Email Address Setup (Advice and a Bargain)

Gunther on 13/08/2021 - 11:57
Last edited 13/08/2021 - 11:58

Hi All - I'm not 100% sure how to go about this process so would appreciate some guidance from the Ozbargain community. Currently using Gmail and its just not the end-user experience I want.

Basically I am wanting to setup my own email address (example [email protected]).

Current Requirement:

  • Purchase own AU domain for email use (@gunther.com.au). Where & how?
  • Host via Microsoft Exchange (access in local outlook, phone and webmail). Where & how?

Future Usage:

  • Add additional emails to the domain (e.g. [email protected]). How is this done? Additional cost?
  • Use domain for website in the future. Is this possible?

I'm really not sure what the first step is, and the best way to do it with an Ozbargain mindset….

Cheers for the advice :)

Computing

Comments

  • BewareOfThe Dog on 13/08/2021 - 11:59

    Sometimes your ISP can do this, however they may charge more than other setups.

  • jorf on 13/08/2021 - 12:03
    +2

    Buy a hostname from somewhere - recommend VentraIP - they also have a one-click DNS setup thingy for Microsoft 365.

    Buy a Microsoft 365 sub - need Business Basic at a minimum for exchange.

    You can add as many email addresses as you want under each license as shared accounts.

    Your wife/gf/mistress will need their own license to have their own login, but can also add unlimited shared accounts under that login too.

    Adding a website will be an extra cost for hosting somewhere, but it's not that much. You just point your DNS to wherever your webhost is, so it doesn't have to all be in the same place (although it's sometimes easier if it is).

    • [Deactivated] on 13/08/2021 - 12:50

      You can add as many email addresses as you want under each license as shared accounts.

      Can you elaborate? I think I know what you mean but just need you to confirm it.

      • anglais on 13/08/2021 - 13:03

        email1@domain, email2@domain, email3@domain

        All emails would go into email1@domain

      • jorf on 13/08/2021 - 14:55

        You can create unlimited shared mailboxes under the domain. They don't have a password - you access them through your regular account by assigning yourself as a member of the mailbox. They don't need a license, but you do.

        So, eg. [email protected] would be the licensed account.

        Then you can have gunther1@, gunther2@ etc set up as shared mailboxes that you are a member of. They all show up in Outlook, but you only log into [email protected]

        If your missus wants an email too under the same domain, you'd need to buy another license. Otherwise, you'd both have to log in as [email protected] to view the account (which is possible, but probably not what you want).

  • No Username on 13/08/2021 - 12:12
    +8
    1. Buy a domain from VentraIP for $14.75 /yr (Sometimes they do deals for $1)
    2. Create a Cloudflare account and link domain to account.
    3. Change DNS hostname from VentraIP to the one provided by Cloudflare.
    4. Sign up for Microsoft 365 Business Basic ($6.90 per user per month)
    5. Download DNS Config File for Cloudflare.
    6. Login to Cloudflare and import DNS Config.
    7. Check DNS Propagation & Test Email Service.

    Links:
    VentraIP
    Microsoft 365 Business Basic
    Cloudflare

    Avoid Go Daddy!

    • parker2004au on 14/08/2021 - 09:15

      This is what I do minus the cloud flare - I might do that point as well.

      I only did it for shits and giggles but I like my domain. I was lucky enough to get my last name so I can do firstname@lastname for kids later on. I'm actually thinking about going business premium so I can use power automate.

      Aside from paying for the stuff there's no upkeep time or money spent.

      Only costs about $10/month or thereabouts once you factor in domain mail hosting etc.

      • andrek on 14/08/2021 - 09:25

        beat me by 6 minutes while I was typing and googling the docs! ;)

        BTW, same here, my domain is my last name, so the whole family has their own email addresses. And on top of that I've got my Gmail "business" account when it was free for SMBs, up to 50 users.

    • andrek on 14/08/2021 - 09:21

      +1 except:
      - Use namecheap as domain registrar.
      - Ditch Cloudflare, it'll be another system to remember to manage. Instead just use Namecheap's included DNS to set up your domain for Microsoft 365 on Microsoft and Namecheap sides

      I'm using the same setup for 12 years already for my two domains but with Gmail.

      • No Username on 14/08/2021 - 10:23
        +1

        I chose VentraIP because it was the cheapest for .com.au $14.75 whereas Namecheap was $23.10.

        Cloudflare isn't required but it will protect you from DDOS and Hacking attempts. It also provides you an SSL certificate.

        Cloudflare also allows for a centralised place to manage all your DNS from other domain providers.

        This allows you to take on deals from both VentraIP and Namecheap and combine the domain management under one house.

  • Muzeeb on 13/08/2021 - 12:13
    +1

    Cheapest way but probably a bit clunky for usability….

    • Purchase domain name - about $20pa
    • Purchase cheap hosting (you generally get 5 email addresses with a basic package) - about $40pa
    • Use hosts webmail service to access email
    • Seraphin7 on 13/08/2021 - 14:42
      +1

      In my experience, those webmail services are pretty sh!tty. Maybe things have improved since I last tried to go down this road, but it was just awful and I just gave up.

      • Muzeeb on 13/08/2021 - 14:57

        probably a bit clunky for usability

        • Seraphin7 on 13/08/2021 - 15:34

          Probably an understatement!

      • toomuchdogfur on 13/08/2021 - 15:54

        You can just use IMAP with your favourite mail client - Thunderbird, Outlook, even the GMail app.

        If you don't use anything other than folders and flags you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference.

    • Muzeeb on 13/08/2021 - 17:04

      Here ya go

  • stirlo on 13/08/2021 - 12:15
    +2

    I hope you didn't actually expect to use gunther.com.au, Because unless you're Chris Gunther from Victoria you're out of luck.

    • Muzeeb on 13/08/2021 - 12:23
      +1

      He has a webcam service attached as well. Nice

    • Soluble on 13/08/2021 - 12:23
      +1

      Based on his 17 years of updates, maybe he will sell?

    • geek001 on 13/08/2021 - 13:53
      +1

      Oh wow. P800. I had one of them back in the day….

    • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 13/08/2021 - 14:30

      Chris sounds like a pretty all-round decent bloke living his best life.

    • dny on 13/08/2021 - 15:11
      +3

      Plot twist. OP is Chris and he just wants to know how to setup exchange

    • this is us on 13/08/2021 - 16:38

      I have to say I am a bit disappointed with his web design skills:
      "After dark, I design and maintain websites. If you'd like a website built, then see webdesign.gunther.com.au for more details."

      This is his "after work" stuff, but he's still offering the service, so I would expect a better design.

      • rompastompa on 13/08/2021 - 16:45
        +1

        I dunno, not bad for 2004. I prefer the more simplisitic designs unless it's Lings

        • this is us on 13/08/2021 - 17:11

          I missed the "2004"… You are right, if Chris abandoned the website (subdomain) and never came back.

  • Seraphin7 on 13/08/2021 - 14:36

    What is it you're actually trying to achieve?

    I ask this, because in my experience, setting up your own email address in the way you're describing was far more trouble than it was worth vs. Gmail.

    • Gunther on 13/08/2021 - 15:32

      From the Microsoft Exchange viewpoint I just want a Microsoft Outlook native experience.

      Gmail doesn't let you manage flags, categories, folders, etc - its a complete mess when used within Outlook.

      • Seraphin7 on 13/08/2021 - 15:34
        +1

        Fair enough … you might be more technically minded than me, but I tried to integrate my "personal domain email" with Outlook and it just ended up being a dog's breakfast. Gave up pretty quick.

        Hopefully you have better luck!

  • racer1234 on 13/08/2021 - 14:55
    +3

    You will also need an ABN related to the .com.au domain you want to register. .com is no problem but anything .au has some rules attached.

  • Gunther on 13/08/2021 - 15:35

    I just found the following Ozbargain Wiki…

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/wiki/cheap_au_domain_names

    Anyone know if these are still reputable companies? All prices listed are for two years.

  • this is us on 13/08/2021 - 16:17

    Days ago, I bought a domain from namesilo.com for less than $10/year (renewal is the same price).
    I then linked my domain to gmail following this:
    https://www.namesilo.com/Support/Gmail-Instructions-for-Repl…

    I have a catch-all forwarding to one gmail account (for spam or unimportant emails) and two additional accounts linked to my usual gmail account.
    You can create many forwarding rules without actually creating an email account. For example:

    Forwarding [email protected] to [email protected]*, [email protected] to [email protected]*, etc.

    You don't have to create the [email protected] and [email protected] accounts, only the forwarding rules.

    If you are Mr Username, you will receive all emails sent to [email protected] on your Gmail account, and you can set-up the [email protected] as your default sender account so the emails you send are sent from [email protected] and not [email protected]

    I found this to be a very good and cheap system overall, and I have a nice domain (not a ".com.au") :)

    Here is a guideline for connecting your domain to Microsoft365:
    https://www.namesilo.com/CustomDomain/Office-365

    I am not sure the second part (Office365) is what you need, but having your own domain and linking to GMAIL should help, and give you some ideas.

  • Leho on 13/08/2021 - 17:04
    +1

    Buy domain from namecheap or porkbun
    buy small business plan from zoho (15aud a year iirc)
    cloudflare free plan for dns

    done

  • pjetson on 13/08/2021 - 19:57

    You can't get a .com.au domain name unless you meet the eligibility requirements - basically, you need to be a business with an ABN or ACN and the domain name needs to be the same as your business name. The full rules are here in Schedule C https://www.auda.org.au/policy/2012-04-domain-name-eligibili…

    The id.au 2LD is for individuals, and gunther.id.au appears to be available.

  • MontyMacaw on 14/08/2021 - 08:15
    +1

    I still use hotmail. It just works. Including on Exchange.

  • Hampton Wick on 14/08/2021 - 10:09

    I've used Google Workspace https://workspace.google.com/intl/en_au/solutions/new-busine… for email hosting on my own domain

  • Waltervp on 14/08/2021 - 11:04
    +3

    Personally, I have had many customers who have all these incredible wishes and demands and complicated wants and needs,… but in the end, a simple domain host like many of the ones mentioned, offer cPanel and mail forwarders. Mail Forwarders are much easier to handle. You can set up any email you like on the domain and if you wish they all forward to your Gmail/Hotmail/whatever existing email. If you want John@ to go to Johns email you forward that one to John's regular email, Karen@ to Karen's existing email,… etc. If someone emails to Karrrren@ accidentally it will come to you (if you have set up the catchall feature) and you can forward it as the mail admin, and all done from your own usual email. If people want to have their emails come into a separate folder they can set up mail filters in their mail programs/apps if they wish.

    The advantage is that people don't need to log into a separate email system, users can change their email any time, you just adjust the forwarding - great for employees changing roles… Mailboxes don't fill up, people don't have to change settings anywhere. cPanel or whatever the domain hosts are simple to use.

    • leiiv on 14/08/2021 - 15:51

      So are you saying most people rather have all emails, personal and business/work, together in just one email account?

      • Waltervp on 15/08/2021 - 07:46

        Good point…. I assume he is not setting up a business with people in an office or even full time employees with lots of email or he would have an IT person. I should never assume no! But I did. You're right, I'm talking small scale like club or small business where you'd need professional looking emails, not jobloshop.com and for info email Joblo385934@hotnail…. In a serious business with employees who all get 10+ emails per day… You'd need a better setup yes but he wouldn't be asking, he'd have an IT person setting it up.

  • Ramrunner on 14/08/2021 - 11:25
    +1

    This should all be easy enough to do yourself so by all means give it a go. If you get stuck this is actually what I have done for myself and clients (As well as Google workspace) so you can give a holler if things don't work out.

    I'm a reseller for TPP when it comes to domains and hosting packages so you can also use domains.tdcs.com.au to set up your domain if the others don't work out for you.

    Be careful wherever you get your domain that the domain comes with a DNS manager (which you'll need). A few of my customers have bought from CrazyDomains before because they were like $15 cheaper or something only to find out they had to pay another $30 or so to actually set up DNS zones. Bit shifty - not sure they still do that…..

  • OZBargainer in SA on 14/08/2021 - 17:21

    Your domain registrar should also allow you to delegate domain registration to Microsoft's DNS servers - no need to deal with another service just for DNS services.

  • xylarr on 15/08/2021 - 14:27

    One option is to pay Google for their Workplace product - effectively Gmail but you can use your own domain.

    https://workspace.google.com/

    This used to be free, I'm on a grandfathered plan, but it works for me.

    I register my domain through Namecheap and do my DNS with CloudFlare.

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