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You are here: MacNN Forums > Software - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac OS X > Home-built .Mac service: can it be done?

Home-built .Mac service: can it be done?
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Canaduh
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Jul 31, 2003, 07:06 PM
 
$150 Cdn is too much for me to renew my .Mac subscription.

How difficult would it be to re-create the .Mac experience on a home computer? How much time and maintenance would I have to devote to it? Do I need to run OS X Server?

Primarily, I would want an IMAP-capable mail server and a large-capacity iDisk (WebDav?).
     
Mac Elite
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Provo, UT
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Jul 31, 2003, 07:59 PM
 
O'Reilly had directions for setting one up on an OSX box. I suspect many would prefer to use a Linux or FreeBSD box, given their cheapness. Effectively RedHat comes with most of what you need.

Here's what you need to do to setup WebDAV.

http://shawnwall.com/teach/webdav-ical.php

Here's how to setup iCal sharing with it.

http://www.macdevcenter.com/lpt/a/2732

O'Reilley had a great article on rolling your own .Mac about a year ago.

http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/ma...de_dotmac.html

http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/ma..._dotmac_2.html
     
Spliff  (op)
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Jul 31, 2003, 11:56 PM
 
Cool, thanks. Those are great links.
     
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2001
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Aug 1, 2003, 09:40 AM
 
Your biggest problem nowadays is from mail server blacklisting - one of the stupidest anti-SPAM techniques ever invented.

For example, say you're a cable modem user and you set yourself up a dynamic DNS address and a mail server.

Guess what? Many mail servers will refuse to accept email from your mail server, because every DHCP IP address used by your cable company has been put on a "blacklist". The maintainers of these blacklists assume that only spammers would run a mail server on a dynamic address.

Like you, I want to run my own email server so I can receive very large attachments and not have to constantly delete email out of my IMAP account. But, finding a service provider that can give me an address that is not blacklisted is extremely difficult. For most service providers, that means moving to a "business" account, which typically start at $250 a month.

Additionally, most service providers (especially the cable providers) have a service agreement that says you cannot run any type of server whatsoever when using their service. They assume that if you want to run a web server, you'll be posting huge warez images rather than perhaps wanting to post a few pictures of your kids.

In short, it's a very frustrating situation for the technically-skilled home user that wants to run a few small servers.

Wade
     
Spliff  (op)
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Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Canaduh
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Aug 1, 2003, 09:07 PM
 
Re: blacklisting

Hmm, I'll have to look into that. Might have to upgrade to a business account with my cable service provider.
     
   
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