Recently I came across a project https://yunohost.org, It's a FOSS app like cpanel, uses letsencrypt certificates and is extendable by installing apps.
I've setup a vps and it's working great! Our server hosts Gogs for git, Baikal for Card/CalDAV and Rainloop as webmail.
It comes with many free services installed, includes MetronomeIM ( https://lightwitch.org/metronome) as xmpp server and Mail server (postfix/dovecot). LDAP service is also configured for all apps installed and a single sign on system is also available across hosted services.
I was able to login to this self hosted xmpp server using Empathy, Pidgin, AstraChat (Android with VoiP), Conversations (Android)
There are xmpp multi user chatrooms (groups) possible.
The main practical benefit I see in using MetronomeIM and Empathy is screen sharing. We are able to do free, unlimited screen shares!
Revant
Hi Revant,
On 2017 Jun 10 19:39:24, Revant Nandgaonkar wrote:
Recently I came across a project https://yunohost.org, It's a FOSS app like cpanel, uses letsencrypt certificates and is extendable by installing apps.
Thanks for sharing this.
and Mail server (postfix/dovecot).
I have heard that managing a mail server is a nightmare, so much so that, even most experienced admins think twice before doing it. Is this true? And how easy it is to self host mails, and possibly stay out of the spamhaus list? How much worth is it when compared to a paid service like Kolab now?
Thanks
On Sat, Jun 10, 2017 at 9:01 PM, Raghavendra Kamath < raghavendr.raghu@gmail.com> wrote:
I have heard that managing a mail server is a nightmare, so much so that, even most experienced admins think twice before doing it. Is this true? And how easy it is to self host mails, and possibly stay out of the spamhaus list? How much worth is it when compared to a paid service like Kolab now?
I'm not most experienced admin!
Home Hosted Server (only Personal) :
I had setup mail server from home using Static IP from MTNL for my personal use. It worked even when the IP was in one of the spam blacklist. Not using this setup anymore.
Pros : Virtually free (as in free beer). Home internet connection, old desktop hardware FOSS
Cons : No data center level connectivity Household power cuts Static IP by MTNL was in spam blacklist
G Suites (for business) : Using it on one domain for email service
Pros : All proprietary services available
Cons : Expense to purchase each account no FOSS
Go Daddy cpanel shared hosting : Offered 1000 emails for a domain. Not using this anymore
Pros: Cheap
Cons: Recipients complain that mail goes in spam, TLS/SSL not available Users didn't like webmail interface (squirrelmail/roundcube/horde) 5 to 10 minutes for mail to reach/receive No FOSS
Yunohost on Digitalocean VPS Bangalore: Using it for 12 users on 1 domain name
Pros: FOSS Unlimited users (subject to vps capacity) Letsencrypt Certificates available for all services/subdomains IP clean, not in any spam blacklist one of the web service grading email server and security ranked it 458th place out of 93148 domains tested
Conclusion : IP of the server decides whether it'll be in blacklist.
With all new projects like sandstorm.io, yunohost.org, cloudron.io, FreedomBox, etc. it has become very easy to install and manage (mail) servers I've not faced any problem "self" hosting from reliable VPS provider.
With commercial email service providers there are restrictions on email service, e.g. no. of emails allowed per account per day, attachment limits, port access limits etc. In case of VPS hosting, I've no restrictions anywhere.
Revant
On Sat, 2017-06-10 at 21:01 +0530, Raghavendra Kamath wrote:
I have heard that managing a mail server is a nightmare, so much so that, even most experienced admins think twice before doing it. Is this true? And how easy it is to self host mails, and possibly stay out of the spamhaus list? How much worth is it when compared to a paid service like Kolab now?
The cost, in terms of the infrastructure and effort, surpasses the cost of paying a service provider.
On Sat, Jun 10, 2017 at 8:31 AM, Raghavendra Kamath raghavendr.raghu@gmail.com wrote:
I have heard that managing a mail server is a nightmare, so much so that, even most experienced admins think twice before doing it. Is this true? And how easy it is to self host mails, and possibly stay out of the spamhaus list? How much worth is it when compared to a paid service like Kolab now?
IMO, it's almost a full time job (personal experience doing it for about 2 years).
The biggest headache is dealing with the support at the various RBL. There are many inexpensive providers; email messaging is their "core" competency. I would suggest let them handle it unless you want to enter this domain for a living.
Nowadays, I use a smart host relay for outgoing messages and for incoming messages, a MX pointing to a service provider.
-- Arun Khan
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Joe Steeve -
Raghavendra Kamath -
Revant Nandgaonkar