On: Ask HN: Do you run your own mail server? If yes, how?

[pwg]

> If you run your own mail server,

Yes.

> how (setup)

Postfix (http://www.postfix.org/) and Linux.

> and where (VPS, dedicated hosting) do you do it?

At home, on my static IP FIOS link.

> Is it worth the hassle?

No hassle, once setup. Configuring Postfix for basic email is not so bad. But, you will need to learn a bit about email handling to do the config.

Worth it, yes. No one mines my email for advertising purposes once they arrive. No one suddenly 'closes down' their service and my emails disappear. If the NSA ends up wanting my emails, they have to show up here, where I know they have arrived, vs. just quietly asking some provider for them. I don't have to use some services awful web interface to read/reply (I get to use whatever I want).

[me1010 → pwg]

NSA and your email... Well, there was a blog post I read at some point entitled "Google has half of my email because it has all of yours."

here... found it... http://mako.cc/copyrighteous/google-has-most-of-my-email-bec...

I imagine this also applies to the NSA collection programs.

[middleclick → pwg]

That sounds like an ideal setup. I can't afford to get a static IP but other than that, this is pretty much what I had in mind.

[callmeed → middleclick]

I recall some home routers having the ability to ping a DNS service any time your IP changes. Can't recall the name or router compatibility but might solve the dynamic ip issue.

[pwg → callmeed]

One which used to be free, but is not anymore, is DynDns.

Run a search for "dynamic dns" and you will find a bunch of providers.

[pwg → middleclick]

Hosting your own email works best with a static IP, but you can "get by" with a dynamic due to the store-and-forward nature of the protocol.

[tejasm → middleclick]

You can probably use a service like zzzz.io or DynaDNS. This will eliminate the need for static IP. No?

[Vendan → tejasm]

issue is less the ip address then it is the need for special MX dns records, which most of those services don't let you set up

[pwg → Vendan]

Very true, but some dynamic dns providers do allow MX records.

A list of them is here (found via search, no suggestion of "goodness"): http://www.gnutomorrow.com/best-free-dynamic-dns-services-in...

[DanBC → pwg]

Your emails are sent in plaintext over the Internet, right?

[me1010 → DanBC]

They don't have to be. GNUPG FTW!