[CentOS] Ultra simple mail server config?

Wed Jan 24 02:54:36 UTC 2007
Benjamin Smith <lists at benjamindsmith.com>

On Wednesday 17 January 2007 07:19, Dave wrote:
> Can anyone point me towards a HOW-TO that describes
> how to transform a normal CentOS install into a very
> basic POP3/IMAP/SMTP email server?

CentOS is prebuilt to be a nice, low-maintenance mail server. I've got several 
of them that I maintain, if by 'maintain', you really mean 'leave plugged 
in'. Yum is your friend, and so are the other people on this list. 

> There will not be a full-time IT person to maintain
> the server, so simplicity is a must.

Simplicity. Check 

> I am perfectly fine with leaving out complex
> server-side spam filtering, though I suspect that some
> basic blacklist usage would be a good idea. 

Not complex. Check 

> Most specifically, I don't want to add the security
> liability  and maintenance requirements of a typical
> "default" server. (Apache, PHP, MySQL, Bind, etc.)

Don't install all that other stuff. Check 

> Basically, I want an ultra-basic server that I can set
> for automatic updates and let it continue running
> "hands-off" until CentOS 4 is no longer supported with
> security patches.

Automatic. Check 

> Does such a HOW-TO exist?

(Scratches head) Dunno. Wanna make one? 

1) Install packages 

	# yum -y install dovecot sendmail sendmail-cf; 

2) Basic config: 
	# chkconfig dovecot on; 
	# chkconfig sendmail on; 


3) Edit sendmail.mc: Change this line 
DAEMON_OPTIONS(`Port=smtp,Addr=127.0.0.1, Name=MTA')dnl
so that it says: 
DAEMON_OPTIONS(`Port=smtp, Name=MTA')dnl
Add this line at/near the bottom: 
FEATURE(dnsbl,`sbl-xbl.spamhaus.org')dnl
save file, and then run 
m4 < sendmail.mc > sendmail.cf; 


4) Other sendmail configs, google up 
	local-host-names : list of server names you're receiving for 
	virtusertable : email addresses and where you want them to go. 

5) Start the services! 
	service start sendmail; 
	service start dovecot; 

6) Open up the iptables firewall to allow inbound on ports 25, 143, and 110. 
(I usually edit /etc/sysconfig/iptables directly, but that can be problematic 
if you ever use a GUI to edit firewall rules, which I don't) 

7) Update your DNS records so that the STATIC ip of the server you've just put 
together is your first (lowest numbered) MX record. 

There's more that you can do, but for getting started, that should pretty much 
do it. No, it's not really all that difficult! 

-Ben 

> If not, and there are experts here willing to help
> out, I would be happy to write up my experience. 
> 
> Thank you for reading,
> David
> 
> 
>  
> 
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