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To do one thing and do it well. That's the strategy behind Internet appliances, a growing class of task-specific hardware that began with thin file and Web servers, and now includes messaging servers.

Two of the newest dedicated e-mail devices are Mirapoint's M1000 messaging server and Technauts' eServer 152. Both were unveiled late last year and emphasize the same functions - receiving and routing Internet and interoffice e-mail. However, one look at their respective horsepowers makes it clear that these two products target different audiences.

How we did it With the help of ClearSail, an ISP in Houston, we set up a new abacustech.net domain and installed a Cisco 804 ISDN router to connect it to the Internet. We installed Mirapoint's M1000 and Technauts' eServer 152 on a 10Base-T network with a static IP address visible on the Internet. We ran Post Office Protocol 3 e-mail tests using Microsoft Outlook 98. We used Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for HTTP publishing tests (supported on the eServer line) and for Web administration on both units. To test e-mail correspondence, we used a test e-mail address at Microsoft's HotMail (www.hotmail.com).

The M1000 we tested included an Intel 400-MHz Pentium II, 384M bytes of error checking and correcting (ECC) memory, and a usable storage capacity of 18G bytes running BSD Unix. The M1000 also has a $25,995 price tag (pricing for Mirapoint's smaller scaled M100 starts at $14,895). The $1,995 eServer 152 came with a 133-MHz Pentium processor, 32M bytes of RAM, 1.3G bytes of disk space, and runs Linux.

Which product is better suited for your office depends on the number of simultaneous users you have. If you run a large shop and want a single machine to act as an e-mail workhorse servicing thousands of users, Mirapoint's M1000 is well equipped to handle high volumes. If you support a small business or branch office with fewer than 125 users, and you want easy setup and simple operation at a bargain price, look to Technauts' eServer 152, which includes Web hosting and file and printer sharing in the deal.

Given the size disparity, we didn't pit these two servers in a head-to-head performance comparison. Instead, we focused our tests on setup, management and features. Technauts' eServer 152 captured our attention early with an incredibly simple installation and configuration routine. However, it was Mirapoint's M1000 that earned our Blue Ribbon Award, thanks largely to its fault tolerance and security features.

Mail call

"Thin server" is a bit of a misnomer when applied to Mirapoint's M1000, which consists of three hefty pieces: the main M1000 unit, a 35-pound external SCSI drive array and a 50-pound UPS. Each piece is about the size of an old AT-style IBM PC.

A SCSI cable connects the storage subsystem to the main unit. Another cable connects the UPS to the main unit for system status monitoring, and a third cable externally connects COM2 and COM3 on the main unit for monitoring the unit's fans, temperature and voltage.

Conversely, Technauts' eServer 152 spatial requirements are Spartan. The hardware takes up less space than a conventional laptop computer and weighs a little more than four pounds without the power supply.

Breadth aside, the M1000 and eServer 152 share some common features. Both include antispam functions that let you blacklist domains from which to reject incoming mail messages, and both can receive mail from other mail domains.

The high-end M1000 features Network Information Service for logon authentication of Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) and Post Office Protocol 3 clients. The eServer 152 we evaluated did not support IMAP. Technauts will not offer IMAP support until the second half of 1999.

Reliability is paramount to the M1000, which includes RAID 5 protection, ECC memory and hot-swappable power supplies and cooling fans. The UPS automatically powers down the main unit and SCSI array when battery power is depleted, and an audible alarm sounds if the unit's fans, voltage, temperature or battery life is suspect. Although you can monitor these thresholds through SNMP, it would be nice if Mirapoint's M1000 included another alert option, such as pager or e-mail.

With both products we ran into a problem sending outbound messages by Simple Mail Transfer Protocol when our Windows 98 client used a host name on our abacustech.net domain that is not present on our Domain Name System (DNS) servers. Neither mail server could identify us, resulting in bounced mail. We corrected the problem with both products by enabling a relay function. In the case of the M1000, we instructed the machine to accept mail coming from any workstation matching the first three numbers of our PC's IP address. With eServer 152, we simply turned on the relay flag under Mail Server Configuration.

The eServer supports Server Message Block (SMB) protocol, which enables the sharing of server file storage and printers. However, as of press time, printer support was sparse and included only the HP LaserJet 6P, HP DeskJet 890C, HP DeskJet 400 and Canon BJC-4200 families. If you need to share printers, stick with the peer networking in Windows 95.

Technauts' SMB documentation was also sparse. If you plan to use file sharing with the eServer 152, familiarize yourself with the Samba SMB implementation on Linux.

Getting started

Security was a factor in the M1000's design. Numeric keypad controls for the main units are located behind a locked panel on the front of the unit. The SCSI array also requires a key to remove the drive.

A small LCD panel on the front of the unit asked us for a numeric administrator password, IP address and netmask, default router, DNS server address, host name and domain name. We entered all of the setup information with a telephone-like keypad. Alternatively, you can connect another PC through a null-modem cable and use Windows HyperTerminal to enter the information. One thing missing from the M1000 is inband setup via BOOTP or Address Resolution Protocol.

Configuring eServer 152 is a snap using the supplied esconfig application, which searches your LAN for a new eServer. You simply supply a host and domain name, IP address and subnet mask, and the IP addresses of your DNS servers. The eServer 152 then reboots, and the application launches your browser to finish the setup process.

After initial setup, you can administer the M1000 and eServer 152 via a Web browser. For the M1000, if you point your browser to the full host and domain name, you'll be prompted for a user name and password to continue. The default admin name is "Administrator."

We ran into minor problems getting started with both products. With the M1000, we had trouble accessing the Web-based administration after upgrading to the latest Java Virtual Machine for our browser. We fixed the problem by disabling the Just In Time com- piler in Internet Explorer.

With eServer 152, we initially had trouble logging on using the changed sysadmin password.

We learned that to reset eServer 152, you have to attach your keyboard and monitor to the unit, restart Linux in single-user mode from the console, and issue a software command to reset. After the reset, you can run the esconfig applications to change basic network parameters, such as address and host name, while preserving the rest of the server configuration, such as any user IDs and passwords.

All logons to the M1000's BSD Unix variant are disabled for security reasons. The administrator can access the system only by using an account with administrator privileges through a Java client or a command-line interface (CLI). The CLI offers all the commands available through the Java client, but it is not a full shell.

Technauts' eServer 152, in addition to its Web-based administration interface, also supports telnet administration through a nonstandard telnet port as an extra layer of security. Once connected, you'll have full shell access.

One weak aspect of eServer 152 is its poor documentation, which consists mostly of screen shots of the Web administration applet. The documentation we received was labeled as a draft; Technauts says final documentation will be available on its Web site this month.

In the final analysis, scale is the most distinguishing factor. The M1000 handles significantly larger volumes and is more upgradable than eServer 152. The M1000 is built with a separate I/O subsystem so users can add more SCSI drives for storage space as needed.

Conversely, eServer 152 is a departmental thin server with few upgrade prospects. The model we reviewed contained a laptop-size hard drive with only one ISA slot and a PCI slot that's obstructed by the CPU fan. The eServer's CPU is a first-generation Pentium and not upgradable to Pentium II or Pentium III CPUs.

That said, both products are reliable and relatively easy to use within their respective markets.

RELATED LINKS Tackett is president of Abacus Technologies, a networking, applications-development and technology assessment company in Houston. He can be reached at rtackett@flash.net.

Scorecard and NetResults
How we ranked them in various categories, key findings and vendor contact info.

Messaging standards
Overview from Mirapoint.

IMAP Connection
All about IMAP.

Electronic Messaging Association
Features online version of its monthly magazine with technology overviews and analysis.

Internet Mail Consortium