Control Data Systems Rialto IntraStore Server 98
IntraStore Server 98 is an industrial-strength IMAP server and metadirectory with superior flexibility and a tremendous feature set. Its HTML-based interface provides more functionality and is easier to use than even Netscape's. In fact, Netscape's interface is quite limited, compared to IntraStore's directory browsing capability and ability to configure and monitor the mail server. Similar to Eudora WorldMail's server monitoring capability, IntraStore uses an HTML interface to monitor server performance and state, as well as to add, remove or modify user accounts. Individual users can access their mail accounts directly from the Web, providing e-mail services from anywhere on the Internet with no platform dependencies. ISOCOR's N-PLEX, however, edges ahead with its standalone management tool and cluster-based approach.

Installing IntraStore was by far the easiest of all the products we tested. Initiating an installation script began a short file copying process, followed by a prompt to complete installation via an HTML interface. Electing to go the Web route, we scrolled through a single HTML document and verified that the default information was satisfactory. We were up and running within five minutes. We attached to the IntraStore Web server, and after authenticating as an administrator, we could access every aspect of the mail server, including user accounts and message queue information. IntraStore also offered the broadest base of authentication mechanisms for clients, including implementations of QUALCOMM Password Server, APOP and CRAM-MD5 authentication.

After creating numerous user accounts and sending a few test messages, we accessed a test user's account both via the Web and an IMAP client. Although standalone mail clients have more features, IntraStore's HTML interface was more than adequate and easy to use. Through IntraStore's Web server, you can browse and search the directory. Information can also be embedded into the directory in the form of URLs, providi ng HTML links on the fly. IntraStore Server 98 was the only mail server to use Extended Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (ESMTP). ESMTP provides Delivery Status Notifications (RFC 1894), SMTP pipelining (allowing more than one SMTP command per network packet) and incoming message size restrictions.

QUALCOMM Eudora WorldMail Server
Eudora's latest e-mail effort, WorldMail server, measures up against the likes of Control Data Systems' IntraStore and ISOCOR's N-PLEX. Much like N-PLEX's management program, WorldMail server properties are easily accessed and maintained via WorldMail's Explorer-like interface. With its management program, users and mailing lists are not more than a single mouse-click away.

In addition, the management utility is much easier to use than HTML forms. WorldMail's centralized management program is similar to ISOCOR's N-PLEX , but is limited to managing the local machine's configuration. This restriction justifies WorldMail as a single-se rver solution for your intranet or Internet-based mail system. Compared with N-PLEX and IntraStore, WorldMail lacks the scalability and enterprise-level utilities that would make it a winner.

WorldMail offers the most complete and intuitive layout of management utilities and options. From adding users to monitoring server performance, WorldMail makes mail server management enjoyable and fast. After installing WorldMail and adding numerous user accounts, we created a shared folder and accessed it from the mail client. A single right-click on the user object, plus a click for the desired shared folder, and our test client had instant access to the shared folder.

WorldMail also had the easiest directory services synchronization of all mail servers tested. We synchronized our newly created user database and the directory with a few clicks in the management explorer interface. To maintain the directory, we simply scheduled the accompanying Internet Directory Import Server to automatically synchronize the directory with the user database. Unlike N-PLEX's synchronization, this capability not only freed us from manual synchronization, but now user changes to WorldMail's directory information would be reflected in the next scheduled update.

WorldMail's HTML interface lets users change their account information and autoreply messages. Authenticating via Java applets, users identify themselves prior to accessing their user information. A Web server is installed and listens on Port 8888 by default and from there, directory information can be created or modified. On each Web page, a link to the Personal Account Manager (PAM) is present for fast access to individual user accounts.