Webmail ports

Tacitus · Apr 22, 2009, 10:09:08

Can anyone tell me what ports iDNET use for webmail? Is it the usual 80 with 443 for secure (https) webmail access?

Rik · Apr 22, 2009, 10:41:10

It is, Tac.

Tacitus · Apr 22, 2009, 10:44:31

Quote from: Rik on Apr 22, 2009, 10:41:10
It is, Tac.

Thanks Rik. For reasons best known to themselves my hosting co uses non-standard ports.

Rik · Apr 22, 2009, 10:47:37

AAMOI, why do you need to know the ports for webmail, Tac?

Tacitus · Apr 22, 2009, 13:58:45

Quote from: Rik on Apr 22, 2009, 10:47:37
AAMOI, why do you need to know the ports for webmail, Tac?

Between the University blocking all ports except 80 & 443 my nephew wouldn't be able to use webmail via a domain at my hosting co. However it appears he will be able to use his iDnet mail account.

So the choice is: use forwarding to send domain mail to iDnet and use iDnet webmail;

find a different hosting co that doesn't use non-standard ports (sad, because this one is otherwise first class);

use the hosting co, pay for a certificate and set up his own SSL install with RoundCube (same as iDnet use I think).

Simpler to use forwarding.....

The hosting co are similar to iDnet, small(ish), slightly more expensive than the big boys (Fasthosts etc), but utterly reliable (save for the very occasional glitch) with first class service to back it up. As with everything else, you get what you pay for.....

Rik · Apr 22, 2009, 14:43:02

Why the need for webmail, though, Tac?

Tacitus · Apr 22, 2009, 15:42:39

Quote from: Rik on Apr 22, 2009, 14:43:02
Why the need for webmail, though, Tac?

Note this is purely for checking personal mail on a personal domain whilst on campus, using the campus Wifi network. If he uses the hosting company's webmail to get to his domain, this uses non-standard ports. Not a problem normally as few public WiFi service block any ports, but on campus it is, since the ports are blocked. POP3/SMTP won't work since the relevant ports also appear to be blocked, so the only recourse for checking personal mail is via webmail; either http or https via 443. Not sure about IMAP but I doubt that would work either.

TBH I don't blame them for trying to lock everything down, as they got burned a couple of years ago when a student with an infected laptop took the whole place down for 3 days at the start of the academic year. The ramifications went on for months.....

Rik · Apr 22, 2009, 15:55:48

Understood. Thanks, Tac.

Colin Burns · Apr 22, 2009, 19:36:19

Hi Tac
is your hosting Co using Cpanel. If so there is a site that creates a proxy that turns the yourdomain.com:2095 to webmail.yourdomain.com and gets rounds the hole use of ports.

the link if your interested to the install files is http://cpanelproxy.net/

Tacitus · Apr 22, 2009, 20:27:21

Quote from: Colin Burns on Apr 22, 2009, 19:36:19
Hi Tac
is your hosting Co using Cpanel. If so there is a site that creates a proxy that turns the yourdomain.com:2095 to webmail.yourdomain.com and gets rounds the hole use of ports.

Thanks for the pointer, they do use cPanel but apparently they don't support the proxy by default. Also, I'm not sure but does it give the choice of https (2096)?. Not keen on http via port 80 (or 2095 for that matter) as these are insecure. Don't forget this is mainly to be used on a University campus which has its fair share of wanabee hackers and assorted script kids.

Sitting in the canteen running a packet sniffer would be these kids idea of a good time.....

On the whole it seems easiest to use forwarding and iDNet's webmail.