how do i install an email server on linux

[Arkady]

purpose : test php email sending, on virtual email adds on a virtual


i don't know where to start, but this is what i want to accomplish

create fictitious user1@mydomain.com email address, that php would send to, and then view the email in the local web client,
note that i don't have a FQDN, so mydomain must be set up.. i don't know how

any clues here and there might be helpful, i just want to have a good overview of how i can do this, so i know which direction to take

[iwanabeguru]

On debian exim4 installed along with the system but you can choose several other mailserver like qmial or postfix.

but check this page
How to set up a mail server on a GNU / Linux system

[Arkady]

I've seen this, it's a little probably more advanced for me...
and it's a very specific setup for what the writer wanted.

what i need to know is this:

what do i need to set up a simple email server :
what package, variant

can i set it up so that i can create fictitious accounts :
is this something the email server can do for me, or i need something else for this?

what do i need for an email client in linux, the
simplest possible so that it fetches mail from the local
mail server for, perhaps a couple of created accounts
user1@myvirtuallocaldomain.com, user2@myvirtuallocaldomain.com


i'm not likely to get into the filtering stuff, or avoid getting spamblocked, because i have absolutely no intention of using
it to deliver email outside of test pc...

thanks,
i'm getting disappointed, this is starting to be a bigger task than i expected... compared to when i once setup a test
active directory dns , dhcp server for windows on virtual box...

i truly seek enlightenment...

[iwanabeguru]

As i said exim4 is installed on your system , that's a mail server, but you can chose qmail or postfix if you want or anything else, these are mailservers too. Every of these can make what you want but nobody won't read the docs and configure the stuff for you.

To set it up correctly you must read the documentation of your choice.
I'm prety sure debian prvide documentation package for each of them.

If you want a simple mail client you can use mutt or pine.

you can install these programs with apt-get or aptitiude.

good luck