All, The Goal: build a server that will effectively filter spam, deliver email, and provide convenient remote access to corporate data. The server may or may not be behind a firewall, so security is of primary importance.
Of course, to avoid vendor lock-in and restrictive licensing contracts while at the same time increase security and reliability, the server should run Open Source software. The Solution: Postfix + Spamassassin + UW IMAP + Samba + Apache Web Server + SquirrelMail This configuration allows business travelers and office workers alike the ability to access their email and server file shares from anywhere on the Internet, including their homes. Please refer to the following links: http://www.mwvlug.org/imap/imap_email_client.jpg http://www.mwvlug.org/imap/web_mail.jpg Also, spam filtering is not obvious but definitely "commandable." For details, please see the following: http://www.mwvlug.org/spam_filtering/index.html And yes, Dr. Shepard, I did take the photo in the first screen capture :-) The first image depicts my email client connected to my IMAP server using SpamAssassin. Now, while the 'images' directory is a sub-folder under my home directory, there is absolutely no reason why this could not be a Samba share pointing to a remote Linux or NT server. This means in effect that business travelers can access their email and files centrally through their email client. Doing so negates the need for a VPN within the scope of these accesses. The user need know only how to set their account up through their email client. Security is handled via Secure Socket Layer (SSL). This is helpful during those panicked 2 a.m. phone calls from Sales associates who had inadvertently wiped out their Sales presentation documents. The second screen image shows the same email box through the browser. Note the folders on the left hand side: these to point to directories on the server. "Subscribing" to sub-folders gives you the server shares I described above. You can actually have both clients open and watch as you delete an email from the browser side and see the mail get deleted on the Evolution email client. Unfortunately, the UW IMAP server requires a user account on the Linux server to access their email through IMAP. This can be mitigated somewhat through automated synchronization with the Linux or Exchange email server. While totally conjecture at this point, I see no reason why the web server and the mail server need be on the same computer. Also, adding MySQL (also housed on a separate server if need be) to the mix make for high performance mail stores. What you get then is an email system that lets you manipulate your server files (add, remove, edit, view, play movies, etc.) just as you would through the "Network Neighborhood" while providing effective Bayesion spam filtering and web access. I can build install, and document these and other servers at your facility if you are interested. Best, -- -------------------------------------------------------------- | Cooper Stevenson | Em: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | | Open Source Consultant | Ph: 541.924.9434 | -------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ EuG-LUG mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mailman.efn.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/eug-lug
