[NTLUG:Discuss] Sendmail question

[Kelledin]

On Monday 27 May 2002 03:31 pm, you wrote:
> I'm a newbie so please go easy on me...  Recently downloaded, burned and
> installed a copy of RH 7.3 on a Dell PowerEdge 4200 server.  I am wanting
> this box to handle email for a domain hosted elsewhere
> (http://www.richardsonhumanesociety.com).  Is this possible?

Yes, using your static IP.  Every domain name in a DNS table is required to 
have an "A" record (to determine which IP address(es) to associate with this 
domain name); each domain name may also have an "MX" record (to determine the 
IP address(es) of the SMTP server for this domain).  You just need to set up 
the SMTP server, then contact whoever is maintaining the master DNS servers 
for your domain name (assuming you aren't maintaining them yourself) and have 
them commit the change.

> If so, for
> someone who knows nothing about sendmail and very little about Linux (or
> any other Unix-like environment), how difficult is the challenge?

This can be done, but sendmail is not for beginners.  You might be better off 
with an alternative SMTP server like postfix.  You'll also need to know how 
to set up the necessary port forwarding on your router.

> What I
> would like to do is be able to assign user mail accounts which members can
> check through their respective email clients if possible.

This is simple enough, but an SMTP server like sendmail is only part of the 
solution.  You'll also need a POP/IMAP server set up.  The SMTP server takes 
care of receiving and storing mail; the POP/IMAP server allows e-mail clients 
to download messages stored by sendmail.

> If we can tackle
> this one I would also like to talk about the feasibility of hosting
> FrontPage webs on Apache, and / or using the Linux box as a point of origin
> for .asp pages for a web which is hosted elsewhere, if possible.

One thing at a time. ;)  The FrontPage extensions are beyond my level of 
expertise.

--
Kelledin
"If a server crashes in a server farm and no one pings it, does it still cost 
four figures to fix?"