Re: Exim4 and Mutt for beginners?
On Thu, Oct 19, 2006 at 10:51:16PM +0000, Tyler wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I really want to try Mutt. However, I'm more than a little overwhelmed
> by the documentation. I understand that Mutt requires a properly
> configured MTA, and that Exim4 is the recommended, default MTA for
> Debian. However, Exim4 seems like a very big hammer for a very small
> nail -- I just want to send and receive mail via my pop-mail account on
> my laptop. Two questions:
>
> Should I wade into the Exim4 docs and try and figure that out, or is
> there a simpler option for someone with minimal experience with such
> matters?
>
> If Exim4 is indeed the best option, is there a recommended point of
> entry? The Debian Reference is very terse, and assumes a fair bit of
> knowledge that I don't have (I need a little more hand-holding than
> "configure these files to make it work"). The Exim4 Specification is
> very detailed, but aimed at people who already know something. Do I
> really need to sit down and work through a full-length book before I
> even start with Mutt?
Its not just mutt that needs a properly configured MTA. Basically any
UNIX-like system needs it; the output of cron jobs is mailed, for
example, and its a cron job that watchs the security of your system,
rotates your logs, etc.
Mutt is just a full-screen mail user agent (MUA). For terseness and
historical interest you could use mail (part of mailx).
Documentation always seems to be the last thing written and rarely
written for complete newbies to the package. I had problems
when I switched ISPs because they use TLS (a security thingy) even
though I'm on dialup which exim4 defaults to not and I had to wade into
the config files.
When you install exim4, the debconf system asks you some questions and
then does its best to set up exim4 for you. It splits the huge config
file into separate sections in separate directories then whenever you
start or restart exim4 it reassembles it. So even if you have to change
something, its generally only one spot in one small file. What this
means is that you only need to wade into the exim4 docs is things don't
work. The exim4 docs don't cover how debian does it.
I would suggest you just go ahead and install exim4 (with the 'light'
engine) and the docs. Have handy the name of the (smarthost) machine at
your ISP that takes mail you send it (not the machine that fetchmail
calls to get mail for you). There's also the file /etc/email-addresses
where you match up user names on your box with public email-addresses;
exim4 will rewrite 'from' headers before sending it out to your ISP.
For most people, that's all there is to it.
Then mutt is easy.
Good luck.
Doug.
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