Chapter 15. Managing Email Servers

IN THIS CHAPTER

• How Email Works

• MTA Configuration

• Fighting Spam and Viruses

• Alternatives to Postfix

Is there a single application more essential in making people want to be on the Internet than electronic mail? The idea of dashing off quick notes to colleagues, friends, and family without having to buy envelopes, find stamps, and locate a mailbox and have the note in the recipient's hands in seconds, not days it's almost magical, isn't it?

For many of us, that magic has worn off a little. We have to wade through piles of spam, forwarded jokes, and semi-pointless mailing-list postings to get to the really important stuff. And don't get us started on the weekly battle against the latest virus to hit the wild. Email is a blessing, with its share of accompanying curses.

The magic of email happens thanks to a bunch of standards and protocols helped along by a network-aware operating system. In this chapter, you will learn a bit about the mechanics of how email gets from your mailbox to your recipient's mailbox.

You will also learn to set up your email account(s) in YaST and about the different programs you can use to read and send email and handle other information-related tasks. If you're using SUSE Linux email in a multiplatform business environment, you will find the section on connecting with Microsoft Exchange (and finding its alternatives) useful as well.