SUSE vs. Debian (lindows)

[Joel Hammer]

On Mon, Jan 19, 2004 at 12:40:47AM +0800, M.W. Chang wrote:
> sendmail is not designed to configured as a one-step process. You need
> to run m4 to process the macros. this explained why it failed to be
> installed from the Lindows warehouse. I believe it will never be easy to
> install software like sendmail remotely. You would have to choose from a
> long list of sendmail packages if you are to do it from a centralized
> warehouse.

I installed and uninstalled sendmail about four times
because of configuration errors and OS debacles yesterday,
so I feel qualified in this area.

To install sendmail took one command:
apt-get install sendmail

It then gave you the option of configuring sendmail,
which I took. I answered a few questions about domains and
servers (usually getting them wrong), and then sendmail
was configured and started automatically. It was nearly
painless and effortless. I say nearly because I didn't
understand the mail server options so my mail got messed
up. For example, I answered the null host question wrong,
and all my mail, whether outgoing (local, destined for
remote hosts), or incoming (fetched off my pop mail
server), got sent to comcast's server. I think they
thought I was spamming them.  I learned all about the DH,
DS, and DM options in sendmail.cf along the way. I edited
sendmail.cf, but never had to run m4.

To uninstall sendmail, one command:
apt-get remove sendmail
is all it took.

apt-get is so civilized that it stops the daemon if it is
running before it installs or removes it. It also removes
the default mail server that came with lindows. I am not
sure if rpm is so considerate.

Joel