Man these days it's nearly impossible. Even my web host has trouble hosting email, even though I use it and they do a decent job. Only medium-sized specialist companies and large ones like Gmail do it well. It's just those spammers - we could have nice things like self-hosted email if everyone were nice, but we can't.
Self-host your mail server
21–30 of 143 posts
Re: Self-host your mail server
#22I've been self hosting since 2012 or so and it is a mixed bag. Deliverability is fine provided you're on a clean IP range, which generally only reputable hosts have.
There was a moment when my son was born and he was in NICU that my mail broke. I just went without for a while. Not ideal.
Since then I've thought: self hosting is nice but hosting cooperatively is probably the best way forward. Democratic control might beat technical control. I'll do it soon, I think: I'd be fascinated to know what people think.
Re: Self-host your mail server
#23Good luck having your emails hitting any inbox instead of ending up in spam.
Ending up in spam is not that bad, compared to emails simply dropped silently, without either party having any idea.
Re: Self-host your mail server
#24What hosting / VPS companies do you recommend? Finding one which allows you to run a mail server is some work.
Mythic beasts. Their IP ranges are pretty clean and well managed. My deliverability has been fine there for years.
Re: Self-host your mail server
#25Blast from the past:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillary_Clinton_email_controve...
Re: Self-host your mail server
#26Before self-hosting your own, first get a domain and just point it at a mail
provider that allows custom domains. It will cost, but so will a VPS. I suspect
a lot of DIY homelab types would have most of their needs met with just that
setup:
- you get the vanity email address
- you can switch email providers (including self-hosting later on)
- you can have ~unlimited aliases (depends on the provider)
Most of the setup consists of steps you will have to take anyway when self-hosting (getting a domain, changing DNS records), except for a major amount of headaches that will be taken care of for you.
Re: Self-host your mail server
#27I've been self hosting since 2012 or so and it is a mixed bag. Deliverability is fine provided you're on a clean IP range, which generally only reputable hosts have. There was a moment when my son was born and he was in NICU that my mail broke. I just went without for a while. Not ideal. Since then I've thought: self hosting is nice but hosting cooperatively is probably the best way forward. Democratic control might…
I’m very interested in this approach. I’ve hosted friends’ websites for decades but I’ve been the single-point of failure, so “cooperative” is very enticing.
I’m currently working on a cooperative “lights-on” solution which might be complementary.
Re: Self-host your mail server
#28Michael W Lucas has a book[0] on the subject too: https://mwl.io/static/books/run-your-own-mail-server.html
Re: Self-host your mail server
#29I self-host with telekom business, 2 fixed ip lines fiber and vdsl at home everything from auth ns to mail and web. Its around 85€ for me.
it's still doable and you get the best feeling there is: Living in the internet.
Can recommend 100%.
Re: Self-host your mail server
#30Good luck having your emails hitting any inbox instead of ending up in spam.
Thanks. 15 years of good luck so far