Mail Servers - Which linux?????

Hi, I wonder if someone could provide me with some advice. I administrate a
windows based network, im looking at solutions for a new mail server to
replace our ageing windows based mdeamon software. I have a server that is
capable of running a mail server and we are looking for a viable new
solution, mainly as inexpensive as possible.

My main requirement is to have an IMAP mail server as opposed to the current
POP3 that will handle normal 'bog standard' IMAP mail, account aliases, and
mailing lists. The problem is myslef and my 2 collegues have a limited
knowledge of linux or unix based systems so we would definatly prefer a GUI
based server. I should also mention we would need less than 500 accounts and
that users would be on windows workstations and use outlook express to
download mail.

Can anyone recommend the most appropriate linux distribution and mail server
software to use. We have a copy of Mandrake Linux but are able to download
or buy a different one quite easily.

Thank you in advance

Phil Sigley

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 17:50:34 +0000 (UTC), Phil Sigley wrote:
> Hi, I wonder if someone could provide me with some advice. I administrate a
> windows based network, im looking at solutions for a new mail server to
> replace our ageing windows based mdeamon software. I have a server that is
> capable of running a mail server and we are looking for a viable new
> solution, mainly as inexpensive as possible.
>
> My main requirement is to have an IMAP mail server as opposed to the current
> POP3 that will handle normal 'bog standard' IMAP mail, account aliases, and
> mailing lists. The problem is myslef and my 2 collegues have a limited
> knowledge of linux or unix based systems so we would definatly prefer a GUI
> based server. I should also mention we would need less than 500 accounts and
> that users would be on windows workstations and use outlook express to
> download mail.
>
> Can anyone recommend the most appropriate linux distribution and mail server
> software to use. We have a copy of Mandrake Linux but are able to download
> or buy a different one quite easily.

http://www.distrowatch.com to see which ones you might want to check
out the vendors web page. Some cds run from cd which allow you to play
with just a desktop and get a feel for hardware useability. Not
servers so read up on it.

Mandrakelinux will work, You can load webmin http://webmin.com/ and
manage it from your web browser, has imap support and runs postfix
MTA. You can hook in filters if you like. Read about it here
http://www.postfix.org/

Mandrake also has sendmail it you like it.

You could also use Mandrake to be your LAN firewall if you like.

You can look at the Mandrake installer
http://doc.mandrakelinux.com/Mandrak...akx-intro.html

"Bit Twister" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 17:50:34 +0000 (UTC), Phil Sigley wrote:
> > Hi, I wonder if someone could provide me with some advice. I
administrate a
> > windows based network, im looking at solutions for a new mail server to
> > replace our ageing windows based mdeamon software. I have a server that
is
> > capable of running a mail server and we are looking for a viable new
> > solution, mainly as inexpensive as possible.
> >
> > My main requirement is to have an IMAP mail server as opposed to the
current
> > POP3 that will handle normal 'bog standard' IMAP mail, account aliases,
and
> > mailing lists. The problem is myslef and my 2 collegues have a limited
> > knowledge of linux or unix based systems so we would definatly prefer a
GUI
> > based server. I should also mention we would need less than 500 accounts
and
> > that users would be on windows workstations and use outlook express to
> > download mail.
> >
> > Can anyone recommend the most appropriate linux distribution and mail
server
> > software to use. We have a copy of Mandrake Linux but are able to
download
> > or buy a different one quite easily.
>
> http://www.distrowatch.com to see which ones you might want to check
> out the vendors web page. Some cds run from cd which allow you to play
> with just a desktop and get a feel for hardware useability. Not
> servers so read up on it.
>
> Mandrakelinux will work, You can load webmin http://webmin.com/ and
> manage it from your web browser, has imap support and runs postfix
> MTA. You can hook in filters if you like. Read about it here
> http://www.postfix.org/
>
> Mandrake also has sendmail it you like it.
>
> You could also use Mandrake to be your LAN firewall if you like.
>
> You can look at the Mandrake installer
>
http://doc.mandrakelinux.com/Mandrak...akx-intro.html
>

Cool thanks, ill have a look at these.

"Phil Sigley" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:cfdrei$ls2$(E-Mail Removed)...
>
> "Bit Twister" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 17:50:34 +0000 (UTC), Phil Sigley wrote:
> > > Hi, I wonder if someone could provide me with some advice. I
> administrate a
> > > windows based network, im looking at solutions for a new mail server
to
> > > replace our ageing windows based mdeamon software. I have a server
that
> is
> > > capable of running a mail server and we are looking for a viable new
> > > solution, mainly as inexpensive as possible.
> > >
> > > My main requirement is to have an IMAP mail server as opposed to the
> current
> > > POP3 that will handle normal 'bog standard' IMAP mail, account
aliases,
> and
> > > mailing lists. The problem is myslef and my 2 collegues have a limited
> > > knowledge of linux or unix based systems so we would definatly prefer
a
> GUI
> > > based server. I should also mention we would need less than 500
accounts
> and
> > > that users would be on windows workstations and use outlook express to
> > > download mail.
> > >
> > > Can anyone recommend the most appropriate linux distribution and mail
> server
> > > software to use. We have a copy of Mandrake Linux but are able to
> download
> > > or buy a different one quite easily.
> >
> > http://www.distrowatch.com to see which ones you might want to check
> > out the vendors web page. Some cds run from cd which allow you to play
> > with just a desktop and get a feel for hardware useability. Not
> > servers so read up on it.
> >
> > Mandrakelinux will work, You can load webmin http://webmin.com/ and
> > manage it from your web browser, has imap support and runs postfix
> > MTA. You can hook in filters if you like. Read about it here
> > http://www.postfix.org/
> >
> > Mandrake also has sendmail it you like it.
> >
> > You could also use Mandrake to be your LAN firewall if you like.
> >
> > You can look at the Mandrake installer
> >
>
http://doc.mandrakelinux.com/Mandrak...akx-intro.html
> >
>
> Cool thanks, ill have a look at these.
>
>
>
hi do any of these servers have the ability to create accounts in bulk for
example from text file or csv file?

On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 22:46:01 +0000 (UTC), Phil Sigley wrote:

> hi do any of these servers have the ability to create accounts in bulk for
> example from text file or csv file?

Hmmm, the ability, yes. Sounds like a simple matter of programming.

Please bookmark the following, very large,
Frequently Asked Questions (faq) Search engine:

http://groups.google.com/advanced_group_search
script create users in the first box
*linux* in Newsgroup box. You need to use the two
asterisks around linux, pick English

Results 1 - 10 of about 12,800 English messages for script create users
group:*linux*. (1.77 seconds)

Selection 5 and 6 look like a start.

Bit Twister wrote:
> On Wed, 11 Aug 2004 22:46:01 +0000 (UTC), Phil Sigley wrote:
>
>
>>hi do any of these servers have the ability to create accounts in bulk for
>>example from text file or csv file?
>
>
> Hmmm, the ability, yes. Sounds like a simple matter of programming.
>
> Please bookmark the following, very large,
> Frequently Asked Questions (faq) Search engine:
>
> http://groups.google.com/advanced_group_search
> script create users in the first box
> *linux* in Newsgroup box. You need to use the two
> asterisks around linux, pick English
>
> Results 1 - 10 of about 12,800 English messages for script create users
> group:*linux*. (1.77 seconds)
>
> Selection 5 and 6 look like a start.
>

You could just write a shell script something like the following,
couldn't you?

*begin script - lets call it create_users.sh*

#!/bin/sh
useradd nameofuser -m -G users -s /bin/bash -p userspassword
useradd nameofanotheruser -m -G users -s /bin/bash -p anotherpassword

*end script*

See "man useradd" for options on adding users. Oh, and don't forget to
"chmod +x create_users.sh" before you run it.

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On onsdag 11. august 2004, 19:50 Phil Sigley tried to express an opinion:

> The problem is myslef and my 2 collegues have a limited
> knowledge of linux or unix based systems so we would definatly prefer a GUI
> based server.

> We have a copy of Mandrake Linux

Install mandrake and choose postfix as your mailserver.

for GUI configuration, there is an exelent package called "webmin"
which can setup most of the servers & settings you'll need to adjust.
(www.webmin.com)

There is a webmin module included with the distribution,
and I believe it's installed & enabled by default.
I recommend getting the latest version, as it is updated & bugs fixed.

To use webmin, point your browser to http(s)://your.com.put.er:10000
Log in as root.

You can add webmin users that may handle certain tasks.
Like one might handle apache,
another might have access to add users on the system.


I used to use linuxconf to setup my systems. I stil use it for some tasks.
But Webmin is (in my opinion) easier to use.

One webmin module you might be interested in,
is "usermin" which has a webmail interface.
(http(s)://your.computer:20000)

In my opinion, it's brilliant :-)=

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