In this chapter i'm just going to put myself safe for any damages and flames - since even *I* could be wrong ... If you got any questions or suggestions to add to this faq, even if you find any faults - there is a feedback section in it ...
Some "need to know" point is, all filenames & files/types are indicated with the line:
(*** < file > *** text ***) .procmailrc
This means, this is a file, called ".procmailrc" containing text. The text variable can also be code. It shows you what name of file to use. Without a path means it can be variable/choosen by you (in the most cases this files resists in the homedirectory of the mail"user" like /home/mailer).
Neither the author nor the distributors of this HOWTO are in any way responsible for physical, financial, moral damage incurred by following the suggestions and examples of this text. The information in this document contains the best of my knowledge and experience, but i could still make any mistakes as well in the information as in the examples. Any trademarks are property of their respective holders (i ain't using any commercial thingy's here - but well - IF i'm going to add some text, i don't need to change this disclaimer). If your cat dies 'coz this document was too heavy - i am not responsible as well ...
This document and contents are Copyright (c)1997-98 by Gunther Voet. Unauthorized (re)production in any form is explicitly allowed and even strongly encouraged as long you don't change the contents of it without contacting the author (Gunther Voet). If you quote the document as whole or a part of it, there needs to be a Copyright "hint" or link to the derived work. "The HOWTO documents are copyrighted by their respective authors". The "HOWTO copyright" will discuss what can be done and what cannot be done with this document. If it is used in a commercial way, the author should been noticed for such distributions. Exceptions on this copyright may be granted under certain conditions with a written letter or e-mail to the author. For more info about the standard HOWTO disclaimer, please contact linux-howto@sunsite.unc.edu.
*PLEASE* *IF* you are going to make a system based on this HOWTO, then PLEASE give me the copyright :) heh ... - i am not that cruel :)). I mean by a system "a package" - NOT the mailsystem itself - altough it is some appreciative thingy i would be included :)) i can always use one email address more for more flaming :)) (just kiddin').
Well, i expect from you and the users who read this HOWTO, they will make this HOWTO useful. If you got any suggestions, corrections, comments (except flame-mail :)) - please send them to me at freaker@freestamp.com or freaker@tuc.ml.org and i will make the corrections, comments or suggestions happen in the next revision. If you publish this document on a commercial way, a complimentary copy would be appreciated - you can mail me for my postal address. For flames - you could send them to me, but they will end at /dev/null ... so - don't even mind to waste bandwidth for it !. Since i can exclude some users to receive mail from (explained in this document) (evil grin). My alias (name) is freaker btw :)). You can always try "freaker@freestamp.com". (note the changed address !!)
The latest revision of this document can been get from:
http://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/mini/Offline-Mailing
-and-
(also checkout http://tuc.ml.org)
tuc.ml.org could be down at the time of current writing!
v1.0.0 - Preliminary release, internal testing, we tried it before
we gave it out to you :) .. since - it GOT to be usefull
and needs to work? rite ? :)
v1.1.0 - Fixed a lot of errors in the texts, put chapters in it,
- fixed some small errors and typo's ...
v1.2.0 - fixed grammatical errors.
- added a "what-are-we-using" chapter.
- added Sunsite address.
v1.3.0 - Added "virtual mail support" for admins
- New site and email addresses
- Thanks go to ...
v1.3.1 - Converted to SGML and fixed some minor details.
v1.3.2 - Major errors corrected (filenames .fetchmailrc to
.procmailrc) etc... (thx to Tetsu Isaji)
- Added support for the "new" sendmail, v8.8.0+
- Fixed some minor errors
- Upgraded my system YAY!
- Japanese version will come out soon, location
will be mentioned when known ... (thx to Tetsu Isaji)
v1.3.3 - Added CC support, changed email addr to freaker@freestamp.com
I'm using Linux 2.0.30, Pentium-166, ATI pci-mach64 card, Accelerated-X (Metro) and a connection to my isp (currently ibmnet) via ppp using a ZyXEL 28k8 modem, and occasionally a Bausch 28k8.
Now i upgraded to Linux 2.0.33, installed a USRobotics modem, it still works as it should work :) (everybody should upgrade their linux versions as soon there comes out a patch :) believe me :) you could spare a lot of time & seeking for errors when doing this one :)
Well, how does this system works ? what can you do with it ? what is it anyway ? and ... am i used to read it ? ... to all those questions - there is an answer ...
This HOWTO is dedicated to all the off-line linux users/servers ... You got a group, or organization, and you want all your members to have a contact (email) address, without paying for the 24/24 direct line or for the email accounts ... Or you got a internal network - with a masq'd server and you want to give all the users using it a email address, you could use this way to do it. I personally am using it to give my users & members of a demogroup all a e-mail account without being 24/24 online; since it is a non-commercial demogroup - and we don't got THAT much money to pay a direct line with instant email access - and different ip's. Everybody got a email address, even when they don't got internet access. The ones with internet access can receive their mail on their personal email address - viavia the system described below. Your users can still send mail as they used to do, since - your system will hold the mail queue from the users. The only thing what should be changed for the users - is that they add their "email address" wether (described below) it is the method with the subject line, or with the header "to" ...
Well, you need (of'course) a Linux machine, what can be connected to the internet - So! (i am smart - i am smart :)) - you probably got a modem, right? a phoneline - or any way to connect yourself with the server you are running. You will also need some software like Fetchmail, Procmail, an extra account, and your email account or DNS with email account.
This can be ANYthing ... even a 8086 ... - but preferable - since there will be some load on it - minimally a 80386 :). as faster the machine - as faster the software will run (rite eh)? :).
You need to create a extra account on your Linux machine. I am using as example (in this HOWTO) "mailservice". This can be as well "mailserver" or "mailtousers" - as long it is some name what can be recognized by you!.
! It doesn't need to have ANY root privileges !
This mailaccount will forward all mail to the users on your system, or to external users (not on your system :)). Just create it as an ordinary user. You will need to test things under this account, and, the mail "administrator" can use this account to administrate the mail account without being root even .. so - pretty safe !.
I am using v1.9 patch level 9 ... i found it at sunsite.unc.edu, and, i am using only this mail-fetcher in my example - if you want to use another one, you are on your own ! since i am happy with it :). For extended features you should read the man of Fetchmail :). This can be installed as root - as well for the user itself ... - best is to install it as root :) since i know it will work for sure then :)))
I am using v3.10 - found it again at sunsite.unc.edu, and - i like this as the best mda (mail delivery agent) around ... It delivers nicely - and it is better than using it by the "original" system mda - since it will deliver user-per-user ! ... The same as above - it can be installed as root, or as user - and :) best is to install it as root - since i know it will work for sure then (again!) :)... how repetetive ...
You always need to have a mail account - where you can "poll" your mail from. The server needs to be a POP server - where you can poll from when you want, and where users can send their mail 24/24 to. It can be a free-mail service, as well commercial - even your mailaccount is sufficient enough. In the "subject" method (m(B)) - you don't need something more - in method A - with the "to" fields - you NEED more - as written below !
Needed to run your own "domain" - email domain ... it is needed since the administrator of the server can't use it's own domain for your users - since there are users who need to be contacted on his server as well - what could interfere with your users. And your mailheader must be filtered on that domain. So - an apart domain - pointing to HIS server. This can be an additional cost - or you can ask your system administrator to add a "non- authorative address" - pointing to his server ... - however - it needs to be another domain than he is using !
Well, the system administrator needs to forward *ALL* mail to your domain to YOUR account ... - it is easy for him when he knows how to do it :) .. else he will need to read the sendmail manual :)) (or qmail - whatever). You will poll for your mail at your account and voila ! filtering on YOUR own email domain.
Now you created the extra account, you got the mail address - and/or the DNS entry & forwarding to your account ... As well installed Procmail & Fetchmail so we can rock the place ! :) .. here we go !
You will need to create a .fetchmailrc file, what will contain the information (username & password, as well the Mail Delivery Agent (mda) to proces the mail to). Here is some example file ...
(*** < file > *** text ***) .fetchmailrc
server my.mail.server.com
proto pop3
user myaccountthere
pass deepestsecrets
flush
mda /usr/bin/procmail
This file will be used to fetch your mail. Please test it by using the fetchmail program "fetchmail -vv" - and see your mail is being transferred right ... There will be some errors - since the procmail control file hasn't been created yet. You can wait by testing AFTER making the procmailrc file, but - i'll warn ya - IF there is something fault :) it CAN be this file :) It needs to be owned by the user account itself - in my case "mailservice" and needs to be "user readable" but NOT group/world readable - since it contains the "main password" :)). (chmod 600 .fetchmailrc will do).
This control file will forward all mail to the users in it. There are 2 ways as described before - the "to:" (header) way - and the "subject" (sloppy) way. The file will contain the usernames to transport to. All the "#" are comments and are absolutely not needed when not wanted - it's only so you know what i am doing ... - you can as well best chmod it 600 - so the rest of the world or group doesn't need those private addresses eh :) ... It needs also to be owned by the user (like "mailservice") :)). The "nosuchuserfile" is a "bounce" to the writer - if the user isn't found (so mail not delivered) in the procmailrc file ... - so the writer knows the mail isn't delivered well.
(*** < file > *** text ***) .procmailrc
# this line is for debugging purposes only ! it should be removed for
# ethical purposes - since you can read all mail passed trough your mail-
# server ... - all mail will be copied to the file "passtrough" before
# going to the users ... herein you can look what went wrong ...
:0 c
passtrough
# the mail with header "to: freaker@mydom.com" will be forwarded directly
# to me, the other mail will pass this option ...
:0
* ^To:.*freaker@mydom.com
! freaker
# the mail to root@mydom.com will be forwarded to root ... as well postmaster!
:0
* ^To:.*root@mydom.com
! root
:0
* ^To:.*postmaster@mydom.com
! postmaster
# the mail to barbara@mydom.com will be forwarded to barbara AND will be
# forwarded to her private email address !
:0 c
* ^To:.*barbara@mydom.com
! barbara@her.private.one
:0
* ^To:.*barbara@mydom.com
! barbara
# the mail to johnny@mydom.com and johnny@hisdom.com will be forwarded to johnny
:0
* (^To:.*johnny@mydom.com)|(^To:.*johnny@hisdom.com)
! freaker
# the mail to hans@mydom.com and all carbon copys will be forwarded to hans
:0
* (^To:.*hans@mydom.com)|(^CC:.*hans@mydom.com)
! hans
# this lines will BOUNCE the mail to the sender - when it is not delivered to
# one of above users ... it will send the file "nosuchuser" into the mail
# body as reply ... be aware ! you need to make such file ! - mine contains
# "well, the user you wanted to reach does not exist on this server, please
# try again, it could be the user is not present anymore".
#
:0
|(/usr/bin/formail -r -k \
-A"X-loop: mailservice@mydomain.dom "| \
/usr/bin/gawk '{print }\
/^/ && !HEADER \
{ system("/bin/cat nosuchuser"); \
print"--" ;\
HEADER=1 }' ) |\
/usr/bin/sendmail -t
exit
(*** < file > *** text ***) .procmailrc
# this line is for debugging purposes only ! it should be removed for
# ethical purposes - since you can read all mail passed trough your mail-
# server ... - all mail will be copied to the file "passtrough" before
# going to the users ... herein you can look what went wrong ...
:0 c
passtrough
# the mail with header "to: freaker@ibm.net" will be forwarded directly
# to me, the other mail will pass this option ... When you got a "dedicated"
# email address to receive your "mailservice thingy's" on - you don't need
# to use this line :)
:0
* ^To:.*freaker@ibm.net
! freaker
# all mail with as subject "root" will be forwarded to root !
:0
* ^Subject:.root
! root
# all mail to "subject: barbara" will be forwarded to barbara ...
:0
* ^Subject:.barbara
! barbara
# all mail to "subject: paul" will be forwarded to his external email addr.
:0
* ^Subject:.paul
! paul@his.personal.emailaddress
# all mail to "subject: john" will be forwarded to his account at your server
# and a copy will go to his private email address ...
:0 c
* ^Subject:.john
! john@his.personal.emailaddress
:0
* ^Subject:.john
! john
# All the mail from ibm, with their updates and information, will go to
# freaker, as he is the one who will administrate the mailservice, and
# as ibm doesn't want to get the bounce putten below !! ... this is
# neccesary if your mail provider sends "newsletters" etc...
:0
* ^From:.*newsletter@ibm.net
! freaker
# All messages from the daemon should been thrown away, or in my case, will
# be saved to a file ... (use /dev/null to throw to endless pits of The Abyss)
:0
* ^FROM_DAEMON
throwaway
# this lines will BOUNCE the mail to the sender - when it is not delivered to
# one of above users ... it will send the file "nosuchuser" into the mail
# body as reply ... be aware ! you need to make such file ! - mine contains
# some text like "user not found in subject line, please use "Subject: user"
# to write a mail to the user, like example "subject: freaker" would send a
# mail to freaker." The file can be long, but also small :) ... the
# "mailservice@mydomain.dom" will prevent to loop between your server and
# the other server - it needs to have the EXACT email address used !.
# Else you could create an endless loop with a server what sends mail
# to "your email address" with as subject something like "don't spend 500$
# at your ..." etc...
:0
|(/usr/bin/formail -r -k \
-A"X-loop: mailservice@mydomain.dom "| \
/usr/bin/gawk '{print }\
/^/ && !HEADER \
{ system("/bin/cat nosuchuser"); \
print"--" ;\
HEADER=1 }' ) |\
/usr/bin/sendmail -t
exit
(*** < file > *** text ***) nosuchuser
The user you wanted to contact is not present at this system.
Please use the subject line as recipient - example "subject: freaker" would
send mail to freaker on this system.
If you don't know how crontab works :) better read the manual :) ... You need to create a "checkmail" file - what will see if the link is up, as well the cronfile itself ... - i am using a ppp link :) so - this is an example how to look when the ppp link is up - and to poll every 10 minutes using cron. Looks sloppy - but isn't !.
the .checkformail file will be called (needs to be executable as well) - and will look if the ppp link is up. If it is up - then it will fetch for mail. Crontab will use this file when you are using the below cronentry ...
(*** < file > *** code ***) .checkformail
#!/bin/sh
#
cd /home/mailservice
if [ -f /var/run/ppp0.pid ]; then
/usr/local/bin/fetchmail -s > /dev/null 2>&1
fi
This cronentry file needs to been loaded into crontab, and will call the .checkformail - every 10 minutes. It won't write any mail or give any info to the console - since i'm redirecting everything to null.
(*** < file > *** text ***) cronentry
0,10,20,30,40,50 * * * * /home/mailservice/.checkformail 1> /dev/null 2> /dev/null
Well, this should be done when using the "A method" ... at the admin's site, so the email goes all from a complete domain, to one username. It is pretty simple, and once you've done it - it works like hell. this is NOT neccesary if your system administrator (the uplink) got another method, and is NOT neccesary at YOUR side !!!!
When using a newer version of sendmail, the "old sendmail" trick probably won't work, so please refer to the "new sendmail" topics to let your mailrouting work.
add the following lines to your /etc/sendmail.cf file, so the domains file will be read. please be noted that the "ruleset 98" is added as underhere, since - once you got errors :) it's a hell to find 'm out ! (and i can know it :) DuH).
(*** < file > *** add ***) /etc/sendmail.cf
# Database of handled domains
Kmaildomains btree /etc/maildomains.db
# Add these lines *IN* Ruleset 98 ! (under Ruleset 98).
R$+ < @ $+ . > $: $1 < @ $2 > .
R$+ < @ $+ > $* $: $(maildomains $1@$2 $: $1 < @ $2 > $3 $)
R$+ < @ $+ > $* $: $(maildomains $2 $: $1 < # $2 > $3 $)
R$+ < @ $* > . $: $1 < @ $2 . >
With the newer sendmail releases (tested with sendmail v8.8.7, 8.8.8). Ignore method A, and add the next lines ...
(*** < file > *** add ***) /etc/sendmail.cf
# Database of handled domains
Fw/etc/sendmail.cw
Kvirtuser btree /etc/maildomains.db
*OR*
Fw/yourhomedir/sendmail.cw
Kvirtuser btree /yourhomedir/maildomains.db
If you are using another "location" for the sendmail.cw file, then please replace the "/etc/sendmail.cw" to "/yourhomedirectory/sendmail.cw". The pro points of putting this sendmail.cw file into your homedirectory is that you don't need root to change the domains to receive on. tough - this can give security risks if not used properly !
This file can already exist, or needs to be created, if it already exists be sure you don't overwrite the older data - or i need to refer you to my fine disclaimer :)
First create a /etc/sendmail.cw file, what will be used to "send" a domain to a specific user ... here is an example ... (as you already knew, the name "mailservice" can be anything you want - it can even be your loginname (like mine is freaker).
(*** < file > *** text ***) /etc/sendmail.cw
mydomain.dom mailservice
First create a /etc/maildomains file, what will be used to "send" a domain to a specific user ... here is an example ... (as you already knew, the name "mailservice" can be anything you want - it can even be your loginname (like mine is freaker). (you could have this /etc/maildomains in /yourhomedir/maildomains as mentioned before, just change the paths :)
With the OLDER sendmail versions:
(*** < file > *** text ***) /etc/maildomains
mydomain.dom mailservice
With the NEWER sendmail versions:
(*** < file > *** text ***) /etc/maildomains
@mydomain.dom mailservice
With the old & new sendmail versionsyou need to generate the btree (database) files, you'll need to do the following:
cd /etc (or /yourhomedir) makemap btree maildomains < maildomains
after that, kill the sendmail daemon, and restart it. it should now WORK! good luck :)
Well, now, everything above works ... (if it doesn't work - don't even think about automation before it WILL work ... - now - we need some script so it isn't a pain in the ass for the "mailadministrator" or the root user to add users to the procmailrc file ... The below example will be for "more experienced users" - since some things NEED to be changed as well ... - it is an example with the "B method - Subject lines". It can be easily adapted to the "A method". Since the "B method" will be more used (cheaper) than the "A" method - i decided to use the "B method" ... Am i sounding repetitive or not ? .. well - i meant to write it in this way :)) to bug you :)))..
Since the footer needs to be as footer (everything below won't be processed since we are bouncing there); there needs to be a header and a footer file.
This file will now be the "header & user" file .. since here will users been added and removed - it will be a important file ... - best take a backup from it each time you add a user ... - there COULD be something wrong sometime .. A system can fail ...
(*** < file > *** text ***) .procmailrc-header
:0 c
passtrough
:0
* ^To:.*freaker@ibm.net
! freaker
:0
* ^Subject:.root
! root
:0
* ^Subject:.barbara
! barbara
:0
* ^Subject:.paul
! paul@his.personal.emailaddress
:0 c
* ^Subject:.john
! john@his.personal.emailaddress
:0
* ^Subject:.john
! john
:0
* ^From:.*newsletter@ibm.net
! freaker
:0
* ^FROM_DAEMON
throwaway
As mentioned above, this file needs to be as footer - since all data BELOW it won't be used to deliver - this footer contains the "bounce" code to bounce the users not found *ABOVE* this footer !. it is the ABSOLUTE end of the file !
(*** < file > *** text ***) .procmailrc-footer
:0
|(/usr/bin/formail -r -k \
-A"X-loop: mailservice@mydomain.dom "| \
/usr/bin/gawk '{print }\
/^/ && !HEADER \
{ system("/bin/cat nosuchuser"); \
print"--" ;\
HEADER=1 }' ) |\
/usr/bin/sendmail -t
exit
This script will add a user to the header file, attach the header & footer to eachother - so it will be a complete .procmailrc file. the "#" (comments) are not really needed - and are for your info :).
(*** < file > *** code ***) addmail (* chmod 500 *)
#/bin/sh
#
# Copyright (c)1997 by Gunther Voet. rev 1.0.1
# please leave the Copyright in it when it is distributed with any
# system using this thingy ...
echo ""
echo "Addmail v1.0.1 by Gunther Voet, Freaker / TuC'97-98 (21/04/97)"
echo ""
if [ $1 ]; then
if [ $2 ]; then
# make a backup file !
cp /home/mailserv/.procmailrc-header /home/mailserv/.procmailrc-backup
# APPEND (>>) the information to the header file ...
echo ":0" >> /home/mailserv/.procmailrc-header
echo "* ^Subject:.$1" >> /home/mailserv/.procmailrc-header
echo "! $2" >> /home/mailserv/.procmailrc-header
echo "" >> /home/mailserv/.procmailrc-header
# copy the header file to .procmailrc - and append the footer file to it !
cat /home/mailserv/.procmailrc-header > /home/mailserv/.procmailrc
cat /home/mailserv/.procmailrc-footer >> /home/mailserv/.procmailrc
# make sure it is owned by "mailserv" and the read/write priveleges are ONLY
# for the user "mailserv" itself ...
chown mailserv /home/mailserv/.procmailrc
chgrp users /home/mailserv/.procmailrc
chmod 600 /home/mailserv/.procmailrc
else
echo "No DESTINATION mail address has been given ..."
fi
else
echo "usage:"
echo ""
echo "syntax: addmail from_user to_user(domain)"
echo ""
echo "example: addmail freaker freaker@myemail.dom"
echo ""
fi
Now, this script will append the information of the user, as well the email address to the header file, it will copy it to the .procmailrc file, and will add the footer to it, so you got a complete .procmailrc to process the mail. If you want to delete a user- just edit the .procmailrc-header file, and at the next user added it will be deleted at the .procmailrc. To do a instant delete, just delete the user from both the files .procmailrc & .procmailrc- header.
I guess you are smart enough to write a script that'll automatically add your users when using both methods - when doing a "adduser" at your box.
Well, you need help - isn't :) ... hmm .. i could be sarcastic and just say "you could better do it again, 'coz it looks a messy enuf" - or .. i could help ... - I wrote down some common problems - IF you got any problem NOT listed in this HOWTO (section) - then mail me - and i'll put it in this howto even with your name/email addr in it :). **BEFORE** mailing to me - please look if you didn't forgot anything - and IF you want some help from me - send me the MOST DETAILED information - included the scripts & things you needed. i DON'T need any binaries - since i won't run them.
This sounds like the end ... If you find any unwanted bugs (or features :)), then leave some feedback ... any comments & suggestions -> mail them :). if you are still bored after reading this, please go to: http://tuc.ml.org/ hehehe.
My thanks go out to:
Hannes van de Vel: for supporting me (hum) Tetsu Isaji: the japanese offline-mailing & notifying me about errors :) Greg Hankins: for notifying me about some errors in the sgml version. Linus torvalds: of'course ... without his help this howto wouldn't be here!