Linux MTAs- A Comparison of Popular Mail Transfer Agents

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With the growing popularity of Linux server solutions, many clients often ask me, “What is the best MTA for my Linux server?”. A Mail Transfer Agent, or MTA, is a software package that allows your Linux server to send and receive mail. There are many different MTAs out there, and each MTA has it’s own specific strengths and weaknesses. This article will cover the more popular MTAs- Exim, Postfix, Sendmail, Qmail, and Zimbra. Although Zimbra is more of a productivity suite than a MTA, it is worth mentioning due to it’s extensive features.

Exim

Exim has been out since 1995, and growing in popularity ever since. The biggest strength of Exim is it’s almost infinite level of customization. Exim supports the ability for a server administrator to create a custom ruleset that handles incoming and outgoing emails in any particular manner. For instance, it is easier with Exim to create a custom rule that routes incoming mail from a particular domain past anti-virus and anti-spam filters. One disadvantage is that Exim has had a less than stellar history with security. Exim3 was vulnerable to numerous security vulnerabilities, but it appears so far that Exim4 is more secure. Although Exim was not designed for performance, Exim can be configured to run as a high performance mail server. Exim is an excellent MTA if you need to create a complex or custom mail configuration. Exim is the default MTA on Debian Linux.

Postfix

Postfix is possibly the fastest growing MTA on the market today. Postfix is extremely popular because of it’s performance, and it’s past security history. It is far harder (or almost impossible) to compromise the root user on a server that runs Postfix, than for instance Sendmail or Exim. Postfix also supports the use of milters, which allow you to use external software solutions to pass mail from Postfix to anti-virus and anti-spam filters. Postfix also runs faster with less system resources than most other MTAs (or at least, with standard configurations). Standard configurations are easy to create, but if you need a unique setup, it can be a pain with Postfix. These strengths leave little mystery as to the sudden growth of Postfix as a Linux mail server software solution. Postfix is the default MTA on Ubuntu Linux.

Sendmail

Sendmail is the most popular MTA. Written in 1982, Sendmail is literally the standard by which all other MTAs are compared. Sendmail has lost most of it’s popularity in recent years though, due to security issues, and a difficult configuration. Sendmail is the most difficult MTA to configure, and has had more than it’s fair share of security vulnerabilities and compromises. The few administrators that run Sendmail either do so for compatibility reasons (it was, after all, the classic UNIX mail server), or for comfortability (UNIX admins will sometimes cling to Sendmail, because they are used to it’s over complicated configuration). Red Hat Enterprise Linux uses Sendmail by default.

Qmail

Qmail is the one of the most secure MTAs on the market today. Although unsupported, and not currently in development (Qmail hasn’t been updated since 1997), Qmail has a large fan base. Qmail is also faster, and scales better with higher mail loads than Sendmail. However, Qmail is not easy to configure, or easy to extend. Qmail does not support Sendmail milters, so any additional filters have to be specifically written for Qmail. Qmail is the default MTA in the popular Plesk control panel software.

Zimbra

Zimbra is the least popular of all the MTAs mentioned. Zimbra is not designed for security, speed, or infinite customization- it is designed for group collaboration. Zimbra is extremely easy to install and configure, but should not be used as a high performance MTA. Zimbra instead excels if you want to have a way to share calendars, files, and contacts with other users on the Zimbra mail server. A web-based control panel allows an easy way to add or remove users from the mail server, and most configuration is just as easy. Zimbra offers a commercial version, as well as an open source version of it’s mail server. Currently, no Linux distributions use Zimbra as the default mail server.

The Best Linux MTA

The best Linux-based MTA for your needs can be either MTA mentioned in this article- it’s all up to your needs. For most organizations and people, Sendmail fills that role very well. If you don’t need enterprise features, or the best security record, Sendmail clearly stands out based on it’s performance and features. Exim is a close second, followed by Qmail, Zimbra, and Sendmail (in that order of preference). Qmail’s excellent security record is it’s biggest strength, and Sendmail’s popularity is quickly vanishing. In the end, the best MTA for your server depends on your needs- and your needs alone.

Christopher Pace is a linux consultant who offers a variety of linux consulting services to clients. Linux administration services are offered remotely, which helps his clients save both money and time!

Choose The Right Linux Distribution For Smart Computing

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Linux is one of the most popular operating systems out there after the Windows family. What sets Linux distinctly apart from others is the fact that you can download it for free. Unlike Windows operating systems which come with a hefty price tag, Linux does not cost absolutely anything and Linux setup is quite easy. Even you dont need to use any virus remover as there is very little or no chance of virus infection.

For beginners, it can be quite daunting to decide which distribution would be best for them. This is because there is a plethora of Linux distributions out there from which you can choose from – Ubuntu, Red Hat, Fedora, Mandriva, Opensuse, and so on. Each distribution, or distro, has its own strengths and features unique to it.

The first and foremost concern that you should consider is your hardware. All Linux distros are not built the same. Although most Linux distros try to be as hardware friendly as possible, you might discover that some work better with your hardware than others. So the best way to decide which distro would be right for you is to try out a handful of the most popular distros and see for yourself as to which of them work the best on your hardware. You will discover that some distros will detect all your hardware and work flawlessly, while others may not even boot on your PC or laptop.

The next thing you should consider is codec availability. Some popular distros like Ubuntu and Fedora do not ship with any kind of codecs to play common files like your mp3s or high-definition videos. There are distros based on these very distros that are more usable and ship with support for all of your audio and video files. Linux Mint, based on Ubuntu, is one such distro.

Ubuntu is probably the most popular and widely used Linux operating system that there is. It is based on Debian, another huge distribution with a very loyal fan following. Ubuntu also has one of the largest communities out there and you are more likely to find help on anything related to Ubuntu than any other distro. This is one of the great advantages of using Ubuntu or anything based on it, such as Linux mint. You will find it easy to look for help online should you get stuck with anything.

Fedora, sponsored by the Linux giant red hat, is also quite popular among Linux users. Like Ubuntu, it cannot come with any codecs pre-installed due to patent issues. Not all software companies allow Linux distributions to pre-install their proprietary software. For example, Microsoft license does not allow Linux distributions to contain programs like internet explorer or windows media player codecs. Similarly, popular Linux distros like Fedora, Opensuse and Ubuntu cannot ship flash, java, and other such proprietary software. If this is a concern for you, then download distros like Linux mint or PcLinuxOS, which come with all these necessary programs pre-installed.

So if you have really decided to move on to Linux, just take the plunge and set up Linux on your PC. You will not regret the freedom and liberty that Linux comes with.

A Comparative Analysis Between Linux Vps And Windows Vps

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Usually people do not pay attention to the selection or choice of the programs available for web hosting. Normally the VPS hosting is considered as the best one when it regards to the web hosting. A very few programmers and developers understand the difference between the two kinds of web hosting applied by VPS. However it is very important to comprehend and understand the difference between the two modes of hosting. Understanding the differences between these two major kinds of VPS hosting programs is important because only after understanding the functions and pros and cons between these two, one can decide and choose the best program for the specific web hosting. The importance of recognizing and then selecting the best VPS program mode for your web hosting is important because in this way one can cope with the problems coming in the way of web hosting. The best web hosting services are always availed when the right kind of web hosting service is employed. If any wrong service is opted, then the web hosting service may not be run in the right mode. This can be devastating for the website itself. In order to get fully satisfied with the services of the web hosting, it is imperative to choose the best and the most suitable VPS hosting services.

There are two main kinds of the VPS hosting services popularly available. Among the many other services of web hosting services available for VPS, it is important to get the most convenient services. These VPS services are provided by the net hosting services. The developers are just required to select these services from the two most popularly available services of web hosting. The two commonly and most popularly available options are the Linux VPS hosting and the Windows VPS hosting services. These two options are basically offered by the presently best provider of the hosting services.

The windows vps hosting service has many smart features but it is comparatively an expensive one. Another major property of this VPS service is that it is a very secure and fast going service. The Windows VPS service is considered to be the most powerful service for web hosting and it carries very smart features. This service of web hosting also supports another major program of web hosting which is famously known as the ASP hosting service. Further responsibility is also lying upon the web hosting provider to provide the client the best of the services which are made available with the program.

Just like the Windows VPS web hosting service, there are also certain advantages of the linux vps hosting services. This service is usually preferred because it is the most economical service. This service is also made available under the caption of the cheap windows hosting service. It is due to the economical terms and natures of this web hosting service the Linux VPS hosting is considered to be the best possible service. It is also considered a very reliable service because there are minimum possible risks of crashing down of this system and a steady working is ensured.

Cant Find Ext2 File System Error In Linux

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Linux is the most popular open source operating system. You can use Linux on same system on which you are already using Windows operating system. The method is known as Dual Boot. It gives you the facility to have the features of both operating systems on same computer.

If you are working on Windows operating system and want to access data from Linux volume, you can mount the drive and can use it. In this way, you can use all of the data stored on your hard drive by using any of the operating system.

But sometimes, using Dual Boot can become problematic. When you try to access Linux volumes, by mounting them, you can fail to do it and can get some sort of error messages. The common error messages are:

“can’t find ext2 File System on dev ide1 (22, 65)”

Or

“mount: wrong file system type, bad option, bad superblock, or too many mounted file systems”

After these error messages, you can’t use the Linux partitions. And when you boot your system using Linux operting system, the system just can’t boot up and shows the boot errors or some like this.

This problem most probably occurs due to file system corruption or volume corruption. The file system or volume can get corrupted due to a number of reasons including improper mounting of hard drive, unexpected system shutdown, virus attack and many others.

It doesn’t matter what the reason of file system corruption or the error messages is. The only and the most important thing that matters is your precious and significant data. All of your data is at stake of loss and it can possibly put you out of the business.

In order to save you and your business, you need to recover your data. The data recovery is feasible by using Linux recovery solutions. Linux recovery solutions are available in the form ofLinux data recoverysoftware to perform data recovery Linux.

Linux data recovery software are the easiest, cheapet and quickest solution of data recovery Linux. These software can be used in each data loss situation to recover all kinds of lost data. You should opt for the good data recovery software to prevent further data loss and carry out absolute data recovery Linux.

Stellar Phoenix Linux is a great and fabulousLinux recoverysoftware. This Linux recovery software is fully automatic and is useful for Ext2, Ext3, and Reiser FS file system based hard drive volumes. The hard drive scanning method of this Linux recovery software is distinct. It automatically places the lost hard drive volumes and recovers it along with the data.

If you don’t have sound technical knowledge, then no need to worry at all. This Linux recovery software can be used very easily and doesn’t demand any high technical skill. You can recover data from all Linux flavours such as Red Hat, SUSE, Ubuntu, Linspire etc. using this data recovery Linux soon.

Linux Hosting India – Web Hosting At Its Best

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Internet is booming from the very day it came into being. One of the advantages of internet in the business field is web hosting. Internet has made the world a global village. There are no boundaries. Once you have a website for your business you can expand your business horizon according to your imagination. Big organizations are going for managed web hosting. Linux server has become very popular among big organizations. Linux Hosting India provides top class service in this open source variation of UNIX operating System.

Linux Hosting

Linux is a leading server operating system. In simple words it can be defined as an open source system based on the model of UNIX operating system. Linux Hosting India is a pioneer in this field. Its strong knowledge in web hosting and dedicated server technologies, coupled with vast experience and round the clock customer support is its strength. Linux can be installed in a wide range of computer hardwares, mobile phones, video game consoles to mainframe and super computers.

Linux vs. Windows

Even though windows have reined the operating system and web hosting field for long, big organizations are now switching to Linux. The most prevalent advantage of Linux over windows is its cost effectiveness. Linux is almost free to obtain, while windows product can be owned only after paying a hefty price. Moreover Microsoft licenses are allowed only for one computer, whereas Linux distribution can be installed on any number of computers.

Linux server can be easily converted into windows. Thus conversion to another server is hassle free. But with windows it is very complicated and time consuming. If your website is using languages like PHP, MySQL and Pearl, you must go for Linux server hosting. Linux is basically an open source software product and thus is not bound by any license fees. With Linux hosting India customization can be done in real time.

Linux is an operating system which is very adaptive and flexible when compared to windows. Linux offers several user interfaces to use from when compared to windows. Linux is more secured and reliable when compared to windows. With India Linux Hosting you get cheaper hosting fees, more reliable server with Linux, readily available free program with Linux, greater access and control of files and permissions. Linux provides ever evolving control panel for administrative utilities.

Linux based web hosting scales extremely well, so as your website grows and traffic towards your website increases, it remains easy to manage. Linux Hosting India hosting fulfills ones requirement for good web server and web serving, file serving, mailing and streaming. It is very much cost effective, reliable and secure. Linux Web hosting is deemed to be the most prominent form of web hosting on the internet.