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XMail Forum > XMail Server > Your Experience with XMail


Posted by: derkaan Apr 7 2004, 12:39 PM
Hi!

I´m really new to XMail. I´m looking for a mta wich is "easy" to administrate/handle.
After a short look at XMail i´m thinking about use it. Cause it "seems" to be the best for my
project (up to 15 Domains, about 100 Accounts).
I told you that i´m new to this topic, and want to know more about XMail. Not things like:
"how to install" or similar... (this questions will come later :-) ) ... more about your experience with
XMail.
How do you use it?
How long do you use it?
Are there any known "problems"?
How many user/accounts?
mailbackups?
updates?
security?
...

I would love it to hear about this things from you.

all the best
derkaan

Posted by: atomant Apr 7 2004, 02:13 PM
I can tell you for myself, but there are people with more years of experience.
I am using it now for about 2 years. I am using one as relay only with custom domains and one as normal server. I found it very robust, stable and secure. Very easy to administer with variety of GPL programs (thru web or normal). I have heard that there is no limit for number of users. Advantage is that you don't need real users system account on the machine. Backup of mail is simple because you backup only the directory with domains and its subdirs. Updates are very easy to append; normaly is needed to change only the binaries and restarting the server. Server is offering all kinds of security so there is no problem with it.
You have also a lot of add ons such as antivirus, attachment, spam filtering. You can also have mailing list with Ecartis or Mailman.
AFAIK it offers a lot of possibility like a real server should do. image007.gif

Posted by: sc4vengr Apr 7 2004, 03:10 PM
XMail rox!

i have 25 domains with ~250 users, its free, multi-platform, light, stable, easy to update, robust, fast, secure, sexy and very easy to administer. Plus, as Atomant said, alot of free addons such as spam filter, av filter, attachment filter, etc, etc.

XMail rox!

image007.gif

Posted by: hschneider Apr 7 2004, 03:32 PM
Due to its simplicity its is absolutely secure. There are absolutely no exploits.
When bugs are discovered, they are fixed or worked around in a minimum of time.

XMail is robust, flexible and very easily to maintain. Several customers of mine use it with business critical applications (mainly automatic mail processing by script) for approx 1 year now. It's one of these install and forget pieces of software.


Posted by: bim Apr 7 2004, 04:20 PM
I have been using XMail for a couple of years now and really like it.

At first it might be a bit of a strugle to find the right application the help you create and manage the accounts. But in the end you'll notice that the fact that no GUI is included with XMail is a benefit. You now have the choice of different ways of managing accounts and can pick the one you like.

If you take a little bit of time to really get to know XMailserver, I think you'll notice that's it's all you ever wanted. There's probably other software out there that will install a mailserver with a small wizard and be up and running before you know it. But I'm sure that XMailserver (that will make you read something before you can install it :-)) is a better choice since it's more versatile and secure.

Posted by: derkaan Apr 8 2004, 09:47 AM
Thank you all for your answers!
It seems that XMail is great mta, and it has also a great Community! biggrin.gif biggrin.gif

@hschneider: You wrote that Bugs are fixed in a minimum of Time. Is there a something like a
Newsletter about fixed Bugs?



Posted by: atomant Apr 8 2004, 10:47 AM
There is a ChangeLog in every new distribution which explains new updates.

Posted by: hschneider Apr 8 2004, 10:49 AM
There is a newsgroup, moderated by XMail's author himself:
news://news.saltstorm.net/saltstorm.xmail



Posted by: vegetto34 Apr 8 2004, 05:31 PM
I've been using XMail since 1.14 and it has always been dependable and has the features I need.

You can kiss those $500,000 e-mail servers good-bye!

Posted by: sc4vengr Apr 8 2004, 05:59 PM
The only thing this server needs is a kick ass log analyzer! smile.gif

Posted by: hschneider Apr 8 2004, 06:12 PM
.. just place your vote for that under "Most wanted Tool" cool.gif

Posted by: sc4vengr Apr 8 2004, 09:17 PM
already done image008.gif

Posted by: BooT Apr 11 2004, 11:47 AM
I have been running Xmail since December 2002 I kicked out Exchange server
Running on Windows 2000 Server platform.
Now i got 45 Domains and over 1000 Mailbox'es All running on a P3 - 700 with 1GIG RAM And i am running a HDD Mirror
Server Crashed a couple of times.... but Restoring Xmail is a BreeZe! ( If u have a Backup that is!)
I am running Spam Assasin and about 4 Filters and AV Scanning ( About 200 Viruses a Day) But Xmail is Coping 10000000000%

I am Happy!

wub.gif

Oh and ......

QUOTE
The only thing this server needs is a kick ass log analyzer!


I agree 100 % On this one!!!!! Some tools were made for log analizing...but not all 100 % And there are lot's more to be done in that department!
Just hope it gets done at some stage!

Thanx XMail!

Posted by: derkaan Apr 11 2004, 10:46 PM
thank you all for your answers!

...tomorow will be my first try with XMail! :-)



Posted by: BooT Apr 12 2004, 03:10 PM
Good Luck!

smile.gif~

Posted by: flashbit Apr 30 2004, 01:00 PM
I've managed to install XMail 1.19 on XP with XAV running AVG Antivirus (Free edition) which almost has no job to do due to the CustMapsList option that enables the spam/exploits lists check.

It's safe to say that if XMail had IMAP (which I hope we'll see soon) there would be no competitors on the market.

Posted by: gEoTa May 28 2004, 04:14 PM
2 years ago i picked xmail 'cause it was the only "free" email server, open source, capable of running on both windows and linux (extremely important!), doing both pop3 and smtp and with a nice reputation.
Since then i've installed it on some servers and i didn't have any trouble with it. I've even discovered some great tools to attach, found that the filters are easy to implement and done some.
Only recently i've seen the forum and it seems it can be very usefull.. smile.gif
Not a single reclamation, so far... smile.gif
The only problem i see with this project is the dependency on one person. If something happens to him, like not wanting to develop this anymore or something like that, much work around this will be wasted. I hope not. smile.gif

Posted by: atomant May 28 2004, 05:31 PM
Actually, you can get the source and make modifications yourself (or suggest them). It depends only for a public release but if there are some other brains who want to make it even better, I think Davide won't mind to help him out. rolleyes.gif

Posted by: hschneider May 28 2004, 05:34 PM
That's the great advantage of Open Source .. if 1 auther gets hit by a bus, another can pick up the project .. 100% investment protection ... cool.gif

Posted by: dario May 28 2004, 08:30 PM
Yes,
but in case, I hope there'll be someone so capable and devoted as Davide.


Posted by: tac Jun 3 2004, 04:01 AM
Configuration system needs improvment.
-All tags need to be explained with comments inside of the "system.tab" file, not just in the manual.
-The whole [TAB] system is just plain dumb, why not use a space or an equal symbol?
-Manual needs to be redone, make it like the eXtremail manual
-Luckily 3rd party utilities make up for most of the remote admin flaws except even they have poor documentation of the Xmail settings.

Posted by: hschneider Jun 3 2004, 07:16 AM
Tac, you are free to contribute! I'm sure many users will appreciate your work.

Posted by: sc4vengr Jun 3 2004, 01:49 PM
QUOTE (tac @ Jun 3 2004, 04:01 AM)
Configuration system needs improvment.
-All tags need to be explained with comments inside of the "system.tab" file, not just in the manual.
-The whole [TAB] system is just plain dumb, why not use a space or an equal symbol?
-Manual needs to be redone, make it like the eXtremail manual
-Luckily 3rd party utilities make up for most of the remote admin flaws except even they have poor documentation of the Xmail settings.


-All tags are explained in ReadMe so RTFM.
-TAB system is different but efficient, its been coded like this so you will have to stick with this.
-The Manual is ok IMHO, if you don't like it, write your own.
-Are you saying the Admin protocol has security issue? if yes, show us.
-Don't forget XMail is free.



Posted by: tac Jun 3 2004, 03:33 PM
QUOTE
-All tags are explained in ReadMe so RTFM.
-TAB system is different but efficient, its been coded like this so you will have to stick with this.
-The Manual is ok IMHO, if you don't like it, write your own.
-Are you saying the Admin protocol has security issue? if yes, show us.
-Don't forget XMail is free.


-I would post my eXtremail comment again, but the admins dont like that, but eXtremail is also a free e-mail server, and it has nice features in terms of documentation and configuration, while Xmail has nice features in terms of actually sending e-mails.

- If you give me the source code, and pay me to work on it, i will re-write the tab system to a space, and equal system, and i will re-write the Manual, and the webpage.

- When i said "flaws" i ment flaws with the ease of use. These remote utilities make it possible to avoid the horrible [tab] system.

Posted by: hschneider Jun 3 2004, 04:05 PM
If you are further into XMail, you'll see that the .tab files are not meant to be edited manually. It is a common database structure, which is editable.

Posted by: tac Jun 3 2004, 04:12 PM
If it is simply a database of information, then there is all the more reason for a clean cut, easy to use control client, which comes standard with Xmail, and that control client needs to be well documented.

Posted by: hschneider Jun 3 2004, 04:42 PM
That's right. Vote for "A better remote administration" under "Most wanted Tool".

>I would post my eXtremail comment again, but the admins dont like that, but eXtremail

Levent,
I never said, that we don't like it, but it's off-topic here. The topic is "Your Experience with XMail". Not "What we need to improve" or "A better mailer".

AGAIN: If you want to discuss these, please open seperate threads.

Posted by: mmartin Jun 3 2004, 11:53 PM
Hello,

I'm not THAT experienced with XMail, so only some comments.
What made my start a little rough was the fact that the documentation is basically a short overview of the possible settings, but hasn't much structure in it. Additionally, it is a little weak in the "howto do usual tasks" section.

Once I was a little more into it, XMail worked well. Spits out mails fast :-)

Something that would be great would be a better support for XMail as frontend server (e. g. using SMTP VRFY on the backend server to check if an account exists, if not reject right away). I see MANY admins looking for a protecting mail server for their Exchange boxes.
Ah, and yes, some more scripting variables for easier programming of filters (instead of having to extract the values out of the file) would be great.
Hmm, I should actually request those features. smile.gif

Regards, Manuel Martin

Posted by: hschneider Jul 12 2004, 01:52 PM
A protecting server can be customized by e.g. using SMTP level filters. A new feature of 1.20.

Posted by: amalcon Jul 31 2004, 01:48 AM
I guess I've had a different experience with XMail than most people. Basically, I have a PHP script I've been working on for someone, and I got a last minute request to have it notify them by e-mail when it's used. As they haven't given me the proper permissions on their server yet, I've had to set up apache, etc. locally, and e-mail is no different. I actually found that X-Mail wasn't difficult to set up at all; in fact, it was fairly self-explanatory. The only thing I had problems with was adding users, but a simple search of this forum pointed me to a very nice utility for administration. I think all that's really holding X-Mail backis the lack of an installer for the windows folk -- and, for a free utility, that's saying something.

Posted by: waichoi Aug 24 2004, 05:47 AM
I like xmail because
1. secure compare to sendmail.
2. a LOT easier to install and manage compare to qmail.


What I dont like xmail compare to qmail.
1. finger was installed for unknow reason.
2. port 6017 was open for admin purpose. but cannot Close the port and left the xmail running.
3. Need to modify the source code if wanted to work with Courier IMAP.


but overall. it is very good and stable MTA that I like it so much thanks david

laugh.gif




Posted by: destept Jan 4 2005, 08:45 PM
I LOVE IT !!! blush.gif

Posted by: royblack Jan 5 2005, 06:56 PM
I love Xmail because:
1. It is secure, stable and simple.
2. I tried Sendmail, eXtremail, qmail, ... My final decision - Xmail. Many things I need are there.
3. Greate user community. Especially hschneider and atomant. Many thanks to you.

It would be better if:
+ Finger could be enable/disable during installation
+ came with IMAP. Fortunately coming up, with Xmail 2.0

Posted by: JimmyB Jan 20 2005, 07:46 PM
I am also looking for an email MTA solution. Will XMail be able to handle 10,000+ accounts spread over 30 domains? How big of a server will it take? I plan to use OpenBSD 3.6, because I have 2 servers already set up as mail gateways running OpenBSD 3.3, Postfix & Spammassassin.

Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Posted by: Master123 Feb 2 2005, 12:15 AM
cool.gif Using xmail for allmost 2 years and guess what? Xmail is still sexy. wub.gif inlove.gif

Posted by: biffom Feb 4 2005, 02:59 PM
I've been using it for about 6 months. I'm running a few small sites for family and friends. Currently have about 30 email accounts spread across 5 domains.

Was running exchange server. Found it a royal pain to administer, and a complete mystery when it starts to misbehave, as for backup and being a performance hog... enough said.

The other big plus for me with xmail is the fact that it is portable, I'm slowly weaning myself off of the dependence on the wintel platform, and this is a great tool that has really helped in that department.

Good job!

Posted by: marirs May 3 2005, 06:52 PM
Hi,

Using XMAIL 1.21 since a month and a half on Windows 2003 Server edition
The best ESMTP server I've used than all of the previous Mail Servers that I've used.

Using Spam Assassin 3.0.2 & the best SA I've used ever.

Most of the tools & utilites, I've used on XMAIL are really nice & friendly.

Using it for 5 domains, supporting ~150users on each

Other filters I'm using is XScanner & XAV apart from SA

XMAIL rocks (infinite cheers to XMAIL) wub.gif

Best Regards
Marirs

Posted by: Akari Aug 16 2005, 09:04 AM
QUOTE (tac @ Jun 3 2004, 04:01 AM)
Configuration system needs improvment.
-All tags need to be explained with comments inside of the "system.tab" file, not just in the manual.
-The whole [TAB] system is just plain dumb, why not use a space or an equal symbol?
-Manual needs to be redone, make it like the eXtremail manual
-Luckily 3rd party utilities make up for most of the remote admin flaws except even they have poor documentation of the Xmail settings.

Uhm well here's another troll of the "grab-and-run" faction.

Actually I believe XMail is a well documented tool. There is nothing missing in the server.tab file but then I'm only a girl and have no clue. However I did understand the documentation including the CtrlCtrl tool that comes with the default installation. The docs are ok.

Please explain why TAB characters are dumb and SPACE isn't. Any hint would be appreciated.

But the best thing of OpenSource: You don't have to use it. Go and buy a Microsoft server

~Akari laugh.gif

Posted by: gilgmesh Jun 9 2006, 11:44 AM
sorry to rain on the parade,
but i have a fresh experience with both XMail and
this group.

i am an experienced programmer and on both unix and PC,
so am not a newbie in this respect. i am not a sys-admin
and don't know enough about setting up a mail server.

as such i was hoping to use XMail to setup up a private email
server within the domain my of company and under a existing
company wide mail service that doesn't solve my personal needs.

so while i am a newbie to setting up mail servers, i am not computer
nor mail jargon illiterate. so i am in perfect position to render
opinion about XMail and this group from this perspective (as
opposed to the experienced sys-admin and even the experienced
XMail server user).

from my point of view, both XMail and this group is a huge diasspointment !
I RTFM from cover to cover, and made some decisions about what
values to put in the server.tab and other files and set the system up.
I found hurdles one after another with fairly obscure error messages.
and about a month later, i have not yet succesfully installed XMail.

some time later i brought qeustions about my experience to this group.
the questions ranged form elaborate and complex with much details,
to 2 liners which ask the meaning of a single error message.

about a week has passed and i got 0 (yes, zero) reponses. i would
never have complained about 3 hours response time, but this is
not what i consider good response.

I also sent a private email to the author of XMail and i got the really
annoying and condensending response of "read the manual". duh !
i read the manual, i found no help to my needs there, maybe
the manual isn't written at the leve that is useful to a 1st time
mail server setting up?

as a result of all this anguish and lack of actual practical success in
setting up a mail server, i am going to pay $350 to Eudora to buy
their commercial server, and then perhaps $250 additional so that
they help me in using it. that is really painful, for personal use, but
the free alternative here is sooooo not useful for me, that i have
no real alternative.

there was a person earlier who wanted to know if XMail is a good
system to use. well my response to that person is that unless
you are an experienced sys-admin or have access to one, i would
not count on this working out for you. you are welcome to try
maybe you will fare better than i did, but don't expect that the
knight on shiny white horse of your sendmail kingdom is here
for you.

very diaspointed
-gil

Posted by: sam karush Oct 15 2006, 02:08 AM
I have been using xmail for about 2 months, on two servers, 5 domains, about a dozen users. I have only about 6 months exp. with server config. -in general pretty inexperienced.

Xmail is a breeze, for the most part. I've been able to do everything I wanted to with the help of the manual, archives of this forum, and help from forum members (h.schneider, mostly)

I am using ASSP for spam control, another beginner-friendly app.

I cant understand how anyone with some patience and some background in this sort of thing could have a problem. I use phpxmail to administer and make most changes, and a text editor to make the rest.

The only things I am struggling with now is the perfect backupmx setup (I think this is common), getting aliasdomain.tab to function properly, and smtprelay.tab to function properly. I am 100% confident these issues will be resolved, and that they are a product of my inexperience.

thank you, all who put this together.
sam karush

Posted by: cemsn1 Sep 10 2007, 06:19 PM
I'm using 3 years and i' m happy..

Posted by: gilgmesh Sep 10 2007, 07:50 PM
sorry to be a party pooper,
chances are that most people who answer to your query
are regular readers/contributers to this group, and ones that
are happy with the xmail.

people like me, who never managed to get passed the
isntalation nightmare and left in disgust, and ended up
getting Qualcom's product (worldMail) which also wasn't
that expensive will not have a like response in this here group
to your query.

so i must be a minority opinion, and i also must be really dumb
as all these people managed to install no problem, and are happy
campers. so you might as well join the community and see if this
works for you. it didn't for me. but maybe you will fare better.

2 cents of rotting copper
good luck
-gil

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