Re: [SLUG] name server weirdness

[Jeff Waugh <jdub@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Russell Davies wrote:
> ; It's not a problem for an individual with the skills.  But for a 
> ; distribution this is not good enough.
> 
> Isn't this exact (bogus) argument applied to linux as a whole? I'm sick
> of hearing it, if you don't have those skills you shouldn't be playing
> with MTAs.


Having spluttered Coke on my keyboard, I'm now quite cross. ;)

An MTA is a required feature on many (if not all) Linux installations.
Although not strictly necessary if you use mailers like Netscape, let's look
at it from the perspective of Linux' current strongpoint: servers.

You "can't not" have an MTA, and if that's the case, it should be bloody easy
to set up for basic requirements.

Case in point: The Exim installation on Debian systems is almost fool-proof.
Debconf asks you what your setup is like, and makes the Exim settings
reflect that. If you're using dial-up on a desktop system, it does it.
Seamlessly. If you're running a 'real' mail server, it sets it up.
Seamlessly.

Sure, it won't do a lot of the fancy stuff Postfix or (perish the thought)
Sendmail and qmail do, but the intention is to have a *workable system
running easily*.


At the moment, the SLUG mailing list is pumped out by Exim which I (having
never touched Debian nor Exim before) set up in about 30 seconds.

For basic installations, that's the way it ought to be. You may be surprised
to find that basic installations are the most freqent too...

- Jeff


-- jdub@xxxxxxxxxxx ----------------------------- http://www.slug.org.au/ --

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