[SWLUG] Postfix woes: Mail Transport Unavailable

[Huw Lynes]

On Fri, 2010-06-04 at 17:17 +0100, Emyr Derfel wrote:
> Hi all
> 
> This problem concerns the following software, freshly installed on new
> hardware to replace an unstable WinXP/Vpop3_ISP aliasing solution:
> Arch Linux, Postfix, Courier-imap, and eventually spamassassin when it
> works enough to consider poking at again.

> So far I have 37 messages in the deferred queue, which is only twice
> the number of angry people I'll have when the boss comes back on
> Monday.

Hi Emyr,

Sorry, I can't help you on the postfix problem since it's been a long
time since I had to set up mail and it was Exim when I did it. Although
I will mention that if you are on a consumer internet connection it's
entirely possible that outbound SMTP is blocked by the ISP. That would
explain the connection refused message.

There are a few principles you might want to bear in mind next time you
tackle a job like this.

1) as a general rule if you are replacing production systems it's a good
idea to test the replacement system before putting it into production.

2) It's also a really good idea to have a roll-back plan so that you can
put the old system back into production in the event of unforeseen
problems.

3) Major changes to production systems right before the weekend are
never a good idea.

I'd start thinking hard about item 2 if I were you. 

I realise that this probably sounds like me kicking you when you are
down, but that's absolutely not my intention.

Hope you get your mail working soon,
Huw

-- 
Huw Lynes                       | Advanced Research Computing
HEC Sysadmin                    | Cardiff University
                                | Redwood Building, 
Tel: +44 (0) 29208 70626        | King Edward VII Avenue, CF10 3NB