Hey-ho 👋
What is the best approach for selfhosting an email server with static IP or blocked port 25?
I’ve done it many times in many different ways, now doing it again and want to hear what is the best approach these days
My port 25 isn’t even probably blocked, I just prefer to use my vps to help it with this stuff
Any suggestions?
Self hosting email on non-mission critical domain for learning purposes might be okay if your intention is to get into the industry. Self hosting email for others on more production like setting you’re going to find yourself in a world of pain.
All it takes is one missed email (be it not making into their intended recipient’s inbox, or them not receiving an important notice in their inbox) and you’re never going to hear the end of it.
You’d also be liable for content your users send out from your servers — and I don’t mean the spam type, though if you get your IP blacklisted, your provider may want to have a word with you.
I’d strongly advise against going down this path, but if you do, be sure to have ways to legally shield yourself from any sort of potential liabilities.
No problem, the world of pain is my hometown
I do not understand why everyone calling hosting email difficult? IT is like 5 RFC you need to read and implement. Sofware wise you will need mail agent, something for DKIM ( if it not build in in agent), “local delivery agent” ( probably presenting it as IMAP) + mail reader of your choice. Nothing too complex
The complex part isn’t the hosting part. Its the security part, the reputation management part, the uptime part, the troubleshooting delivery part and basically every other aspect other than running postfix+dovecot
It’s not complicated until your reputation drops for a multitude of reasons, many not even directly your fault.
Neighboring bad acting IPs, too many automated emails sent out while you were testing, compromised account, or pretty much any number of things means everyone on your domain is hosed. And email is critical.