setting up a home email/web server? advice and suggestions appreciated

[zskillz]

Perhaps I'm just too paranoid, or perhaps it's reasonable in this day and age (which I think that it unfortunately is ), but I want to maintain as much control/security over my online footprints as possible. That being said, I'm very seriously considering hosting my own email server with webmail access. Here's the rub - I've never done it before and I'm in the information gathering stages...

My intention is to build a new machine that will server as a storage/email/web/media server that is kept in my residential home. I intend to use a linux OS (probably Ubuntu since what I've read tells me that it's a good one to start with for a long-time windows user). I'm still debating about the media server aspect of this.... I'd like to minimize the number of computers that I have running 24/7, so if possible, I'd like to combine a media [home theater PC] with the email/storage server.

I'm asking for your advice on several fronts.

1) I'm pretty comfortable with hardware, so I'm not too concerned about this part, but if there's something that you just "couldn't live without" - please suggest it.

2) Regarding software - I've found several tutorials online, but I'm new enough to this that I'm not sure they're what I want (for example: http://flurdy.com/docs/postfix/). I need help selecting the proper software for all aspects of this. (btw - I want an IMAP server) sidenote: In the end, there will really only be two people checking their email from this server.

3) I'm interested in whatever general advice or alternatives that you may have to suggest.

Thanks
-Z

p.s. - I'm not exactly sure which forum this thread should be in, but this seemed to be the best fit... mods - feel free to move it if you would like

[sr71000]

If you like to learn and experiment, hosting your own server could be fun (although probably against the terms of service of your isp). If you're looking for security...hosting a server live on the net with little to no experience is probably a bad idea. You'd probably be better off just using gmail... Just my 2 cents. Look at apache as a web server but i couldn't recommend an email server.

-Kevin

[zskillz]

I already looked into the terms of service for my ISP. It is not a problem for me to run a server.

secondly, the reality is that the only way I'll learn this is to do it. So although I could do gmail, I choose not to.

anyway - I was expecting to get a bit more of a response from you all!! Is it that this is that uncommon (which I highly doubt) or what?

still looking for your thoughts.
thanks
-Z

[sr71000]

Ok. Don't mind helping at all! I just wanted to make sure you understood the dangers of running your own server! Before you make the jump into running a linux server I'd suggest grabbing a copy of ubuntu and messing with it for a little while. Try to go a week or two using it as your primary os over windows! There are some things you may need windows for, but do as much with linux as possible. I'd take a peek potentially at fedora core as a server as well. It's been a while since I've used it but as a server, I think it's more flexible (unless you run ubuntu server, but then you need to be comfortable running with the command line). I'm done with finals next wed, then I'll grab a copy of fedora core and get it set up and check it out. Then I'll give you my final recommendation on whether to go w/ ubuntu or fedora . From there we can go through the install process and such. I really need to redo my server and get everything running again!

Try getting a copy of ubntu though and getting it installed! Don't be afraid to mess with it and break it. The more you break/fix/reinstall the more familiar you will become which is our ultimate goal!

-Kevin

ps, I recommend looking into xfce over gnome or kde. It's a much cleaner, faster interface, even if it doesn't have all the candy that gnome/kde comes with.

[VHockey86]

You might want to try the folks over at http://www.usalug.org for suggestions on the backend mail software to use

As for the distro...you might want to just stick with a vanilla version of Debian. If its a server you want, then its pretty rock solid. Ubuntu is more user-oriented, and the whole "complete root access with your user password through sudo" setup that ubuntu does isn't the most secure server setup.

[vass0922]

Please PLEASE do us ALL a favor
BEFORE you put this mail server on the net, make SURE You are not set to be an open relay to the world
Once you have everything online, and ready to go "production" there are a number of free open relay tests you can use on the net.

Open Relay - Basically means anybody on the net can bounce mail off of your mail server From: whoever they want, to whoever they want

As noted above it is NOT a joke to run your own mailserver, they can be compromised and you'll be a spam sender before you know it.
Make sure you are fully patched and well protected
mail servers only need port 25 in/out and nothing else!
(assuming you dont want external access to pop/imap)
I can't help with Unix/Linux mail software (I only work with MS Exchange) but I do certainly know the perils of email