Paul Hoffman wrote...

> At 11:59 PM -0700 8/12/00, Pete Naylor wrote:
> >I understand.  One suggestion I might have would be to offer several
> >different MTAs as packages, and document the download and install of the
> >preferred one as part of the OS install.
> 
> I don't think this will fly: it makes the installation much harder 
> because the admin then needs to take a second step.

That would depend on the ease with which the package can be installed.  I
don't see how it would make the install any more difficult than it already
is, actually.  In fact, it could be a simple install option.

> >   Still, I'd be perfectly happy to
> >have sendmail continue to be included (though not listening on the SMTP
> >port by default).
> 
> Very good point! If we want the system to function out of the box, we 
> need an SMTP *sending* system, not a receiving one. This leads to a 
> higher level of security because there is one less port being 
> listened on by bloatware. Of course, we could ship postfix the same 
> way, but (as is pointed out many times) it isn't IPv6 yet.

More mature software is IPv6 aware - but I don't see anything other than
postfix being "evaluated".  Unfortunately someone who happens to like
postfix decided that it is the wonder-MTA, and should replace the basic
tool which many administrators are familiar with and be distributed to
every site which uses NetBSD whether they like/want postfix or not.

The defacto standard status of sendmail is a real liability.  Too bad some
NetBSD developers are moving to push a replacement defacto standard upon
all NetBSD users instead of encouraging choice among a diverse selection.
Later, when postfix is no longer MTA du jour among those who seem to make
such decisions, we'll go through all the same silliness again.

-- 
Pete Naylor