LAN device to SMTP Relay - without direct internet exposure

[lewiss]

Hi all,

I've got some devices on my LAN that I have blocked access to the Internet, but would like to let them send emails via Gmail or another email service

I've spent hours faffing with Postfix and EXIM4, but have not managed to get anything working.
I got closest with EXIM4, but it was complaining as it was unable to resolve my domain name. ( I do have a domain, but I do not want to expose my server to the internet directly for this purpose and it's already being served by a mail server)

I am looking for a solution that will:

• Receive emails from my LAN devices
• Send them to my public/internet email address via SMTP
• Run via Docker if possible, otherwise Debian 12

Am I looking for something impossible?

Thanks in advance!

 

[f33dm3bits]

I got closest with EXIM4, but it was complaining as it was unable to resolve my domain name.

Without knowing all the details it sounds like your system didn't have dns configured correctly.

How to Configure a Postfix Server to Send Email through Gmail

Learn how to configure Postfix to send mail using Gmail and Google Workspace on Debian or Ubuntu in this detailed guide.

www.linode.com

If you want to run it in Docker you could use something like this.

GitHub - ix-ai/smtp: This is a SMTP docker container for sending emails. You can also relay emails to gmail and amazon SES.

This is a SMTP docker container for sending emails. You can also relay emails to gmail and amazon SES. - GitHub - ix-ai/smtp: This is a SMTP docker container for sending emails. You can also relay ...

github.com

GitHub - bokysan/docker-postfix: Simple SMTP server / postfix null relay host for your Docker and Kubernetes containers. Based on Alpine Linux.

Simple SMTP server / postfix null relay host for your Docker and Kubernetes containers. Based on Alpine Linux. - GitHub - bokysan/docker-postfix: Simple SMTP server / postfix null relay host for yo...

github.com

 

[lewiss]

Without knowing all the details it sounds like your system didn't have dns configured correctly.

How to Configure a Postfix Server to Send Email through Gmail

Learn how to configure Postfix to send mail using Gmail and Google Workspace on Debian or Ubuntu in this detailed guide.

www.linode.com

If you want to run it in Docker you could use something like this.

GitHub - ix-ai/smtp: This is a SMTP docker container for sending emails. You can also relay emails to gmail and amazon SES.

This is a SMTP docker container for sending emails. You can also relay emails to gmail and amazon SES. - GitHub - ix-ai/smtp: This is a SMTP docker container for sending emails. You can also relay ...

github.com

GitHub - bokysan/docker-postfix: Simple SMTP server / postfix null relay host for your Docker and Kubernetes containers. Based on Alpine Linux.

Simple SMTP server / postfix null relay host for your Docker and Kubernetes containers. Based on Alpine Linux. - GitHub - bokysan/docker-postfix: Simple SMTP server / postfix null relay host for yo...

github.com

The way I understood the error, which I regretfully did not snip, Is that it was looking for a valid MX record.

I spent the majority of my time with the Bokysan image, and copy-mod various configurations from various websites with no success, but maybe I need to sit down fresh for a third time(!).

I will have a look at the Ix-ai image and report back, thanks for your reply!

 

[KGIII]

Is that it was looking for a valid MX record.

While I haven't much experience with this, I do believe you can set multiple MX records and use different priorities. That might be worth exploring.

 

[f33dm3bits]

The way I understood the error, which I regretfully did not snip, Is that it was looking for a valid MX record.

That means Postfix or Exim wasn't sending mail through your Gmail account but directly to some receiving mail server of the receiving domain because receiving mail servers reject mail from a domain that doesn't have an MX or A record setup. If you look at the Linode link I linked in my first reply you will see how you could setup Postfix to send mail through your Gmail account, when you do it correctly the mail will connect to Gmail smtp servers with your Gmail account and then send the mail from your Gmail account with your Gmail account as sender.

 

[lewiss]

While I haven't much experience with this, I do believe you can set multiple MX records and use different priorities. That might be worth exploring.

Would the MX record work if the address was pointed at the server's LAN address?
I don't see why not, though downside is that it does expose my internal network layout publicly.

 

[lewiss]

That means Postfix or Exim wasn't sending mail through your Gmail account but directly to some receiving mailserver because receiving mail servers reject mail from a domain that doesn't have MX or A records setup. If you look at the Linode link I linked in my first reply you will see how you could setup Postfix to send mail through your Gmail account, when you do it correctly the mail will connect to Gmail smtp servers with your Gmail account and then send the mail from your Gmail account with your Gmail account as sender.

Thanks for explaining, much appreciated. Am reviewing that now.

 

[KGIII]

Would the MX record work if the address was pointed at the server's LAN address?

AFAIK, it should. It's intended for things like a failover/backup. Well, it'd have to be pointed at your local IP address and then forwarded through your router. It'd expose your public IP address - but your public IP address is just that - public.

 

[lewiss]

Hey everyone,

Many thanks again for the help!
The Linode tutorial helped greatly and now it is working!
I will copy-mod and try to wedge it into the bokysan image, and will report back for others.

Cheers!