The qmail Handbook (Paperback)

by Dave Sill (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
It covers everything from how email works, to how daemontools work, to how qmail works, gluing it all together, then showing you how to start adding features to it like spam control and remote access.</a></p> </blockquote> <p id="quoteAuthor">&#8212; Joe Topjian, Adminspotting.net</p></div>

<p><i>The qmail Handbook</i> is designed to guide system and mail administrators of all skill levels through the installation, configuration, and maintenance of the qmail server. Author Dave Sill, a long-time qmail user, system administrator, and technical support agent (as well as the author of the popular online tutorial "Life with qmail"), provides you with the practical tools to work with this popular mail server. </p> <p>Sill begins with a discussion of qmail's architecture and features, and then delves into a thorough investigation of the installation and configuration processes. You'll learn how to install qmail on several operating systems, and gain valuable insight into proper configuartion, testing procedures, and performance tuning. You'll also learn how to administer users and mail, install filters, and oversee daily qmail operation and maintenance. Throughout, Sill focuses on topics essential to all mail administrators, elaborating on such subjects as configuring mailing list managers, controlling spam, secure networking, scanning for viruses, hosting virtual domains and users, and creating dial-up clients. <p><i>The qmail Handbook</i> is the ultimate resource for administrators and developers needing to master the functionality of this powerful software.

About the Author
Dave Sill is a professional system administrator and technical support engineer with more than 15 years of experience. He’s been using qmail since its first public release in 1996, and he’s the author of the popular online qmail guide titled "Life with qmail." He’s also an active contributor to online qmail support groups, including the qmail mailing list and Usenet newsgroup.

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Apress; 2 edition (May 4, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893115402
• ISBN-13: 978-1893115408
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #386,762 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Need to setup qmail? Start here., January 15, 2002

By	Kip Perkins (Mt Juliet, TN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is exactly what it say it is, a qmail handbook.


Using this book, I was able to setup qmail and get it running without a hitch. I loved the layout of the book. Basically Sill gets right down to the task of why you bought the book- installing qmail. You can read "ahead" on the chapters and then walk through or you can simply walk through the book following the chapters and install qmail. The Appendices at the end where great. I personally suggest reading through these BEFORE you start the 1st chapter, but that is my own prefference.

The Appendices cover topics like "How qmail works", "qmail features", "Gotchas", etc. However, they are appendices so you can read them if you want to. Unlike the Sendmail bat book, where you have to wade through understanding internet mail and such, these are at the end in Sills book. It is a matter of prefference, but I would still recommend you read them (Especially the part on how qmail works!!!).


If you are new to qmail, and need to setup a server without straining you eyes on a computer screen, this is the book you need. It covers using qmail as your imap/pop server, as a external mail relay (a must for keeping your internal Exchange server secure), mailing lists, anti-spam, webmail, and many more features. This is really the only book you need if you are running qmail.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good solid book. Everything you need to install and admin., November 12, 2001

By A Customer

I had 2 days to get a proper Unix-style mail system up and running at work-- even though I had never done anything in Linux past clicking next-next-next in a Red Hat install. This book not only made it easy to install and administer qmail, it actually made me a fan of the qmail software. I've never worked with anything that made so much sense. I am a Windows programmer.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great starter book for anyone, July 5, 2004

By	Mitz (Vancouver, BC) - See all my reviews

Dave Sill did an excellent job of showing how to setup email server. If you know some Linux commands, you'll have no problem setup your first Linux email server. I personally prefer Dave's Qmail handbook to John Levine's Qmail (I got as well). Levine's Qmail is an great second book.

Best Linux book I ever bought!