Thank you for your time and quick response. I am really open minded about this between by rants!
1. I installed webmin just to do it. I know it's need for admin'ing other server items. Same with the GUI, I did it just to learn.
2. I actually have a fresh install of 8.04 LTS with no GUI or Webmin, so I'm currently trying that approach.
My test environment is sitting behind my firewall and nothing else. I am good with DNS/Config/Forwarding but some how missing the boat when it comes to these write ups.
Additionally, I am confused (as it appears with most users) on what to set in the /etc/hosts for the FQDN. My domain.com points to another box on the "internets" but my mail.domain.com will be Zimbra. For some reason from reading 3 different write-ups (first mistake?) it's unclear what my internal IP (10.0.0.1) needs to resolve. The true FQDN (domain.com) or the MX/A record of mail.domain.com. I figured I would find out the hard way once this gets going.
I'm currently now reading the PDF from the download section that discusses red hat/fedora up front and now on page that tells me to download the latest Zimbra package...but the write-up assumes to much. I have no idea how to download via terminal w/o specific examples let alone how to unzip/install! get-put-blah-blah-blah!
Maybe in another week or two this will all sink in!!!!
GEDIT appears to be another 101 ways to edit in a Linux environment that I am not familar with. Sounds like the greatest selling point of Linux (customizable and flexible) is the downfall for newbies...no definitive solution!
I'll keep plowing ahead like a bull in a china show with this until something clicks. More questions will come...