Need help with setting up Mail Server

[Blueberry]

Hi all, I'm trying to set up a mail server for a small company and am using Debian 3.1. The installation went well, I'm going to use postfix so set up the mail server package but not configured exim4. From here I'm unsure of how to proceed ..

Can someone break down simply what needs to be done next?

The main purpose will be to sent out emails from a registered domain name.

[iwanabeguru]

postfix and exim4 are both a mail server
you need use only one
uninstall the exim if you prefer postfix and configure postfix
i never configured a mail server so i canát help you

[Blueberry]

Sorry I was unclear, I went through a guide and by 'not configured exim4' I mean I did not configure and then removed it so I now only postfix.

Anyone else able to help?

[Bubo]

Have a look at:

http://www.howtoforge.com

under the Debian section. There are lots of very detailed tutorials regarding the setup that you're after on there. Its a great site, I use it a lot

HTH

Bubo

[Blueberry]

You're right, I used the 'perfect debian setup' to get the mail server set up on my pc but now I'm stuck. Can anyone tell me how to create an mx record on this debian server?

I've got my domain hosted at network solutions and have edited the mx records and A records to point my network but I'm not sure where to go from here.

[udippel]

I've got my domain hosted at network solutions and have edited the mx records and A records to point my network but I'm not sure where to go from here.
Nowhere to go. I don't understand your problem.
If 'dig your.domain.com' (issued from an outside host) resolves to your whatever; and 'dig your.domain.com MX' to the IP of your mail server, you are done.
Also, from the outside try
telnet your.domain.com 25
and you should see your postfix welcome message.

Anything missing ?

[Blueberry]

I did a port check on 25 and got a refused error.
The A record at network solutions points to my IP address given by ISP but not the internal IP of the mail server obviously (the 192.168 etc IP). How would I get the connection from my IP address given by ISP to the mail server?
(There are a few computers networked here, I don't understand how the ISP IP address will lead to the mail server).

[lostgeek]

I did a port check on 25 and got a refused error.
The A record at network solutions points to my IP address given by ISP but not the internal IP of the mail server obviously (the 192.168 etc IP). How would I get the connection from my IP address given by ISP to the mail server?
(There are a few computers networked here, I don't understand how the ISP IP address will lead to the mail server).

So I see what you are dealing with. You have an internal network with 192.168.x.x net address and you have given your mail server a 192.168.x.y address. Try first telneting from any of the internal machines over port 25 and see if you are able to open smtp session. If that is successful then try testing IMAP/POP.

Next, do you have a static IP address or dynamic. Does your gateway whether firewall or router allow you to set up rules from the outside to the inside and allow to add NAT rules. Maybe rule saying something like all traffic coming to external IP over port x to be forwarded to your internal mail server.

[Blueberry]

Hi there, thanks for the reply, I few questions I would greatly appreciate being answered:

1. My ISP IP Address is dynamic, what are my options here for the mail server?

2. Can you tell me how I would try testing pop/imap?

3. What Account settings would I use in a client like Thunderbird / Outlook?
I'm not sure what to enter as incoming/outgoing server, along with the username and password .... do I need to create email accounts on the mail server?

4. I have BT Total Broadband with the BT Home Hub, I'll look into what configuration it has. Am right in saying I need incoming track to my dynamic ISP address (eg 81.162. etc) on port 25 to forward to my 192.168 etc IP of Mail Server?

[Blueberry]

Anyone able to help with the above questions?