channelAustin is seeking help to properly set up exim4, postfix, or even sendmail on its web server for purposes of having email function properly for its Drupal installation. We have a Sun Server in-house with Ubuntu, Drupal, and CiviCRM. Our ISP is Grande Communications (but that will be changing soon (this week even)). And our mail server is handled pro bono by Primus Networks here in Austin.
We have been attempting to use exim4. At first we thought we could set up a smart host at Primus Networks, however then found out that Primus blocks the ability to do that for spam reasons. Had been getting error messages for "Invalid HELO name" and so forth.
The goal at this point is simply to have email functioning from the web server so that anonymous users (and above) can send email to us through the contact form, and so authenticated users (and above) can receive back password information etc, and so that members can complete web forms for various other purposes.
It could be that someone with exim4 mailserver expertise can resolve our problem very quickly, as I'm thinking it is largely a configuration problem. Whereas we've been attempting to use exim4, we are not wedded to it, and for interim purposes are willing to resort back to sendmail, or switch to postfix, or even explore another open source solution. Don't really care. Need something that works.
Eventually, though, we think we would like to manage our own mailserver onsite. So for the mail server that we use on the web server we would also like it to be one that we can further develop, and maybe put onto its own Ubuntu box somewhere down the road.
Ideally we are looking for someone who is able to volunteer to help us with our immediate problem -- as we are a non-profit with limited funds for IT expenditures of this sort. Also, this is something that doesn't seem to require physically being here at channelAustin, or even in Austin.
However, for the long term need of setting up, configuring, and learning how to manage a mailserver onsite we should be able to find some money for this training, and we can as well explore various trade of service options. So whomever is able to step up to the plate and help us right now is a good candidate for further work on this later - perhaps in the form of a one day training session onsite here.
We've been without our email functioning properly on dev.channelaustin.org for almost three months and really need it to be resolved soon.
Please contact me if you have any abilities in this area, along with your qualifications.
Thanks,
Stefan Wray