Basic Mail Server

WhoFlungDo · 04-24-2012, 07:30 AM

I have setup a pretty basic CentOS 6.2 server in house. It runs WordPress for a basic test Intranet/Blog site. I have also installed Postfix using this site (http://www.linuxmail.info/mail-server-setup-centos-6/)
I have tested running telnet at the server and sending mail from a command line and it queues it fine, but the mail never gets delivered to the users Maildir folder. This is a very basic configuration with only 2 users. The server is hidden behind our firewall and only acts a mail server for our local domain, again, only in a test environment. I am pretty new to CentOS (linux in general) but would like some direction as to where to start.

Thank you for your assistance

TommyC7 · 04-24-2012, 08:23 AM

Hi there.

That's a nice guide you have there, but CentOS also gives out a Postfix/Dovecot guide on their own Wiki which you may want to try:

http://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/postfix

It has configurations for both Postfix and Dovecot. Other good reads are books on RedHat System Administration. 99% of <Insert Operating System Here> System Administration books I've read try and teach the reader how to setup various servers using that Operating System ranging from not only just mail servers, but ftp servers, web servers, dhcp servers, and much more.

descendant_command · 04-24-2012, 08:31 AM

Check the logfiles for clues.

/var/log/mail.* on Debian, don't know about CentOS.

WhoFlungDo · 04-27-2012, 09:23 AM

OK... proud to say that Postfix is delivering mail correctly to the mailboxes and I can pop mail using Outlook from a client through Dovecot. However, none of the workstations can smtp mail through the server. If I shell into the server I can telnet to the localhost AND through the loopback IP address of the server using port 25 (smtp). But I cannot telnet at the console to the IP address NOR to the hostname of the server using port 25. This leads me to believe that somehow maybe the linux firewall is blocking the port. So I turned OFF iptables and tested again at the console. Still not working. If I cannot telnet to the port at the server, then the network firewall is NOT the issue. I know Postfix is working and will function from localhost, so the config seems to be at least PARTLY correct. I am confused now where to attack this issue. Any help you can provide is appreciated.

TenTenths · 04-27-2012, 09:35 AM

Check your postfix config to ensure that it's listening on your IP address and not just localhost/127.0.0.1

/etc/postfix/master.cf and ensure you have:

Code:

# ==========================================================================
# service type  private unpriv  chroot  wakeup  maxproc command + args
#               (yes)   (yes)   (yes)   (never) (100)
# ==========================================================================
127.0.0.1:smtp        inet        n        -        n        -        -        smtpd
your.ip.addy.here:smtp      inet  n       -       n       -       -       smtpd

WhoFlungDo · 04-27-2012, 10:13 AM

Thank you very much. This fixed the issues. I have been in and out of the master.cf file several times, I have just not added any IP address (loopback or otherwise) to the smtp service line.
Your help is greatly appreciated. Next step... MailScanner !!

Thank you again

Quote:

Originally Posted by TenTenths

Check your postfix config to ensure that it's listening on your IP address and not just localhost/127.0.0.1

/etc/postfix/master.cf and ensure you have:

Code:

# ==========================================================================
# service type  private unpriv  chroot  wakeup  maxproc command + args
#               (yes)   (yes)   (yes)   (never) (100)
# ==========================================================================
127.0.0.1:smtp        inet        n        -        n        -        -        smtpd
your.ip.addy.here:smtp      inet  n       -       n       -       -       smtpd

TenTenths · 04-27-2012, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhoFlungDo

Thank you very much. This fixed the issues. I have been in and out of the master.cf file several times, I have just not added any IP address (loopback or otherwise) to the smtp service line.
Your help is greatly appreciated. Next step... MailScanner !!

Thank you again

You're welcome, your next step should be..... Mark my post as helpful and mark the problem [Solved]