[Mailman-Users] mail server recommendations?

[Raymond Wood]

On Thu, Aug 28, 2003 at 12:13:10AM +0200, Brad Knowles imagined:
> At 2:21 PM -0700 2003/08/27, Aviram Carmi wrote:
> > If I am to make changes to sendmail might as well install another
> > server which will be better/easier for me as a non-admin person to
> > use/configure/maintain.
> 
> 	[ ... deletia ... ]
> 
> > Any recommendations/suggestions?
> >
> > Should I even bother to replace sendmail?
> 
> Sendmail is quite capable of doing the job.  However, many people 
> find it difficult to configure and manage.

I tend to agree.  Feature-wise, Sendmail is still the most
powerful MTA AFAICT, but most people can make their lives easier
by choosing a less complex one, like Postfix or Exim.

Cross Smail off your list; it is way old, and possibly obsolete.
Qmail has fanatical devotees, but is not a 'drop-in' replacement
for Sendmail, and also has a 'non-free' license.  I'd cross them
both off your list.  YMMV.

> For smaller sites, or sites wishing to have a simpler
> configuration file, I find that postfix generally works very
> well.  It has one of the simplest configuration files that I
> have ever seen, and comes configured out-of-the-box to be just
> about the perfect MTA for a mailing list.

Postfix is also designed, like Qmail, from the ground up with
security in mind.  I'm told the source-code is a joy to look at,
but don't quote me on that as I'm no authority  :-)

> I've also heard good things about Exim, but my own
> experiences so far have been less positive with it than with
> postfix.  Note that Exim is not designed to be a drop-in
> replacement for sendmail, whereas postfix works very hard to
> function correctly in this role.

I think you want to double-check this; you may be thinking of
Qmail here.  AFAIK Exim, like Postfix, is structured to be a
drop-in replacement for Sendmail, but verify this for yourself.

> 	If you'd like to learn more about postfix, you may want to
> 	check out the article at 
> <http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/08/25/1125223&mode=thread&tid=126&tid=172&tid=95>, 
> and read the pages that they link to.
> 
> 
> 	You should also read the Mailman FAQ, question 4.2 "Which MTA 
> should I use with Mailman?", at 
> <http://www.python.org/cgi-bin/faqw-mm.py?req=show&file=faq04.002.htp>.

FWIW I use both Exim and Postfix, and they both work fine.  If I
were to set up a new server right now, I'd go with Postfix.  I
just wish it had Exim's license  ;)

Have Fun, 
Raymond
-- 
"What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the
homeless, whether the mad destruction is brought under the name
of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy?"
(Gandhi)
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