So I've finally taken the plunge and have decided to manage my own server. Setting up the LAMP stack wasn't a problem, but getting email up has been difficult.

I don't want to have email stored on my server - I just want to be able to have aliases redirecting all incoming email to various outside accounts. I have multiple domains hosted that will all have their own set of aliases.

I also need to be able to send email out from my server.

I've tried different tutorials online, including Linode's own guides. But I just end up getting confused half way through. I don't know if I'm missing a fundamental piece I need to understand or what... but can anyone help me out?

I'm even tempted to pay someone to handle it for me...

Any help is much appreciated. Thank you!

It shouldn't be hard, e.g.:
apt-get install postfix
Change /etc/postfix/main.cf
On the bottom, it has:

myhostname = nuvini.com
alias_maps = hash:/etc/aliases
alias_database = hash:/etc/aliases
myorigin = /etc/mailname
mydestination = localhost.com, , localhost
relayhost =
mynetworks = 127.0.0.0/8 [::ffff:127.0.0.0]/104 [::1]/128
mailbox_command = procmail -a "$EXTENSION"
mailbox_size_limit = 0
recipient_delimiter = +
inet_interfaces = all

The mydestination part decides if it will be send outward or considered for local delivery.

About aliasing, never done that, the setup mentioned above simply uses the normal way of sending email and uses the MX records to determine where to send it to.
Maybe here: http://www.serverwatch.com/tutorials/ar ... ostfix.htm ?

You need to be very, very careful when doing this. If you receive any significant amount of spam, and forward it on to other mail servers, then your server will be indentified as the source of this spam. This could lead to significant delivery difficulties for all your mail. External mail servers will start spamboxing all your mail, or refusing it, or even silently dropping it. And your IP may be added to a realtime blacklist.

You need to implement effective spam testing, and only forward mail that is judged good. And you need to monitor what's happening, so that you know it's actually effective. It's not simple.

Much better IMO to store the mail locally for users to fetch, or outsource your mail requirements.

_________________
sleddog

Thank you for the feedback nuvini and sleddog.

Is it possible to implement spam testing and forward good mail without storing the mail locally as well? Or can I store it locally and still forward it along?

I'm trying to avoid being too involved in my server's email. I moved over to gmail years ago, and I only have 4-5 client email accounts stored locally. The others I simply forward to their own personal email.

So I already have a fair amount of aliases setup in my old server.

Thanks!