Browsing Papuan Malay translation

28.

On Linux and Unix systems <command>mutt</command> is historically a very popular MUA. Like most traditional Linux programs it is text based. It is often used in combination with <command>exim</command> or <command>sendmail</command> as MTA and <command>procmail</command> as MDA.

29.

With the increasing popularity of graphical desktop systems, the use of graphical e-mail programs like GNOME's <command>evolution</command>, KDE's <command>kmail</command> or Mozilla's <command>thunderbird</command> (in Debian available as <command>icedove</command><footnote> <para> The reason that <command>thunderbird</command> has been renamed to <command>icedove</command> in Debian has to do with licensing issues. Details are outside the scope of this manual. </para> </footnote>) is becoming more popular. These programs combine the function of a MUA, MTA and MDA, but can &mdash; and often are &mdash; also be used in combination with the traditional Linux tools.

30.

Default E-Mail Configuration

31.

Even if you are planning to use a graphical mail program, it is important that a traditional MTA/MDA is also installed and correctly set up on your Linux system. Reason is that various utilities running on the system<footnote> <para> Examples are: <command>cron</command>, <command>quota</command>, <command>logcheck</command>, <command>aide</command>, &hellip; </para> </footnote> can send important notices by e-mail to inform the system administrator of (potential) problems or changes.

32.

For this reason the packages <classname>exim4</classname> and <classname>mutt</classname> will be installed by default (provided you did not unselect the <quote>standard</quote> task during the installation). <classname>exim4</classname> is a combination MTA/MDA that is relatively small but very flexible. By default it will be configured to only handle e-mail local to the system itself and e-mails addressed to the system administrator (root account) will be delivered to the regular user account created during the installation<footnote> <para> The forwarding of mail for root to the regular user account is configured in <filename>/etc/aliases</filename>. If no regular user account was created, the mail will of course be delivered to the root account itself. </para> </footnote>.

33.

When system e-mails are delivered they are added to a file in <filename>/var/mail/<replaceable>account_name</replaceable></filename>. The e-mails can be read using <command>mutt</command>.

34.

Sending E-Mails Outside The System

35.

As mentioned earlier, the installed Debian system is only set up to handle e-mail local to the system, not for sending mail to others nor for receiving mail from others.

36.

If you would like <classname>exim4</classname> to handle external e-mail, please refer to the next subsection for the basic available configuration options. Make sure to test that mail can be sent and received correctly.

37.

If you intend to use a graphical mail program and use a mail server of your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or your company, there is not really any need to configure <classname>exim4</classname> for handling external e-mail. Just configure your favorite graphical mail program to use the correct servers to send and receive e-mail (how is outside the scope of this manual).