How do I set up a mail server and use it with PHP?

[squeakyneb]

I have an old computer running out the back. At the moment it is running Apache (apache2 i think) with PHP. It is here. I want to be able to send emails to/from ben@bennym.zapto.org. What do i need to do? I need it in command line form, as it is running ubuntu server, so no GUI.

I then need to be able to use PHP scripts to send email e.g. from a form.

I don't need all of this to be professional quality, I just want to do it so I know how. It's a kind of "because I can" situation.

Thank you for your help.

[Dr Small]

drsmall@mycroft:~$ mail
The program 'mail' can be found in the following packages:
 * mailx
 * mailutils
Try: sudo apt-get install <selected package>
Make sure you have the 'universe' component enabled

Try that and see if it works.

[Philio]

drsmall@mycroft:~$ mail
The program 'mail' can be found in the following packages:
 * mailx
 * mailutils
Try: sudo apt-get install <selected package>
Make sure you have the 'universe' component enabled

Try that and see if it works.

If you want a proper MTA you need to install one of exim, postfix, sendmail etc.

[squeakyneb]

If you want a proper MTA you need to install one of exim, postfix, sendmail etc.

I have postfix, but i cant send mail (using the mail command, it already works) to my hotmail or receive t from hotmail. I can send mail to other users of the computer with 'mail blink@bennym.zapto.org'. What now?

[anil_robo]

I am in the same situation as the original poster. I have followed all types of tutorials from these forums and ubuntu wiki, but gave up on sendmail and postfix. However, I followed this tutorial today: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Exim4 and have been successfully sending emails to "localhost". But when I try to send an email outside localhost (e.g. user@gmail.com) it fails. Any idea why? Darn, I wish Linux were simpler to use

[squeakyneb]

Bump!!
I'm still having problems...

[CrucifiedEgo]

I have an old computer running out the back.

First... you should go catch it!!

Second, Hotmail is terrible. They're fairly nazi-ish when it comes to spam protection. If you don't have correct reverse/forward DNS, HELO/Banner issues, or simply start sending them a fair amount of email without slowly ramping up, they'll just ignore your messages. Actually, they'll accept them, and then silently discard them. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do about it, other than tell your users to use a real email service (gmail and fastmail both come to mind.)