Ask Slashdot: Self-Hosted Gmail Alternatives?

linkedlinked writes "I'm tired of building my sandcastles on Google's beachfront. I've moved off Docs, Plus, and Analytics, so now it's time to host my own email servers. What are the best self-host open-source email solutions available? I'm looking for 'the full stack' — including a Gmail-competitive web GUI — and don't mind getting my hands dirty to set it up. I leverage most of Gmail's features, including multi-domain support, and fetching from remote POP/IMAP servers. Bonus points: Since I'm a hobbyist, not a sysadmin, and I normally outsource my mail servers, what new security considerations do I need to make in managing these services?"

Comments

Re:Spam filtering

[wagnerrp]

The problem with CRM114 is that it let's anything past if you just put 'POE' in the title.

How to properly run a small mail server

[toygeek]

1) Install Linux
2) Put all the software on it
3) Be happy with yourself for mail actually working
4) Get blocked by your friends email hosts because they have no idea who the hell your server is
5) Learn about reverse dns, all the fucking host entries that you have to add so that you don't get automagically blocked by half the populated world
6) Some asshole user sends email with no subject and an executable attachment, it comes back to them bounced and they scream at you.
7) Same asshole user bitches and moans 3 times a day about how much spam they get and what a piece of shit your server is

This ends up with the following consequences:

1) Give up your life as an actual person. You're now a mail server admin
2) You stop giving a shit about said asshole user.
3) You start to second guess your decision to run your own mail server after somebody exploits something (weak password from asshole customer?) and sends half a million spam messages, and 2/3 of them bounce back at you.
4) You start growing pale and have hideous dark bags under your eyes
5) You're "that guy" in your apartment complex ("he never leaves!")
6) Eventually you miss your life, the outside world, and what is left of your sanity.
7) You start prioritizing your life and you finally give up and.....go back to Gmail.

Technet Plus and Exchange 2010

[masdog]

Have you thought about buying a Technet Plus subscription and installing Exchange 2010 plus Forefront Protection for Exchange?