP requests?

Yeah... it must do... because I can collect and send via BT POP accounts.

Originally Posted by JamboUK

Yeah... it must do... because I can collect and send via BT POP accounts.

In that case I think the firewall isn't routing the requests back. Possibly because it doesn't know to. Check out the routing settings on the firewall.

[JamboUK]

Originally Posted by ScaredWebWarrior

In that case I think the firewall isn't routing the requests back. Possibly because it doesn't know to. Check out the routing settings on the firewall.

Not sure what you mean. The firewall is a relatively straightforward one incorporated in a Netgear DG834G.

Originally Posted by JamboUK

Not sure what you mean. The firewall is a relatively straightforward one incorporated in a Netgear DG834G.

OK - I was assuming a more featured firewall.

First of all, to sort this out you need to access the SMTP/POP using a domain name - e.g. smtp.company.co.uk - then you need DNS entries to point to that to access them externally. Check out http://www.dyndns.com/ for this.

I suspect that the firewall/router is doing your DHCP for you, and probably that it doesn't do much more than lease out local addresses, so that probably won't help.

You'll have to set up a local DNS then to handle resolving the addresses internally. I have no experience of this, but I'm pretty sure it's not that tricky - your server may already have the capability.

[KingPhoenix]

Originally Posted by JamboUK

You make it sound so easy!! But lost me a little. We run Windows 2000 Server. How come it works when I am not on the network?

Because its the external IP address your using.... Another option maybe to configure the server with two IPs on it (not sure how this may effect your setup though, as your router maybe getting this IP from you ISP)

TBH, if this is above your level of competence (without meaning anything by it) i would seek an external company to complete this for you. At least this way you wont be opening a can of worms etc...... The last thing you need is for your e-mail server to be used by spammers etc due to an incorrect configuration.

[KingPhoenix]

take a look here for how to configure the DNS on your server.....

http://www.petri.co.il/install_and_c...dns_server.htm

[handyman]

We run exchange 2003, I use outlook on the network and a web based outlook off site. works like a charm.

Originally Posted by handyman

We run exchange 2003, I use outlook on the network and a web based outlook off site. works like a charm.

I doubt the Exchange server is connected directly to the Internet and I suspect that the firewall is a little more elaborate than what's being discussed here.

[JamboUK]

Originally Posted by ScaredWebWarrior

I suspect that the firewall/router is doing your DHCP for you, and probably that it doesn't do much more than lease out local addresses, so that probably won't help.

Yes - it is indeed. I will take a look at your solutions. Although I am a little bit confused how the direct IP address works fine from everywhere but on the internal network - other than it must be the way the router is handling it.

Thanks.