How to Set Up a Mail Server

No special steps are required to set up a mail server that is only serving mail for local users. The user must have an entry in the password file or in the name space, and the user should have a local home directory (so that ~/.forward can be checked) for mail to be delivered. This is why home directory servers are often set up as the mail server.

The mail server can route all mail for many mail clients. The only resource requirement for this type of mail server is that it have adequate spooling space for client mailboxes. The /var/mail directory must be made available for remote mounting.

For this task, check that /etc/dfs/dfstab file shows the /var/mail directory is exported.

1. Become superuser on the mail server.

2. Check that the /var/mail directory is available for remote access.

   Type share and press Return. If the /var/mail directory is listed, you do not need to do more. If the /var/mail directory is not listed, continue with the next step.

3. Make the /var/mail directory available for remote access.

   Type the following command:

   # share -F nfs /var/mail

4. Make the file system permanently available for remote access.

   Edit /etc/dfs/dfstab and add the command line used in step 2.

   # cat /etc/dfs/dfstab .. share -F nfs -o rw /var/mail

The mail.local program automatically creates mailboxes in the /var/mail directory the first time a message is delivered. You do not need to create individual mailboxes for your mail clients.