5 ms·

Ask HN: Do you run your own mail server? If yes, how?

7 points by middleclick 12y ago

If you run your own mail server, how (setup) and where (VPS, dedicated hosting) do you do it? Is it worth the hassle?

pwg 12y ago
> If you run your own mail server, Yes. > how (setup) Postfix (http://www.postfix.org/ http://www.postfix.org/) and Linux. > and where (VPS, dedicated hosting) do you do it? At home, on my static IP FIOS link. > Is it worth the hassle? No hassle, once setup. Configuring Postfix for basic email is not so bad. But, you will need to learn a bit about email handling to do the config. Worth it, yes. No one mines my email for advertising purposes once they arrive. No one suddenly 'closes down' their service and my emails disappear. If the NSA ends up wanting my emails, they have to show up here, where I know they have arrived, vs. just quietly asking some provider for them. I don't have to use some services awful web interface to read/reply (I get to use whatever I want).
- middleclick 12y ago
  That sounds like an ideal setup. I can't afford to get a static IP but other than that, this is pretty much what I had in mind.
  - callmeed 12y ago
    I recall some home routers having the ability to ping a DNS service any time your IP changes. Can't recall the name or router compatibility but might solve the dynamic ip issue.
    - pwg 12y ago
      One which used to be free, but is not anymore, is DynDns. Run a search for "dynamic dns" and you will find a bunch of providers.
  - pwg 12y ago
    Hosting your own email works best with a static IP, but you can "get by" with a dynamic due to the store-and-forward nature of the protocol.
  - tejasm 12y ago
    You can probably use a service like zzzz.io or DynaDNS. This will eliminate the need for static IP. No?
    - Vendan 12y ago
      issue is less the ip address then it is the need for special MX dns records, which most of those services don't let you set up
      - pwg 12y ago
        Very true, but some dynamic dns providers do allow MX records. A list of them is here (found via search, no suggestion of "goodness"): http://www.gnutomorrow.com/best-free-dynamic-dns-services-in-2013/ http://www.gnutomorrow.com/best-free-dynamic-dns-services-in...
- me1010 12y ago
  NSA and your email... Well, there was a blog post I read at some point entitled "Google has half of my email because it has all of yours." here... found it... http://mako.cc/copyrighteous/google-has-most-of-my-email-because-it-has-all-of-yours http://mako.cc/copyrighteous/google-has-most-of-my-email-bec... I imagine this also applies to the NSA collection programs.
- DanBC 12y ago
  Your emails are sent in plaintext over the Internet, right?
  - me1010 12y ago
    They don't have to be. GNUPG FTW!
aroch 12y ago
Yes, the setup: Roundcube as my webmail client and Postbox (OSX) and K9 (Android) for clients. Mail push (well, most like fake ActiveSync) with zpush IMAP and POP3 access using Dovevot, with SSL SMTP using Postfix, with STARTLS CalDev/CardDev with Radicale for contacts and callendars Postgrey/DSPAM/strict DKIM enforcement for anti-spam Everything mail related is on encrypted storage. I run my mailserver on a VPS hosted with Leaseweb (Viginia) currently. IS it worth it? Maybe, it was a fun (and frustrating) experience getting it up and running by hand but I'm pretty happy with it. Unlimited email addresses for my 6 domains and some "geek cred"
- middleclick 12y ago
  Thanks! Noted. More than the geek cred, I want to do it so that I have control over my email.
kfullert 12y ago
Yes, I use Symbiosis from Bytemark and run it on one of their BigV machines - Symbiosis wraps exim and dovecot for one of the easiest to manage virtual mail systems I've ever run - all the Symbiosis "wrappers" around the various products are all open source as well.
- tdobson 12y ago
  thanks for the plug Kevin! :D
me1010 12y ago
Yes! I run three mail servers. I have all three running on separate Linodes. I could probably combine them into one server, but I use them for different purposes. Each server consists of: 0. Debian 1. postfix 2. courier 3. sasl 4. postgresql authentication 5. enable blacklist blocking 6. TBD - setting up fail2ban. I could post a config for each component, but that may get lengthy. The hardest part of figuring out the setup for me was remembering to configure the groups correctly for sasl socket access. It's definitely worth running my own server. Linode has a $10/month server which would easily handle all email for you and few friends/family. The setup is very easy. Just remember to public-key your ssh access and then lock any passwords. I get nearly no spam mail, and it's lots of fun to watch the blocking log entries go by... EDIT: my list didn't come out as a list -- unfamiliar with the tagging possibilities on this site - if any...
tobylane 12y ago
I don't run one. I would like to know if Arstechnica's guide on how to run one is any good?
kazinator 12y ago
I use DynDNS for my custom domain, with MX and SPF records for mail. The server is a Debian box under my desk right here. The IP address is just a cable telco provided one. It's not static, but doesn't change frequently. I use Exim for the MTA, with a very customized anti-spam setup that I still tweak from time to time. For sending SMTP, I forward to the telco's SMTP server, and my SPF record delegates to them. Worth the hassle? Very much so.
- kazinator 12y ago
  Also, I allow external IMAP access, and have a special port for authenticated SMTP (not 25). This lets me use a mobile mail client application on my Android phone. Like aroch's setup: the K9 client on Android, RoundCube webmail.
mben 12y ago
Yes, iRedMail (http://www.iredmail.org/ http://www.iredmail.org/) on Digital Ocean. The $10/mo VM is enough for a low traffic mail server.
thisisdallas 12y ago
Would setting up my own mail server be a viable option for freelance clients who need email? When doing freelance web development I always offer to host my clients sites and they almost always ask about email addresses. No that google and microsoft don't offer free custom domain email addresses anymore I've had to tell them it will cost or I can set them up with zoho. I've been wanting to set up my own email server and wouldn't mind offering the service to clients for free (obviously that would be after I get very used to administrating an email server). Would that be a horrible idea? Are there any specific laws or regulations in the US I would need to know about before providing email to clients?

7 points by middleclick 12y ago

If you run your own mail server, how (setup) and where (VPS, dedicated hosting) do you do it? Is it worth the hassle?

pwg 12y ago

> If you run your own mail server, Yes. > how (setup) Postfix (http://www.postfix.org/ http://www.postfix.org/) and Linux. > and where (VPS, dedicated hosting) do you do it? At home, on my static IP FIOS link. > Is it worth the hassle? No hassle, once setup. Configuring Postfix for basic email is not so bad. But, you will need to learn a bit about email handling to do the config. Worth it, yes. No one mines my email for advertising purposes once they arrive. No one suddenly 'closes down' their service and my emails disappear. If the NSA ends up wanting my emails, they have to show up here, where I know they have arrived, vs. just quietly asking some provider for them. I don't have to use some services awful web interface to read/reply (I get to use whatever I want).

middleclick 12y ago
That sounds like an ideal setup. I can't afford to get a static IP but other than that, this is pretty much what I had in mind.
- callmeed 12y ago
  I recall some home routers having the ability to ping a DNS service any time your IP changes. Can't recall the name or router compatibility but might solve the dynamic ip issue.
  - pwg 12y ago
    One which used to be free, but is not anymore, is DynDns. Run a search for "dynamic dns" and you will find a bunch of providers.
- pwg 12y ago
  Hosting your own email works best with a static IP, but you can "get by" with a dynamic due to the store-and-forward nature of the protocol.
- tejasm 12y ago
  You can probably use a service like zzzz.io or DynaDNS. This will eliminate the need for static IP. No?
  - Vendan 12y ago
    issue is less the ip address then it is the need for special MX dns records, which most of those services don't let you set up
    - pwg 12y ago
      Very true, but some dynamic dns providers do allow MX records. A list of them is here (found via search, no suggestion of "goodness"): http://www.gnutomorrow.com/best-free-dynamic-dns-services-in-2013/ http://www.gnutomorrow.com/best-free-dynamic-dns-services-in...
me1010 12y ago
NSA and your email... Well, there was a blog post I read at some point entitled "Google has half of my email because it has all of yours." here... found it... http://mako.cc/copyrighteous/google-has-most-of-my-email-because-it-has-all-of-yours http://mako.cc/copyrighteous/google-has-most-of-my-email-bec... I imagine this also applies to the NSA collection programs.
DanBC 12y ago
Your emails are sent in plaintext over the Internet, right?
- me1010 12y ago
  They don't have to be. GNUPG FTW!

aroch 12y ago

Yes, the setup: Roundcube as my webmail client and Postbox (OSX) and K9 (Android) for clients. Mail push (well, most like fake ActiveSync) with zpush IMAP and POP3 access using Dovevot, with SSL SMTP using Postfix, with STARTLS CalDev/CardDev with Radicale for contacts and callendars Postgrey/DSPAM/strict DKIM enforcement for anti-spam Everything mail related is on encrypted storage. I run my mailserver on a VPS hosted with Leaseweb (Viginia) currently. IS it worth it? Maybe, it was a fun (and frustrating) experience getting it up and running by hand but I'm pretty happy with it. Unlimited email addresses for my 6 domains and some "geek cred"

middleclick 12y ago
Thanks! Noted. More than the geek cred, I want to do it so that I have control over my email.

kfullert 12y ago

Yes, I use Symbiosis from Bytemark and run it on one of their BigV machines - Symbiosis wraps exim and dovecot for one of the easiest to manage virtual mail systems I've ever run - all the Symbiosis "wrappers" around the various products are all open source as well.

tdobson 12y ago
thanks for the plug Kevin! :D

me1010 12y ago

Yes! I run three mail servers. I have all three running on separate Linodes. I could probably combine them into one server, but I use them for different purposes. Each server consists of: 0. Debian 1. postfix 2. courier 3. sasl 4. postgresql authentication 5. enable blacklist blocking 6. TBD - setting up fail2ban. I could post a config for each component, but that may get lengthy. The hardest part of figuring out the setup for me was remembering to configure the groups correctly for sasl socket access. It's definitely worth running my own server. Linode has a $10/month server which would easily handle all email for you and few friends/family. The setup is very easy. Just remember to public-key your ssh access and then lock any passwords. I get nearly no spam mail, and it's lots of fun to watch the blocking log entries go by... EDIT: my list didn't come out as a list -- unfamiliar with the tagging possibilities on this site - if any...

tobylane 12y ago

I don't run one. I would like to know if Arstechnica's guide on how to run one is any good?

kazinator 12y ago

I use DynDNS for my custom domain, with MX and SPF records for mail. The server is a Debian box under my desk right here. The IP address is just a cable telco provided one. It's not static, but doesn't change frequently. I use Exim for the MTA, with a very customized anti-spam setup that I still tweak from time to time. For sending SMTP, I forward to the telco's SMTP server, and my SPF record delegates to them. Worth the hassle? Very much so.

kazinator 12y ago
Also, I allow external IMAP access, and have a special port for authenticated SMTP (not 25). This lets me use a mobile mail client application on my Android phone. Like aroch's setup: the K9 client on Android, RoundCube webmail.

mben 12y ago

Yes, iRedMail (http://www.iredmail.org/ http://www.iredmail.org/) on Digital Ocean. The $10/mo VM is enough for a low traffic mail server.

thisisdallas 12y ago

Would setting up my own mail server be a viable option for freelance clients who need email? When doing freelance web development I always offer to host my clients sites and they almost always ask about email addresses. No that google and microsoft don't offer free custom domain email addresses anymore I've had to tell them it will cost or I can set them up with zoho. I've been wanting to set up my own email server and wouldn't mind offering the service to clients for free (obviously that would be after I get very used to administrating an email server). Would that be a horrible idea? Are there any specific laws or regulations in the US I would need to know about before providing email to clients?