Gmail-like interface on my own domain, without using their servers?
December 29, 2014 6:56 AM Subscribe
I would like to use the gmail interface for my own domain. Is this possible without relying on google servers, which are blocked in China? (details inside)
Since earlier this week it's absolutely impossible to use gmail in China without a VPN. This sucks because my VPN drains my iPhone battery, which is why I won't keep it on all day and also creates conflicts with geofenced apps like the Philips Hue app. (I cannot switch on or off lights when the VPN is on.)
Hence what I would like to do it use my own existing domain and have the gmail interface running on it. Is this possible with paid Google Apps or do they require me to use their servers? Is there any way to get something similar running on my own?
(AWS is blocked on an on/off basis and won't work either. I tried using it as a VPN but it turned out to be not reliable enough from here.)
Since earlier this week it's absolutely impossible to use gmail in China without a VPN. This sucks because my VPN drains my iPhone battery, which is why I won't keep it on all day and also creates conflicts with geofenced apps like the Philips Hue app. (I cannot switch on or off lights when the VPN is on.)
Hence what I would like to do it use my own existing domain and have the gmail interface running on it. Is this possible with paid Google Apps or do they require me to use their servers? Is there any way to get something similar running on my own?
(AWS is blocked on an on/off basis and won't work either. I tried using it as a VPN but it turned out to be not reliable enough from here.)
Are you trying to get to Gmail, or do you host your own domain and just want an interface similar to Gmail? If it's the former, you are out of luck. It's the latter, there are a variety of self-hosed webmail clients, although none that I know of are close enough to qualify as a "Gmail clone." Roundcube is probably the best, but it's not Gmail.
posted by COD at 8:17 AM on December 29, 2014
posted by COD at 8:17 AM on December 29, 2014
Some people have success with TeamViewer connecting to a computer outside of China.
posted by rada at 9:04 AM on December 29, 2014
posted by rada at 9:04 AM on December 29, 2014
What you could do on your domain is run a web proxy. I'm not sure how well/if GMail works from behind a proxy, but that might be the easiest way.
posted by toomuchpete at 9:14 AM on December 29, 2014
posted by toomuchpete at 9:14 AM on December 29, 2014
Response by poster: >or do you host your own domain and just want an interface similar to Gmail
that would be fine. I just always stuck to gmail because of the web interface. okay, and their spam filtering is good.
posted by krautland at 9:23 AM on December 29, 2014
that would be fine. I just always stuck to gmail because of the web interface. okay, and their spam filtering is good.
posted by krautland at 9:23 AM on December 29, 2014
Mailpile will only work for you if you can install it on a server that isn't blocked to you but can in turn access Gmail itself (i.e. it isn't behind the firewall itself).
A more robust solution would be to find a hosted email provider that has a webmail client you like, in addition to POP3/IMAP/EAS access (which would let you use your phone's built-in mail app as well). As long as the host isn't blocked by the firewall, you should be golden. I don't have specific recommendations for hosts though.
posted by Aleyn at 12:58 PM on December 29, 2014
A more robust solution would be to find a hosted email provider that has a webmail client you like, in addition to POP3/IMAP/EAS access (which would let you use your phone's built-in mail app as well). As long as the host isn't blocked by the firewall, you should be golden. I don't have specific recommendations for hosts though.
posted by Aleyn at 12:58 PM on December 29, 2014
You don't need to use mailpile with gmail. You can use it with your own server, which is what I meant. Sorry for not specifying!
posted by destructive cactus at 6:40 PM on December 30, 2014
posted by destructive cactus at 6:40 PM on December 30, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by shihchiun at 7:13 AM on December 29, 2014