advice needed, strange mail arrangement desired

[David Mackintosh]

Jeff Kinz wrote:
> hi all, I need some advice
>
> I am re-architecting my home network to use a more environmental server.
> The new server uses a lot less power, has a built-in battery power
> supply, and a much slower hard drive.  That's right, it's an old laptop!
>
> this "server" will be acting as an IP tables based firewall
> and an SMTP server.  I will be using a much more powerful desktop
> machine as my personal workstation.
>
> I'm trying to arrange my mail delivery system so that the server can
> receive all the incoming mail but eventually deliberate to my desktop
> machine, where I will be running procmail and mutt.  My MTA is sendmail
> on the server, and on the desktop machine as well, since I know how to
> integrate procmail and mutt with it.
>
> Here's a simplified schematic: (needs a fixed font for proper display)
>
>
> Cable Modem-->Server(laptop)-->hub-----|--->desktop
>                                        |--->N other machines
>
>
> so here is my question:
>
> The desktop machine will only be running about eight hours a day, maybe
> 14.  So there will be periods of time when mail will becoming into the
> server and its final destination, the desktop will not be available.
>
> Can anyone give me a recommendation about how to configure sendmail on
> the server so that it won't throw any of the mail that needs to get to
> the desktop away, and so that as soon as the desktop comes up each
> morning, or maybe after a three-day weekend, it will instantly, or
> nearly instantly, or at least very soon thereafter deliver that mail to
> the desktop?
>   
Why does the mail have to be delivered to the desktop?  Why not just run 
an IMAP or POP server on the "server" and read your mail from there?

That said, I'd use an IMAP or POP server on the server anyways and use 
fetchmail to download mail to the desktop if necessary.  I am doing this 
with my ISP -- they collect mail for me, and my system at home goes and 
grabs it at regular intervals.  That way if my systems are down at home 
the mail just queue's up properly at the ISP.