Postfix on Linux -- recommendations for distro?

billinvegas · 02-20-2007, 02:16 PM

Hi,

I would like to replace the mail server in our company with a more modern, up to date version of Postfix.

The current box is a SOHO type appliance, and apparently it is quite locked down, unable to update, or change anything without purchasing the lastest box from this company.

I have access to a Dual Xeon 2.8 gig box, that I would like to make our mail server.

I have limited experience with Linux, however I am familiar with MS products (adding Exchange isn't an option due to lack of $$, and other issues)

I would like some feedback on which distro would be "best" (if there is such a thing) to install to run a Postfix mail server.

Secondly, any resources on exactly how to configure the mail server.
(not afraid of using a cmd prompt, so I don't think that a shell will bother me too much) Just looking for a step by step type instruction
i.e. change to this directory, edit this file, etc...
(btw, have used vi before, so that's not too much of an issue)

I'm planning on having this box running simultaneously with the existing box, before I make the switchover.

Lastly, I would like to find information on how to "migrate" (if this is an appropriate term) the existing e-mail accounts from the old server, to the new. All of the users are using POP, and downloading their e-mail to their workstations, so, if this can't happen, it's not a deal breaker

thanks!

Bill

cgjones · 02-20-2007, 02:49 PM

Check out HowtoForge. My personal preference for the distro would be Debian or one of the Debian derivatives, such as Ubuntu. Although I've done alot of Postfix work on RedHat distro's, such as Fedora and CentOS, and never ran into any major problems.

farslayer · 02-20-2007, 03:45 PM

I just setup a brand new HP server with Debian etch and installed Postfix and a variety of other pieces for a complete mail system.. Debian would be my recommendation as well. I was hoping etch would go stable before I moved it to production.... still waiting..

This is the how to I started with..
http://www.debian-administration.org/articles/364

Code:

    *  postfix 2.1.5-9
    * amavisd-new 20030616p10-5
    * clamav 0.88 (from volatile)
    * clamav-daemon 0.88 (from volatile)
    * clamav-docs 0.88 (from volatile)
    * spamassassin 3.0.3-2
    * courier-imap 3.0.8-4
    * courier-imap-ssl: 3.0.8-4
    * courier-maildrop 0.47-4

Then I moved on to add a few other features(SASL / Webmail). aptitude makes it really easy to add in the components you need/want for your server. and making use of the Debian volatile repositories for rapid updates of virus definitions for ClamAV is nice.

and don't forget to set your hostname correctly.. I made a minor goof and ended up on a blacklist within a couple days just because of a minor misconfiguration in the hostname.. **sigh** http://www.cpqlinux.com/hostname.html