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diff --git a/en/post-install/mail-setup.xml b/en/post-install/mail-setup.xml new file mode 100644 index 000000000..cf07478af --- /dev/null +++ b/en/post-install/mail-setup.xml @@ -0,0 +1,245 @@ +<!-- retain these comments for translator revision tracking --> +<!-- $Id$ --> + + <sect1 id="mail-setup"> + <title>Setting Up Your System To Use E-Mail</title> +<para> + +Today, email is a very important part of many people's life. As there are +many options as to how to set it up and having it set up correctly is +important for some Debian utilities, we will try to cover the basics in +this section. + +</para><para> + +There are three main functions that make up an e-mail system. First there is +the <firstterm>Mail User Agent</firstterm> (MUA) which is the program a user +actually uses to compose and read mails. Then there is the <firstterm>Mail +Transfer Agent</firstterm> (MTA) that takes care of transferring messages +from one computer to another. And last there is the <firstterm>Mail +Delivery Agent</firstterm> (MDA) that takes care of delivering incoming mail +to the user's inbox. + +</para><para> + +These three functions can be performed by separate programs, but they can +also be combined in one or two programs. It is also possible to have +different programs handle these functions for different types of mail. + +</para><para> + +On Linux and Unix systems <command>mutt</command> is historically a very +popular MUA. Like most traditional Linux programs it is text based. It is +often used in combination with <command>exim</command> or +<command>sendmail</command> as MTA and <command>procmail</command> as MDA. + +</para><para> + +With the increasing popularity of graphical desktop systems, the use of +graphical e-mail programs like GNOME's <command>evolution</command>, +KDE's <command>kmail</command> or Mozilla's <command>thunderbird</command> +(in Debian available as <command>icedove</command><footnote> + +<para> +The reason that <command>thunderbird</command> has been renamed to +<command>icedove</command> in Debian has to do with licencing issues. +Details are outside the scope of this manual. +</para> + +</footnote>) is becoming more popular. These programs combine the function +of a MUA, MTA and MDA, but can — and often are — also be used +in combination with the traditional Linux tools. + +</para> + + <sect2 id="mail-default"> + <title>Default E-Mail Configuration</title> +<para> + +Even if you are planning to use a graphical mail program, it is important +that a traditional MTA/MDA is also installed and correctly set up on your +Linux system. Reason is that various utilities running on the +system<footnote> + +<para> +Examples are: <command>cron</command>, <command>quota</command>, +<command>logcheck</command>, <command>aide</command>, … +</para> + +</footnote> can send important notices by e-mail to inform the system +administrator of (potential) problems or changes. + +</para><para> + +For this reason the packages <classname>exim4</classname> and +<classname>mutt</classname> will be installed by default (provided you +did not unselect the <quote>standard</quote> task during the installation). +<classname>exim4</classname> is a combination MTA/MDA that is relatively +small but very flexible. By default it will be configured to only handle +e-mail local to the system itself and e-mails addressed to the system +administrator (root account) will be delivered to the regular user account +created during the installation<footnote> + +<para> +The forwarding of mail for root to the regular user account is configured +in <filename>/etc/aliases</filename>. If no regular user account was created, +the mail will of course be delivered to the root account itself. +</para> + +</footnote>. + +</para><para> + +When system e-mails are delivered they are added to a file in +<filename>/var/mail/<replaceable>account_name</replaceable></filename>. +The e-mails can be read using <command>mutt</command>. + +</para> + </sect2> + + <sect2 id="mail-outgoing"> + <title>Sending E-Mails Outside The System</title> +<para> + +As mentioned earlier, the installed Debian system is only set up to handle +e-mail local to the system, not for sending mail to others nor for +receiving mail from others. + +</para><para> + +If you would like <classname>exim4</classname> to handle external e-mail, +please refer to the next subsection for the basic available configuration +options. Make sure to test that mail can be sent and received correctly. + +</para><para> + +If you intend to use a graphical mail program and use a mail server of +your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or your company, there is not really +any need to configure <classname>exim4</classname> for handling external +e-mail. Just configure your favorite graphical mail program to use the +correct servers to send and receive e-mail (how is outside the scope of +this manual). + +</para><para> + +However, in that case you may need to configure individual utilities to +correctly send e-mails. One such utility is <command>reportbug</command>, +a program that facilitates submitting bug reports against Debian packages. +By default it expects to be able to use <classname>exim4</classname> to +submit bug reports. + +</para><para> + +To correctly set up <command>reportbug</command> to use an external mail +server, please run the command <command>reportbug --configure</command> +and answer <quote>no</quote> to the question if an MTA is available. You +will then be asked for the SMTP server to be used for submitting bug reports. + +</para> + </sect2> + + <sect2 id="config-mta"> + <title>Configuring the Exim4 Mail Transport Agent</title> +<para> + +If you would like your system to also handle external e-mail, you will +need to reconfigure the <classname>exim4</classname> package<footnote> + +<para> +You can of course also remove <classname>exim4</classname> and replace +it with an alternative MTA/MDA. +</para> + +</footnote>: + +<informalexample><screen> +# dpkg-reconfigure exim4-config +</screen></informalexample> + +</para><para> + +After entering that command (as root), you will be asked if you want split +the configuration into small files. If you are unsure, select the default +option. + +</para><para> + +Next you will be presented with several common mail scenarios. Choose the +one that most closely resembles your needs. + +</para> + +<variablelist> +<varlistentry> +<term>internet site</term> +<listitem><para> + +Your system is connected to a network and your mail is sent and +received directly using SMTP. On the following screens you will be +asked a few basic questions, like your machine's mail name, or a list of +domains for which you accept or relay mail. + +</para></listitem> +</varlistentry> + +<varlistentry> +<term>mail sent by smarthost</term> +<listitem><para> + +In this scenario your outgoing mail is forwarded to another machine, +called a <quote>smarthost</quote>, which does the actual job for +you. The smarthost also usually stores incoming mail addressed to your +computer, so you don't need to be permanently online. That also means +you have to download your mail from the smarthost via programs like +fetchmail. This option is suitable for dial-up users. + +</para></listitem> +</varlistentry> + +<varlistentry> +<term>mail sent by smarthost; no local mail</term> +<listitem><para> + +This option is basically the same as the previous one except that the +system will not be set up to handle mail for a local e-mail domain. Mail +on the system itself (e.g. for the system administrator) will still be +handled. + +</para></listitem> +</varlistentry> + +<varlistentry> +<term>local delivery only</term> +<listitem><para> + +This is the option your system is configured for by default. + +</para></listitem> +</varlistentry> + +<varlistentry> +<term>no configuration at this time</term> +<listitem><para> + +Choose this if you are absolutely convinced you know what you are +doing. This will leave you with an unconfigured mail system — +until you configure it, you won't be able to send or receive any mail +and you may miss some important messages from your system utilities. + +</para></listitem> +</varlistentry> +</variablelist> + +<para> + +If none of these scenarios suits your needs, or if you need a finer +setup, you will need to edit configuration files under the +<filename>/etc/exim4</filename> directory after the installation is +complete. More information about <classname>exim4</classname> may be +found under <filename>/usr/share/doc/exim4</filename>; the file +<filename>README.Debian.gz</filename> has additional details about +configuring <classname>exim4</classname>. + +</para> + </sect2> + </sect1> |