<!doctype html public "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd"> <html> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <title> Postfix manual - sendmail(1) </title> </head> <body> <pre> SENDMAIL(1) SENDMAIL(1) <b>NAME</b> sendmail - Postfix to Sendmail compatibility interface <b>SYNOPSIS</b> <b>sendmail</b> [<i>option ...</i>] [<i>recipient ...</i>] <b>mailq</b> <b>sendmail -bp</b> <b>newaliases</b> <b>sendmail -I</b> <b>DESCRIPTION</b> The Postfix <b>sendmail</b> command implements the Postfix to Sendmail compatibility interface. For the sake of compat- ibility with existing applications, some Sendmail command- line options are recognized but silently ignored. By default, Postfix <b>sendmail</b> reads a message from standard input until EOF or until it reads a line with only a <b>.</b> character, and arranges for delivery. Postfix <b>sendmail</b> relies on the <a href="postdrop.1.html"><b>postdrop</b>(1)</a> command to create a queue file in the <b>maildrop</b> directory. Specific command aliases are provided for other common modes of operation: <b>mailq</b> List the mail queue. Each entry shows the queue file ID, message size, arrival time, sender, and the recipients that still need to be delivered. If mail could not be delivered upon the last attempt, the reason for failure is shown. This mode of oper- ation is implemented by executing the <a href="postqueue.1.html"><b>postqueue</b>(1)</a> command. <b>newaliases</b> Initialize the alias database. If no input file is specified (with the <b>-oA</b> option, see below), the program processes the file(s) specified with the <b><a href="postconf.5.html#alias_database">alias_database</a></b> configuration parameter. If no alias database type is specified, the program uses the type specified with the <b><a href="postconf.5.html#default_database_type">default_database_type</a></b> configuration parameter. This mode of operation is implemented by running the <a href="postalias.1.html"><b>postalias</b>(1)</a> command. Note: it may take a minute or so before an alias database update becomes visible. Use the <b>postfix</b> <b>reload</b> command to eliminate this delay. These and other features can be selected by specifying the appropriate combination of command-line options. Some fea- tures are controlled by parameters in the <b>main.cf</b> configu- ration file. The following options are recognized: <b>-Am</b> (ignored) <b>-Ac</b> (ignored) Postfix sendmail uses the same configuration file regardless of whether or not a message is an ini- tial submission. <b>-B</b> <i>body</i><b>_</b><i>type</i> The message body MIME type: <b>7BIT</b> or <b>8BITMIME</b>. <b>-bd</b> Go into daemon mode. This mode of operation is implemented by executing the <b>postfix start</b> command. <b>-bh</b> (ignored) <b>-bH</b> (ignored) Postfix has no persistent host status database. <b>-bi</b> Initialize alias database. See the <b>newaliases</b> com- mand above. <b>-bm</b> Read mail from standard input and arrange for delivery. This is the default mode of operation. <b>-bp</b> List the mail queue. See the <b>mailq</b> command above. <b>-bs</b> Stand-alone SMTP server mode. Read SMTP commands from standard input, and write responses to stan- dard output. In stand-alone SMTP server mode, mail relaying and other access controls are disabled by default. To enable them, run the process as the <b><a href="postconf.5.html#mail_owner">mail_owner</a></b> user. This mode of operation is implemented by running the <a href="smtpd.8.html"><b>smtpd</b>(8)</a> daemon. <b>-bv</b> Do not collect or deliver a message. Instead, send an email report after verifying each recipient address. This is useful for testing address rewriting and routing configurations. This feature is available in Postfix version 2.1 and later. <b>-C</b> <i>config</i><b>_</b><i>file</i> (ignored) The path name of the <b>sendmail.cf</b> file. Postfix con- figuration files are kept in the <b>/etc/postfix</b> directory. <b>-F</b> <i>full</i><b>_</b><i>name</i> Set the sender full name. This is used only with messages that have no <b>From:</b> message header. <b>-f</b> <i>sender</i> Set the envelope sender address. This is the address where delivery problems are sent to, unless the message contains an <b>Errors-To:</b> message header. <b>-G</b> (ignored) Gateway (relay) submission, as opposed to initial user submission. <b>-h</b> <i>hop</i><b>_</b><i>count</i> (ignored) Hop count limit. Use the <b><a href="postconf.5.html#hopcount_limit">hopcount_limit</a></b> configura- tion parameter instead. <b>-I</b> Initialize alias database. See the <b>newaliases</b> com- mand above. <b>-i</b> When reading a message from standard input, don't treat a line with only a <b>.</b> character as the end of input. <b>-L</b> <i>label</i> (ignored) The logging label. Use the <b><a href="postconf.5.html#syslog_name">syslog_name</a></b> configura- tion parameter instead. <b>-m</b> (ignored) Backwards compatibility. <b>-N</b> <i>dsn</i> (ignored) Delivery status notification control. Currently, Postfix does not implement <b>DSN</b>. <b>-n</b> (ignored) Backwards compatibility. <b>-oA</b><i>alias</i><b>_</b><i>database</i> Non-default alias database. Specify <i>pathname</i> or <i>type</i>:<i>pathname</i>. See <a href="postalias.1.html"><b>postalias</b>(1)</a> for details. <b>-o7</b> (ignored) <b>-o8</b> (ignored) To send 8-bit or binary content, use an appropriate MIME encapsulation and specify the appropriate <b>-B</b> command-line option. <b>-oi</b> When reading a message from standard input, don't treat a line with only a <b>.</b> character as the end of input. <b>-om</b> (ignored) The sender is never eliminated from alias etc. expansions. <b>-o</b> <i>x value</i> (ignored) Set option <i>x</i> to <i>value</i>. Use the equivalent configu- ration parameter in <b>main.cf</b> instead. <b>-r</b> <i>sender</i> Set the envelope sender address. This is the address where delivery problems are sent to, unless the message contains an <b>Errors-To:</b> message header. <b>-R</b> <i>return</i><b>_</b><i>limit</i> (ignored) Limit the size of bounced mail. Use the <b><a href="postconf.5.html#bounce_size_limit">bounce_size_limit</a></b> configuration parameter instead. <b>-q</b> Attempt to deliver all queued mail. This is imple- mented by executing the <a href="postqueue.1.html"><b>postqueue</b>(1)</a> command. Warning: flushing undeliverable mail frequently will result in poor delivery performance of all other mail. <b>-q</b><i>interval</i> (ignored) The interval between queue runs. Use the <b><a href="postconf.5.html#queue_run_delay">queue_run_delay</a></b> configuration parameter instead. <b>-qR</b><i>site</i> Schedule immediate delivery of all mail that is queued for the named <i>site</i>. This option accepts only <i>site</i> names that are eligible for the "fast flush" service, and is implemented by executing the <a href="postqueue.1.html"><b>postqueue</b>(1)</a> command. See <a href="flush.8.html"><b>flush</b>(8)</a> for more infor- mation about the "fast flush" service. <b>-qS</b><i>site</i> This command is not implemented. Use the slower <b>sendmail -q</b> command instead. <b>-t</b> Extract recipients from message headers. These are added to any recipients specified on the command line. With Postfix versions prior to 2.1, this option requires that no recipient addresses are specified on the command line. <b>-U</b> (ignored) Initial user submission. <b>-V</b> Variable Envelope Return Path. Given an envelope sender address of the form <i>owner-listname</i>@<i>origin</i>, each recipient <i>user</i>@<i>domain</i> receives mail with a personalized envelope sender address. By default, the personalized envelope sender address is <i>owner-listname</i><b>+</b><i>user</i><b>=</b><i>domain</i>@<i>origin</i>. The default <b>+</b> and <b>=</b> characters are configurable with the <b><a href="postconf.5.html#default_verp_delimiters">default_verp_delimiters</a></b> configuration parame- ter. This feature is available in Postfix version 1.1 and later. <b>-V</b><i>xy</i> As <b>-V</b>, but uses <i>x</i> and <i>y</i> as the VERP delimiter char- acters, instead of the characters specified with the <b><a href="postconf.5.html#default_verp_delimiters">default_verp_delimiters</a></b> configuration parame- ter. <b>-v</b> Send an email report of the first delivery attempt (Postfix versions 2.1 and later). Mail delivery always happens in the background. When multiple <b>-v</b> options are given, enable verbose logging for debugging purposes. <b>-X</b> <i>log</i><b>_</b><i>file</i> (ignored) Log mailer traffic. Use the <b><a href="postconf.5.html#debug_peer_list">debug_peer_list</a></b> and <b><a href="postconf.5.html#debug_peer_level">debug_peer_level</a></b> configuration parameters instead. <b>SECURITY</b> By design, this program is not set-user (or group) id. However, it must handle data from untrusted users or untrusted machines. Thus, the usual precautions need to be taken against malicious inputs. <b>DIAGNOSTICS</b> Problems are logged to <b>syslogd</b>(8) and to the standard error stream. <b>ENVIRONMENT</b> <b>MAIL_CONFIG</b> Directory with Postfix configuration files. <b>MAIL_VERBOSE</b> Enable verbose logging for debugging purposes. <b>MAIL_DEBUG</b> Enable debugging with an external command, as spec- ified with the <b><a href="postconf.5.html#debugger_command">debugger_command</a></b> configuration parameter. <b>CONFIGURATION PARAMETERS</b> The following <b>main.cf</b> parameters are especially relevant to this program. The text below provides only a parameter summary. See <a href="postconf.5.html">postconf(5)</a> for more details including exam- ples. <b>TROUBLE SHOOTING CONTROLS</b> The <a href="DEBUG_README.html">DEBUG_README</a> file gives examples of how to trouble shoot a Postfix system. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#debugger_command">debugger_command</a> (empty)</b> The external command to execute when a Postfix dae- mon program is invoked with the -D option. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#debug_peer_level">debug_peer_level</a> (2)</b> The increment in verbose logging level when a remote client or server matches a pattern in the <a href="postconf.5.html#debug_peer_list">debug_peer_list</a> parameter. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#debug_peer_list">debug_peer_list</a> (empty)</b> Optional list of remote client or server hostname or network address patterns that cause the verbose logging level to increase by the amount specified in $<a href="postconf.5.html#debug_peer_level">debug_peer_level</a>. <b>RESOURCE AND RATE CONTROLS</b> <b><a href="postconf.5.html#bounce_size_limit">bounce_size_limit</a> (50000)</b> The maximal amount of original message text that is sent in a non-delivery notification. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#fork_attempts">fork_attempts</a> (5)</b> The maximal number of attempts to fork() a child process. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#fork_delay">fork_delay</a> (1s)</b> The delay between attempts to fork() a child pro- cess. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#hopcount_limit">hopcount_limit</a> (50)</b> The maximal number of Received: message headers that is allowed in the primary message headers. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#queue_run_delay">queue_run_delay</a> (1000s)</b> The time between <a href="QSHAPE_README.html#deferred_queue">deferred queue</a> scans by the queue manager. <b>FAST FLUSH CONTROLS</b> The <a href="ETRN_README.html">ETRN_README</a> file describes configuration and operation details for the Postfix "fast flush" service. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#fast_flush_domains">fast_flush_domains</a> ($<a href="postconf.5.html#relay_domains">relay_domains</a>)</b> Optional list of destinations that are eligible for per-destination logfiles with mail that is queued to those destinations. <b>VERP CONTROLS</b> The <a href="VERP_README.html">VERP_README</a> file describes configuration and operation details of Postfix support for variable envelope return path addresses. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#default_verp_delimiters">default_verp_delimiters</a> (+=)</b> The two default VERP delimiter characters. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#verp_delimiter_filter">verp_delimiter_filter</a> (-=+)</b> The characters Postfix accepts as VERP delimiter characters on the Postfix <a href="sendmail.1.html">sendmail(1)</a> command line and in SMTP commands. <b>MISCELLANEOUS CONTROLS</b> <b><a href="postconf.5.html#alias_database">alias_database</a> (see 'postconf -d' output)</b> The alias databases for <a href="local.8.html">local(8)</a> delivery that are updated with "<b>newaliases</b>" or with "<b>sendmail -bi</b>". <b><a href="postconf.5.html#command_directory">command_directory</a> (see 'postconf -d' output)</b> The location of all postfix administrative com- mands. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#config_directory">config_directory</a> (see 'postconf -d' output)</b> The default location of the Postfix main.cf and master.cf configuration files. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#daemon_directory">daemon_directory</a> (see 'postconf -d' output)</b> The directory with Postfix support programs and daemon programs. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#default_database_type">default_database_type</a> (see 'postconf -d' output)</b> The default database type for use in <a href="newaliases.1.html">newaliases(1)</a>, <a href="postalias.1.html">postalias(1)</a> and <a href="postmap.1.html">postmap(1)</a> commands. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#delay_warning_time">delay_warning_time</a> (0h)</b> The time after which the sender receives the mes- sage headers of mail that is still queued. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#mail_owner">mail_owner</a> (postfix)</b> The UNIX system account that owns the Postfix queue and most Postfix daemon processes. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#queue_directory">queue_directory</a> (see 'postconf -d' output)</b> The location of the Postfix top-level queue direc- tory. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#syslog_facility">syslog_facility</a> (mail)</b> The syslog facility of Postfix logging. <b><a href="postconf.5.html#syslog_name">syslog_name</a> (postfix)</b> The mail system name that is prepended to the pro- cess name in syslog records, so that "smtpd" becomes, for example, "postfix/smtpd". <b><a href="postconf.5.html#trigger_timeout">trigger_timeout</a> (10s)</b> The time limit for sending a trigger to a Postfix daemon (for example, the <a href="pickup.8.html">pickup(8)</a> or <a href="qmgr.8.html">qmgr(8)</a> dae- mon). <b>FILES</b> /var/spool/postfix, mail queue /etc/postfix, configuration files <b>SEE ALSO</b> <a href="pickup.8.html">pickup(8)</a>, mail pickup daemon <a href="qmgr.8.html">qmgr(8)</a>, queue manager <a href="smtpd.8.html">smtpd(8)</a>, SMTP server <a href="flush.8.html">flush(8)</a>, fast flush service <a href="postsuper.1.html">postsuper(1)</a>, queue maintenance <a href="postalias.1.html">postalias(1)</a>, create/update/query alias database <a href="postdrop.1.html">postdrop(1)</a>, mail posting utility <a href="postfix.1.html">postfix(1)</a>, mail system control <a href="postqueue.1.html">postqueue(1)</a>, mail queue control syslogd(8), system logging <b>README_FILES</b> <a href="DEBUG_README.html">DEBUG_README</a>, Postfix debugging howto <a href="ETRN_README.html">ETRN_README</a>, Postfix ETRN howto <a href="VERP_README.html">VERP_README</a>, Postfix VERP howto <b>LICENSE</b> The Secure Mailer license must be distributed with this software. <b>AUTHOR(S)</b> Wietse Venema IBM T.J. Watson Research P.O. Box 704 Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, USA SENDMAIL(1) </pre> </body> </html>