> Basically the reasons for doing this is to try to set up a small email
> server that will be used by about 10 people tops in a small office. There
> is a budget on it but obviously I need to do it as cheap as possible.
The way to do it as cheaply as possible is not to try to do it for nothing
at all. You can get a very cheap mail solution, but if you've paid nothing
at all for it, you've built it out of discarded stuff - that usually means
rubbish. That can be fine for years - until it isn't. At that point, you
start to reconsider your sums...
> The idea
> is to be able to send emails around the office along with big attachments
> and to be able to accept individual email from the outside world and to be
> able to send email to the outside world via the ISP's smart host if
> possible so they can handle the spamming/abuse issues, etc.
If you're trying to hand off the spam control to an ISP, you're unlikely
to get much of a service. ISPs run a cut-throat business, and they never
do any more than they absolutely have to.
If you want external spam controllers, you'll want to look at someone like
MessageLabs.
> My domain name is jmbit.co.uk and my dyndns is jasybee2000.ath.cx,
> obviously
> it wasnt bob.co.uk as mentioned earlier as that was an example and not to
> reveal the real addresses but I am now doing so here to alleviate the
> confusion of someone saying dont use that domain as it belongs to someone
> else. Erm, well yeah! obviously! My name is Jason so why the hell would I
> have a domain called bob.co.uk! Thought that was obvious!
Of course it is obvious that that domain isn't yours. No-one thought it was.
The problem is that it belongs to someone else, and you helped yourself to
it without permission. That's not polite.
It also meant that no-one knew what your domain really is - so no-one can
help debug it because we don't know where to look.
> MX Records
> Name Priority
> jasybee2000.ath.cx. 10
That should work - but you might like to consider your rDNS. You have one
(which is essential), but you will be seen as "residential" by many MTAs.
You'll need to spend some time setting up smarthosting - which negates
some of the advantage of running your own server.
> My friend informs me I have to call the box mail and update the hosts file
> to include mail.jmbit.co.uk pointing to its internal IP as well?
You can call the box whatever you like - just be sure that any names you
use will resolve everywhere they will be used. If your server declares
itself with a name that only makes sense on your LAN, expect warnings
about forgery in any mails you send...
As for the hosts file - I wouldn't. Hosts files are really for exceptional
behaviour these days; expected behaviour should be in DNS. It's very easy.
> I feel like i'm being dropped
> from a great height into freezing cold water!
The trick, then, is not to alienate anyone trying to drag you out of that
water. No-one flamed you -and TBH, I find it pretty offensive that you
make that claim. Please don't do it again.
> Someone give me some credit at least!
Credit is earned. Stop telling us outright falsehoods, and you'll start
earning some...
Vic.
