IMAP, Postfix, XP, Mandrake

arcfyre · 03-21-2003, 06:51 PM

I have a home network using Mandrake 8.1 as a router/firewall with pretty much the default settings. I connect to a always on Cox Cable modem that provides dhcp to the Mandrake 8.1 computer and then the Mandrake 8.1 computer provides dhcp to Windows XP clients on the local class C network. I have installed Mandrake 9.0 on a new computer with the server options. I turned off all but Samba and Postfix for the servers. I would like to be able to pull up e-mail in Outlook Express from any XP PC on the network and full access to all my mail. I have three mail users that I want to enable this for. We recieve pop3 mail and I have heard I can configure the Mandrake 9.0 PC with Postfix and IMAP to do this. Does anyone have details on what to do in what order? All PCs can currently access the WWW with their browsers.
Thank you for any kindness. I am certainly a not very skilled by I can edit with emacs and get around in Linux, some. I keep an old SCO server running our POS software at my job. I also have X-windows installed and working with KDE and Gnome on both Linux PCs and installed wizdrake on the Mandrake 9.0 box.

DavidPhillips · 03-21-2003, 10:23 PM

Just start by installing postfix

Postfix is easy to configure, just go through the config file
/etc/postfix/main.cf

if you have any problems post them.

imap and pop3 are servers that will allow a user to connect and check their mail. They do not really need any configuration, just start the servers in your boot scripts.

I would use imaps and pop3s
They are secure, so nobody can snoop on your connection or get your password.

arcfyre · 03-22-2003, 06:06 AM

Thank you for replying so promptly, David. I already have Postfix running. I just don't know how to tell if it's running correctly. I have to have the Mandrake 9.0 PC get our mail (for the three diffferent mail accounts) using pop3, then redistribute them to the local network using IMAP. After reading the above metioned file twice now I am afraid I am none the wiser.
queue_directory = /var/spool/postfix
command_directory = /usr/sbin
daemon_directory = /usr/lib/postfix
mail_owner = postfix
inet_interfaces = all
mydestination = $myhostname, localhost.$mydomain
alias_maps = hash:/ect/postfix/aliases
mail_spool_directory = /var/spool/mail
mailbox_command = /usr/bin/procmail -Y -a $DOMAIN
(to be continued)

DavidPhillips · 03-22-2003, 11:04 AM

In order for postfix to be used to get everyones mail you need to have people send mail to user@postfixhostname.domainname

This is the normal operation of postfix. It listens on port 25 for someone to connect and send mail to one of the servers users. Here is a way to test it.

Code:

telnet hostname.domainname 25

if you have no dns for the servername use it's ip address

[david@zeus david]$ telnet mail.mydomain.com 25
Trying 67.1.234.34...
Connected to mail.mydomain.com(67.1.234.34).
Escape character is '^]'.
220 mail.mydomain.com ESMTP Postfix

Code:

mail from: david@mydomain.com

250 OK

Code:

rcpt to: david@mydomain.com

250 OK

Code:

data

354 End data with <CR><LF>.<CR><LF>

Code:

Hello David
.

250 Ok: queued as AA398142FB

Code:

quit

221 Bye
Connection closed by foreign host.

as root check log file

tail -f /var/log/maillog
Mar 22 11:00:32 www postfix/nqmgr[5705]: AA398142FB: from=<david@mydomain.com>, size=350, nrcpt=1 (queue active)
Mar 22 11:00:32 www postfix/local[7583]: AA398142FB: to=<david@mydomain.com>, relay=local, delay=219, status=sent (mailbox)
Mar 22 11:00:44 www postfix/smtpd[7560]: disconnect from unknown[192.168.0.6]

now try to send to another address not on the server to make sure it is able to connect to the outside mailserver and send the mail to it's user.

here is the dialog

Code:

[david@zeus david]$ telnet mail.mydomain.com 25
Trying 67.1.234.34...
Connected to mail.mydomain.com (67.1.234.34).
Escape character is '^]'.
220 mail.mydomain.com ESMTP Postfix
mail from: david@mydomain.com
250 Ok
rcpt to:doodlebuggerr@hotmail.com
250 Ok
data
354 End data with <CR><LF>.<CR><LF>
testing 123
.
250 Ok: queued as 57E23142FB

and the log file

Mar 22 11:11:13 www postfix/cleanup[7674]: 57E23142FB: message-id=<20030322171052.57E23142FB@mail.mydomain.com>
Mar 22 11:11:13 www postfix/nqmgr[5705]: 57E23142FB: from=<david@mydomain.com>, size=355, nrcpt=1 (queue active)
Mar 22 11:11:14 www postfix/smtp[7688]: 57E23142FB: to=<doodlebuggerr@hotmail.com>, relay=mx2.hotmail.com[65.54.166.230], delay=22, status=sent (250 <20030322171052.57E23142FB@mail.myomain.com> Queued mail for delivery)

the mail server finds the MX record for hotmail from dns and connects to the server (mx2.hotmail.com) to relay the mail

have someone send mail to you from outside

check log file

tail -f /var/log/maillog
Mar 22 11:00:23 www postfix/smtpd[7581]: connect from mx.linuxquestions.org[64.246.34.13]
Mar 22 11:00:23 www postfix/smtpd[7581]: C9609142FC: client=mx.linuxquestions.org[64.246.34.13]
Mar 22 11:00:24 www postfix/cleanup[7582]: C9609142FC: message-id=<200303221647.h2MGlD205179@linuxquestions.org>
Mar 22 11:00:24 www postfix/nqmgr[5705]: C9609142FC: from=<nobody@linuxquestions.org>, size=1644, nrcpt=1 (queue active)
Mar 22 11:00:24 www postfix/local[7583]: C9609142FC: to=<david@mydomain.com>, relay=local, delay=1, status=sent (mailbox)
Mar 22 11:00:24 www postfix/smtpd[7581]: disconnect from mx.linuxquestions.org[64.246.34.13]

DavidPhillips · 03-22-2003, 11:09 AM

Now if you are talking about retrieving users mail from some other server on the internet then you will want to use fetchmail for that