Ask HN: Is it possible to run your own mail server for personal use?

#1

Post by jdmoreira » Sat, Aug 13, 2016, 5:25 PM UTC

Recently I decided that I wanted to run my own MTA. Downloaded qmail, applied a couple of patches and it was done. The problem is making sure my mail is not marked as spam by the major MTAs out there, gmail and hotmail both mark my mails as spam. So far I've:

- made sure I'm not running an open relay (obviously)

- made sure a reverse lookup to my IP matches my host

- made sure my IP wasn't already in any spam IP blacklist

- added SPF

- added DKIM

- run a lot of tests at glockapps.com

It's still not enough. I don't know what else to do, is it possible to run your own MTA, for personal use in 2016? Who, here, is doing it successfully?

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to run your own mail server for personal use?

#2

Post by trentmb » Sat, Aug 13, 2016, 6:06 PM UTC

https://mailinabox.email

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to run your own mail server for personal use?

#3

Post by mindcrash » Sat, Aug 13, 2016, 6:11 PM UTC

Grab https://github.com/sovereign/sovereign, follow instructions, done.

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to run your own mail server for personal use?

#4

Post by _9vpl » Sat, Aug 13, 2016, 6:12 PM UTC

It's been many years since I've run my own mail server, but especially if you are running your mail server on a public cloud, you should make sure you aren't on any blacklists like Spamhaus: https://www.spamhaus.org/lookup/

EDIT: Looks like this is one of the things https://glockapps.com/ checks.

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to run your own mail server for personal use?

#5

Post by jdmoreira » Sat, Aug 13, 2016, 6:14 PM UTC

mindcrash wrote: post #3

Grab https://github.com/sovereign/sovereign , follow instructions, done.

You didn't understand the question. I already have the mail server running. That's not the problem.

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to run your own mail server for personal use?

#6

Post by jdmoreira » Sat, Aug 13, 2016, 6:14 PM UTC

trentmb wrote: post #2

https://mailinabox.email

You didn't understand the question. I already have the mail server running. That's not the problem.

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to run your own mail server for personal use?

#7

Post by jeffmould » Sat, Aug 13, 2016, 6:15 PM UTC

See this discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12107688

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to run your own mail server for personal use?

#8

Post by jdmoreira » Sat, Aug 13, 2016, 6:15 PM UTC

_9vpl wrote: post #4

It's been many years since I've run my own mail server, but especially if you are running your mail server on a public cloud, you should make sure you aren't on any blacklists like Spamhaus: https://www.spamhaus.org/lookup/ EDIT: Looks like this is one of the things https://glockapps.com/ checks.

I already did check my IP. It's not in any known list. But thanks :)

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to run your own mail server for personal use?

#9

Post by tacostakohashi » Sat, Aug 13, 2016, 6:18 PM UTC

Basically not, if you have other things you're trying to do with your life at the same time.

It's like trying to make a toaster from scratch, or growing your own wheat to make your own bread. It's possible, but it's also impractical and you'll end up with a worse result than you can get off the shelf.

Re: Ask HN: Is it possible to run your own mail server for personal use?

#10

Post by bensbox » Sat, Aug 13, 2016, 6:19 PM UTC

I am running my own mailserver for several years now and it is quite possible. The problem is, that your IP is new to the other MTAs and you need a couple of months to build up the reputation. Services like the one from Microsoft have forms, where you can delist yourself from their blacklists. Even though you are not blacklisted, it helps for the reputation if you fill out the forms with the MTAs you have problems with. Nevertheless it is a constant work (not much..1 hour per week) to keep up the reputation. Just make sure you are not loosing the IP when it starts to work out ;)