[opensuse] Re: mailing from CLI
Theo v. Werkhoven wrote:
Joachim Schrod wrote:
I have never used a Linux (or any other Unix system, for that matter) without a locally configured mail system -- it is a sure disaster waiting to happen.
Configuring a local mail systems means to configure and start a local service that can send email (and deliver email from the local to the local system, which is needed for other system services like cron). Most service implementations (postfix, sendmail) involve a running daemon process or at least a cron job to clean up the mail queue.
Having some processes now and then sending mail hardly adds up to a queue.
As long as you have only local-to-local email, you're right. Then the daemon process or the queue runner is not needed. I.e., for the standalone workstation at home, that might be OK. But the cited text above mentioned the use of that setup to send email, and in the context of this thread it's clear that this email shall be sent to another SMTP server. When this SMTP server is down or not reachable, the email should be placed in a queue and resend when the mail server is available again. Transparently, without intervention from the user. This is simply good practice, why would you insist on loosing this robust behavior when you can get it so easily and without any noteworthy cost? And please note, even if we repeat us again and again: Alone for messages from cron, postfix or sendmail must be configured. Otherwise you'll miss error messages. A Unix system without a configured MTA is plain and simply misconfigured. To add a smart host to this basic configuration is trivial in 99.99% of all cases. (And Carlos' multi-ISP setup is the remaining 0.01%. :-) :-) Joachim -- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Joachim Schrod Email: jschrod@acm.org Roedermark, Germany -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 The Friday 2007-04-20 at 00:42 +0200, Joachim Schrod wrote:
To add a smart host to this basic configuration is trivial in 99.99% of all cases. (And Carlos' multi-ISP setup is the remaining 0.01%. :-) :-)
ROTFL! X'-) Yes, the normal case is very simple, Yast does it all just by answering a few questions - or by copying over the /etc/sysconfig/postfix file. I believe Autoyast would happily setup a thousand copies automatically. - -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.5 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Made with pgp4pine 1.76 iD8DBQFGJ/QqtTMYHG2NR9URAvTaAJ9cPtH7jPVminuCAg7o14AVHScsuQCfUG4q Qdctt1auvoCzt4r7GsoMQ98= =bXjw -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
Fri, 20 Apr 2007, by jschrod@acm.org:
Theo v. Werkhoven wrote:
Joachim Schrod wrote:
I have never used a Linux (or any other Unix system, for that matter) without a locally configured mail system -- it is a sure disaster waiting to happen.
Configuring a local mail systems means to configure and start a local service that can send email (and deliver email from the local to the local system, which is needed for other system services like cron). Most service implementations (postfix, sendmail) involve a running daemon process or at least a cron job to clean up the mail queue.
Having some processes now and then sending mail hardly adds up to a queue.
As long as you have only local-to-local email, you're right. Then the daemon process or the queue runner is not needed. I.e., for the standalone workstation at home, that might be OK.
I'm very sure it's ok, as long as root has an alias to a user who reads system mail.
But the cited text above mentioned the use of that setup to send email, and in the context of this thread it's clear that this email shall be sent to another SMTP server.
Ack.
When this SMTP server is down or not reachable, the email should be placed in a queue and resend when the mail server is available again. Transparently, without intervention from the user. This is simply good practice, why would you insist on loosing this robust behavior when you can get it so easily and without any noteworthy cost?
When someone makes a script or whatever, that *relies* on SMTP to get data out the door, they better make damn sure that at least the first hop is capable of recieving and spooling the data. No running daemon is going to safe them if e.g. the receiving SMTP server is down for more then say 4 days. I can imaging having e.g. embedded systems that would like to message by SMTP, but do not want a running daemon eating much needed resources. Btw: the Postfix sendmail drop-in still uses a queue, even without a running daemon, the user just has to flush this by hand (or by script) if the connection doesn't succeed immediately. I'm pretty sure the original Sendmail does this too.
And please note, even if we repeat us again and again: Alone for messages from cron, postfix or sendmail must be configured. Otherwise you'll miss error messages. A Unix system without a configured MTA is plain and simply misconfigured. To add a smart host to this basic configuration is trivial in 99.99% of all cases. (And Carlos' multi-ISP setup is the remaining 0.01%. :-) :-)
There's not much to configure is there? A /etc/nsswitch.conf file, a /etc/hosts file and a /etc/aliases file afaik. Theo -- Theo v. Werkhoven Registered Linux user# 99872 http://counter.li.org ICBM 52 13 26N , 4 29 47E. + ICQ: 277217131 SUSE 10.2 + Jabber: muadib@jabber.xs4all.nl Kernel 2.6.18 + See headers for PGP/GPG info. Claimer: any email I receive will become my property. Disclaimers do not apply. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
Fri, 20 Apr 2007, by theo@ferrets4me.xs4all.nl: Ow man, what a bunch of embarrassing spelling errors..
first hop is capable of recieving and spooling the data. receiving
No running daemon is going to safe them if e.g. the receiving SMTP save
Theo -- Theo v. Werkhoven Registered Linux user# 99872 http://counter.li.org ICBM 52 13 26N , 4 29 47E. + ICQ: 277217131 SUSE 10.2 + Jabber: muadib@jabber.xs4all.nl Kernel 2.6.18 + See headers for PGP/GPG info. Claimer: any email I receive will become my property. Disclaimers do not apply. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
On 04/20/2007 05:41 PM somebody named Theo v. Werkhoven wrote:
Fri, 20 Apr 2007, by theo@ferrets4me.xs4all.nl:
Ow man, what a bunch of embarrassing spelling errors..
first hop is capable of recieving and spooling the data. receiving
No running daemon is going to safe them if e.g. the receiving SMTP save
Theo
Hmmm. I thought those were just mail server errors. :) -- "This world ain't big enough for the both of us," said the big noema to the little noema. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
participants (4)
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Carlos E. R.
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Joachim Schrod
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ken
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Theo v. Werkhoven