running debian etch w/ exim 4. I want to setup exim to receive internet email, and accept/relay ONLY emails to a recipient listed in a text file, on to my exchange server. It will not send any outbound email.
I've been having a heck of a time getting this to work. been trying to edit config files, make my own router etc... I'm thinking I shouldn't need to make my own router, just mod an existing one, but not sure which to use for sure.... Anyway - been having SO many problems getting this to work, I've decided to start over again. (1) i'm dpkg-reconfig 'g and I'm being asked "should this machine consider itself the final destination". I'm not even 100% sure how to answer this stupid question. What EXACTLY IS the final destination? is my debian box the final destination even though it will relay all email to an exchange server, and have NO "localhost" email boxes??? I use localhost, because I don't even know what "local" means!!!!!!! What exactly is a local delivery? is email to the debian box local? to my exchange server - is that local (only 1 domain)? (2) recipient domains, that this sys will relay for. i'm ASSUMING that I enter my domain.com here because I want this box to relay everything to my exchange server. Then the screen says - "Do not mention local domains here". BANG; now I have no idea what to put here. What exactly is a "local domain" !?!?!?!?! is debian.domain.com a local domain? is exchange.domain.com local ??? what if (it's NOT), but what if my mail server were on the internet somewhere, and answers to mail.domain.com - is THAT local???? (3) what exactly is a "smarthost"?? is a system that does nothing but relay valid Email to an exchange server a smart host? From what I understand, a smart host is something that collects outbound email, and manages that. So my applications should not be a ssmart host ? right???? The question "machines to relay mail for", I can only ASSUME should be left blank. Since I have no idea what the implications are for answering these questions 1 way or another - I'm not sure how to answer!?! My WHOLE initial setup is a freaking guess!!!! So then, if I go to mod the exim.conf.template file - I have NO IDEA what to do in here, because it references all kinds of variables I know nothing (or next to) about! >From everything I've read - exim is supposed to be much better than sendmail. It's supposed to be more secure, and easier to setup. Well - here's my take: having a config file that uses arcane variables that they themselves use more variables to control certain actions is INSANE! you have var's that trigger something to happen somewhere, sometime and god only knows where/when!!! Give me a script file written in a language I've never seen before and I can figure out what's going on 10 times faster. In fact, give me a script file written in a [computer] language I've never seen, written in a foreign [human] language, and I can figure out what's happening 5 times faster. :O) more secure - probably - I can't even run the dam setup (or more properly, get exim itself running right)!!!! darn right it's more secure ;o) So - while I'm on my rant - what email server do SMART people run on debian (what should I be using)? TIA - Bob
