I just installed a new Ubuntu 13.04 server and thought I’d look into using gmail as relayhost for Postfix instead of Exim for a change. Postfix is the default MTA (mail transfer agent) on Ubuntu, so let’s set it up already…
Installing packages:
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sudo apt-get install postfix ca-certificates libsasl2-2 libsasl2-modules mailutils |
If you have not installed postfix before, you’ll be asked some questions during installation. Select ‘Internet Site’ for the first question, and as FQDN you can just enter the name of your server or whatever you like.
Configure postfix by editing /etc/postfix/main.cf
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sudo pico /etc/postfix/main.cf |
add the following lines at the end of the file:
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relayhost = smtp.gmail.com:587 smtp_sasl_auth_enable = yes smtp_sasl_password_maps = hash:/etc/postfix/sasl_passwd smtp_sasl_security_options = noanonymous smtp_tls_CAfile = /etc/postfix/cacert.pem smtp_use_tls = yes |
Create /etc/postfix/sas_passwd file, which contains your gmail user and password:
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sudo pico /etc/postfix/sasl_passwd |
Add the following line, replacing johndoe and mypassword with your gmail user name & password:
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[smtp.gmail.com]:587 johndoe@gmail.com:mypassword |
(note: in some cases you can not use the brackets which will make postfix do an mxlookup. If it works with them, just leave it like that)
Generate /etc/postfix/sasl_passwd.db file using postmap:
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sudo postmap /etc/postfix/sasl_passwd |
Set up CA certificate for postfix:
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sudo cp /etc/ssl/certs/Thawte_Premium_Server_CA.pem /etc/postfix/cacert.pem |
Secure the files by setting file permissions:
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sudo chmod 400 /etc/postfix/sasl_passwd |
Reload postfix to effectuate configuration changes:
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sudo service postfix reload |
Futher:
Testing the configuration:
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echo Test | mail -s "test" target@gmail.com |
Replacing the target with the email address you’d like to send mail to. This should send a message to you (might take a min), and it should also show up in your sent mail box if your sending from the same account as you’re receiving on.
Making sure mail sent to root goes to your email:
To make sure mail to ‘root’ is actually forwarded to your mail address, edit the /etc/aliases file:
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sudo pico /etc/aliases |
modify the email again, and add the following line:
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root: johndoe@gmail.com |
Enjoy your new postfix installation!
update: minor fixes done
Source: old site