[linux-help] Re: Mail server basics

[Nathan <ncozzens@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 08:51 AM 8/31/01 -0500, you wrote:

> > What do I need on my server?  I know I want an IMAP
> > server, but that's for incoming only, right?  Will I
> > need an SMTP server to to accept the mail and move it
> > into the IMAP server?  Is that what sendmail and 
> qmail are?
>
>Sendmail will do what you want.  (Although moving 
>"into" the IMAP server
>is probably an inaccurate term... normally your SMTP 
>server is just going
>to deliver mail to your standard Unix mailbox, where 
>it can then be
>accessed by POP, IMAP, or any local utility (Pine, 
>Elm, etc.))

This is the kind of info I need.  So the mail actually 
resides on and belongs to Linux, and the IMAP server 
just accesses it?  I'd also like to have some sort of 
webmail server.  Does that also access the email 
directly from the OS, or is it laying on top of the 
IMAP server?  Anyone have any favorite webmail software?

Do I really need Sendmail?  Is Sendmail an SMTP 
server, or what is it exactly?

 From the reading I've been doing, Sendmail is 
considered insecure.  Any other flavors that are 
considered more secure, but aren't the spawn of Satan?


>Sendmail's a bit complicated, but as a mail 
>administrator, I think qmail
>is the spawn of Satan.  It's bounce messages are 
>nearly useless in
>determinging the cause of a problem.  And the 
>messages are overly cute.
>
>Unfortunately, Sendmail spawned what was the largest 
>O'Reilly "Using..."
>book until the Internet Security book came 
>along.  It's just shy of 1000
>pages.  There's a Sendmail-HOWTO out there, and lots 
>of other resources,
>but I still consider the bat book to be the most 
>complete resource.  The
>HOWTO will get you started, though.
>
>--
>Carl D Cravens (raven@xxxxxxxxxxx)
>...and BTW, OTOH (FWIW), IMHO it's OK.
>
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