By manifestdignity on

Hi, all -

My web site is currently hosted on DreamHost. While I'm generally satisfied, I've had a whole string of problems around trying to set up a mailing list/community. Part of the problem is that DreamHost has turned off some PHP for security reasons. Right now I have working versions of both Drupal and CivicSpace on my account. I was hoping that the fact DreamHost advertises its support for Drupal would enable me to overcome the mail problem. So far, no luck.

When I looked at Drupal community comments from last year, there seemed to be widespread problems with setting up mail. The only solution I saw was "roll your own PHP" - I'm just not confident I have the skills for this. However, in the "Hosting 2006" thread, there seemed to be a lot of enthusiasm for DreamHost. I can't imagine that the Drupal community would be that enthusiastic if they couldn't get the mailhandler to work.

Has something changed at DreamHost regarding mail? Is there now something I can do other than "roll your own PHP"? I've been looking for a new web host, but I'd rather just stick where I am if I can get mail working.

Ps. I'd ultimately like to have CiviMail, but the current beta instructions are out of my league.

Thanks in advance for any advice. I'd especially be grateful if someone could point me to step-by-step instructions for setting up mail on Drupal, specific to DreamHost.

⋅ Categories: Drupal 4.7.x

Comments

Christefano-oldaccount’s picture

Christefano-oldaccount commented

I'm in the same boat as you and will share whatever I learn. A client of mine went with DreamHost and at the time I had no idea that setting up mailing lists would be so challenging.

One thing that I do know so far is that the Mailman Mailing List Management Wrapper won't work at all since DreamHost has Mailman on a remote server (instead of in /usr/local/ ).

manifestdignity’s picture

manifestdignity commented

I found a bit of time, so I've spent the afternoon trying to figure this out. No luck so far.

I don't understand why Dreamhost doesn't get that mailing lists are often an *expected* part of web sites. I tried to set up stand-alone mailing lists several times (for instance, eBase), before I installed Drupal. I was hoping Drupal would solve the problem since Dreamhost boasts about all their Drupal sites. I can't imagine that the whole bunch of people are just going without the mailhandler.

As a back-up plan, I'd appreciate recommendations for Drupal-friendly web hosts that don't throw obstacles in front of mail functionality...

Ps. I installed the "smtp module", but it won't activate.

PPs. Speak of the devil, here is Dreamhost screaming how they're "great for Drupal": http://top.drupalsites.net/

Isn't that false advertising?

benthere’s picture

benthere commented

My first suggestion would have been to compile PHP. I did it once with DreamHost, but that was just some tweaking I was testing, not to add php5-imap module as you'd need.

So the other idea: Can you export the email addresses and paste them into DreamHost's built-in discussion lists or announce lists? I keep both Drupal and my discussion list up to date that way, but admittedly the community that uses it is small.

--
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Anonymous’s picture

Anonymous (not verified) commented

I've been a happy dreamhoster for quite some time.. and host several drupal websites (through a multi-site, single codebase installation)

I've also compiled my own php (which is pretty easy to do, as DH now provides a script to compile php 5)

Can you explain what it is your trying to do? Maybe I can help... (I don't profess to be a drupal or a dh expert... but i can certainly try... )

--Brian

--
We are the music-makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.
from "Ode" by Arthur O'Shaugnessy

manifestdignity’s picture

manifestdignity commented

I could use all the help I can get!

First, I'm worried about rolling my own PHP. I have what looks like good instructions to do this, but I'm worried that if I mess something up, it will bring down our web site (there's a non-Drupal "production" site, and I've been trying to put together the Drupal site in a subfolder).

What I most want to be able to do is set up a mailing list. The problem I have with Dreamhost is that I can't customize their "opt-in" note: if I send that to our entire addressbook we'll look like spammers and no one will opt in. I need to set up a mailing list where I can customize the handshake email. Ultimately, I'd like to be able to integrate with CRM features like customizing the names in the greeting or sending only to subgroups within the list.

Anonymous’s picture

Anonymous (not verified) commented

so are you using the dreamhost "announcement list" feature or are you using the "discussion list" feature.

They are two different items in the DH control panel.

click my username and use my contact page to send me a private message and we can continue this there...

--Brian

--
We are the music-makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.
from "Ode" by Arthur O'Shaugnessy

manifestdignity’s picture

manifestdignity commented

Hi, there - I sent you a message earlier, but I just realized that my contact form was turned off. It's on now.