[DISTINCT]

Hey everyone. I am trying to create a network which contains a Windows Server which has the standard services(DC, DHCP, DNS) and also a Linux Server which is going to be a mail/web server for the clients on the network. I am just wondering what would be easier to do, put the mail server on the windows server and use the linux mail service? or just do it the way i am currently setting it up?

Thanks alot for all responses

 

[Fjandr]

Unless you're doing it to learn specifics of a given mail server, it'll largely come down to what you're comfortable with. Personally, I much prefer running Linux servers due to the versatility of command line administration and the number of options for add-on software and the large support communities. However, if you prefer GUI administration you may be more comfortable running your mail server on Windows.

If you're not familiar with Linux already, you may indeed find it easier to set up a Windows mail server. If you're interested in learning Linux administration (which I would assume given that you're setting one up for web services), you may wish to consider doing both.

 

[DISTINCT]

Thanks alot for the reply! Yeah i am very interested in Linux and have set out to try and complete this little project of mine. I mean is it rather easy to setup the web server on the Linux machine and the mail server upon the windows? or would both on the Linux be just as easy for a beginner for the likes of me.

Thanks

 

[Fjandr]

The web server is pretty simple to set up on Linux. If you do a server install it will likely already be installed and set to run on startup. Then all you need to do is drop files into the document root folder. Probably the only thing you'd really need to set up would be iptables, which is the Linux firewall. That would consist of adding a tcp entry for port 80 (or whatever port on which you plan to connect to the web server).

As for the mail server, it's a bit more complex due to the options available. There's the ubiquitous sendmail, and the very popular postfix and exim. Each of those is a standalone MTA (mail transfer agent).

It's been many a year since I've set up a Windows mail server, so I can't really elaborate much there. It is likely to be much simpler to get the basic functionality working though.

Given that this is a personal test environment, there should be little issue with trying out both Windows and Linux MTAs.

One thing to note for Linux is that you should try to install as much of the software as possible through a single package manager. It makes installing, updating, and deleting packages quite simple. The most common command line package managers are aptitude, apt-get, and yum, and they make life much easier. Far easier, in fact, than managing software on Windows.