Email Server

[TimWilborne 108]

I've got an interesting project going on here that needs a built in Email Server. Has anyone ever seen a panel (DIN) mount Industrial Email Server that doesn't need a PC to store the emails? It won't be continuously connected to a networks so need to store emails locally I can find Web Servers like this so may be there is an Email Server Edited 25 Jan 2006 by TWControls

[Wordman 0]

I've never come across anything like that. Maybe a stripped down industrial PC (loaded with sendmail or equiv) with ethernet would work for you? I guess it would be difficult to monitor the status of the server if it was critical.

[TimWilborne 108]

I guess if there is not Mail Server I might be able use an Industrial Pc. I'm still a little scared of putting them in a harsh environment. Got any recommendations for one. Preferably that can run without Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, etc if possible

[TERdON 9]

Depending on your needs, it could be possible to use (any) external email server as well. Will the network be connected to some kind of office network? Could "borrowing" the standard office email server be a possible solution? Then you basically load the problem off to the IT department, which probably already will have a server ready and running. :)

[TechJunki 0]

Never personally used this brand of product, but appears to be close to what your looking for.. It also looks like its under $300 bucks.. might be worth a look.. Not DIN mount but fairly small at about 7" x 4". "TENON - All in One Internet Server" http://www.wiscore.com/en_US/ Edited 27 Jan 2006 by TechJunki

[Camel 1]

How about a mini-itx computer. http://www.mini-itx.com/ This could be interesting too.... http://www-ccs.cs.umass.edu/~shri/iPic.html or here... http://www.plathome.co.jp/ or http://www.fatgadget.com/e_products/openblocks.html

[TimWilborne 108]

Thanks Techjunki. Thats in the right direction

[Wordman 0]

check out these if size is a facotr: http://www.stealthcomputer.com/littlepc.htm also arista makes good industrial pcs

[TimWilborne 108]

Those a some small PCs. How do some of you who use PCs on machines deal with all of the security updates coming from Microsoft and antivirus protection or do you bother with it?

[Camel 1]

If you can use linux. I get my kernel here http://www.nsa.gov/selinux/

[TimWilborne 108]

I don't know anything about Linux and know just enough about Windows to get into my programming software. But I have heard that Linux is less vulnerable to viruses and security issues. Is this true?

[Camel 1]

Yes it is. And there are plenty of open source apps to help you do just about anything. See... http://puffinplc.control.com/PuffinPLC_links#SCA http://www.michaelhorowitz.com/Linux.vs.Windows.html http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/10/06/li...indows_viruses/ http://www.ameinfo.com/75175.html Also, look who helped developed the linux distro that I linked to in my previous post.

[Wordman 0]

Yes you have to deal with updates on any windows computer on a network. I have this problem with all my SCADA PCs (which run on windows). Windows comes inherantly vulnerable out of the box. The last thing production will accept is a virus taking down all computers on a common industrial network. Even if you firewall your network, or isolate it completely, can people still move files via flash drives or do you load recipes from another network? there is a way for the vulnerability to be exploited somehow.. just about every month windows rolls out its list of newly found vunerabilites and corresponding patches. It's a risk calculation you have to make, but its a scary thing to just leave alone. by the way, linux is a nightmare to setup and use for the average computer user. support will be especially painful if you are the only one who knows how it works. you will be the guy they are waking up at 3am. Edited 27 Jan 2006 by Wordman

[Camel 1]

Why does everyone see Linux as being a nightmare to set up? If you buy a retail copy (I use Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS http://www.redhat.com/) the setup looks almost identical to windows. Don't confuse Red Hat with all those releases that were made by college kids (BeOS, Fedora, Mandrake, Slackware, or Debian). The desktop environment looks like windows and most of the administrative tasks have wizards. When I installed my copy of Red Hat I did not have to install ANY drivers. It automatically detected every piece of hardware attached or installed on my computer and the drivers were on the cd. ( I did not order it special!) It also automatically detected and configured my network connection because I had left the network cable plugged in. I paid in the neighborhood of 50 bucks US for my copy of Red Hat at best buy, compared to 177 buck US for windows xp professional from thier website. (http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/prices.aspx?ItemId=902364) I have noticed over the years that there are people that like Linux only and those who like linux only with very few that use both. I personally use both depending on situation and what I am trying to accomplish.

[Chris Elston 78]

"everyone" seems like a harsh word....MrPLC.com LIVES on Linux.....MySQL.....PHP.... Piece of cake, and powerful...Actually pretty easy to "develop" with. I can see why programmers like it so well, ZERO overhead...

[Camel 1]

Didn't mean it to be harsh. Let me rephrase it................... 99% of the people I have met see Linux as a nightmare to set up. you chakorules being in that 1%

[Chris Elston 78]

LOL......I was just giving you a hard time

[Camel 1]

Don't worry, I don't get mad easy.

[David Nelson 3]

if you have to use a full computer with an operating system you may want check out symtec's "p.c.anywhere" it will allow you to remotely control a pc so you can leave off everything such as monitor mouse etc depending on your computers BIOS

[TimWilborne 108]

OK, if I put Linux on an Industrial Pc (no moving parts) and get it setup for an email server do you feel that it will survive without security and virus updates or would something like TENON server that Techjunki suggested a better idea. Linux would give me more flexablity but the dedicated server may give me a more rugged setup. It will not be able to recieve upgrades on a normal basis

[Camel 1]

I would almost guarantee that TENON uses an embedded version of linux. (see http://www.linuxdevices.com/) If you want the experience, install linux yourself. On the other hand, if you just want to buy something, plug it in, and add a domain name, buy something like TENON. If you have a non-routable IP address (192.168.*.*) and have a firewall then the updates don't really matter as long as you don't do something stupid (i.e. open email attatchments from people you don't know).

[TimWilborne 108]

It will be storing emails sent from PLCs so attachments viruses shouldn't be a problem. Are there any other ways of having problems like viruses and security things I should look at?

[Camel 1]

As long as you have well defined access controls and a firewall somewhere, nope.

[TimWilborne 108]

Think I am going to go with a dedicated Email Server. Going to try to find one that will let you back up your settings. That way if the customer has one go bad it should be pretty easy to reconfigure. Thanks for all the good input guys