On Tue, 29 Jun 2004 14:20:41 +0100 (BST), bjsamuels@beenthere-donethat.org.uk wrote:
After reading my ISP's instructions about running an SMTP mail server, in double-dutch of course ("A" records ???), it all sounds a little daunting. I already run Postfix locally if that has any bearing on the subject and I don't, as far as I know, run a DNS server locally.
What advantages would this give?
Firstly check to see if your ISP blocks port 25 for security reasons (in case you might be running an open relay). Check your Postfix configuration to ensure that you are NOT running an open relay (in other words, the whole world and his dog and send messages through your server). When configuring a new mail server I tend to use the services of http://www.ordb.org to do a thorough test once I've done my own basic relay tests.
If you're going to run a mail server at home, I'd highly recommend an external (preferably on a completely different network to your ISP) secondary MX provider to hold your mail in case your ADSL line dies horribly without warning.
Most important of all - make sure you have a static IP address and that it has reverse DNS enabled - preferably resolving to your domain name (something like mail.domain.name). Nildram, for example, allows you to set-up reverse DNS for their static IPs - just update it through a simple web interface.
Regards,
Martyn