mailserver

Electronic message router

A mailserver is a computer system that handles electronic mail—receiving, storing, and routing email messages across networks.

It runs software that manages incoming and outgoing mail using protocols like SMTP, POP, and IMAP.

Organizations run their own mailservers or rely on external providers: The company's mailserver went down, so nobody got email for hours.

Also spelled mail server.

infrastructure

SMTP

Email transmission protocol

IMAPEmail retrieval standard
POP3Email retrieval standard
datacenterFacility housing networked computers

rack · virtualization · cloud · firewall · redundancy · uptime · downtime · backup · restore · monitoring

networking

TCP/IP

Internet's core protocol suite

bandwidthData transmission capacity
latencyDelay in system response
protocolPrescribed conduct rules

port · gateway · router · subnet · ethernet · VPN · firewall · NAT · DHCP · ping

administration

configuration

Arrangement of parts

logsCut wood sections
quotaFixed assigned amount
whitelistApproved access roster

blacklist · bounced · delivery · routing · alias · forwarding · mailbox · permissions · security · certificate

Opposites

server type/function

mailserverweb server

Delivers pages via HTTP

file server · database server · game server · print server · DNS server

communication infrastructure

mailserverpost office

Public mail facility

postal service · courier · telegraph office · carrier pigeon · messenger

communication role

mailserveremail client

Program for electronic correspondence

inbox · email reader · end user

Family

mail, server, mails, mailed, mailing, mailer, mailers, servers, serve

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G