Google Apps FTW
So I'm too busy to set up my own mail server on my home network. Not that it's particularly arduous, just that I have way too much to do anyway.
A good friend introduced me to Google Apps some time ago. At that time I was too busy to look into it, but recently I got tired of not seeing the output of my cronjobs at home. Thanks to Google, I now get a much better view of my home network's routine operations, with very little work, and no significant maintenance burden.
(You'll notice a theme there - I'm busy. That's why I rarely post here, I guess.)
So I've long maintained a dyndns.org account so that I can refer to my home server(s) by name. I looked into the configuration requirements of Google Apps the other day, and discovered that it's really quite simple:
- Register with Google Apps
- Add Google's mail exchangers as the MX record on my dyndns account(s)
- Post a very small file at the root of my public-facing web server so Google knows its me.
Mind you, I've had my servers configured for quite some time to route mail through Google's SMTP system, since I was originally just passing it to my regular email account. I was missing a lot that way, but not anymore! I've now got accounts (and nicknames) for every system account I use (postmaster, cron, etc), and all collecting in one sensible location.
I look forward to using Google App's per-domain Docs, as well as Google Sites for this domain, to take notes on what I do for my home network.
This feels like a major improvement, and pretty light on the work-load.