Hints on emails

[Megahertza]

I have read some email() tutorials from the net on how to send emails in php, but none of them work on my testing machine.

I am woundering if I need a pop3 of smtp email server and if so can I get one to work on a WinNT/XP and where can I get 1.

[itshim]

You will need to have an email server installed on your machine for email scripts to work.

I downloaded a free SMTP server from: http://www.postcastserver.com/

I am currently running Windose XP Pro and it works great. I only use it for testing purposes, because a lot of ISPs (including mine) block outgoing emails because of spam.

In my case I configured the server to 'catch' the out going emails, that way I can test my scripts and see how the generated email looks.

Hope this helps.
Itshim

[Megahertza]

So your telling me, that any emails that i send from my computer to any email address such as hotmail maybe blocked by my isp even befor they get to hotmail

[itshim]

Yes, I have had two different ISPs since downloading the server and both block all out going emails from my machine. Actually they block the usage of one of the ports on your machine (I cannot remember the port number, but it is the outgoing email port.) From what I've heard there is nothing you can do about it.

If you go to the web address in my last post, you can find more detailed information in their FAQs.

Itshim

[czambran]

You don't need to install yout own smtp server. You can specify localhost as your smtp server and it will use whatever smtp server your coumputer is setup to use when sending e-mail from outlook, eudora, etc.

[lives4him06]

after setting up the email server, does one need his own domain name in order to send the emails? or can it simply be sent from, say, a yahoo account?