Setting Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) in Ubuntu

In Ubuntu, open a terminal window.  Log into terminal as your username.  Enter your password when requested.  Switch to the root super user as follows:

sudo -s (enter)
input your password when requested (enter)

Change to the /etc directory as follows:

cd /etc

The ‘hostname’ file will contain your short hostname, such as mx1.

Check the current hostname by entering the hostname command, and the hostname might be something like ‘mx1’ — as follows:

hostname (enter)
mx1

Your fully qualified domain hostname should be something like mx1.yourdomain.com.  Check the current FQDN hostname with the -f option, as follows:

hostname -f (enter)
mx1

The ‘hosts’ file should be edited to insert your FQDN as well.  Using the PICO text editor, open the hosts file to be edited as follows:

pico hosts (enter)

Change the second line of the hosts file from this:
127.0.0.1    localhost
127.0.1.1     mx1

To this:
127.0.0.1    localhost
127.0.1.1     mx1.yourdomain.com     mx1

Then save the hosts file as follows:
CTRL+X
(y)es
hosts (enter)

Now check the fully qualified domain hostname, as follows:

hostname -f (enter)
mx1.yourdomain.com

Check the hostname, which should still be ‘mx1’

hostnamemx1

Escape from the terminal window:

Exit (enter)

Exit (enter)

Installed DeepOfix Email Server which shows missing operating system on Dell Dimension 2400

After downloading and installing DeepOfix Email Server (including GNU/Linux – Squeeze – Operating System), upon first boot it shows “missing operating system – press any key to reboot” on Dell Dimension 2400 with new 160GB Seagate PATA 100 drive and 2GB RAM.  I installed it 6 times, after wiping the hard drive and removing partitions and building MBR, etc., to no avail.

So, I installed Ubuntu Desktop 12.04.02 on the same hard drive.  It booted on the first try and runs like a charm.

Some type of software driver on the DeepOfix must be lacking.  Before installing the new IDE 100 PATA drive, I first installed DeepOfix on a new 160GB SATA drive attached to a local SATA PCI add-on card, but the installed O/S would not boot.  DeepOfix detected and installed itself to the SATA drive, but, upon first restart, the PCI SATA controller and SATA drive were not supported by this particular linux operating system.

I was really looking forward to using the Easy Push Manager graphical interface on the Mail Server.  Although, I didn’t actually like the idea that the email server came pre-configured with Squirrel Mail web mail rather than Roundcube web mail interface.

I will search for an alternative email server to run on Ubuntu.  Maybe iRedMail open source email server will work.  Stay tuned.