Compare Exim vs. Modoboa vs. Postfix

Exim serves as a mail transfer agent (MTA) for Unix-like operating systems. Initially developed by Philip Hazel in 1995 for the University of Cambridge Computing Service's email systems, Exim is released under the GPL, allowing users to freely download, utilize, and modify it. While it shares some similarities with Smail 3, Exim has evolved to offer greater user-friendliness and flexibility. Both Exim and Smail 3 operate on the Sendmail design model, where a single main binary manages all MTA functionalities. Although this monolithic architecture is sometimes viewed as less secure and slower, Exim boasts a superior security record compared to Sendmail and matches the performance of Qmail and Postfix, particularly in advanced functions like queue management, address routing, and testing. Notably, Exim lacks a built-in Graphical User Interface (GUI) for configuration, although some Linux distributions may provide one, enhancing its accessibility for users who prefer a visual approach. As a result, Exim remains a versatile choice for those looking to manage email systems effectively.

Take back your autonomy and safeguard your personal information by setting up your own email server, a process that can be completed in under 10 minutes! With Modoboa, you can establish your email server at no cost in less than 10 minutes. When it comes to establishing a mailbox, you typically have a few choices: - Rely on services provided by internet and infrastructure companies (like Orange, Vodafone, OVH, or Gandi), which often require a monthly or annual fee, but they come with limitations on customization, configuration options, and the number of domains and mailboxes you can use. - Opt for free email services (such as Gmail, Live, or Yahoo), which come with restrictions and often exploit your data for commercial gain. - Set up your own email server, although this usually demands a significant level of technical expertise for proper installation and configuration. Modoboa presents a viable alternative to these three options. It liberates you from the constraints of traditional email providers, allowing anyone to create a secure email server independently. Best of all, this entire process takes less than 10 minutes and is completely free of charge. Embrace the freedom of managing your own email with ease!

Postfix is a mail server developed by Wietse Venema, originally created at IBM research as a viable alternative to the popular Sendmail program, and Wietse continues to enhance and maintain it while working at Google. This robust mail server operates on various UNIX systems including AIX, BSD, HP-UX, IRIX, LINUX, MacOS X, Solaris, and Tru64 UNIX, requiring ANSI C, a POSIX.1 library, and BSD sockets for its functionality. Designed with speed, ease of administration, and security in mind, Postfix features an exterior reminiscent of Sendmail, yet its internal architecture is entirely distinct. Among its key capabilities are the support for multiple SMTP deliveries over a single TLS-encrypted connection, leveraging the existing tlsproxy(8) and scache(8) services, as well as the ability to utilize MySQL stored procedures. Moreover, Postfix implements a gradual degradation feature, allowing a daemon to log warnings and continue operation despite encountering some service issues, rather than terminating abruptly with a fatal error. Additionally, it can set the execute bit on a queue file, which is critical, as failure to do so would prevent any mail from being delivered successfully. This combination of features makes Postfix a versatile choice for mail server management.