enabling postfix (revisited)

[jsk173]

Some people here walked me thru enabling postfix last spring so I don't need to rely on an ISP or web host for smtp services (esp. when sending bulk emails for my company's mailing list). Just wanted to revisit the topic again to see if there are any new security issues to be concerned with and/or if using one's own smtp server is still as reliable for outgoing mail. (I've heard mail servers are getting more sensitive to mail that is not sent thru an ISP/web host, but not sure how or if it might be impacting the messages I send.) Thanks for all feedback ...

[jsk173]

Bumping this back up for some feedback. I've read on other forums, and heard from the developer of a mailing list software, that mail from a postfix-enabled computer -- and sent from a dynamic IP address, which is obviously the case 98% of the time with PowerBook users like me -- now has a fail rate of approx. 30% (i.e., silently deleted as spam by the receiving mail server).

Anyone have any feedback/experience? I'm on the road about 90% of the time, and enabling postfix seemed a lot better than bouncing from ISP to ISP. But I can't afford a 3% fail rate let alone a 30% fail rate.

Thanks very much ...

[tomy82]

hi there,

Yes, it is true that I ran into some problems myself using my own smtp on my powerbook, as mail servers did not allways like it.

My solution to this problem has been to open a mail account on Gmail and use its SMTP. Google's SMTP is very good and 100% reliable for now (I've been using it for the passed year). It also unables you to make backup of all your mail on it, which is quite appreciated!

Hope this can help.

Thomas

[jsk173]

Thanks very much. I'll look into gmail; don't currently have an account. (Do I need a sponsor?)

Do you know what gmail's outgoing smtp limits are? My biggest problem is that I have a 400-person mailing list for work. Sending messgages to it from the road has turned into a huge hassle -- most ISPs restrict smtp access/volume, my web host limits outgoing emails to 100 per hour, and now postfix apparently has a high fail rate.

[tomy82]

I've already sent very large mails with google, more than 4 or 5 Mo and I never had any problem...

You have about 2,5Go of space on Google.

You do need to be sponsored to have an account on Google.

[Gargoyle]

Another answer might be to host your own domain/server - as in properly on the internet somewhere, not off your laptop. Dunno about the US but in the UK companies like fasthosts (http://www.fasthosts.co.uk/) should be able to get you up and running.

Basically, all you need is a reliable SMTP server that authenticates you via username and password not the network/ip address you are on.

I think I did read somewhere that there is a rate to how fast or how many emails you can send from GMail. You should probably look into that.

[jsk173]

Gargoyle -- Interesting idea; thanks.

I have a web site hosted online but the host limits outgoing emails to 100/hour. Are you saying I could add a mail/smtp server to my already-existing site and get around such limits?