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SMTP Relay for monitoring - custom domain
(lemmy.world)
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this post was submitted on 31 Jul 2023
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For alerts I just have the server directly send email over SMTP to my address, no service needed. You could implement DKIM with such a setup if you wanted to.
Sure - but that would be another thing to self-host - because I have at least 5 machines which need to send, and I have a dynamic IP address - so it would involve updating the MX records via DNS API for at least 5 sub domains.
To be honest, I'm a KISS kind of guy - not everything technical possible or imaginable is worthwhile. Especially if it's such a crucial part like alert monitoring. I want it done simple, secure, without caveats and keeping the complexity on the lowest level possible.
Most distro provide either EXIM or Postfix installed by default, and configured to send outbound emails from localhost. All you need to do is start the service, change
/etc/aliasesto addroot:and runnewaliases.You don't need MX records for that. MX is only needed to receive emails on a domain. Worst case is your monitoring emails will end up in spam (because there's no SPF configured for your machine), but your spam filter will eventually accept them as you move them from the spam folder to inbox.
Pretty KISS in my opinion. More than changing all your apps to use an external relay, setup accounts, yada yada...
My bad, I meant SPF record.
I have some issue with just that, all emails will end up in a spam filter (if your mail provider is thorough). Also your IP might end up on a public spam/ block list. To much to go wrong, in case some alerts need to reach me.
Plus I use a strict DMARC, so at least a correct SPF is needed.
I’m using postfix on my machines, all services send to it and it just to relays via a SMTP service. So only one point to configure.
I was specifically looking for the last part, a SMTP relay service.
As you please ;)
Be aware that I've been doing that for all my servers for the past 5 years and it works like a charm. I run OpenBSD, and only need to
rcctl start smtpdto start sending outbound emails.They're all sent from "root@host.domain.tld", which have neither SPF nor DMARK records, and end up in my inbox no problem (I use spamassassin as my spam filter). They won't end up on Blocklist as the volume is just waaayyyyyyy too low anyway.