[Discuss] Running a mail server, or not

[lconrad at laymusic.org (Laura Conrad)]

>>>>> "David" == David Kramer <david at thekramers.net> writes:

    David> - I got a Linode server, and tried to set up a mail server for it and
    David> failed. I reached out for help here and it didn't work out. The
    David> directions for setting up postfix/dovecot/procmail/spamassassin/certs
    David> was incredibly long and complicated, and I'm not a SysAdmin, so I
    David> never got a full working solution.

I have mailman running on a linode, which involves having a server that
sends and receives mail.  I did try to run my personal mail through
that, but ended up using zoho.com, which you may want to look at.  It
seems to work and be pretty reliable.

I used the linode mailman instructions for setiing up my mail, which may be a
little easier than following their mail server instructions.

You can read about my migration at
<https://blog.laymusic.org/2016/05/18/what-ive-been-doing-for-the-last-couple-of-months/>.



    David> Questions:
    David> - Are there any other solutions to my end goal (privacy and control
    David> over mail routing to mailboxes) that I'm missing, other than running
    David> my own mail server? Some other mail platform I can trust and also set
    David> up very complex routing rules with?? GMail and Office365 are right out
    David> on general privacy and trust principles, and client-side filtering is
    David> not an option because I read my email on 4+ devices.

I was really glad to find zoho.com.  I've never solved the reading mail
on several devices problem to my satisfaction, but I'd bet on zoho being
a better place to start than your own server on linode.  I still get
complaints about mail bouncing from the mailman server (most recently
some (but not all) yahoo addresses).

My current "solution" to the mail on several devices problem involves
having an openssh server on my main computer and logging in to the
machine that gets the mail from zoho from the other devices and reading
it there.  That isn't some people's idea of a solution, but it works for
me.

    David> - Are Postfix/Dovecot/procmail the best tools for me, and worth the
    David> insane configuration process?

I don't hate postfix as much as I used to hate sendmail, but it did try
hard to be sendmail-compatible, so it has a lot of the same
complications.  I didn't get Dovecot working (after not very much
trying), but procmail is how fetchmail is delivering my zoho mail to my
mailbox, and it seems reliable and well-supported.  That is, I don't
really understand it, but I can always google and get a recipe that does
what I want.

    David> - I've asked here before if anyone was willing to help me,
    David> for free or for money (no I can't pay $50 an hour but I can
    David> pay). Given that failure means my mail won't work, relying on
    David> asking questions on mailing lists if I run into trouble is
    David> problematic.

I did this two years ago, so my memory has probably lost many of the
more obnoxious details, but if you have questions, I may remember
something useful.


-- 
Laura   (mailto:lconrad at laymusic.org)
<https://plus.google.com/u/0/116029698292079786511>
(617) 661-8097	233 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02139   
<http://www.laymusic.org/> <http://www.serpentpublications.org>

After much pondering, I think I understand a basic reason why a glass
of something reviving is so welcome in the early evening.  Partly, of
course, it's just that, to revive, to relax, but it's also a
convenient way of becoming a slightly different person from your
daytime self, less methodical, less calculating -- however you put it,
somebody different, and the prospect of that has helped to make the
day tolerable.  And, conversely, it's not having that prospect that
makes the day look grim to the poor old ex-boozer, more than missing
the alcohol as such.  Changing for dinner used to be another way of
switching roles.  Coming home from work has a touch of the same
effect.

Writers haven't got that advantage -- when they finish work they're at
home already.  So perhaps they need that glass of gin extra badly.
Any excuse is better than none.

Kingsley Amis, _Every Day Drinking_