[Sderby] Home server query

[Ashley Heath]

On Sun, 27 Apr 2003 12:05:18 +0000
"Adrian Wood" <adrianwood3@hotmail.com> wrote:

> >From: Ashley Heath <aheath@clikmail.net>
> >Reply-To: sderby@mailman.lug.org.uk
> >To: sderby@mailman.lug.org.uk
> >Subject: Re: [Sderby] Home server query
> >Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2003 12:32:31 +0100
> >
> >On Sun, 27 Apr 2003 12:06:05 +0100
> >"Adrian Wood" <adrianwood3@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > I'm hoping to run a permanent FTP server, as well as my own e-mail 
> >server,
> > > and I was wondering if anyone had any advice that could help me?
> > >
> > > It will be connected to the internet through a Linksys hub/router. It 
> >will
> > > need to allow external access to the server features, but without
> > > interfering with the other PCs (which all run Windows, I'm afraid) use 
> >of
> > > FTP and e-mail from other sources.
> >
> >A gui is not required for an ftp and email server, but if you are not 
> >comfortable with using the command line, either install one of the GUI's 
> >and only start it when you need to carry out admin or use something like 
> >webmin where you can administer the server via a web browser.
> 
> Ahh, I was going to ask about a program to remote-admin the box! Once it's 
> set up, it's going to be tucked away without a monitor, keyboard etc 
> connected, so something like that would be extremely helpful.
> 
> >Restrict the FTP and email, only relay mail to and from your domain, you 
> >don't want to become an open relay and get blacklisted.
> 
> There's the rub; I don't have a domain. I'm hoping that, as I'm only going 
> to be using it rarely for a select group of people to contact me on, it 
> shouldn't be a problem.  There may well be only one e-mail on the server, 
> ine. I have to admit, I wasn't aware that this would be a problem, could you 
> elaborate on this?

If you will be running an SMTP server it is vital that you lock down who the server will relay mail for. Normally SMTP servers are configured to relay mail from users@yourdomains to everyone and everyone to users@yourdomains only. Spammers actively look for open relays, ie servers that are configured to relay mail for all domains. If your server is used by spammers and the recpient reports it, your server could end up on one of the RBL's (Realtime Blacklists). A lot of mail servers are configured to reject connections from blacklisted servers. The other downside to a spammer using your mail server is the amount of diskspace and bandwidth they use.   
 
> >A must to any directly connected internet systems is a firewall, only allow 
> >access to the services that need to be publicly available ie ftp and email.
> 
> I should have mentioned; the Linksys router also acts as a fully-stealthed 
> firewall.
> 
> >If you are still unsure or need any help setting up the server why not 
> >bring the box along to one of the LUG meetings, there are plenty of members 
> >always willing to help.
> 
> I may well do that; not today, I'm afraid, but perhaps at the next, if I 
> don't have it sorted by then.
> 
> Thanks a lot, your information is very helpful!
> 
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