Linode.com Forum

djtriptoy · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 27

Good day,

I hate when it comes down to this, but I've tried several times but have failed. I have dealt with Linux a lot over the years but still consider myself a n00b overall.

I am trying to setup my first mail server from scratch using Debian 4.0, in past VPS's this was automated through a control panel interface such as HSCOMPELTE.

Forget my failed tries, I don't even want to cover what I've accomplished so far, so all installs have been removed and I have reinstalled Debian 4.0 fresh. If someone could please walk me through setting up my server to send/receive email the proper way I would appreciate it.

First and foremost, I just want to be able to send/received so setting up a webmail client isn't important yet. So if we can get everything setup correctly to connect to my server using outlook or thunderbird I would consider this a success. Only Me and close friends will be using it so no need for anything fancy. I don't care if I use sendmail or postfix or any other app, I just need reasons why, for my reference.

Just as a note, I will be setting up MySQL, PHP and Apache later on.

So in summary, who can help me set up my mail server from a scratch Linode Debian 4.0 install?

silly questions · Joined: 02 Apr 2007 Posts: 12 Location: UK

djtriptoy wrote: I am trying to setup my first mail server from scratch using Debian 4.0, in past VPS's this was automated through a control panel interface such as HSCOMPELTE..........

Hi,

Not sure if this is exactly what you are looking for but I have used both of these tutorials at some point.

http://workaround.org/articles/ispmail-etch/

http://www.qmailrocks.org/

Both of these set-ups leave you with a sophisticated mail server dealing wih multiple domains etc. and are a lot easier to follow than they first appear.

zeroday · Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 9

Check these resources:
http://www.howtoforge.com/
http://technichristian.net/intro/index.php?q=debian-etch-server

kangaby · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Posts: 62

This is how I did mine. It may not be best practice, but it works.

http://www.linode.com/wiki/index.php/User:Kangaby

djtriptoy · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 27

Quote: http://technichristian.net/intro/index.php?q=debian-etch-server
I have tried those steps, skipping non mail related steps like httpdlight.

I can not get this to work, all I want to be able to do is send/receive via pop/smtp and possibly add webmail later. This tutorial was having me setup SSL and everything, completely wrong direction.

mail.domain.net would be my incoming and outgoing mail server address, correct?

Quote: This is how I did mine. It may not be best practice, but it works.

http://www.linode.com/wiki/index.php/User:Kangaby
I don't see any mail related items, what am I missing?

graham · Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 38 Location: London, England

I used to run exim, but have switched to using Google Apps For Your Domain. http://www.google.com/a/. It's great if all you want is to get e-mail on your domain working, but of course you don't learn much about Linux of e-mail servers in the process. Depends on your goals. There will be plenty to learn when you setup Apache / MySQL / etc later on :-)

djtriptoy · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 27

Graham,

I am not that bad at Apache, MySQL, PHP. Ive developed websites for many years. Just completely clueless with mail servers and some DNS stuff. :lol:

I will check that out though, I atleast need to get working email for now.

Thanks!

kernelkrash · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 3

Perhaps this will be of help...
(from thread:http://www.linode.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2699)

This looks like what you might have been searching for:
http://adminspotting.net/building-a-messaging-server note "Part Two - Setting Up Postfix"

djtriptoy · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 27

I have set up Google apps and pointed my CNAME on Linode to the one specified by Google, only when I go to mail.triptoy.net it shows my main website in var/www instead of Google mail.

Internat · Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 10:47 pm Post subject:

A check on ur dns shows that mail.triptoy.net does indeed point to triptoy.net
Are you sure that youve updated the cname properly?
And you are aware that dns takes a while to propergate though to the rest of the world from when you update it in the linode dns manager?

Cheers

djtriptoy · Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 27

Here is a screenshot of my DNS manager.

mail ghs.google.com Default Edit Remove

although my A/AAA indicates...

mail 67.18.186.137 3600 (1 hour) Edit Remove

could this be the problem?

Internat · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 7:01 am Post subject:

yep, that would certinaly do it. I imagine a names override cnames..

sweh · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 223

You can't have an A record and CNAME record for the same entry; that just doesn't make sense. What will happen then is implementation specific. Nasal daemons are an option.

kangaby · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Posts: 62

You could try my tutorial again. It has lots of new stuff.

Also use this. This was the basis for my mail system. Nice and simple.
http://adminspotting.net/building-a-messaging-server

My First Mail Server, I need help