Installing GFI MailEssentials

Introduction to installing GFI MailEssentials

This chapter explains the procedure on how to install and configure GFI MailEssentials. GFI MailEssentials can be installed in 2 ways:

Installation option 1: Installing GFI MailEssentials on the Exchange server 2000/2003 machine

This is a very straightforward and easy deployment mode. Simply install GFI MailEssentials on the Exchange Server 2000/2003 machine. Go to the paragraph 'Installing GFI MailEssentials on the Exchange 2000/2003 machine' for instructions how to install this deployment option.

NOTE: This installation option allows you to direct mail marked as spam directly to the user's junk mail folder. This makes it easy for users to periodically review spam mail for false positives. If you install GFI MailEssentials in the DMZ, or in front of Exchange 2000/2003, this feature will not be available.

Installation option 2: Installing GFI MailEssentials on a separate machine

If you are not running Exchange 2000/2003 or simply wish to separate the MailEssentials installation from the Exchange 2000/2003 machine, you can install MailEssentials on a separate machine. This also allows you to keep your corporate mail server behind the firewall. GFI MailEssentials will act as a smart host/mail relay server in the perimeter network (also known as DMZ, demilitarized zone, and screened subnet).

Additional advantages are:

You can perform maintenance on your Mail server machine, whilst still receiving email from the Internet.
You use less resources on your Mail server machine
The GFI MailEssentials machine can have a lower spec then the Mail server machine and can process mail faster
Additional fault tolerance - if anything happens with your Mail server you still receive mail, which is queued on the GFI MailEssentials machine.

NOTE: This separate machine does not need to be dedicated to GFI MailEssentials; it can run other applications, such as GFI MailSecurity.

If you choose this option, you have to configure IIS before installing GFI MailEssentials. Go to the paragraph 'Installing GFI MailEssentials on a separate machine' for instructions on how to do this.

IMPORTANT: Don't judge GFI MailEssentials' spam detection rate until you have allowed the Bayesian filter to run for at least 1 week! GFI MailEssentials can achieve the highest detection rate compared to other anti spam solutions because it adapts specifically to your mail. Be patient and wait at least a week before you evaluate it!