[NTLUG:Discuss] new mail server options

[Stuart Johnston]

MontyS at videopost.com wrote:
> Greetings.
> 
> I would like to get opinions on various packages for email.  (Not trying to
> start flame wars, just wanting pros & cons and possibly alternatives...)
> 
> Postfix vs. sendmail?

Exim4 is pretty nice once you get used to it.  The config files are a 
little more complicated but it is a tradeoff for the additional power 
that you get.  If you are stuck on RedHat, though, you should probably 
stick with postfix.  Although, I get the feeling that sendmail may be 
regaining some popularity (along with MailScanner).

> Which IMAP server is preferred?

Maybe Cyrus?  Dovecot sounds promising and UW is easy and good enough 
for many situations.

> Squirrelmail for web-based email?

Seems to be the default although I'm not a huge fan (I hate that left 
frame).  I like hastymail although it may go a little too far with its 
'no cookies, no javascript' design.

> clamAV for anti-virus?

Yes.

> We will also be running Spamassassin.

Of course.  :)

> The OS is Red Hat ES3.  (We are a Red Hat "house" already.)
> 
> We are replacing an old WinNT/Exchange 5.5 server.  We will still be using
> Outlook for the client, but we don't use the "collaboration features" of
> Outlook.

If you are not completely stuck on RedHat and you've got some cash to 
burn, you might look at SUSE's Openexchange Server.  Or the open source 
version, Open-Xchange which is free and will run on RedHat but looses 
the commercial config tools and graphics.

> 
> What are the benefits/problems of using the maildir format over mbox?
> 

I believe the general wisdom is that mbox is better if you have lots of 
small messages and maildir is better for fewer but larger messages. 
Some servers will support both and I think that with a good server, the 
difference will be negligible.

> I am going to try to not run pop, if possible.

Good.  You may also want to do TLS/SASL from the start.

> 
> Should I run the packages as bundled with the Red Hat distribution, or
> download them from their respective web/ftp sites?

That's a tricky one.  I'd probably say to stick with bundled stuff when 
you can.  You'll probably want to make sure you get the latest SA and 
clamAV, though.  There are 3rd party sources for RPM but I don't have 
any recommendations on the best.

> 
>>From my web research, Postfix, Squirrelmail, clamAV and of course
> Spamassassin seems to be the way to go at this time.  I can't get a clear
> indication of which IMAP server is "best".
> 
> Any other thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Look at Maia Mailguard for integrating your spam system.


Stuart Johnston

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http://www.mailscanner.info/
http://asg.web.cmu.edu/cyrus/
http://www.dovecot.org/
http://hastymail.sourceforge.net/
http://www.novell.com/products/openexchange/
http://www.renaissoft.com/projects/maia/