Subject: New Linux Mail Server From: Ali@stalker.com (Ali Liptrot, Stalker Software, Inc.) Date: Fri, 22 May 1998 12:03:47 -0700 To: lwn@eklektix.com (lwn@eklektix.com) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Stalker Software Announces CommuniGate Pro Server 2.0 Beta Key features: Multi-platform, industry-strength, administration via the Web, extensive multi-domain support, anti-spam protection, unique IMAP multi-mailbox features. MILL VALLEY, CA - May 22th, 1998 - After the initial beta-testing of the CommuniGate Pro messaging server, Stalker Software announces the CommuniGate Pro 2.0 beta, the platform-independent Internet messaging server. The new generation of the CommuniGate integrated messaging system unifies the performance of the modern multi-threaded operating systems, the standards-compliance of the most popular Internet applications, and flexibility of the modular CommuniGate System initially designed for MacOS. PLATFORM INDEPENDENCE. The new version of the CommuniGate Pro is based on the Stalker Foundation framework and can run under all major operating systems. The first released versions can run on the Windows 95/98, Windows NT, the Apple Rhapsody DR2, and the Linux operating systems. The FreeBSD, Sun Solaris and other versions are to be released later this month. The ability to run on all these platforms is extremely important for todays heterogeneous networks. The CommuniGate Pro server can be configured, controlled, and monitored from any computer connected to the Internet using any Web browser application. The administrators can monitor the Server status, they can create, update and modify user accounts, delete and redirect messages in the queues, update the communication modules settings, and configure the full-featured CommuniGate Router. Registered users can modify their mailing lists and auto-response ("vacation") messages, and configure the automatic mail processing "rules" applied to their accounts. On all platforms the CommuniGate Pro presents the same interface and uses the same file formats, allowing any organization to switch server platforms in less than an hour. HIGH PERFORMANCE The CommuniGate Pro design employs many modern OS techniques, especially multi-threading. Unlike other servers that use one separate thread to process a message, messages in the CommuniGate Pro are processed with 4-6 threads while on the paths to their destinations. For high-volume sites, such as mail hosts of large ISPs, this means a huge performance benefit, especially for multi-processor servers. The CommuniGate Pro server is completely SMP (symmetric multiprocessing) ready. STANDARDS-BASED The CommuniGate Pro is based exclusively on the Internet standards. Unlike most of the commercial and freeware servers, the CommuniGate Pro SMTP, POP, IMAP and other modules implement all related Internet RFCs, not just a selected few. The SMTP component of the CommuniGate Pro server incorporates all the anti- spamming features implemented in the other Stalker mail servers, including centralized DNS-based blacklisting (RBL). Unlike most of the servers available today, the POP and IMAP components of the CommuniGate Pro allow for simultaneous access to the same mailboxes. This feature becomes extremely important as more and more companies switch to E-mail and their "sales", "support" and other generic mailboxes have to be processed by several people simultaneously. FLEXIBILITY To configure the system for a small office, the administrator should just create user accounts. On the other hand, in large organizations and ISPs, the administrator can employ the built-in support for mail routing, multi- domain and multi-homing, automated mail processing and other advanced features - all via the easy-to-use Web Interface. Even for the most sophisticated setups, the CommuniGate Pro administrator is not forced to learn any arcane configuration language. As the CommuniGate/MacOS system brought the modular architecture to message delivery, the CommuniGate Pro brings modularity to the account serving. Besides the unix-style mailboxes that can be processed with any legacy mail application, special modules can store messages in data bases, in folder- type mailboxes, and in other types of "containers". Regular POP and IMAP mail applications can be used to access all types of CommuniGate Pro mailboxes. DIAL-UP SUPPORT CommuniGate Pro supports dial-up client mail servers with registered or virtual domains. Client systems with static IP addresses can use SMTP feeds (RFC1985/ETRN). Client systems with dynamically assigned IP addresses can be served with Unified Domain-Wide POP Accounts. Besides, the CommuniGate Pro Server supports an unlimited number of UUCP links. The CommuniGate Pro Server itself can employ a dial-up link, retrieving mail from its back-up hosts via SMTP, POP and UUCP protocols. TROUBLESHOOTING and SUPPORT Like the other Stalker mail servers, the CommuniGate Pro has a centralized System Log. All Server components generate Log records of any specified level of detail, simplifying troubleshooting. The CommuniGate Pro Web interface provides real-time selective access to the Server Logs. AVAILABILITY The CommuniGate Pro server is scheduled for the commercial release in July'98. The beta versions of the CommuniGate Pro Server are available now, free of charge. They can be downloaded either from the Stalker sites: <http://www.stalker.com/CommuniGatePro/>, <ftp://www.stalker.com//pub/CommuniGatePro/>, or from the mirror sites overseas (see <http://www.stalker.com> for the list), or from the major public Internet software archives. The CommuniGate Pro documentation is available in the HTML format. In addition, each Server Web Interface page has links to the proper documentation pages on the Stalker Web site. Technical support for beta-testers is provided via the < cgatepro@stalker.com> mailing list. All product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective manufacturers. Since 1991, Stalker Software, Inc. has been a major vendor of networking and communication software for the MacOS, and now the company expands its activity to the Windows and Unix markets. The company offices are at 655 Redwood Highway, suite 275, Mill Valley, Calif. 94941. For more information about Stalker Software and its products, visit the Stalker Software web site at <http://www.stalker.com>, or call 1-800-262-4722. Press contacts: Ali Liptrot, director of sales and marketing, phone: (415) 383-7164, fax (415) 383-7461, E-mail <ali@stalker.com>.