> > > > As discussion is going on currently on 'linux-net' the 'sendmail' is easy
> > > > to configure.Infact in Slackware and RedHat Linux distributions do not
> > > > require any extra seutup for sendmail as it is configured automatically
> > > > when you configure your internet. You can always tune 'sendmail.cf' file
> > > > and take help of 'man sendmail' or ISP-Hookup-HOWTO etc
> > >
> > > As configured on most older OS', sendmail is an open relay - an opportunity
> > > for a spammer to use your computer to do their dirty work.
> >
> > Yes, but that's irrelevant to the question of how sendmail itself
> > compares to other MTAs.
>
> Like lots of other things in Linux, sendmail too may have security holes,
> which if properly finetuned, can be removed.
This applies to all systems, not just Linux. The main problem with
Linux is that Linux sysadmins tend to be less experienced than people
who have been recruited to run commercial Unix installations.
The problem is even worse on Win95/NT, where even the `professionals'
are often completely clueless.
OTOH, with a commercial Unix (or Win95/NT), keeping software
up-to-date (which is a key aspect of security) often costs money.
> Of course it needs some expertise, not like in NT where any Tom, Dick or
> Harry can run the software out-of-the-box with optimum functions.
You mean: not like in NT where any Tom, Dick or Harry can run the
software out-of-the-box, and have it spew bogus messages at anyone who
posts to a mailing list to which one of their users is subscribed. And
the sysadmin probably won't even see what the problem is.
-- Glynn Clements <glynn@sensei.co.uk> - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-net" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.rutgers.edu