*BSD News Article 74302


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From: Ken Bigelow <kbigelow@www.play-hookey.com>
Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
Subject: Re: Setting up a Mailserver
Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 18:47:20 -0700
Organization: Erols Internet Services
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Message-ID: <31F18C28.711C@www.play-hookey.com>
References: <4savcs$3ke@nuacht.iol.ie> <4sblib$c7k@uriah.heep.sax.de>
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J Wunsch wrote:
> 
> tintori@iol.ie (Piero Tintori) wrote:
> 
> (mail, SLIP, PPP, etc.)
> 
> > What software would be the best to use considering that my budget is
> > small. Somebody mentioned that I should install a Unix clone such as
> > Linux or FreeBSD. Does anybody have experience of using these?
> > Personally I would like to use a dos/windows based system.
> 
> Well, then you're definately asking in the wrong group. :)
> 
> I think most people here would never use something like DOS or Windows
> for such a purpose.  But we are obviously biased, in that we already
> know how to setup and use a unix system.  It will in any case suffice
> your needs, but if you don't have the slightest clue about unix (and
> are not really willing to learn it), you will believe it were hard to
> administer.  (We are convinced that this is not the case, but you will
> first not understand why we are...)
> 
> On the plus side, you'll get a lot more of stability with either of
> the systems you've mentioned, coupled with true multitasking -- some-
> thing you would never get out of DOS or Windows (<= 3.11).  That
> means, you don't have to fully dedicate your machine for the server,
> instead, you can log into it as well as all the other users.
> Actually, all parties are nearly equal to the operating system, with
> about the only exception that you are able to restrict administrator
> logins (called `root' here) to the system's virtual consoles, so even
> people who accidentally know the administrator password won't be able
> to get in via the modems or network (without using at least one other
> non-privileged account).
> 

Just to stick my two cents in, since my whole job is in the education 
business...

Even if you go the FreeBSD route, those calling for e-mail or other uses 
need not use Un*x in any form -- Windows 3.1 with a TCP/IP stack (eg., 
Trumpet Winsock) and a freeware mail program such as Eudora Lite will do 
fine.

In addition, you can get FreeBSD, a mail server (qpop or others), Web 
server (Apache), news server (nntpd or INN) and a bunch of other stuff 
for the price of downloading them off the Internet. Since you mentioned a 
small budget, this may enhance the choice.

Finally, if you choose to go this route, I'll bet you learn a whole lot 
more, and more easily, than if you go the DOS/Windows route.

In any case, the ball is in your court -- it's your play.
-- 

Ken

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