Serve multiple domain mail with AIMS/EIMS!
 Shareware: $25
Download multimail v 1.2 Back To The Software Page

Warning.

multiMail has not been tested with OS 8.1 or later. It will almost certainly break with Frontier 5.x also, and there are no plans to update the software. multiMail is now nearly 4 years old, and developments in the supporting software have nearly rendered it obsolete. If you can get it to work, great, but dada typo will no longer be offering support. Cheers.

New version 1.2! Allows for wildcard forwarding from one domain to another (all email to a username at one domain is forwarded to the same username at another domain), and automatic deletion of mail addressed to any given user.

And hey, it's still cheaper than the forthcoming commercial EIMS server.

The current version of AIMS/EIMS, because it keeps track of users strictly by username (and not the full address), becomes an obstacle to Mac administrators running multiple virtual domains from their server. If two domains have a user account for "support", for example, AIMS/EIMS doesn't know which domain the mail should be forwarded to. multiMail solves that problem, allowing you to define an unlimited number of duplicate usernames for different domains.

Click here for interface screen shots.

How to prepare for it.

Dada Typo makes no attempts here at explaining the DNS configuration for serving multiple domains on a Macintosh. Consult your DNS server manual or the administrator in charge of your primary DNS for that. Once you have defined your extra domains, open AIMS/EIMS' "preferences" and add the virtual domain names in the "server names" field, e.g. 
		realdomain.com (default)
		virtualOne.com
		virtualTwo.com
This way AIMS/EIMS understands that it is to receive mail addressed to your two virtual domains, virtualOne.com and virtualTwo.com.

If virtualOne.com and virtualTwo.com have only unique usernames (for example, there is "xyz@virtualOne.com", but no "xyz@virtualTwo.com"), you do not need to configure multiMail. However, many domains wish to use "generic" usernames like "info", "support", "webmaster", etc., and a conflict is generated by having two domains attempting to use the same username.

How to configure it.

For usernames you want to use in multiple domains, configure AIMS/EIMS to "Save as Files..." under the "Forwarding" options.. Specify a folder into which incoming mail will be stored, typing in a full path name to the folder, e.g., "HD:Folder:Saved Mail". Be absolutely sure that there is no trailing colon on your path name or AIMS/EIMS will get very confused! Make sure the account is enabled, but you may uncheck the "Login enabled" box, since no one will be logging into that account directly. Now return to Frontier. Choose "multiMail" from the Suites menu if the multiMail menu is not already visible. Choose the "Preferences" menu item. You will be presented with a preferences card to fill in the following information:
  1. The folder in which mail has been saved from AIMS/EIMS. You may use the button to choose this folder.
  2. The email address of the default postmaster, who will receive any mail that could not be forwarded elsewhere. This should never happen, but just in case.
  3. The frequency with which multiMail will check the folder for new mail.
  4. The "Activate multiMail" allows you to toggle multiMail on and off without losing your preferences.
Then choose "Configure Accounts" from the multiMail menu. Since you haven't yet entered any domain information, the card you see will be blank.
  1. Next to the domain popup, choose "Add". Enter the name of your first domain.
  2. You will then be prompted for the email address of the default recipient for that domain, who will receive any mail for that domain that does not correspond to any of the configured users. This should never happen either, but is included as a safety.
  3. multiMail then displays your domain in the popup at top, and shows the first "virtual username" and the email address to which mail should be forwarded.
  4. To add more virtual usernames, type the username (NOT the full address, just the username) and the address to which that username's mail should be forwarded in the boxes provided. Then click the Add button and you will see that virtual account added to the list below.
  5. Repeat steps 1-5 for each domain you wish to serve.
Example: 
	Domain:     realdomain.com

	default     bob@realdomain.com
	info        bob@realdomain.com
	support     sue@anotherplace.com

	Domain:     virtualOne.com

	default     thom@localprovider.net
	info        amy@localprovider.net

Here you see that "info@realdomain.com" and "info@virtualOne.com" can both coexist on your AIMS/EIMS server.

multiMail knows that it should forward mail for "info@realdomain.com" to "bob@realdomain.com" and it should forward mail for "info@virtualOne.com" to "amy@localprovider.net". The username "support" is only used by realdomain.com right now, but if you wish to allow "support@virtualOne.com", just add it to virtualOne's account information in multiMail. It's that simple!

What else you can do.

There are two "special" addresses you can use in multiMail for even more flexibility.
  1. setting the "default" address in any domain to "*@anotherdomain.com" will forward all mail to the same username at another domain, e.g. 
    Domain:     realdomain.com

default     *@anyotherdomain.com

    In this case, mail to "bob@realdomain.com" will be sent to "bob@anyotherdomain.com", and mail to "sue@realdomain.com" will be forwarded to "sue@anyotherdomain.com". Note: this automatic forwarding will not override any individual user forwarding for that domain. Any usernames that are defined are checked before using automatic domain forwarding.

  2. setting the value of any forwarding address to "Trash" will cause the mail to be deleted without being forwarded anywhere.
Choosing "Check Mail Now" will force multiMail to scan the folder for new mail at any time. "Get Info on Mail" presents you with a dialog box displaying all the currently pending mail files, and allows you to choose one. Upon selection, multiMail will display for you information regarding that file, including the original addressee. This is useful for debugging mail files that don't seem to be forwarded to the proper account.

"Delete Domain" allows you to remove all virtual username information for a given domain, selected from a popup. "Test An Address" will prompt you for a test address, and will display a dialog box indicating the address to which that mail would be forwarded by multiMail. Use this to test your configuration.

Fee.

Shareware $25 US
Checks payable to Dada Typo
2710 n. calvert st.
Baltimore, MD 21218 USA

Bug reports and praise. support(at)dadatypo.com

Dada Typo is a full-featured design and consulting firm, offering print and website design, Macintosh and Internet consulting, and custom scripting solutions for a wide range of products.
Contact us for more information.

spud(at)dadatypo.com
dada typo / 2710 n. calvert st. / baltimore, md 21218 / usa
Ph. 410.235.8565
Last modified: 5/13/01