# HG changeset patch # User meillo@marmaro.de # Date 1224688639 -7200 # Node ID 54f746ee9d7d98aa7f08ab7d415a67230da5cf63 # Parent 3edb4ce65f64b3bea7dedd5f6692fbea8d3fac44 added some text about MTAs diff -r 3edb4ce65f64 -r 54f746ee9d7d docs/various/qref-mta.txt --- /dev/null Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000 +++ b/docs/various/qref-mta.txt Wed Oct 22 17:17:19 2008 +0200 @@ -0,0 +1,55 @@ +http://qref.sourceforge.net/Debian/reference/reference.en.txt + +9.6.1. Mail transport agents (MTAs) +----------------------------------- + + For a full-featured MTA, use `exim' in Woody and use `exim4' in Sarge. + [1] References: + * `exim-doc' and `exim-doc-html' packages for `exim' + * `exim4-doc-info' and `exim4-doc-html' packages for `exim4' + * http://www.exim.org/ + The only reasonable alternative MTA is `postfix' if you care about + security. `sendmail' and `qmail' are available as Debian packages but + are not recommended. + + If you do not need the relay capability of an MTA as in the case of a + satellite system such as a laptop PC, you may consider using one of + these lightweight packages: + * `ssmtp': needs an SMTP connection and is alias-capable, or + * `nullmailer': can spool but is not alias-capable. + At this moment, I find `exim' to be more suitable even for my personal + workstation machine, which is a laptop PC. + + You may need to remove `exim' for the installation of these + conflicting packages: + + # dpkg -P --force-depends exim + # apt-get install nullmailer # or ssmtp + +[1] Following sections use `exim' in examples. For Sarge replace this + with `exim4' as needed. + +9.6.1.1. Smarthost +------------------ + + If you are running `exim4' or `exim' on a host which is connected + through the consumer grade services, please make sure to send outgoing + mail through a smarthost offered by your ISP or some others. [1] + There are few good reasons: + * to ensure SMTP retries since your ISP's smarthost usually have + more reliably connection. + * to avoid sending mail directly from a _dynamic IP address_ which + will likely be blocked by dial-up spam lists. + * to save your local bandwidth to send mails with multiple + recipients. + + The only conceivable exceptions are: + * the emergency cure for your ISP's SMTP service trouble. + * an experiment for the educational purpose. + * your host being a professionally hosted server. + +[1] You must follow this rule for any hosts on dial-up, DSL, cable + services or LAN through some broadband router. Even if your home host + has a fixed IP from your ISP, it is still a good idea to follow this + rule. Most workstations and home servers fall into this category. +