[NTLUG:Discuss] Advice? Router/firewall/email server/backup on same box

[Stuart Johnston]

Dennis Daupert wrote:
> I tried searching NTLUG archives, every page gets 404
> Not Found.
> 
> I have an old Optiplex, mobo is dead, want to upgrade
> and build router/firewall, process email for my local
> lan w/ spam and virus filtering, and run a Subversion
> server and big harddrive to backup local machine home
> directories.
> 
> I imagine there are security considerations. Any
> advice?
> 

Make sure you use a recent distro that's easy to keep up to date.  In 
your firewall, block everything except 22, 25, 80, 443, and 993 (if you 
want remote IMAP).

> Anybody have hardware recommendations for mobo and
> CPU? 

I wouldn't expect you to have much luck finding a replacement 
motherboard for an old Optiplex.  Get an old PowerEdge off eBay or First 
Saturday.  For example: 
http://cgi.ebay.com/Poweredge-2300-550-Server_W0QQitemZ5814196800

Make sure you get enough RAM if you want to do SpamAssassin.  256M would 
be good;  128M might work OK.

For a personal email server, I like to to do reject-at-smtp for the 
virus/email filtering.  That way you don't have to worry about 
quarantining and such.  The easiest way I know of to do that is with 
Exim4 (and Debian).

HTH, let us know when you need more details.

-Stuart