<html> <head> </head> <body> <pre> MASTER(8) MASTER(8) <b>NAME</b> master - Postfix master process <b>SYNOPSIS</b> <b>master</b> [<b>-Dtv</b>] [<b>-c</b> <i>config_dir</i>] [<b>-e</b> <i>exit_time</i>] <b>DESCRIPTION</b> The <b>master</b> daemon is the resident process that runs Post- fix daemons on demand: daemons to send or receive messages via the network, daemons to deliver mail locally, etc. These daemons are created on demand up to a configurable maximum number per service. Postfix daemons terminate voluntarily, either after being idle for a configurable amount of time, or after having serviced a configurable number of requests. The exception to this rule is the resident Postfix queue manager. The behavior of the <b>master</b> daemon is controlled by the <b>master.cf</b> configuration file. The table specifies zero or more servers in the <b>UNIX</b> or <b>INET</b> domain, or servers that take requests from a FIFO. Precise configuration details are given in the <b>master.cf</b> file, and in the manual pages of the respective daemons. Options: <b>-c</b> <i>config_dir</i> Read the <b>main.cf</b> and <b>master.cf</b> configuration files in the named directory instead of the default con- figuration directory. <b>-e</b> <i>exit_time</i> Terminate the master process after <i>exit_time</i> sec- onds. Child processes terminate at their conve- nience. <b>-D</b> After initialization, run a debugger on the master process. The debugging command is specified with the <b>debugger</b><i>_</i><b>command</b> in the <b>main.cf</b> global configu- ration file. <b>-t</b> Test mode. Return a zero exit status when the <b>mas-</b> <b>ter.pid</b> lock file does not exist or when that file is not locked. This is evidence that the <b>master</b> daemon is not running. <b>-v</b> Enable verbose logging for debugging purposes. This option is passed on to child processes. Multiple <b>-v</b> options make the software increasingly verbose. Signals: <b>SIGHUP</b> Upon receipt of a <b>HUP</b> signal (e.g., after <b>postfix</b> <b>reload</b>), the master process re-reads its configura- tion files. If a service has been removed from the <b>master.cf</b> file, its running processes are termi- nated immediately. Otherwise, running processes are allowed to terminate as soon as is convenient, so that changes in configuration settings affect only new service requests. <b>SIGTERM</b> Upon receipt of a <b>TERM</b> signal (e.g., after <b>postfix</b> <b>abort</b>), the master process passes the signal on to its child processes and terminates. This is useful for an emergency shutdown. Normally one would ter- minate only the master (<b>postfix</b> <b>stop</b>) and allow running processes to finish what they are doing. <b>DIAGNOSTICS</b> Problems are reported to <b>syslogd</b>(8). <b>BUGS</b> <b>ENVIRONMENT</b> <b>MAIL</b><i>_</i><b>DEBUG</b> After initialization, start a debugger as specified with the <b>debugger</b><i>_</i><b>command</b> configuration parameter in the <b>main.cf</b> configuration file. <b>MAIL</b><i>_</i><b>CONFIG</b> Directory with Postfix configuration files. <b>CONFIGURATION</b> <b>PARAMETERS</b> The following <b>main.cf</b> parameters are especially relevant to this program. See the Postfix <b>main.cf</b> file for syntax details and for default values. Use the <b>postfix</b> <b>reload</b> command after a configuration change. <b>Miscellaneous</b> <b>import</b><i>_</i><b>environment</b> <b>export</b><i>_</i><b>environment</b> Lists of names of environment parameters that can be imported from (exported to) non-Postfix pro- cesses. <b>mail</b><i>_</i><b>owner</b> The owner of the mail queue and of most Postfix processes. <b>command</b><i>_</i><b>directory</b> Directory with Postfix support programs. <b>daemon</b><i>_</i><b>directory</b> Directory with Postfix daemon programs. <b>queue</b><i>_</i><b>directory</b> Top-level directory of the Postfix queue. This is also the root directory of Postfix daemons that run chrooted. <b>inet</b><i>_</i><b>interfaces</b> The network interface addresses that this system receives mail on. You need to stop and start Post- fix when this parameter changes. <b>Resource</b> <b>controls</b> <b>default</b><i>_</i><b>process</b><i>_</i><b>limit</b> Default limit for the number of simultaneous child processes that provide a given service. <b>max</b><i>_</i><b>idle</b> Limit the time in seconds that a child process waits between service requests. <b>max</b><i>_</i><b>use</b> Limit the number of service requests handled by a child process. <b>service</b><i>_</i><b>throttle</b><i>_</i><b>time</b> Time to avoid forking a server that appears to be broken. <b>FILES</b> /etc/postfix/main.cf: global configuration file. /etc/postfix/master.cf: master process configuration file. /var/spool/postfix/pid/master.pid: master lock file. <b>SEE</b> <b>ALSO</b> <a href="qmgr.8.html">qmgr(8)</a> queue manager <a href="pickup.8.html">pickup(8)</a> local mail pickup syslogd(8) system logging <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 MASTER(8) </pre> </body> </html>