LAMP Stack script install emails go out, disappear coming in
First, when I setup my Linode I installed the LAMP Stack Script, and configured it with a MySQL database for a Wordpress installation. I had to do everything funky for apache2, since I'm hosing two sites off one IP, but everything is working just fine. ANYWAY, here is my server:
hashbowl and hashbowl.brianthedell.com << mail, web, everything (I have no FTP)
This is how my DNS has been setup (brianthedell.com is pointed to the Linode nameservers):
A/AAAA Records
Host Name IP Address TTL Edit Remove
173.255.218.105 Default Edit Remove
www 173.255.218.105 Default Edit Remove
mail 173.255.218.105 Default Edit Remove
hashbowl 173.255.218.105 Default Edit Remove
MX Records
Mail Server Preference Subdomain TTL Edit Remove
hashbowl.brianthedell.com 10 Default Edit Remove
Next, I followed this:
Basic Postfix Email Gateway on Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid)
found at
Now, I didn't install Postfix as per the instructions here; Postfix was already installed and configured as part of the LAMP stack; I wonder if this is the source of my troubles?
My /etc/postfix/main.cf includes these entries, as per the directions:
myhostname = hashbowl
alias_maps = hash:/etc/aliases
alias_database = hash:/etc/aliases
mydestination = localhost, li228-105.members.linode.com, localhost.members.linode.com, localhost
relayhost =
mynetworks = 127.0.0.0/8 [::ffff:127.0.0.0]/104 [::1]/128
mailboxsizelimit = 0
recipient_delimiter = +
inet_interfaces = loopback-only
virtualaliasmaps = hash:/etc/postfix/virtual
home_mailbox = mail/
At this point the directions ask to reload and restart Postfix, which I did. In fact, I've since rebooted my machine, but anyway. Here is my /etc/postfix/virtual:
The file virtual HAS been mapped into a virtual.db file. Finally, ~/mail was added to my /etc/skel and all my users (currently only root and brian) have /mail directories in their home directories. Any kind soul willing to point out what I'm doing wrong?
8 Replies
telnet hashbowl.brianthedell.com 25
Trying 173.255.218.105...
telnet: connect to address 173.255.218.105: Connection refused
telnet: Unable to connect to remote host
Can't connect to the SMTP port on your mail server.
@thebrian:
inet_interfaces = loopback-only
You probably want "inet_interfaces = all", since you can only receive mail from yourself right now.
> # myhostname = li228-105.members.linode.com
myhostname = hashbowl.brianthedell.com
myhostname = hashbowl
alias_maps = hash:/etc/aliases
alias_database = hash:/etc/aliases
mydestination = localhost, li228-105.members.linode.com, localhost.members.linode.com, localhost, brianthedell.com, hashbowl
mydestination = $myhostname localhost.$mydomain brianthedell.com
relayhost =
mynetworks = 127.0.0.0/8 [::ffff:127.0.0.0]/104 [::1]/128
mailboxsizelimit = 6400000
recipient_delimiter = +
inet_interfaces = all
virtualaliasmaps = hash:/etc/postfix/virtual
home_mailbox = mail/
myorigin = /etc/mailname
inet_protocols = ipv4
…it still doesn't receive mail, but I guess I'm making progress? BTW, I'm just now getting funky error-mail-returned messages to test emails I sent out this morning…
May i suggest using google apps to handle your inbound mail. There is no cost for <50users, and it handles all of your spam filtering.
After repeatedly trying to get postfix working myself, this is what i ended up doing.
Alternatively, if you are determined to run your own mail server, try citadel, it installs with a minimum of fuss and config.
I CAN telnet into my mail server now! yay! Unfortunately, I cannot get it to send mail; RCPT TO:<
> 554 5.7.1 Relay access denied
when I RCPT TO:<
> SimplePOP3Retriever:
getmailrc: operation error (POP error (220 hashbowl.brianthedell.com ESMTP Postfix (Ubuntu)))
0 messages (0 bytes) retrieved, 0 skipped
Here is the current state of my main.cf
> smtpdbanner = $myhostname ESMTP $mailname (Ubuntu)
biff = no
appending .domain is the MUA's job.
appenddotmydomain = no
Uncomment the next line to generate "delayed mail" warnings
delaywarningtime = 4h
readme_directory = no
TLS parameters
smtpdtlscert_file=/etc/ssl/certs/ssl-cert-snakeoil.pem
smtpdtlskey_file=/etc/ssl/private/ssl-cert-snakeoil.key
smtpdusetls=yes
smtpdtlssessioncachedatabase = btree:${datadirectory}/smtpdscache
smtptlssessioncachedatabase = btree:${datadirectory}/smtpscache
See /usr/share/doc/postfix/TLS_README.gz in the postfix-doc package for
information on enabling SSL in the smtp client.
myhostname = li228-105.members.linode.com
myhostname = hashbowl.brianthedell.com
myhostname = hashbowl
alias_maps = hash:/etc/aliases
alias_database = hash:/etc/aliases
mydestination = localhost, li228-105.members.linode.com, localhost.members.linode.com, localhost, brianthedell.com, hashbowl
mydestination = $myhostname localhost.$mydomain brianthedell.com
relayhost =
mynetworks = 127.0.0.0/8 [::ffff:127.0.0.0]/104 [::1]/128
mailboxsizelimit = 6400000
recipient_delimiter = +
inet_interfaces = all
virtualaliasmaps = hash:/etc/postfix/virtual
home_mailbox = mail/
myorigin = /etc/mailname
inet_protocols = ipv4
I'm assuming that at this point, the server is accepting the mail as it should, and I'm just not finding the proper way to access it?