Email server / DNS

[davidian_24]

Hi Guys,

Just really need some advise, I am looking at setting up an email server in the cloud with a VPS so manage potential customer's domain's to offer them an emails service on IMAP/POP3 and SMTP. This is what I have come up so far :

1) Find a VPS
2) Run fedora as the OS
3) Install qmail & qmail webmin to manage email
4) Will run mysql to handle the accounts

My concern is DNS, is is safe to run the DNS within the same server or is it easier/advisable to have this done on a separate server such as easyDNS

I haven't installed qmail yet but just wondering if it offers webmail ?

Any suggestions/recommendations would greatly be appreciated.

[Lazydog]

First I would suggest against running Fedora as the server for any production setup. If you are looking at Fedora then I would suggest using CentOS. It is RH but free.

There is no reason not to run the dns services on the same serve if you want. I would run all services in a chroot/VM environment. That way should one become compromised the others services can run without being compromised too.

[davidian_24]

Thank you for a response. I've noticed a lot of people going against Fedora on such setup but recommend centOS so I will take note of that.

It is a shame there isn't a distro out of the box that serves as a DNS / Email server for hosting

[Lazydog]

There are reason for not using Fedora as a production machine.

1. It is the test bed for Redhat so everything new is placed into it including any bugs that haven't been found.

2. It has a short live cycle requiring you to upgrade often.

These are the biggest 2 I would think.

As to 'out the box' they all do. You just have to configure them.

[GreenSkyChris]

I am a Fedora home user myself but always opt for CentOS for servers. Its almost exactly the same and you would be ahrd pushed to find any major differences - the main different is CentOS is designed and tested rigoursly for use as a server.

[Lazydog]

Correction about CentOS.

CentOS is built from the RedHat SRPM's.

So CentOS is RedHat without the Tax.