Issue: Windows Server 2003 Compatibility Issues for DAWKCo POP3 Server and WebMAIL Extension (sir200309051620) Inquiry: : Can/how do I configure this mail server on Windows 2003 Server? I tried this : about a month ago and was unsuccessful, so I had to use the MS pack software. : [But] I really like the dawkco product. Response: [Updated: 2006-07-27 15:24 -0700] Earlier versions of DAWKCo POP3 Server, up to and including the following, have minor compatibility issues when running on Windows Server 2003, but in most cases can be overcome using simple work-arounds: - DAWKCo POP3 Server Small Business Version 4.6 for Win 2K/XP - DAWKCo POP3 Server Hosting Version 6.0 for Win 2K/XP - DAWKCo POP3 Server Hosting Version 6.2 with WebMAIL Extension for Win 2K/XP Note: This article applies only to the above versions of DAWKCo POP3 Server and WebMAIL services software running on Windows Server 2003. No versions of DAWKCo POP3 Server that were designed for Windows NT are compatible with Windows Server 2003. Details: A couple of compatibility issues exist in the referenced versions of DAWKCo POP3 Server and WebMAIL services software running on Windows Server 2003 (hereafter referred to as WS2003). The next versions of DAWKCo POP3 and WebMAIL will resolve those issues. Until then, depending upon your system configuration and operational requirements, in most cases you will be able to apply some settings changes that will enable you to run DAWKCo POP3 Server and/or WebMAIL on WS2003. POP3 Server Issues ================== WS2003 includes its own optional basic POP3 service (called "E-mail Services"). Due to fundamental conflicts between the DAWKCo and WS2003 POP3 services, it is not feasible to run them both at the same time on the same machine--one service or the other will either fail to start or fail to function properly. However, the WS2003 POP3 Service is not normally enabled during WS2003 installation. If it is not enabled during installation, and you do not add it later, then there is no conflict and you can use the DAWKCo POP3 Server Service with no problems. If, on the other hand, you have already added the WS2003 POP3 Service (i.e., "E-mail Services"), but you wish to use the DAWKCo POP3 Server Service, then you must perform the following steps to remove the WS2003 POP3 Service and its residual settings: Removing WS2003 E-mail (POP3) Services and residual settings ------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Open the Windows "Add/Remove Windows Components" wizard, as follows: A. Click Start, in the Start menu click "Control Panel", in the Control Panel menu click "Add or Remove Programs". B. When the Add or Remove Programs applet opens, click the "Add/Remove Windows Components" button on the left. 2. In the Components list of the Windows Components Wizard, clear the checkbox for the "E-mail Services" entry and then click Next. When the wizard is done, click Finish. Note: this will only remove the WS2003 POP3 service--it will NOT remove the IIS SMTP Service. 3. Open IIS Manager and do the following: A. Expand the local computer node. B. Expand the Default SMTP Virtual Server node. C. Under the Default SMTP Virtual Server node, select the Domains node. Note: in the right-hand pane, you may see one or more domains of type "Local (Custom)". Ideally, these domains should be removed, but due to a Windows bug, the E-mail Services uninstall does not remove them and they cannot be deleted using the IIS Manager. However, they can be Renamed, which resolves the issue. D. For each "Local (Custom)" domain listed, Right-click on the domain name, click Rename and then type in an invalid name (e.g., notvalid.not) and press Enter. This will effectively disable a conflicting domain entry. E. Repeat the following to Add all of the "Local (Alias)" domains required: i. Right-click on the Domains node, click New > , click Domain..., select Alias, click Next, type in the domain name and click Finish. F. Stop and then Restart the Default SMTP Virtual Server. ------------------------------------------------------------ After performing the above steps, proceed with installation and/or configuration of the DAWKCo POP3 Server software as per usual procedures. WebMAIL Issues ============== WARNING: if you are running Certificate Services and use the Certificate Services Website in the default configuration (http:///CertSrv/), and that website is critical to your operation, then you should not apply the following work-around settings unless you have considered this issue carefully and determined that the use of WebMAIL is more important to your operation than the use of the certificate services website. Applying the following work-around settings on a system having a Certificate Services Website in the default configuration will cause that certificate services website to stop functioning properly. Note: This issue applies only to the CertSrv website--the Certificate Services service and its wizards are NOT affected. The above warning/issue might also apply to other web applications running under the Default Web Site and "DefaultAppPool" Application Pool context (if any, but normally not). In any event, you can restore normal operations of the CertSrv website and any other web applications running under the Default Web Site and "DefaultAppPool" by reversing the steps of the work-around and restoring the original settings. However, reversing the work-around and restoring the original settings will cause WebMAIL to stop functioning properly. Work-around for WebMAIL on WS2003 --------------------------------- Open IIS Manager and do the following: 1. Expand the local computer node. 2. Expand the "Application Pools" node. 3. Select the DefaultAppPool node. A. Right-click on the DefaultAppPool node and select Properties. i. Select the Identity tab. ii. Under "Application pool identity" select the "Configurable" radio button: Note: the "User name:" input box should already contain the IWAM_machinename account name and the "Password:" input box should already contain its password. DO NOT CHANGE THOSE VALUES. iii. Click OK. 4. Restart the DefaultAppPool application pool using the Stop and Start toolbar buttons. 5. Select the "Web Service Extensions" node. A. Right-click on the "Web Service Extensions" node and select "Add a new Web service extension...". i. In the "Extension name:" input box, type "WebMAIL" (without the quotes). ii. Click Add... iii. When the "Add file" dialog pops up, click Browse... and navigate to the "C:\Inetpub\webmail\isapi" folder. a. Select the file: dp3admutil.dll. b. Click Open. iii. Repeat steps 5.A.ii. and 5.A.iii. above for the remaining files in the "C:\Inetpub\webmail\isapi" folder ("dp3isapi.dll" and "dp3passutil.dll"). iv. Check the "Set extension status to Allowed" checkbox. v. Click OK. 6. Expand the "Web Sites" node. 7. Select the "Default Web Site" node. 8. Restart the Default Web Site using the Stop and Start toolbar buttons. --------------------------------- After applying the above procedure, DAWKCo WebMAIL will work normally on WS2003.