How do I set-up qmail on Gentoo?

GrimReaper · n00b Joined: 03 Jun 2003 Posts: 57 Location: Leeds, UK

Okay, got a static ip and a domain name.. emerged gentoo.. ran "rc-update add svscan default" also ran "ebuild /var/db/pkg/net-mail/qmail-1.03-r10/qmail-1.03-r10.ebuild config", "ln -s /var/qmail/supervise/qmail-send /service/qmail-send", "ln -s /var/qmail/supervise/qmail-smtpd /service/qmail-smtpd" and "ln -s /var/qmail/supervise/qmail-pop3d /service/qmail-pop3d"...

I'm wanting to setup an email server that can be accessed from my home internal network by two other machines so that emails can be sent and received.
After i did the above i tried accessing smtp and pop3 using Outlook using both the root account and the user account i created when i setup gentoo, but it can't even detect a smtp or pop3 servers running..

Also, currently my brother is currently on a worldwide holiday across asia (lots and lots of countries for a year) he's currently using some free services to send us pictures (digital camera) and emails across the internet whenever he finds an internet cafe, he's wanting the ability so he can say login to my webserver and send emails and upload said pictures to us instead of having to use the other services.

Aren't there any guides I can follow on setting up qmail on gentoo?
I can't seem to find any.

Grim

UberLord

irasnyd · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 10:04 pm Post subject:

It was somewhat difficult the first time I did it, but I got it working perfectly after just a few tries.

Here are some guides (not gentoo specific, but they still help)
http://www.lifewithqmail.com/lwq.html
http://www.csupomona.edu/~iwsnyder/gentoo/qmail/qmail_lazydog_fixed.sh

That second one is an install script that I modified to work with gentoo from www.qmail.nu

The script is what I used, but you can probably do it by hand also. Please look at the script, as there are probably changes you will want to make

GrimReaper · n00b Joined: 03 Jun 2003 Posts: 57 Location: Leeds, UK

When I try starting qmail...

-bash: /etc/init.d/qmail: No such file or directory

I'm gonna leave this to the weekend, just don't have the time during the week.

Grim

kashani · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 10:43 pm Post subject:

You'd actually want to start service scan aka tcp server which is what calls qmail.

/etc/init.d/svscan start

Generall qmail just worked for me. You might need to edit a few files in /var/qmail/control to get the proper domains and such.

kashani
_________________
Will personally fix your server in exchange for motorcycle related shop tools in good shape.

GrimReaper · n00b Joined: 03 Jun 2003 Posts: 57 Location: Leeds, UK

To hell with it, i'm getting no where.

I give up.

Oopsz · Guru Joined: 08 Oct 2002 Posts: 340

Qmail is one of the harder packages to get running.. go with postfix, its not guaranteed security bug free but its very popular.
_________________
Pop-before-SMTP with the Gentoo Virtual Mailhosting Guide

GrimReaper · n00b Joined: 03 Jun 2003 Posts: 57 Location: Leeds, UK

Tried postfix before i tried qmail, couldn't get it working.

Screw it all.

badzio · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 2:50 pm Post subject:

I've problems with qmail too... now - it works in 95%
1) emerge qmail
2) make links (/service/...)
3) start qmail (in gentoo /etc/init.d/svscan start or rc-update add svscan default and reboot)
4) in user directory must be directory .maildir. this directory must contains dirs cur, new and tmp. u must change access for those dirs (.maildir and .maildir/new .maildir/cur and .maildir/tmp) - 777
5) in user directory must be a file .qmail which contains text ./.maildir/
6) logout and login
7) u can write mail in pine, but you can't default receive mail in pine (or i don't know how do it :cry:

- pine reads another mailbox). You can send and receive mails in mutt. And, you can receive mails in mail client on another computer (for example in OutlookExpress) but you can't send from OE (or I did something wrong)
_________________
gouranga;-)

badzio · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2003 2:54 pm Post subject:

I've problems with qmail too... now - it works in 95%
1) emerge qmail
2) make links (/service/...)
3) start qmail (in gentoo /etc/init.d/svscan start or rc-update add svscan default and reboot)
4) in user directory must be directory .maildir. this directory must contains dirs cur, new and tmp. u must change access for those dirs (.maildir and .maildir/new .maildir/cur and .maildir/tmp) - 777
5) in user directory must be a file .qmail which contains text ./.maildir/
6) logout and login
7) u can write mail in pine, but you can't default receive mail in pine (or i don't know how do it :cry:

- pine reads another mailbox). You can send and receive mails in mutt. And, you can receive mails in mail client on another computer (for example in OutlookExpress) but you can't send from OE (or I did something wrong)
_________________
gouranga;-)

GrimReaper · n00b Joined: 03 Jun 2003 Posts: 57 Location: Leeds, UK

I've since given up on this and gentoo as a whole.
I'm going to either try this under FreeBSD or OpenBSD.

I'll probably just end up using MS Exchange, less hassle and much better documentation.

mattsteven · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2003 8:42 am Post subject:

badzio: You need to make sure "maildir" is in your USE and re-emerge pine.
_________________
Matthew Steven
Linux-only desktop since 1998
Graying hair since 2006

cult hero · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2003 10:45 am Post subject:

Qmail has excellent documentation, you simply have to have the patience to read it. Switching to one of the BSDs isn't a bad idea BUT... be prepared to read.

I use Qmail and it works fine... BUT... you have to configure more than just Qmail. You have to set up the pop3 daemon and other such things. Basically RTFM comes into play here. Too many people think they can just install Qmail and have it do everything. It takes a bit of work. (Mind you, once you understand how to do it, it's pretty simple especially when coupled with the scripts that come stock with Gentoo.)
_________________
Repeat after me! This world is made of love and peace!

badzio · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2003 7:56 am Post subject:

Ivion · n00b Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 45 Location: Amsterdam

tecknojunky · Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2003 11:04 pm Post subject:

Qmail is one of those packages for which it's better to do a manual install when installing for the first time.

That's what I did when I first installed it on a Slackware box. Somehow, I never liked the way it's setup in Gentoo. You seem to end up with bunch of packages you don't need, and svcscan autorespawing is shortcircuited in the init script. And there's the (almost) defacto qmailctr that is missing (at least, it was on my last install). No dismerit meant to the authors. Qmail's modularity clashes a bit with Portage's automatism, and Qmails odd layout furthers that clashe. Corners must be rounded somewhere and I have only praise for the accomplishment.

Follow Life With Qmail's howto at least once, then you'll pretty much know what's supposed to be where about qmail, regardless of the distribution your using.

I'm typing this because I'm reinstalling it on another box, and I had to go into the ebuild to comment the stuff I don't need in the [R]DEPENDS.
_________________
(7 of 9) Installing star-trek/species-8.4.7.2::talax.