Re: next Beta

[E Nigma <enigma os2 ami com au>]

On Sunday 02 December 2001 02:29, you wrote:
> 1) Sendmail as a default for a new user. It's just hard to get
> confident that you have configured properly, especially if you
> are worried about security and relay problems, at least for the
> less experienced. "Read the entire sendmail book" is

Sendmail's the only MTA I've used so  I can't present a balanced view. 
However, I don't see how you can make an informed decision about configuring 
any complex without understandng the topic.

The problem I had when I was new to OS/2 and then to Linux was finding and 
comprehending the information.

I've not set up a Winders box to go internetting and don't think I'm 
competent to do so. OTOH it seems lots of people who aren't do, and implement 
bad decisions either because they don't understand the topic or because they 
don't have the right options.

Problems I see with the RH sendmail configuration are that:
a) It's not modularised enough. The file's not big (2479 bytes), but there's 
stuff in it nobody will change such as 
define(`PROCMAIL_MAILER_PATH',`/usr/bin/procmail')dnl
that could be hidden away a little more.

b) Insufficient comments in the file. The sendmail documentation has an 
extensive of all the options; transfer some of the  information to the file, 
or at least include a reference to the document.



> the strident comment I hear sometimes, but really it shouldn't
> need to take that much time/effort to set up a mail server that
> you feel comfortable exposing to the internet. I will take the
> advice, and get postfix. But, it would be nice to have
> just known this or had it in there to begin with.

I'd rather expose Sendmail to the Internet than any MS offering. I hear too 
many tales about people who've been hurt that way, and have too much evidence 
in the form of viral attachements appearing in my inbox.

 
> 2) The ambiguous advice about methods for configuration. I know it's
> great for the more experienced out there to have 25 ways to config
> things, but it would be helpful to have one clear set of choices for
> newer users that is documented/recommended, e.g. linuxconf seems like
> the quick easy config method, but it is full of trouble according to
> the list.

No debate here; webmin;-)


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