Technical Issues (Specific)

A: Users can be added to AltaVista Mail by either using the command line interface suitable for .BAT files, or by using our administration protocol. The command line interface is described in the on-line help.

The administration protocol is text based, using an IP socket to connect to the mail server. Both the Administration utility and the Web browser management use this protocol to manage the mail server locally or remotely. AltaVista Mail is in production use at a number of Internet Service Providers (ISPs), ranging from anywhere between 400 and 8000 subscribers per system.

AltaVista Mail provides messaging submission, delivery, and transport services for any POP3 mail client, including: Qualcomm Eudora, Connectsoft E-Mail Connection, Microsoft Exchange for Windows 95, Netscape Navigator V2.0 Mail client, and Digital TeamLinks V2.7. AltaVista Mail 2.0 adds support for IMAP4 (Internet Message Access Protocol version 4), which allows you to store messages on your mail server and download them selectively.

AltaVista Mail development will continue to focus on connecting together the popular e-mail and groupware systems on the market, continuing the 15-year Digital messaging tradition of providing connectivity solutions for popular mail systems.

Q: Does AltaVista Mail connect to VMS mail?

A: AltaVista Mail is an SMTP/POP3 mail server running on the NT operating system on both Intel and Alpha PCs. It also offer connectivity to MS mail and cc:Mail post offices server via gateways. However, AltaVista Mail does not provide any connection to VMS Mail (mail-11 protocol over DECnet). There is a Digital VMS product called UCX that provides among other things an IP stack, an NFS server, and mail-11 to SMTP gateway. This would allow you to connect your VMS system to AltaVista Mail using SMTP.

Q: Does AltaVista Mail integrate with MAILbus 400? MAILworks?

A: Yes. AltaVista Mail integrates with MAILbus 400 or MAILworks via SMTP.

Q: Can I send attachments using AltaVista Mail? Do you support MIME?

A: Yes. AltaVista Mail supports the routing of MIME attachments. For example, you could attach a Microsoft Word document using the Microsoft Exchange Client, and send it across your LAN or across the Internet to other users.

Q: Does AltaVista Mail support Microsoft Exchange?

A: Yes. AltaVista Mail supports the Microsoft Exchange Windows 95 'Inbox' client. AltaVista mail can also be used with the Microsoft Exchange Windows 95 client. This requires either Microsoft Plus! Companion for Windows 95 or the Microsoft Internet Explorer, which is available over the Internet from Microsoft. Also, the POP3 Service Provider Interface (SPI) can be copied from the Microsoft home page.

Q: Can AltaVista Mail deliver mail in HTML so Browsers can read it?

A: No. The product we currently offer is a mail server, and does not provide this capability. The Web browser interface to AltaVista Mail only covers operational management of the server. There is a product called WebMail, produced by Infinite Technologies, which you may wish to investigate further - their URL is: http://www.ihub.com .

Q: Does AltaVista Mail support firewalls?

A: Yes. Mail for unavailable domains can be forwarded through a nominated firewall host. AltaVista Mail also includes a mailbox lockout capability to evade password-guessing attacks.

Q: Is security integral to the system?

A: With AltaVista Mail, you're protected from infiltration. A security log reports suspicious events to the administrator such as connections coming in over the network that indicate a possible computer break-in or user impersonation. Multiple levels of system privileges permit allocation of administration privileges based on level of authority and company policy. Users do not require a log-in account on the host system, preventing system attacks via the user log-in account.

Q: How do I connect AltaVista Mail to the Internet?

A: Methods of connecting to the Internet vary widely, but once the network connection is made, AltaVista Mail lets you make the most of it. For dial-up access, AltaVista Mail collects your outbound mail until you're ready to connect, and then sends all your outbound mail at once to your service provider. You don't have to wait while messages are transferred.

AltaVista Mail will also collect all your inbound mail while your dial-in connection is open. You don't need to run your mail client while the dial-up link is connected. You can save call charges by scheduling your connections out of peak hours.

For sites permanently connected to the Internet, AltaVista Mail is a full implementation of the SMTP standard. You don't need to filter your mail through a 'smart' host, since AltaVista Mail follows the Internet mail routing rules. Firewall-friendly, AltaVista Mail lets you nominate a firewall host to receive any messages your network won't let you transmit directly.

Q: Can AltaVista Mail run over a Novell IPX LAN?

A: No, AltaVista Mail and its associated clients operate over TCP/IP. However, AltaVista Mail can coexist on a LAN running Novell IPX.

Q: Is remote dial-up supported, so that my mobile workforce can access their mail?

A: Yes, if mobile users can make a SLIP connection onto their NT LAN/Intranet. Mobile worker dial-up directly into the AltaVista server is possible if the user's e-mail client supports dial-up connectivity.

Q: If I use AltaVista Mail in a specific department, can I then connect it to a corporate network?

A: Yes, provided your corporate network offers an SMTP service.

Q: Is there any advantage to a system that supports both POP3 and Internet protocols?

A: Yes. Today, it's not unusual for businesses to use an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to supply their intranet messaging services. With this scenario, AltaVista Mail reduces the administration and operational costs of maintaining multiple accounts. In addition, since AltaVista Mail uses native Internet protocols for both local and external delivery, it provides an alternative to operating post offices and gateways.

Q: Can I use AltaVista Mail for customized business solutions?

A: AltaVista Mail facilitates the development of customized business solutions and applications by Value Added Resellers (VARs), Independent Software Vendors, and customers. Web administration is highly customizable, and the inclusion of an API allows the development of value-added applications. Plus, a published protocol for access to administration and log functions also ships with AltaVista Mail. This means you have the capability to extend the server's management and reporting facilities with customer- or ISV-developed added-value modules.

Q: Does AltaVista Mail work with Netscape and Explorer?

A: You can use these products in two ways with AltaVista Mail.

1. Sending and receiving mail using the built-in mailer. Both use SMTP to send mail and POP3 for receiving.
   
2. As a Web browser to mange AltaVista Mail using its HTTP interface. We are not aware of any problems with either Navigator 3.0 or Explorer 3. Since both of these products are very popular, we will be very keen to fix any incompatibilities that might arise between them and AltaVista Mail.

Q: What should I do if I can't run the setup program?

A: The AltaVista Mail download page offers the Digital Alpha PC version of AltaVista Mail for Intel or Alpha (which you have to drop down the list and select). The most likely cause of your problem is that in spite of successfully downloading and unzipping the kit, you are now trying to execute a Digital Alpha image on an Intel PC, or the reverse. Try downloading again, making sure that you have the right processor type.

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