When one has a hosting-account (web + mail) with some hosting-company, can I then install groupware-software (like Horde, OpenXchange, Egroupware,...) on another server and point the MX-record to this server ??

Will mail then be delivered @ my groupware server (the mail-part) ??

I ask this question because OpenXchange requires an existing SMTP & IMAP-backend. Can this backend be a hosted mail-account ??


Thanks for the advise !

Wherever your mx points, your mail will be delivered. However, you should make sure your mailboxes exist on the new server and you also have to transfer existing mail yourself.

Can you explain a bit further ??

You mean I need to create mail-accounts on the groupware-server and point them to the IMAP/SMTP-server ?

So my groupware-server will be some kind of mail-proxy: the Outlook/Android/Evolution-client connects to the Groupware-server, which will be a relay to the hosting-server.

Let's talk standard terms. To receive e-mail, you need an MTA (sendmail, Exim, Postfix, whatever). To read mail you need an IMAP/POP3 server. I don't know, how your groupware works, but common sense suggests it uses IMAP to acces your mail. If it does, just point it to your hosting server.

If on the other hand it requires you to give access to the mail servers database to create mailboxes, you're in for some pain.

In this case you first need to set up your shiny new mailserver with the groupware software. If you're done, you need to test it thoroughly. Finally, you need to switch your MX records and move your mailboxes' contents.

Double post