Postfix Local Mail
Contents
Postfix How To: Local-Host only mail delivery
by CacTus
What is postfix?
Well, I think the postfix website gives a good enough definition for our purposes.
"Postfix attempts to be fast, easy to administer, and secure, while at the same time being sendmail compatible enough to not upset existing users. Thus, the outside has a sendmail-ish flavor, but the inside is completely different." -- http://www.postfix.org/
Goals
The goal of this how to is to setup postfix for local mailbox delivery only.
Required packages:
- postfix
Postfix Installation
Step 1: Install Postfix
[root@computer] $ pacman -Sy postfix
Step 2: Check /etc/passwd, /etc/group
Make sure that the following shows up in /etc/passwd
postfix:x:73:73::/var/spool/postfix:/bin/false
Make sure that the following shows up in /etc/group
postdrop:x:75: postfix:x:73:
Note: Postfix can be made to run in a chroot. This document does not currently cover this. Might be added later.
Postfix Configuration
Step 1: /etc/postfix/main.cf
The only things you need to change are as follows. Uncomment them, and modify them to the specifics listed below. Everything else can be left as installed by pacman.
inet_interfaces = loopback-only mynetworks_style = host append_dot_mydomain = no default_transport = error: Local delivery only!
Step 2: edit /etc/rc.conf
Add postfix to the daemons list. Make sure you put it after the network has started.
Step 3: edit /etc/postfix/aliases
namely, put a username in for the the following, substituting the correct username you desire (actual system account required) for USER
# Person who should get root's mail. Don't receive mail as root! root: USER
Run the following command. This creates the map file that postfix understands.
# postalias /etc/postfix/aliases
Step 4: start the daemon
postfix check
If postfix check returns no errors, then start the daemon.
/etc/rc.d/postfix start
Check /var/log/mail.log for any errors.
Step 5: Test
Try sending an email. Even from yourself to yourself should be a good test.
mail -s test user this is a test email. .
now..check you mail using whatever client you desire..
Step 6: Test some more!
make sure root mail forwards to the desired user...use the same test above, but substitue root for user.
More help?
Still not working? You might try this forum thread. http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?t=9222