Upcoming change to mail infrastructure

[Ben Cooksley]

On Tue, Jul 3, 2018 at 11:25 PM, Paul Brown <paul.brown at kde.org> wrote:
> On martes, 3 de julio de 2018 13:12:56 (CEST) Ben Cooksley wrote:
>> On Tue, Jul 3, 2018 at 11:11 PM, Paul Brown <paul.brown at kde.org> wrote:
>> > On martes, 3 de julio de 2018 12:59:49 (CEST) Ben Cooksley wrote:
>> >> On Tue, Jul 3, 2018 at 10:44 PM, Paul Brown <paul.brown at kde.org> wrote:
>> >> > On martes, 3 de julio de 2018 12:29:41 (CEST) Ben Cooksley wrote:
>> >> >> Hi all,
>> >> >>
>> >> >> We've recently completed configuration of a new mail server which will
>> >> >> be replacing the current system which handles kde.org mail. This
>> >> >> system will be assuming responsibility for mailing lists as well as
>> >> >> authenticated mail sending for those who require that service.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> To ensure a smooth transition however some changes may be needed on
>> >> >> your side, especially if you are using our authenticated mail sending
>> >> >> service.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> As part of the new system, we have configured updated filters which
>> >> >> will begin enforcing DMARC policies for domains which have specified
>> >> >> these, along with improved SPF verification. As a consequence, if you
>> >> >> are forwarding mail from another provider to your kde.org or
>> >> >> kdemail.net address, this may cease working following the transition.
>> >> >> We recommend you configure these services to instead forward directly
>> >> >> to your final mail provider should this impact on you.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> For those users of the authenticated mail service: please change your
>> >> >> mail client to use the server "letterbox.kde.org" instead of the
>> >> >> current server "postbox.kde.org". Additionally, if you are currently
>> >> >> using port 588 to send mail, this should now be changed to the
>> >> >> standard submission port, 587.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> As part of this setup we have also completely reworked our
>> >> >> SpamAssassin setup. As a consequence of this, we are now looking for
>> >> >> spam mail to begin training the filter to ensure it is ready to begin
>> >> >> filtering the substantial mail volumes Postbox handles.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Mailing list moderators whose lists receive significant quantities of
>> >> >> spam are therefore requested to not discard this, and instead let us
>> >> >> know so we can use the spam from your moderation queue to train the
>> >> >> filter. Please note that we can grab the mail directly from the queue,
>> >> >> so forwarding it elsewhere is not required.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Once the filter has been sufficiently trained, we will commence the
>> >> >> cutover and transfer handling of kde.org mail, including mailing
>> >> >> lists, to the new system.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Should anyone have any questions regarding this process, please let us
>> >> >> know.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Regards,
>> >> >> Ben Cooksley
>> >> >> KDE Sysadmin
>> >> >
>> >> > When do you plan to finalise the transition and flip the switch?
>> >>
>> >> Once the Bayes filter has been sufficiently trained, which may take a
>> >> few days depending on how much spam we collect.
>> >> I've no other clearer timeline than that at this stage i'm afraid.
>> >
>> > Sure. I ask so that, when you do, we know and can check things are working
>> > and we are not left sitting around oblivious and wondering why everybody
>> > has suddenly gone awfully quiet.
>> >
>> > To avoid this I suppose that, when you do know the exact time and date,
>> > you
>> > will make it public, right?
>>
>> Yes, there will be a notification made when the changeover is done,
>
> If you send a notification via email (how else?) and people on the other side
> are not receiving email because something went wrong, how are they going to
> know?
>
> Wouldn't it be better to send a message out, say, a couple of hours  *BEFORE*
> you change over and then flip the switch? Then users can test sending and
> receiving when the time comes.

All going well, you probably won't even notice the switch over.
We've done these changeovers in the past, so i'm not too concerned
about problems, as we'll be able to monitor them easily.

Cheers,
Ben

>
> Paul
>
>> and Letterbox (the new system) will be monitored extensively for the
>> first hour or so to ensure everything is working as expected.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Ben
>>
>> > Cheers
>> >
>> > Paul
>> > --
>> > Promotion & Communication
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>
>
> --
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