Hello all,
Im am sort of new to linux. I have used it several times over the years, but never stuck with it. Now I am learning it again. I am trying to create a "mail server". All queries and searches are pointing me to Sendmail. I do realize that this is quite a monster to be tamed, but I am up to the challenge. My question is, what is a good definition of Sendmail? Is it a "server", one that will receive messages and hold them untill the client, (mozilla as example) can pick them up?? Everything I have read doesnt really just come out and say it. My basic goal is to build a mail server that will received (and hold for pickup) mail for client programs to pick up (Mozilla mail).

Here is what I am using:
RedHat 8.0
Clam anti-virus
GMP (for clam)
Sendmail - (the e-mail server part)
Spamassisin - (i hate junk)
Squirellmail - (the web client)
MySQL

I know sendmail may be overdoing it, but i really would like to learn it, and use it's ability to fight spam.

If anyone could answer my first question (basic definition of sendmail), that would be great. If you also have some suggestions on my proposed setup, any would be much appreciated.

TIA,
Sam

Sendmail is a Mail Transport Agent, it recieves mail and forwards it to it's destination either another mail server or locally.

To get access to that mail you need another piece to handle the POP, IMAP, etc access.

A) ditch RH8, it's quite old and not supported any longer.
B) I would recommend Postfix, it's quite a bit easier to understand.

Thanks for the info.......did you mean postfix, instead of sendmail? Any good POP daemon's you may recommend?

Thanks,
s

Yes, postfix is an MTA.

I hate POP, I like to keep my mail on the server. At home I use Cyrus IMAPd, but it can be a bitch to setup. Courier and Dovecot are simpler and both supposedly work pretty well.

Yeah, I would rather keep my mail on the server as well. However.. If I were a web host, I think i would prefer people to have the mail on their computer, lol