From: Malcolm Weir [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> From: Bowie Bailey
> > At the moment, my Courier server does not allow smtp connections
> > from the Internet.  What I want to do is allow my users to send mail
> > through my server via authenticated smtp.  But I don't want any
> > chance of other mail bypassing the filtering server.
> > 
> > There's not going to be an MX record for the Courier server, but if
> > it accepts smtp connections from the Internet, then I have to assume
> > that the spammers will eventually find it.  I know that a
> > non-authenticated connection will not relay, but I don't want spam
> > sent to my users either.  So I'm trying to configure it so that it
> > only accepts what is absolutely necessary.
> 
> I understand that you've got the answer you were searching for, but
> consider (instead? As well?) using the MSA protocol for your users.
> 
> This uses port 587 instead of port 25, and is the "proper" (per RFCs)
> solution for the underlying issue.  You then can simply block port 25
> for all but the trusted host (using iptables or equivalent), which has
> the virtue of making your mail server protected from cracking or DoS
> attacks...

I hadn't considered this.  All in all, it may be a better solution.
Separate port, separate firewall settings, separate smtpaccess file.
I'll have to give it a shot.  And, best of all, I can experiment with it
without breaking my current smtp daemon.

> Granted, this involves educating your users, which is sometimes
> considered an impossibility... But teaching them to add the "this host
> requires authentication when sending" option to their clients is
> required anyway, so why not add the "use port 587" option, too?  (MSA
> is 'just' ESMTP with mandatory authentication).

My users aren't using this machine for outgoing email at the moment, so
I don't have to worry about re-educating everyone.

BTW, if MSA is ESMTP with mandatory authentication, why is the setting
"AUTH_REQUIRED=0" in the config by default?  Doesn't that defeat the
purpose?

> [ This may be irrelevant to you, but MSA deserves to be better known,
> since it is A Good Thing! ]

Not irrelevant at all.  If I can make it work, it's probably a better
solution than trying to do complicated stuff with the smtpaccess file.

Bowie


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