One of the aspects of Snap Mail that makes it so easy to use is that it does not require that you set up and maintain a dedicated server.
Snap Mail works without a server by using “store and forward” technology. When operating this way, your computer stores any outgoing mail that has not yet been delivered. You need not worry about computers that are off because as soon as they are turned on, your computer will send them their mail.
Sometimes, however, it is useful to have server capabilities on your network. If you send mail to a computer that isn’t on, and you want to shut your computer off, you need a third computer (the server) to hold your mail and deliver it for you when the recipient’s computer is turned back on. This is especially important if users connect to your network with AppleTalk Remote Access.
Most e-mail systems require you to set up a separate server program on its own computer. Each computer running Snap Mail, however, already has the capacity to be a server, and you can easily set one or more computers to act as a server. This is called a “distributed-server” network because the server capability can be shared by all computers on the network.
The “Server” settings in the Preferences window provide you with four server options. The first option allows you to volunteer your computer as a server. Although any Mac can be a server, it is not recommended that you use Macs that are turned off and on frequently (like PowerBooks) as servers. Also, computers with less than two MB of RAM, computers with little disk space available, and remote computers that access the network via ARA should not be chosen as servers. If a computer is volunteered as a server, another checkbox indicates whether or not you want the server to hide its name from other people’s User Lists. This allows you to give a server a bit of anonymity when it is not being used by anyone for sending or receiving mail.
The second server option allows you to choose whether your computer should send mail to a server at shutdown. You will know your computer is sending mail to a server if you see a snapping finger cursor during shutdown. The default for this setting is on, because most users will want their mail delivered for them by a server if one is available.
The third server option allows you to force all your outgoing mail to be sent directly to a server. This option is useful mostly for remote computers that connect to the network with AppleTalk Remote Access, and for PowerBooks that are often disconnected from the network.
