Re: [exim] starting exim4 automatically

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Author: David H. Lynch Jr
Date:  
To: Wes Carver, Exim, Users
Subject: Re: [exim] starting exim4 automatically
Wes Carver wrote:
> I am new to Linux...this box is the first contact with it that I have ever
> had, and that started about 13 days ago. I am a Windows system
> administrator, and I am cutting my teeth with Linux by creating a mail proxy
> in front of my Exchange server.
>

Been there, done that. In the end just killed off the exchange server -
it is remarkable how much faster, more reliable, and more capable
OpenSource mail systems are. OTOH maintaining an exim configured mail
server is both extremely powerful and alot of work.
I have been managing several for several years, and alot of it is still
greek to me. I have mastered numerous other Linux systems admin tasks.
I even write Linux device drivers, and the hardest Linux task I have is
maintaining my exim config.


> I just need help with the problem of DNS resolution on the inside of my
> network. When doing a DNS query on any of my domains, of course the MX
> record that comes back points to my outside router. I just need to know how
> to tell Exim where my Exchange server is. If it is not with the
> hubbed_hosts router, how do I do it?
>

    I know squat about hubbed_hosts, but otherwise my configuration has
some resemblance to yours.
My suguestion would be split your internal and external DNS. If you are
using bind 9 you can use views - which are
kind of neat and not particularly hard, and still have a single DNS
server. Otherwise have a separate internal and external DNS server.
If you do not have a separate external DNS server then you are exposing
an awful lot of internal information that you probably do not want to make
readily available. Besides there are alot of cases besides an MX query
where the answer you want internally and the one you want externally are
likely to be different.


So your external DNS server should export an MX that routes to exim, and
your internetl DNS server should export an MX that points to your
exchange server
though I would kill off the exchange server. My exim servers have been
hard to maintain meaning the infernal spam war requires constant tweeks
to reduce inbound spam and
more tweeks to keep from being blocked going outside. Exchange on the
other hand is easy to configure - to the extent it can be configured, is
about the biggest memory and disk pig
I know of, and has ruined more of my holidays and long weekends by
hickuping and engaging in self mutilation of its mail store.

>
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>



-- 
Dave Lynch                               DLA Systems
Software Development:                           Embedded Linux
717.627.3770            dhlii@???       http://www.dlasys.net
fax: 1.253.369.9244                        Cell: 1.717.587.7774
Over 25 years' experience in platforms, languages, and technologies too numerous to list.


"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex... It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction."
Albert Einstein