[conspire] he.net woes --> seeking ISP recommendations

[Rick Moen]

Quoting Eric De Mund (ead-conspire at ixian.com):

> I believe I'm ready to step up to handling mail for my entire domain
> on my own. (Previously, I've had all my ISPs dump all ixian.com email
> into my personal mailbox.) Does this require me to have my own
> dedicated mailserver at home? 

Almost.  You need a real or virtual box, on which you have root, housed on
static IP somewhere on (or near) the planet.

> If so, what MTA do folks recommend? 

Religious question.  

Both Exim4 and Postfix are fine.  Some like others.  More at "MTAs" on 
http://linuxmafia.com/kb/Mail/

> I'd be running it under Debian 4.x stable system if dedicated
> is required.

Default MTA and path of least resistance on Debian is Exim4.  Postfix
and others are available with fairly trivial effort.

I personally like to use Debian's Exim4 + related packages and follow
the instructions here:  "Eximconfig" on http://linuxmafia.com/kb/Mail/


> As far as reading and composing mail, I've heard you, Rick, and one or
> two other folks here describe their use of ssh and screen to connect in
> to a home system to read and send mail. This is perfectly acceptable to
> me.

Yes.  Main disadvantage is lack of easy detached operation, e.g., when you're
on a train or bus and wishing to read/write/send mail.  You are cut off
from sent and received mail at any time you cannot connect ssh.

There are also minor inconveniences with some arriving attachments.


BTW, have recently heard good things about beta-level MUA (mail reader) 
"Sup" as a mutt-alternative.  Covered briefly in "MUAs" on
http://linuxmafia.com/kb/Mail/ .

"ISP recommendations" is a quasi-religious question.  Raw Bandwidth 
Communications continues to Work for Me<tm>, and I recommend the company
highly to people who are self-supporting, e.g., run their own machines.