[svlug] Configuring an MTA (was Re: Internet Cables Cut -- Two Articles)

[Daniel Gimpelevich]

On Thu, 07 Feb 2008 10:46:43 -0800, Mark S Bilk wrote:

> They have since re-routed to older, slower lines and satellites, but
> overall internet service is slow and in some cases -- particularly Iran,
> there is no internet service whatsoever.

IME, Iran is where they have the worst-configured *nix MTAs in the world.
It seems an OK practice over there to send autoresponses to anyone even
slightly suspected of spamming, and then repeat those autoresponses over
and over for an entire week. With that level of system administration
incompetence, is it any wonder G.W. seems so hell-bent on making attempts
to become the Paul Reiber of the US Gov't?

At one of the recent SF-LUG meetings, the correct response to "How do I
configure sendmail/postfix/exim to properly route e-mail amongst machines
on a LAN behind NAT, and still properly gateway that mail to and from the
Internet?" ended up having to be "Just don't!" because of the endless
possible issues involved. The idea that scriptkiddie-ism should not be
limited to e-mischief and should be extended to all forms of good system
maintenance is basically the entire appeal of distros like Ubuntu and
PCLinuxOS. I think that with time, there will be greater and greater call
to satisfy the need for such a well-meaning form of scriptkiddie-ism.
Would anybody like to start the ball rolling on creating an
install-and-deploy MTA setup for such LAN use? It would go far to
demonstrate the viability of the non-reliance on hosted services
championed by many, including Richard Stallman and Rick Moen. What say you
all?