Ask HN: Do you run your own mail server? If yes, how? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Do you run your own mail server? If yes, how?

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If you run your own mail server, how (setup) and where (VPS, dedicated hosting) do you do it? Is it worth the hassle?

Yes! I run three mail servers. I have all three running on separate Linodes. I could probably combine them into one server, but I use them for different purposes. Each server consists of: 0. Debian 1. postfix 2. courier 3. sasl 4. postgresql authentication 5. enable blacklist blocking 6. TBD - setting up fail2ban.

I could post a config for each component, but that may get lengthy. The hardest part of figuring out the setup for me was remembering to configure the groups correctly for sasl socket access.

It's definitely worth running my own server. Linode has a $10/month server which would easily handle all email for you and few friends/family. The setup is very easy. Just remember to public-key your ssh access and then lock any passwords. I get nearly no spam mail, and it's lots of fun to watch the blocking log entries go by...

EDIT: my list didn't come out as a list -- unfamiliar with the tagging possibilities on this site - if any...

> If you run your own mail server,

Yes.

> how (setup)

Postfix (http://www.postfix.org/) and Linux.

> and where (VPS, dedicated hosting) do you do it?

At home, on my static IP FIOS link.

> Is it worth the hassle?

No hassle, once setup. Configuring Postfix for basic email is not so bad. But, you will need to learn a bit about email handling to do the config.

Worth it, yes. No one mines my email for advertising purposes once they arrive. No one suddenly 'closes down' their service and my emails disappear. If the NSA ends up wanting my emails, they have to show up here, where I know they have arrived, vs. just quietly asking some provider for them. I don't have to use some services awful web interface to read/reply (I get to use whatever I want).

That sounds like an ideal setup. I can't afford to get a static IP but other than that, this is pretty much what I had in mind.

I recall some home routers having the ability to ping a DNS service any time your IP changes. Can't recall the name or router compatibility but might solve the dynamic ip issue.

One which used to be free, but is not anymore, is DynDns.

Run a search for "dynamic dns" and you will find a bunch of providers.

Hosting your own email works best with a static IP, but you can "get by" with a dynamic due to the store-and-forward nature of the protocol.

You can probably use a service like zzzz.io or DynaDNS. This will eliminate the need for static IP. No?

issue is less the ip address then it is the need for special MX dns records, which most of those services don't let you set up

Very true, but some dynamic dns providers do allow MX records.

A list of them is here (found via search, no suggestion of "goodness"): http://www.gnutomorrow.com/best-free-dynamic-dns-services-in...

NSA and your email... Well, there was a blog post I read at some point entitled "Google has half of my email because it has all of yours."

here... found it... http://mako.cc/copyrighteous/google-has-most-of-my-email-bec...

I imagine this also applies to the NSA collection programs.

Your emails are sent in plaintext over the Internet, right?

They don't have to be. GNUPG FTW!

Would setting up my own mail server be a viable option for freelance clients who need email? When doing freelance web development I always offer to host my clients sites and they almost always ask about email addresses. No that google and microsoft don't offer free custom domain email addresses anymore I've had to tell them it will cost or I can set them up with zoho.

I've been wanting to set up my own email server and wouldn't mind offering the service to clients for free (obviously that would be after I get very used to administrating an email server). Would that be a horrible idea? Are there any specific laws or regulations in the US I would need to know about before providing email to clients?

Yes, the setup:

Roundcube as my webmail client and Postbox (OSX) and K9 (Android) for clients.

Mail push (well, most like fake ActiveSync) with zpush

IMAP and POP3 access using Dovevot, with SSL

SMTP using Postfix, with STARTLS

CalDev/CardDev with Radicale for contacts and callendars

Postgrey/DSPAM/strict DKIM enforcement for anti-spam

Everything mail related is on encrypted storage.

I run my mailserver on a VPS hosted with Leaseweb (Viginia) currently.

IS it worth it? Maybe, it was a fun (and frustrating) experience getting it up and running by hand but I'm pretty happy with it. Unlimited email addresses for my 6 domains and some "geek cred"

Thanks! Noted. More than the geek cred, I want to do it so that I have control over my email.

I use DynDNS for my custom domain, with MX and SPF records for mail.

The server is a Debian box under my desk right here. The IP address is just a cable telco provided one. It's not static, but doesn't change frequently.

I use Exim for the MTA, with a very customized anti-spam setup that I still tweak from time to time.

For sending SMTP, I forward to the telco's SMTP server, and my SPF record delegates to them.

Worth the hassle? Very much so.

Also, I allow external IMAP access, and have a special port for authenticated SMTP (not 25). This lets me use a mobile mail client application on my Android phone. Like aroch's setup: the K9 client on Android, RoundCube webmail.

Yes, I use Symbiosis from Bytemark and run it on one of their BigV machines - Symbiosis wraps exim and dovecot for one of the easiest to manage virtual mail systems I've ever run - all the Symbiosis "wrappers" around the various products are all open source as well.

thanks for the plug Kevin! :D

Yes, iRedMail (http://www.iredmail.org/) on Digital Ocean. The $10/mo VM is enough for a low traffic mail server.

I don't run one. I would like to know if Arstechnica's guide on how to run one is any good?

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