Postfix + Courier + MySql mail server with SASL

I am really at a loss configuring this mail-server deployment. I am following the excellent guide posted at http://flurdy.com/docs/postfix/. I'm using Ubuntu 10.04 LTS on Linode.

While following the guide to the letter I encountered an error from Postfix when sending outgoing from Thunderbird Mail Client.

warning: SASL authentication failure: no secret in database

Which was followed by a generic authentication failure message.

After some googling, I found the following in the Postfix documentation that seems to countervail the Flurdy guide:

If you must store encrypted passwords, you cannot use the ldapdb
auxprop plugin. Instead, you can use "saslauthd -a ldap" to query the
LDAP database directly, with appropriate configuration in
saslauthd.conf. This may be documented in a later version of this
document. You will not be able to use any of the methods that require
access to plaintext passwords, such as the shared-secret methods
CRAM-MD5 and DIGEST-MD5.

The guide seems to rely on PAM to circumvent this limitation, but I think this is the leg of my configuration that was not working (the no secret in database error.) I removed the CRAM-MD5 and DIGEST-MD5 mechanisms from my /etc/postfix/sasl/smtpd.conf, and now I can login using PLAIN.

The problem is that these passwords are now being transmitted unencrypted. There is also a strange problem where our Thunderbird clients can't seem to save messages to the "Sent" folder and just hang on the sending progress bar after transmission is complete.

I would like to move on to configuring TLS to make the connection more secure, but so far this has been such a nightmare I'm almost afraid to go further and risk breaking the config. I'm not at all familiar with a lot of these services and would love a point in the right direction.

Configuration:

/etc/postfix/sasl/smtpd.conf

pwcheck_method: saslauthd
mech_list: plain login 
log_level: 7
allow_plaintext: true
auxprop_plugin: sql
sql_engine: mysql
sql_hostnames: 127.0.0.1
sql_user: mail
sql_passw: *redacted*
sql_database: maildb
sql_select: select crypt from users where id='%u@%r' and enabled = 1

/etc/postfix/main.cf

# Debian specific:  Specifying a file name will cause the first
# line of that file to be used as the name.  The Debian default
# is /etc/mailname.
#myorigin = /etc/mailname

myhostname = mail.hostname_here.com
smtpd_banner = $myhostname ESMTP $mail_name (Ubuntu)
biff = no

# appending .domain is the MUA's job.
append_dot_mydomain = no

# Uncomment the next line to generate "delayed mail" warnings
#delay_warning_time = 4h

readme_directory = no

# TLS parameters
smtpd_tls_cert_file=/etc/ssl/certs/ssl-cert-snakeoil.pem
smtpd_tls_key_file=/etc/ssl/private/ssl-cert-snakeoil.key
smtpd_use_tls=yes
smtpd_tls_session_cache_database = btree:${data_directory}/smtpd_scache
smtp_tls_session_cache_database = btree:${data_directory}/smtp_scache

# See /usr/share/doc/postfix/TLS_README.gz in the postfix-doc package for
# information on enabling SSL in the smtp client.
myorigin = gonation.com

mynetworks = 127.0.0.0/8 [::ffff:127.0.0.0]/104 [::1]/128
mailbox_size_limit = 0
recipient_delimiter = +
inet_interfaces = all

relayhost = 
mynetworks_style = host
local_recipient_maps = 
mydestination = 

# how long if undelivered before sending warning update to sender       
delay_warning_time = 4h 
# will it be a permanent error or temporary
unknown_local_recipient_reject_code = 450 
# how long to keep message on queue before return as failed.
# some have 3 days, I have 16 days as I am backup server for some people
# whom go on holiday with their server switched off.
maximal_queue_lifetime = 7d 
# max and min time in seconds between retries if connection failed
minimal_backoff_time = 1000s 
maximal_backoff_time = 8000s 
# how long to wait when servers connect before receiving rest of data
smtp_helo_timeout = 60s 
# how many address can be used in one message.
# effective stopper to mass spammers, accidental copy in whole address list
# but may restrict intentional mail shots.
smtpd_recipient_limit = 16 
# how many error before back off.
smtpd_soft_error_limit = 3 
# how many max errors before blocking it.
smtpd_hard_error_limit = 12

# Requirements for the HELO statement
smtpd_helo_restrictions = permit_mynetworks, warn_if_reject reject_non_fqdn_hostname,reject_invalid_hostname,permit
# Requirements for the connecting server 
smtpd_client_restrictions = reject_rbl_client sbl.spamhaus.org,reject_rbl_client blackholes.easynet.nl,reject_rbl_client dnsbl.njabl.org 
smtpd_data_restrictions = reject_unauth_pipelining

# require proper helo at connections 
smtpd_helo_required = yes
# waste spammers time before rejecting them
smtpd_delay_reject = yes
disable_vrfy_command = yes

# not sure of the difference of the next two
# but they are needed for local aliasing
alias_maps = hash:/etc/postfix/aliases
alias_database = hash:/etc/postfix/aliases
# this specifies where the virtual mailbox folders will be located
virtual_mailbox_base = /var/spool/mail/virtual
# this is for the mailbox location for each user
virtual_mailbox_maps = mysql:/etc/postfix/mysql_mailbox.cf
# and this is for aliases
virtual_alias_maps = mysql:/etc/postfix/mysql_alias.cf
# and this is for domain lookups
virtual_mailbox_domains = mysql:/etc/postfix/mysql_domains.cf
# this is how to connect to the domains (all virtual, but the option is there)
# not used yet
# transport_maps = mysql:/etc/postfix/mysql_transport.cf

virtual_uid_maps = static:5000
virtual_gid_maps = static:5000

# SASL
smtpd_sasl_auth_enable = yes
# If your potential clients use Outlook Express or other older clients
# this needs to be set to yes
broken_sasl_auth_clients = no
smtpd_sasl2_auth_enable = yes
smtpd_sasl_security_options = noanonymous
smtpd_sasl_local_domain =

smtpd_sender_restrictions = permit_sasl_authenticated, permit_mynetworks,warn_if_reject reject_non_fqdn_sender, reject_unknown_sender_domain,reject_unauth_pipelining,permit

smtpd_recipient_restrictions = reject_unauth_pipelining, permit_mynetworks,permit_sasl_authenticated, reject_non_fqdn_recipient, reject_unknown_recipient_domain,reject_unauth_destination, check_policy_service inet:127.0.0.1:10023, permit

/etc/postfix/master.cf

#
# Postfix master process configuration file.  For details on the format
# of the file, see the master(5) manual page (command: "man 5 master").
#
# Do not forget to execute "postfix reload" after editing this file.
#
# ==========================================================================
# service type  private unpriv  chroot  wakeup  maxproc command + args
#               (yes)   (yes)   (yes)   (never) (100)
# ==========================================================================
smtp      inet  n       -       -       -       -       smtpd
#submission inet n       -       -       -       -       smtpd
#  -o smtpd_tls_security_level=encrypt
#  -o smtpd_sasl_auth_enable=yes
#  -o smtpd_client_restrictions=permit_sasl_authenticated,reject
#  -o milter_macro_daemon_name=ORIGINATING
#smtps     inet  n       -       -       -       -       smtpd
#  -o smtpd_tls_wrappermode=yes
#  -o smtpd_sasl_auth_enable=yes
#  -o smtpd_client_restrictions=permit_sasl_authenticated,reject
#  -o milter_macro_daemon_name=ORIGINATING
#628       inet  n       -       -       -       -       qmqpd
pickup    fifo  n       -       -       60      1       pickup
cleanup   unix  n       -       -       -       0       cleanup
qmgr      fifo  n       -       n       300     1       qmgr
#qmgr     fifo  n       -       -       300     1       oqmgr
tlsmgr    unix  -       -       -       1000?   1       tlsmgr
rewrite   unix  -       -       -       -       -       trivial-rewrite
bounce    unix  -       -       -       -       0       bounce
defer     unix  -       -       -       -       0       bounce
trace     unix  -       -       -       -       0       bounce
verify    unix  -       -       -       -       1       verify
flush     unix  n       -       -       1000?   0       flush
proxymap  unix  -       -       n       -       -       proxymap
proxywrite unix -       -       n       -       1       proxymap
smtp      unix  -       -       -       -       -       smtp
# When relaying mail as backup MX, disable fallback_relay to avoid MX loops
relay     unix  -       -       -       -       -       smtp
    -o smtp_fallback_relay=
#       -o smtp_helo_timeout=5 -o smtp_connect_timeout=5
showq     unix  n       -       -       -       -       showq
error     unix  -       -       -       -       -       error
retry     unix  -       -       -       -       -       error
discard   unix  -       -       -       -       -       discard
local     unix  -       n       n       -       -       local
virtual   unix  -       n       n       -       -       virtual
lmtp      unix  -       -       -       -       -       lmtp
anvil     unix  -       -       -       -       1       anvil
scache    unix  -       -       -       -       1       scache
#
# ====================================================================
# Interfaces to non-Postfix software. Be sure to examine the manual
# pages of the non-Postfix software to find out what options it wants.
#
# Many of the following services use the Postfix pipe(8) delivery
# agent.  See the pipe(8) man page for information about ${recipient}
# and other message envelope options.
# ====================================================================
#
# maildrop. See the Postfix MAILDROP_README file for details.
# Also specify in main.cf: maildrop_destination_recipient_limit=1
#
maildrop  unix  -       n       n       -       -       pipe
  flags=DRhu user=vmail argv=/usr/bin/maildrop -d ${recipient}
#
# ====================================================================
#
# Recent Cyrus versions can use the existing "lmtp" master.cf entry.
#
# Specify in cyrus.conf:
#   lmtp    cmd="lmtpd -a" listen="localhost:lmtp" proto=tcp4
#
# Specify in main.cf one or more of the following:
#  mailbox_transport = lmtp:inet:localhost
#  virtual_transport = lmtp:inet:localhost
#
# ====================================================================
#
# Cyrus 2.1.5 (Amos Gouaux)
# Also specify in main.cf: cyrus_destination_recipient_limit=1
#
#cyrus     unix  -       n       n       -       -       pipe
#  user=cyrus argv=/cyrus/bin/deliver -e -r ${sender} -m ${extension} ${user}
#
# ====================================================================
# Old example of delivery via Cyrus.
#
#old-cyrus unix  -       n       n       -       -       pipe
#  flags=R user=cyrus argv=/cyrus/bin/deliver -e -m ${extension} ${user}
#
# ====================================================================
#
# See the Postfix UUCP_README file for configuration details.
#
uucp      unix  -       n       n       -       -       pipe
  flags=Fqhu user=uucp argv=uux -r -n -z -a$sender - $nexthop!rmail ($recipient)
#
# Other external delivery methods.
#
ifmail    unix  -       n       n       -       -       pipe
  flags=F user=ftn argv=/usr/lib/ifmail/ifmail -r $nexthop ($recipient)
bsmtp     unix  -       n       n       -       -       pipe
  flags=Fq. user=bsmtp argv=/usr/lib/bsmtp/bsmtp -t$nexthop -f$sender $recipient
scalemail-backend unix  -   n   n   -   2   pipe
  flags=R user=scalemail argv=/usr/lib/scalemail/bin/scalemail-store ${nexthop} ${user} ${extension}
mailman   unix  -       n       n       -       -       pipe
  flags=FR user=list argv=/usr/lib/mailman/bin/postfix-to-mailman.py
  ${nexthop} ${user}

/etc/pam.d/smtp

auth required pam_mysql.so user=mail passwd=*redacted* host=127.0.0.1 db=maildb table=users usercolumn=id passwdcolumn=crypt crypt=1
account sufficient pam_mysql.so user=mail passwd=*redacted* host=127.0.0.1 db=maildb table=users usercolumn=id passwdcolumn=crypt crypt=1

/etc/default/saslauthd

START=yes
DESC="SASL Authentication Daemon"
NAME="saslauthd"
MECHANISMS="pam"
MECH_OPTIONS=""
THREADS=5
OPTIONS="-r -c -m /var/spool/postfix/var/run/saslauthd"