Hosting own mail server

[LordGrover]

I have gmail/icloud/other accounts with which I'm happy, and aware that google can host my own domain, but that's not what I want to do.

I know it's a faff and unnecessary, but I quite fancy setting up my own mail server.
First glance suggests running mail-in-a-box on a UK based (debian) KVM VPS.

• Has anyone any experience or advice that could save me any heartache?
• Any recommendations for VPS supplier? Google returns dozens of UK based servers from a couple of quid a month to £500 p.a.

[essayer]

Seriously just get Office 365

Otherwise my personal recommendation is Bytemark, either Symbiosis for a managed setup or £10/month to rent a server vm and install everything yourself ..

[sjg]

I used to be an email admin and wouldn't touch running my own. I don't know anyone else who does either, not for actual important personal mail.

Worth having your own domain just for flexibility, but have it forward to gmail or whoever.

Do you know your way around DKIM, SPF, DMARC, getting and installing certificates? If not you'll either be spending a lot of time reading beforehand, or a lot of time after trying to work out why everyone's marking your emails as spam.

[eltawater]

Don't bother, it's a massive PITA.

I've been through the whole cycle of linux server under the stairs on home broadband, hosted VPS to now just punting everything through gmail.

Running your own is just a headache you can do without when you have to contend with RBL, spammers constantly trying to flood you with crap, unexpected downtime, connectivity issues, disk space etc. Even worse when you offer to host email for friends and they want to know where that important email is whilst you're away on holiday. Home grown spam filters are never going to keep up with Google's own and that's before you find gmail etc rate limiting you.

[droopsnoot]

I'd agree. I set one up in our office, thinking it would be a great way to be in control of everything, but it turns out that's not such a good idea. Let someone else do it.

[Accelebrate]

Agreed. As someone who still hosts a lot of stuff at home, I wouldn't touch mail, far too much hassle.

[bitchstewie]

If the penny hasn't dropped, don't do this

Maybe maybe just maybe if it's for nothing more than to learn stuff, but if you've any intention of wanting to be able to reliably send and receive email then as said, just don't bother.

[TheAngryDog]

Office365 is your friend here.

[TonyRPH]

I've been running my own server from home for about 15 years+ now.

I had to get up to speed with DKIM etc. in more recent years, but apart from that, no issues.

The entire family of four have been on it from the beginning.

For spam filtering, I highly recommend EFA Project which is a turnkey OpenSource anti spam solution although I only use it as an SMTP front end.

Of course you'll also need a fixed IP address, SPF records, and if possible DNSSEC goes a long way too.