what is an email server? let’s analyze the definition
An email server, also called a mail server, is essentially a computer system that sends and receives email. When you send an email, it goes through a series of servers until it reaches its final destination. While this process is lightning fast and efficient (thanks, tech!), there is a significant amount of complexity behind sending and receiving emails.
Email communication involves complex protocols and processes. Usually the email server is a computer or machine that has a complete system with different applications or services. Based on the type of action they perform, email servers can be classified into incoming and outgoing email servers.
how does an email server work?
For a computer system to function as a mail server, it must have mail server software installed. this software then allows the system administrator to manage and create email accounts for any of the domains hosted on the server.
in addition to that, it has protocols. Protocols are network software rules that allow computers to connect to networks everywhere so you can shop online, send email, and browse the Internet freely. these protocols are a vital component of your network activity.
smtp
The smtp protocol handles any outgoing mail requests and sends emails. therefore, smtp is short for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol and is the outgoing mail server. We can think of SMTP as moving your email within and between networks. without it, your emails would go nowhere.
pop/images
For incoming mail servers, there are two main varieties: pop3 and imap. POP3 servers, short for post office protocol version 3, are best known for fetching inbox content to your computer’s hard drive. IMAP servers, short for Internet Message Access Protocol, are used to synchronize your entire mailbox.
imap can also function as an alternate mail server protocol recovery program. and although there are newer pop versions, which offer more features, the preferred protocol is still pop3 because it is simple, has a high success rate, and gets the job done with minimal bugs. it even allows you to download your emails and read them offline.
Without one of these protocols working properly, your email would not reach your computer.
what is the purpose of an email server?
In its simplest form, a mail server collects and distributes email to its intended destination. you can think of it as a computer that acts as a post office for email, allowing you to control the transfer of email within a network through different protocols.
The mail server can also encrypt the transfer of emails, so others cannot access your personal email information. some mail servers may also provide additional security features against cybersecurity attacks.
Whether you’re checking your emails on your phone, at work, on the web, or using a software solution, your email is handled by incoming and outgoing email servers. Without this well-oiled machine of protocols and server software, you wouldn’t get all of your important messages or urgent emails. additionally, problems with your incoming mail server can present challenges in getting your emails to arrive on time or at all.
email server plugins: what else can you do with an email server?
As we mentioned earlier, sending and receiving emails involves complex processes. but unfortunately, these can be counterfeit or counterfeit, putting you at risk of cyber attacks. Since email is the primary target for these attacks, you need to provide additional email protection, especially as a business.
mail server software is available for a multitude of platforms. Whether you’re looking to set up a business or simply increase your security or infrastructure, email server software can offer a more secure environment designed specifically to meet your needs, compared to traditional email providers, for example. And luckily, there are options to secure your mail server.
in addition to extensive security tools,
- accessing from anywhere at any time is crucial,
- upgrading to more users or features,
- calendar and collaboration to allow sharing of calendars and public folders, and much, much more are very useful features.
you get all this with the axigen mail server.
the axigen email server
full calendar & collaboration tool you can try for free
axigen’s high-performance mail server technology is specifically designed to provide fast and secure email transfer, processing and delivery. many people don’t make the switch for fear of losing access to their personal email. With axigen, you can get rid of that fear! you have the possibility to retrieve messages from your external accounts (gmail, yahoo!).
in addition, axigen offers a full fleet of online support resources. our mail server is a one stop shop for all your email needs, with up to five domains included. If you’re a business owner, you can consider one of our pricing plans or click the link below to…
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