Setting up Exchange Server

there are a couple of ways to do this. First is to setup a DC that is your authoritative name server, then register that name server with your Domain name registry. All internal and external queries for IP to Name resolution are handled by your NameServer. Second approach is to use a 3rd party name server [I use Constanttime.com DNS service]. 3rd party name servers come in handy when one has a dynamic IP address assigned to them. Most 3rd party DNS services have a client program that auto updates the DNS records with the most current IP address you have.

Once you have all this, setting up a web or email server is relatively easy provided you have the software like Windows Server 2003 web server or Exchange Server 2000 [Exchange isn't inexpensive].

ok Your domain name registrar should have an account maintenance option for your domain name where you specify name servers which provide name to IP address resolution [re your A records, MX records, Host records]. THis is where you either specify a3rd party name server service [such as constanttime DNS or MYDYNDNS server service] or you can specify your own name server. Some domain name registries require you to "register" the name server with them [e.g. for security reasons] so that a "trust" is created. below is a link to the name server service I use.

http://dynamicdns.constanttime.com/

there also is DYNDNS which is a good source of info. They have a couple of white papers in their FAQ that really explain just what is going on with IP to Name resolution and DNS records. The link here is for DYNDNS http://www.dyndns.org/

well the above wasn't to clear. I "assume" most know this stuff.

Your domain name registrar doesn't provide name servers for you. All they do is register your domain name. However, they do have to provide some means of IP to Name resolution, either providing their own name server for which you use [for an additional fee] or you can specify your own name servers[no additional fee] [either your own server or a 3rd party name server]. The name servers that you use [your own will require you tosetup a Domain controller with all the A MX and host records already created] or you can use a 3rd party service [as I mentioned above] which will create those records for you on their servers. All you have to do is specify their name servers with which your domain registrar will use for queries from the internet for IP to name resolution [re = IP address 192.xxx.xxx.xxx]

Yes I will have a dynamic IP address (I will be using zoneedit to keep my IP up to date). What do you mean by settin up the DC that your authoritative name server, then register that name server with your domain name registry. I think I can get the mail server to work, I just don't know where to obtain the MX record from. I can setup Win2K3 Server as my DC controller and enable the server role as a POP/SMTP Server. He is my setup:

Register name with godaddy.com=envisionnetworking.net

ISP-Comcast w/dynamic external IP address

Host name of PC running DC/Server=server (server.envisionnetworking.net)

Now the question is how to obtain an MX Record and what it points to.