10MB E-mail Limit

[ferretman]

One of my clients recently discovered that the qmail program will not send an attachment larger than 10MB. This has never been a problem since most of my customers never really send larger files. This customer, however, expects to send huge (30MB+) files on a weekly basis and needs a solution to this problem.

Temporarily, I created a directory where they can place files and send links to their clients. I see this only as a temporary solution. I need to offer the ability to send larger files. The staff at Vortech has told me that the limit will stay in place so I'm looking for an alternative.

This customer does not have the ability to host their own mail server. Therefore, I was thinking about getting a deidacted server on the Vortech network to use as a mail server. I was also considering using an outside dedicated box for a mail server.

Does anyone have other ideas or any other comments?

[mfennell]

thats a huge email.

Email was not meant to transfer files that large. I would suggest having them upload the file somewhere and emailing a link to the file. The file transfer would be a lot faster for everyone vs. emailing.

The time it takes to download large email attachments is many times that of FTP or HTTP. Setting up an FTP base makes your customer look more technologically-oriented (IE they know what their doing). POP was not designed for large files, which is why it can take 5-10 minutes to download even a 1MB attachment even on cable. (Whereas FTP takes about.. 30seconds??)

A good FTP or HTTP upload/download system would be the ideal solution, and if you find a good suite, your customer may find additional features that might meet his or her needs - Archives, perhaps even a forum based solution that would allow the recipients to make comments on the file if things need to be fixed/altered, etc. Just a few ideas, kinda dependent on your needs.

[mresell]

Encouraging bad usage of a protocol or software program is a bad idea. 30mb is not for email, especially if they will be doing this regularly. It makes no sense on any level.
FTP is not hard to use. A few minutes up front means far more productivity down the road.

[sheptech]

If FTP is too much for your client to handle, why not talk them into something like Software602's eDock: http://www.software602.com/products/edock/

Yes, I'm a reseller (in case you were interested or were curious if I had an ulterior motive) but haven't messed with this product beyond playing with the online demo.

[CelticRaven]

it looks like edock uses some app to map a drive letter to the ftp/webdav server...

does anybody know of an easy windows way to map a drive letter to an ftp server without using a 3rd party app?

I know there was some way to do it after adding the destination in the lmhosts file and some other things...

Just wondering

[MEELAN]

Originally Posted by CelticRaven

it looks like edock uses some app to map a drive letter to the ftp/webdav server...

does anybody know of an easy windows way to map a drive letter to an ftp server without using a 3rd party app?

I know there was some way to do it after adding the destination in the lmhosts file and some other things...

Just wondering

Hi Raven,

It is as simple as using Windows wizard.
If you are using Windows 2000, double clikc "My Network Places" on your desktop. Double click on "Add a network place" to start the Wizard. For the local type the server with the protocol, (ftp://ftp.your_server.com) and click next to enter the login information.

I think this will help you

[edit:] Sorry, I didn't see a way to add a drive letter there [/edit]

[keidsjedo]

If they're in XP, WebDAV locations can be accessed like folders (Network Places). If you really want a drive letter, check out Novell's NetDrive (netdrive.exe). Just do a search on it, it looks like a lot of universities are using it. Sorry, it's 3rd party... but it's FREE 3rd party.

[dweimann]

Yikes! Even if you got your client up and running with 30mb attachments in their email, almost every other mail server is going to reject that size email.

Use some of the other ways mentioned above. FTP is what moving 30mb files around was made for.

Alternatively, you could make or get a small server app to site around and upload files to their site via a web interface. They could have some interface to automatically create a download link.

Oh, and I just remembered, if they are going to be routinely trasnfering the same file or a file from a particular place, then they could use something like cute ftp pro to schedule weekly transfers.

[mresell]

Originally Posted by keidsjedo

If they're in XP, WebDAV locations can be accessed like folders (Network Places). If you really want a drive letter, check out Novell's NetDrive (netdrive.exe). Just do a search on it, it looks like a lot of universities are using it. Sorry, it's 3rd party... but it's FREE 3rd party.

No WebDav here.

[keidsjedo]

Gotcha. FTP setup is the same, however.

[ferretman]

I have informed my client (many times) that an FTP/HTTP solution is a better option. After using additional arguments from this thread, they are willing to try it but they don't like the idea. They are a spinoff from a larger IT company where the they had their own internal mail server with no MB limit. Therefore, they are used to firing 30MB+ files around the country by e-mail.

They are concerned that having to upload a file (even with a simplified user interface) then send a link to that file in an e-mail is too many steps to complete.

I think I found a possible solution using rules and a macro in Outlook to do the uploading and linking for them. Once I fully test this, I'll post a link to it for others to use.

[Silverbug]

I think I found a possible solution using rules and a macro in Outlook to do the uploading and linking for them. Once I fully test this, I'll post a link to it for others to use.

That sounds like a really good idea.

[mresell]

Originally Posted by ferretman

I have informed my client (many times) that an FTP/HTTP solution is a better option. After using additional arguments from this thread, they are willing to try it but they don't like the idea. They are a spinoff from a larger IT company where the they had their own internal mail server with no MB limit. Therefore, they are used to firing 30MB+ files around the country by e-mail.

They are concerned that having to upload a file (even with a simplified user interface) then send a link to that file in an e-mail is too many steps to complete.

I think I found a possible solution using rules and a macro in Outlook to do the uploading and linking for them. Once I fully test this, I'll post a link to it for others to use.

Forgive me... But what the heck kinda IT company sends 30mb email files and thinks ftp is too many steps People are going to want to always do things THEIR way, but sometimes you have to maintain solid logic or problems will only result.