Ubuntu as spam filter for Exchange

In your opinion either is a suitable choice?

Also, is it feasible to run either as a Hyper-V machine on the Exchange box?

Yes, lots of choices available to you as open source and free, these are quite easy to install compared to some.

We run everything as VMs, since 2004!

so yes they run well as VMs

Of course.  I just wasn't sure if I put the VM on the physical Exchange server box if that would work.

Spamassassin is well known, works in Linux / UNIX, and can be centrally managed. Users can be given access to their rules.

https://spamassassin.apache.org/

My ISP uses this.

other than Spam Assassin is very fiddly to setup and get working well, hence we abandoned it! (hence why I didn't mention it!), we had it on a smart host with Postfix, but preferred these new dashboards in these products suggested, and they come ready rolled up in an appliance/VM...ready to rock and roll with little config....(and more import all your email being rejected as spam!)

Any comments on the viability of installing a VM on the physical exchange server for purpose of running the spam filter?  Would you see that being a problem?  VM could still route email to the physical exchange?

The VM is a separate machine so what you propose should work fine.

How would you install a VM on the physical exchange server?

the Physical Exchange Server is not setup as a Hypevisor is it ?

e.g. normally you have a host OS (the hypervisor) and run two guests AntiSpam VM and Exchange VM ?

or do you mean install VMware Workstation or Virtualbox on the Exchange Physical Server and run a VM in it ?

Add Hyper-V role to the Exchange server???

BAD IDEA!

The Host needs just to be a Hyper-V host with no other roles.

Try a Different Server for the Ubuntu VM except on the same network.

"The Host needs just to be a Hyper-V host with no other roles."  Because that is the "proper" way or because it won't work otherwise?

Remember we are looking for a low cost solution.  We don't have another machine/Windows license laying around.

I assume Andrew doesn't like VM on an Exchange machine is because of load

Recommended, Supported and I think if you try to add the Hyper-V role, you might find it complains, and then stuffs Exchange!

Hyper-V is not even supposed to be a file server, when you add the role, yet alone and Exchange Server....

is your Exchange Server also a DC ?

Yes, I believe it is an a DC

I have a Windows 7 box sitting on the network.  Can I do anything with that to run the Ubuntu VM?

You could do that and make sure the box is on the same Domain

It is on the same domain.  What virtualization software would be a good "free" option?

VMware Workstation is best, VMware Player is free / low cost. Watch overall performance because it could be slow.

Just install Ubuntu direct on the hardware, no need for another layer and an OS.

Also VMware Player, may only be free for non-commercial use!

The Windows 7 machine shares files, it's basically a self made NAS.  So I need the OS in tact.

Okay, so remaing option is to use Oracle Virtualbox - Free to use - commercially. (basically a copy of VMware Workstation but free!)

https://www.virtualbox.org/

Linux Distros are fairly low resources...

Just an addition...if your Exchange server is also a DC it is an unsupported configuration.

Penny wise is pound foolish.

Tried to install Scrollout on Ubuntu and I get the following:  Current version of Scrollout works on Debian 9 (Stretch) only. Aborting...

Any other products you could recommend?

Did you try Debian?  That was not clear but I don't think so.

You don't think it works on Ubuntu?

That is what the error says above.

A simpler alternative to this article is to use the customized ISO image (recommended)

Safe yourself time, and just download the ISO, BOOT and Install it!

rather than the hardway, of installing it on an Unsupported OS!

Actually I already found the ISO and am trying that.  Thanks.

Good.....use it!

Install just hangs at a Finishing the installation box with a progress bar of  38%.  Underneath is says "Running simple-cdd".  It doesn't seem to move past this point.

Hi,
I have done this by setting up MAIA  mailguard server in cloud and providing transport rule to Exchange mail server. So whoever sends a mail it will be going through gateway server(MAIA). MX record will be pointing to MAIA server.
maia Mail guard server is well rich with Spam filter and other stuffs.
Here is the installation Document for this,
https://kreationnext.com/support/installing-maia-mailguard-on-debian-lenny-virtual-usersdomains-with-postfixmysql/

I got Scrollout F1 installed.  However, I have received complaints that some emails are not being allow through.  I have searched the logs and cannot find any log entry for the domain in question.  The sender notified me that their exchange server is reporting that the message delivery has been delayed.  I assume that means that Scrollout is rejecting the connection from their Exchange server.

Any advice?

This is the risk with ANY Spam Filters, they do require tweaking.

You really need the bounce email to start investigating, and this is beyond the scope of this original question asked!

Looking for a low cost spam filter in an exchange server.  I was wondering if I could use a Ubuntu VM on the Exchange box and if there were some built-in or open source spam solution that I could install on the Ubuntu VM to filter out the SPAM email before passing it along to the Exchange server.

I appreciate your insight.  The message doesn't bounce.  It appears the remote Exchange server reports the message has been delayed.  So I suspect Scrollout is rejecting the connection???  Are there some logs other than what I see in the web interface that I can see exactly what is going on?

FYI.  I opened a new question, if you prefer to answer there:  https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/29108479/Scrollout-F1-as-spam-filter-rejecting-some-needed-emails.html#questionAdd

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