Set up web and mail hosting

[Captain Caveman]

I have a domain name or two that I've registered...

I'd kind of like to set up an older PC I have (it's around here somewhere...) as a website and e-mail server for my domain. (I'm on cable, so as long as it's low traffic I should be ok...)

HOWEVER, I'm an utter and total newbie to this side of things.

I've got a CD I burned with RedHat 7.3 and I should be able to install that on the PC, but does anyone have any suggestions, advice, step-by-step instructions, newbie-friendly how-to's, etc, regarding setting up a web and mail server?

(Ideally, I'd like to be able to set up the mail server for e-mail accounts for myself and probably my family, such that it would server for e-mail to, say, captaincaveman@[mydomain.com], and then I could use my e-mail client of choice (in this case, Evolution) from my desktop PC to access it.

(Alternatively, if you have a horror story as to why I shouldn't even consider doing this... I'd like to hear that, too.)

[Molecule Man]

http://swflug.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=192&mode=&order=0&thold=0


That is the quick version. There are a number of howto's and other help articles on what needs to be done.

[The Whizzard]

The easiest way would to install a distro specific for this type of thing. I use a older version ofe-smith(now called SME Server) (http://www.e-smith.org) for my server. I've been playing with the newer version but haven't yet gotten around to upgrading my server yet. Pretty much all you do to install is anser a few questions it asks(Is this a stand alone server, or will this be a gateway?, What is your domain name?, etc.
). Then after that, you use the web interface to add users, configure security, etc. For email you can use a POP3 or IMAP client or you can use IMP which is a web based client.
There are more features that I won't get into. The only down side is that it can't be used as a normal workstation, so you'll need a dedicated box for the server.
Give it a try. I'm sure you'll be happy with it.

BTW, I use
ZoneEdit (http://www.zoneedit.com) so my domain name resolves to my IP address. Even though you may not use ZoneEdit, you will need to use some sort of DNS service to resolve your domain name. You can use the one e-smith provides but you will have to pay for it while ZoneEdit is free for up to 5 domains. ---just putting my plug in for ZoneEdit.

[ 24 June 2002: Message edited by: The Whizzard ]

[Captain Caveman]

Interesting, SME looks pretty spiffy. (Although, I'm a bit confused by it saying setting it up as a server only doesn't provide firewall protection, and it needs to be behind another firewall... but I'm looking at the manual now.)

I'll let you know how it goes... thanks.

[Captain Caveman]

-sigh- Unfortunately I was unable to get SME to work, and I don't know what I was doing wrong. (Couldn't get it to see the 'net, couldn't get it to see my internal network, couldn't get it to do anything in server only or gateway and server modes. I gave up.)

Guess I'll try doing an install of RedHat or something as a server install. We'll see...

[bleg26 AKA The Whizzard]

Unless you have a hardware router, you'll want to set it up as a server/gateway.

You have two NIC's in the server, right? (I should have mentioned this in my previous post) Make sure you know which one is for your LAN and which one is for the internet. If it doesn't work the first time, switch the cables around on your NIC's.

What NIC's are you using?
Unless the chipset is really new, they should work fine. If they are ISA NIC's you'll need to supply the IRQ and IO for them.

[ 26 June 2002: Message edited by: bleg26 AKA The Whizzard ]

[RedRumJack]

I set up an e-smith server last night. Very Very Awesome. I did take some playing with settings though.

[mrBen]

A bit O/T, but can e-smith be used as a Samba Print Server for my mixed OS network? Anybody got experience of this?

[RedRumJack]

I haven't tried it yet because Windows 2000 is still my print server. It appears it can be a print server though (SAMBA)

[The Whizzard]

Originally posted by mrBen:
<STRONG>A bit O/T, but can e-smith be used as a Samba Print Server for my mixed OS network? Anybody got experience of this?</STRONG>Although I haven't tried, it should be able to do it, even with Macs.
With the version I'm running(4.something), I had to update SAMBA to get domain logins with W2k clients but the current version has the latest SAMBA and netatalk(for Mac file/print sharing).

[kedman]

[i]
With the version I'm running(4.something), I had to update SAMBA to get domain logins with W2k clients but the current version has the latest SAMBA and netatalk(for Mac file/print sharing). [/B]

HI I use RH9 and E-smith 5.6 Server/gateway
works like a dream now,
I had trouble with user accounts not taking but when I re set them they were fine. Both Windoze 98 and lInux play now.
But!
Anyone know if I can recieve mail from my webserver (Hosted 24/7) To my Esmith and the distribute the mail to my clients?
I cant leave the E-smith running 24/7

Doh!! I think I can use my Dynamic DNS to hold mail!!

Anyone tried this??
Cheers
Kedman

[The Whizzard]

Open up your http://host/e-smith-manager
Click on E-MAIL settings. From here you should set up your E-MAIL to use ETERN or multi-drop. Then fill in the info for your other E-MAIL account.

[kedman]

Originally posted by The Whizzard
Open up your http://host/e-smith-manager
Click on E-MAIL settings. From here you should set up your E-MAIL to use ETERN or multi-drop. Then fill in the info for your other E-MAIL account.

I really need to start again on this with the users being set up as the main website is, they all use diff mail's ie:
yahoo, msn ,and such!
I need to redirect them to one mail address and then use that to download to the SME server.
Thing is I hope SME will be able to deliver the mail to each logged in person.
Thank you for your time
Kedman

[kedman]

...And one Desktop to bind them all, in Redmond where the shadows lie.

With Apologies to JRRT --

HI that signature had me smiling! :) Nice touch.


I have the e smith running fine as a mail server and it delivers all the mail to all users.
I use Dyndns.org as my dynamic dns.
Thing is my DD will update my IP but not my backup email at email.dnyu.com ( my Store and forward)
How do I set the DNS updater to add my email MX records which I have been told I can do?
There no mention in the Docs I can see re this.
To recap I need the E-smith to update my IP ( done)
and my back up MX. ( which works fine at retrieving mail)
But when I update my IP this record is lost re my dynamic dns
Is there a config file I can update?
Cheers
All
kedman