I currently have a registered domain, sample.com which has its MX records pointing to my Linux box. My Linux box is part of my sample.local domain which runs Exchange 2003.

When all email arrives on my Linux box I use mailertable to forward all email for sample.com over to my Exchange server, exchange.sample.local

I really want to utilise my Linux box more. I use IMF and RBL on Exchange but nothing beats (In my eyes) Spam Assasin and feel I owuld be in more control. Sure OWA is pretty and you can't deny its probably got the best functions of all web clients.

My exchange server is its own SMTP server.

Should I get all mail delivered to my Linux box where procmail can do it's thing with Spamassasin and what ever.
Then use the virtual user table to forward on email to username.sample.local.

On the Exchange side I will use my Linux Box as a smart host and get Linux to Masquerade sample.local to be sample.com

What is the normal way of acheiving this

On the linux side of thing, I have used postfix for the MTA, then set a transport in postfix to push the mail directed at "sample.com" to an exchange server. The exchange server still thinks it is the MX for that domain, the emails sent to it are scanned by the linux box, and everything is happy. You could even point the exchange server to the linux box as a smart host so that all email coming out of the exchange server also gets scanned by your linux box.

Any chance you could give me some pointers in doing this. I am running FC5 using sendmail as my MTA, I know I can change the /etc/alternatives to start using Postfix. Will I need to completly change my mail configuration files eg. Not use Sendmail.mc anymore and use different ones.

Yep. If you go to postfix, you would have to completely reconfigure your mail subsystem using the configuration files in /etc/postfix.

The Postfix Basic Configuration Guide shows how to do this:

http://www.postfix.org/BASIC_CONFIGURATION_README.html

I've done this with sendmail, but Postfix is much easier to configure.

Lapthorn,
I would also, if your new to this, recommend that you download webmin. It gives you a web page to configure everything. Beats digging through text files that you might mess up the syntax.

I typically use a linux box to filter a clients email in & out going. For heavy sites (my 2 cents) use postfix, spamassassin, procmail, Rayzor or Phazor and if clients are going to login dovecot or cypress for imap and pop3 connections. We set up a honey pot server(email black hole) and it captures almost 5000 spam an hour, we then use the Rayzor database it creates, for all the real servers. Sendmail (again my 2 cents), spamassassin, procmail, Rayzor or Phazor and if clients are going to login dovecot this combo works well for smaller sites, however it allows better forwarding. It will look at a host file instead of a full fledge dns server. Postfix wants the dns.

WARNING: If you do not set it up correctly the Linux box will forward your emails without scanning them, It thinks the next server should scan them.

I have not had a Microsoft exchange server directly on the internet for more then three years. I see 18 servers on a regular basis...Last one a brand new 2003, was on the net for 3-4 hours before it was compromised. Was also running Symantec Corp. Edition, don't think much of it eather.

Favorite RBL's:
spamhaus.org
spamcop.org

Remember: The more you learn, the more you can help others.

I have done it successfully many times with Exchange 2003. I have used the Linux box as a relay with spam and AV scanning and then sent the mail over to exchange for delivery. The Exchange server used the linux box as the SMTP server also. If you need to know how to do this, let me know and I'll point you to a guide I've written.

deeztech: I would appreciate it if you could point me to that guide. Thanks.

E-mail me at dinoatdeeztechdotcom and I'll send you the link. I'm unable to post links to these forums since I'm so new.

I guess you only need 3 posts to be able to post URLs:

Here's the link to the guide:

http://forums.theonpc.com/viewtopic.php?t=11

I'm still writing the very last part. This should get you on your way though. By the time you get to the last part, I can probably walk you through it or I may even be done with it.

Thanks! I'll give it a go.