Anyone run their own mailserver?

[Rael]

I was considering this option to get away from companies like google and just have my own server. Anyone done this?

[Pericles]

I was considering this option to get away from companies like google and just have my own server. Anyone done this?

Sure - run Linux and Sendmail Potential problem is that some mail servers will block your mail server IP address if it is on a list of dynamic or DSL connections. If your ISP will create a reverse DNS entry for your mail server, you will generally be OK.

[tangent4ronpaul]

Ask yourself several questions:

1) Am I a UNIX geek?
2) Am I a masochist?
3) Do I have an extra month or two to wade through a 1,282 page manual + probably 500 pages of additional documentation?
4) Would I like to learn a scripting language that is closer to ADA than it is to English?

taste:
http://books.google.com/books?id=NQblqMiVqvQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=sendmail&source=gbs_similarbooks_s&cad=1#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=lFOVpMlrpTkC&printsec=frontcover&dq=sendmail&source=gbs_similarbooks_s&cad=1#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=upCgAjrpJfgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=sendmail&source=gbs_similarbooks_s&cad=1#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://www.sendmail.org/

While I have some work experience with SendMail, it is a skill set I deliberately left off my resume... Your mileage may vary.

-t

[specsaregood]

Sure - run Linux and Sendmail Potential problem is that some mail servers will block your mail server IP address if it is on a list of dynamic or DSL connections. If your ISP will create a reverse DNS entry for your mail server, you will generally be OK.

Apart from what Pericles said, there are also plenty of good free ones for windows. I've run this one for years with no problems, it does the job:
http://www.mailenable.com/standard_edition.asp It is free and easy to use.

Also, many ISPs forbid running servers on a consumer-level connection. If that is your case, don't be surprised if someday they decide to block you. Usually you'll be ok, but it has been known to happen.

[puppetmaster]

Kinda in the topic, Do any of those "blind forwarding" email servers still exist?

[Krugerrand]

I have a site with ICDSoft : http://www.icdsoft.com/

$6/mo gives you quite a bit of good stuff. I use it primarily for email. I got too busy to play around with the website anymore.

Check around for other pricing. For as little as it costs to rent server space, I find it hardly worth going through the work myself.

FYI - I also recommend using more than one email address. I never get spam to my personal domain email. I have another account for business stuff and another account for subscriptions and "junk" that I want.