Running a mail server

Posted by Honey Bee (489 days ago)

This may be too technical for this forum but hey, who knows, there's always hope...

I'm trying to design a PHP page in dreamweaver so that I can test a message sent page. Basically, there will be some PHP code which directs an email message to my email client when I run that specific HTML page. Its just a test page so I can check that the code does work.

I'm having trouble understanding what I need to do this. I like to ask anyone who has experience ....

If fill a web form out(from my machine) and the results go to my email client (from my machine and if the code works) then would I need something like a mail server application?

Even if I install a mail server, do I still need SMTP and POP3 to send and receive on my computer?

So if I need to have SMTP and POP3 even if it for local use, will I need contact my ISP for 'settings' < I don't think so but I may be wrong here.

If I was to configure for local use would my settings be something like...

SMTP > smtp.localhost.com
POP3 > localhost

I sorry if this really technical, but I don't know anyone technical to talk to about this

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by oldhand (488 days ago)

If you a web server, and have php installed, just write a php script using sendmail . If you dont know how, there are thousands of examples on the net that can explain the process better than can be done here.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Cat1010 (488 days ago)

Do I still need a mail server oldhand or will a web server be ok?


I've seen some PHP scripts. Do you mean something like this?

http://www.phpclasses.org/browse/package/14.html

So in my page I just need to copy and paste, fill in the variables and go right?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Cat1010 (488 days ago)

Sorry Cat1010=Honeybee

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by oldhand (484 days ago)

I guess you have a website, hosted by an ISP. If yes you need to write some html and php script, using sendmail, and no not like the posted link, much simpler.

Sendmail is just a php library or procedure, simply it is like having a mail server built in the to software. Of course, that assumes your host is running php5 or above.
this will get you started:
http://www.thesitewizard.com/archive/feedbackphp.shtml

(I am based in Hong Kong)