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Socoder -> Web Development -> email address

Mon, 13 Sep 2010, 18:51
mole
Hi guys,

I want to have an email address with my own website name thing.... basically so it is me@myownaddress.co.uk.

I used to have this when I paid for web hosting. I have since stopped that because it was costing me many monies. However, I still own the domain name.

I was thinking: is there are way to host it for free/myself? Or would I have to purchase a hosting package from, say, 1and1 or whoever?
Mon, 13 Sep 2010, 19:29
CodersRule
You can try the free version of Google Apps. IIRC, it lets you have 50 email addresses on your domain name, as long as you can edit some domain name details to prove you own it.
Some domain registrars also have inboxes, but I personally really love gmail, so I'd stick with Google Apps.
Mon, 13 Sep 2010, 19:50
Stealth
Keep in mind that the domain name isn't free. They go for around $10 a year.

-=-=-
Quit posting and try Google.
Mon, 13 Sep 2010, 20:32
CodersRule
I used to have this when I paid for web hosting. I have since stopped that because it was costing me many monies. However, I still own the domain name.

Tue, 14 Sep 2010, 04:30
waroffice
I work for an ISP i can help. I have a server you can use for nowt, same goes for everyone else for that matter.

PM if your interested

|edit| google apps is a bit of a pain to set up but works fine once done and you get all the gmail advantages |edit|
Tue, 14 Sep 2010, 04:32
waroffice
you could also run a small linux based pc on an old machine and use that, its quite simple to set up
Tue, 14 Sep 2010, 05:31
mole
I had a little look at Google Apps, and it seems the domain must be hosted in order to work. This would mean I would need to purchase a hosting package?

Thanks for your offer waroffice, but I would rather this was all in my own name/under my full control kind of thing, though. A kind offer nonetheless.

You mention hosting it on an old PC. I used to run an apache server on my computer, which was quite cool. That could be an option, but I suppose it would have to be running at all times otherwise emails won't get through? I'm off to uni soon where I will only have one laptop, so this may not be possible...

I was just browsing the GoDaddy website, and they offer an 'email account' for 77p a month (seems cheap to me?) for 1 address and 1GB storage. I don't know if that is what I want or not?

As you may have guessed, I don't really know anything about all this, so I appreciate your help
Tue, 14 Sep 2010, 06:34
waroffice
i can basically offer any hosting you want for free, you will even get SSH/console access to the server.

The same goes for the rest of socoder users, i dont have a huge hard drive in my server but can add more storage if folk need it. The server is housed in the colocation suite and runs on a 10mbit ethernet connection, its fast enough for most
Tue, 14 Sep 2010, 08:16
mole
I plan on using this for business, so perhaps your solution isn't ideal.

I've been playing around with Apache today. I can get it to work on the local computer, but other network computers/people outside of the network cannot access it. I also can't figure out how to tie my domain name to it.

I want the email address more than the website, so I am considering purchasing GoDaddy's personal user email account (https://www.godaddy.com/email/email-hosting.aspx?isc=gsfnuk01&ci=9020).

Will I be able to configure this to be 'me@mydomainname.co.uk'? Is this the service I am after? Am I being ripped off? (77p/month)
Tue, 14 Sep 2010, 08:57
waroffice
77p is ok, if you want to run apache at home you will ideally need a static IP address from your ISP. You then need to configure port forwarding on your router to point port 80 traffic to your computers IP.

If you get a static IP from your ISP you can point the domain name A record to your static IP.

Im writing an article about this for the site but think i may have gone into too much detail. Also apache is only web hosting not email, look into something called vpop for windows i hear its ok.
Tue, 14 Sep 2010, 13:22
CodersRule
mole, you won't need hosting to use Google Apps.
The option "Add a DNS record to your domain's configuration" applies to you. It doesn't require hosting; all you need to do is go into your domain name settings on your registrar, and add a new "TXT" record according to what the page says.

You'll also need to edit some MX settings for mail to work.
Edit: I've just set it up within fifteen minutes with no hosting whatsoever.
Tue, 14 Sep 2010, 16:00
HoboBen
@mole, you don't need to bother with Apache for just a mail server (although if you'd like to run it, more power to you!). Running a mail daemon such as postfix should be enough.

While it *should* be run 24/7, it doesn't matter if you get a disconnected for a few minutes as most genuine mail severs will retry ~15 minutes later.

I have mine (running on a VPS) set to forward everything sent to my domain name to my google mail. I would set up a blacklist and greylisting though - it stops several hundred spam messages a day for me. If you're running SSH, fail2ban is nice to have.

Did you get your domain name from 1and1? They offer their own mail forwarder package which is inexpensive. I imagine most registrars do.

-=-=-
blog | work | code | more code
Wed, 15 Sep 2010, 05:56
mole
Hmm. I went on 1and1's website and 'transferred' my domain to them (odd, because I registered it with them, but maybe they dropped me because I cancelled my account with them) using their free option. It basically gives me 'mail forwarding'. Is this sexy for use with google apps? I'll have a play with it when 1and1 send my login information email.

Also, I can't find a free version of this google app thing. It is free, isn't it?
Wed, 15 Sep 2010, 05:58
mole
Ooh, found Google apps standard.
Wed, 15 Sep 2010, 10:47
mole
So the latest is as follows. I got my domain 'tagged' to 1and1 (although I don't know why it wasn't already tagged with 1and1 because I originally bought it from them).

In due course (hopefully) when the tagging is complete, I should get access to the advanced DNS options for the domain, where I can edit the CNAME info to use Google Apps.

Maybe. Hopefully.
Thu, 16 Sep 2010, 01:05
waroffice
ahh yes, by tagging they mean they have DNS control over the domain. When you buy one you can either just register the name so others cant, sometimes called parking or have DNS with it too.

yeah its a right pain to get the free google apps bit, im guessing they want you to sign up for the business one to make cash and hide the free one in a mine field of links
Thu, 16 Sep 2010, 05:44
mole
google apps is updating!

So theoretically, I should soon have it working.

Cheers guys