[nzlug] mail server recommendations

[Daniel Pittman]

Daniel Lawson <daniel at meta.net.nz> writes:
>>
>> Just after some advice/information on what distro and package would
>> people recommend for running a POP3/Web based mail system - this
>> server will be a "lifetime" email system so reliability is obviously
>> good but isn't it for everyone ? :) We currently have a box here
>> somewhere with CentOS installed - would this be a good platform ?
>>
>> Any information/recommendations appreciated :)
>
> Given that most distributions package most mailserver software you
> might care to use, the answer really boils down to another question:
>
> Which distribution is going to be the easiest for you to maintain[1]
> for the duration of it's expected life cycle?
>
> [1] Where maintain means to keep secure, keep upgraded, not have
> services break due to weird configs, not having to manually build
> everything (unless that's your SOP, in which case go right ahead)

That is, in essence, the key question.  My recommendation, on top of
that, would be CentOS (or RHEL, the for money version of the same),
Debian/stable or an Ubuntu LTS release.

As to the mail software: Postfix and Dovecot are the least costly to
maintain, in my experience.

Regards,
        Daniel