How to Set Up a Local Mail Alias File

Use the following procedure to resolve aliases with a local mail alias file.

1. Compile a list of each of your users and the locations of their mailboxes.

2. Become root on the mail server or assume an equivalent role.

   For information about roles, refer to "Using Privileged Applications" in System Administration Guide: Security Services.

3. Edit the /etc/mail/aliases file and make the following entries.

   1. Add an entry for each user.

      user1: user2@host.domain

      user1	Use the new alias name.
      user2@host.domain	Use the actual address for the new alias.

   2. Ensure that you have a Postmaster: root entry.

      # cat /etc/mail/aliases .. Postmaster: root

   3. Add an alias for root. Use the mail address of the person who is designated as the postmaster.

      # cat /etc/mail/aliases .. root: user@host.domain.com

      user@host.domain.com

      Use the assigned address of the designated postmaster.

4. Rebuild the alias database.

   # newaliases

   Depending on the configuration of the AliasFile option in /etc/mail/sendmail.cf, this command generates in binary form either the single file, /etc/mail/aliases.db, or the pair of files, /etc/mail/aliases.dir and /etc/mail/aliases.pag.

5. Perform one of the following steps to copy the file or files that were generated.

   1. (Optional)

      Copy the /etc/mail/aliases, the /etc/mail/aliases.dir, and the/etc/mail/aliases.pag files to each of the other systems.

      You can copy the three files by using the rcp or rdist commands. Refer to the rcp(1) man page or the rdist(1) man page for more information. Alternately, you can create a script for this purpose.

      When you copy these files, you do not need to run the newaliases command on each of the other systems. However, remember that you must update all the /etc/mail/aliases files each time you add or remove a mail client.

   2. (Optional)

      Copy the /etc/mail/aliases.db file to each of the other systems.

      You can copy the file by using the rcp or rdist commands. Refer to the rcp(1) man page or the rdist(1) man page for more information. Alternately, you can create a script for this purpose.

      When you copy this file, you do not need to run the newaliases command on each of the other systems. However, remember that you must update all the /etc/mail/aliases files each time you add or remove a mail client.

How to Create a Keyed Map File

To create a keyed map file, follow these instructions.

1. Become superuser on the mail server or assume an equivalent role.

   For information about roles, refer to "Using Privileged Applications" in System Administration Guide: Security Services.

2. Create an input file.

   Entries can have the following syntax.

   old_name@newdomain.com new_name@newdomain.com old_name@olddomain.com error:nouser No such user here @olddomain.com %1@newdomain.com

   old_name@newdomain.com	Use the user name that was previously assigned with the domain that is newly assigned.
   new_name@newdomain.com	Use the address that is newly assigned.
   old_name@olddomain.com	Use the user name that was previously assigned with the domain that was previously assigned.
   olddomain.com	Use the domain that was previously assigned.
   newdomain.com	Use the domain that is newly assigned.

   The first entry redirects mail to a new alias. The next entry creates a message when an incorrect alias is used. The last entry redirects all incoming mail from olddomain to newdomain.

3. Create the database file.

   # /usr/sbin/makemap maptype newmap < newmap

   maptype	Select a database type, such as dbm, btree, or hash.
   newmap	Use the name of the input file and the first part of the name of the database file. If the dbm database type is selected, then the database files are created by using a .pag and a .dir suffix. For the other two database types, the file name is followed by .db.

Managing the postmaster Alias

Every system must be able to send mail to a postmaster mailbox. You can create an NIS or NIS+ alias for postmaster, or you can create the alias in each local /etc/mail/aliases file. Refer to these procedures.

• "How to Create a postmaster Alias in Each Local /etc/mail/aliases File"

• "How to Create a Separate Mailbox for postmaster"

• "How to Add the postmaster Mailbox to the Aliases in the /etc/mail/aliases File"

How to Create a postmaster Alias in Each Local /etc/mail/aliases File

If you are creating the postmaster alias in each local /etc/mail/aliases file, follow these instructions.

1. Become superuser on each local system or assume an equivalent role.

   For information about roles, refer to "Using Privileged Applications" in System Administration Guide: Security Services.

2. View the /etc/mail/aliases entry.

   # cat /etc/mail/aliases # Following alias is required by the mail protocol, RFC 2821 # Set it to the address of a HUMAN who deals with this system's # mail problems. Postmaster: root

3. Edit each system's /etc/mail/aliases file.

   Change root to the mail address of the person who is designated as the postmaster.

   Postmaster: mail_address

   mail_address

   Use the assigned address for the person who is designated as the postmaster.

4. (Optional)

   Create a separate mailbox for the postmaster.

   You can create a separate mailbox for the postmaster to keep postmaster mail separate from personal mail. If you create a separate mailbox, use the mailbox address instead of the postmaster's personal mail address when you edit the /etc/mail/aliases files. For details, refer to "How to Create a Separate Mailbox for postmaster".

How to Create a Separate Mailbox for postmaster

If you are creating a separate mailbox for postmaster, follow these instructions.

1. Become root on the mail server or assume an equivalent role.

   For information about roles, refer to "Using Privileged Applications" in System Administration Guide: Security Services.

2. Create a user account for the person who is designated as postmaster and put an asterisk (*) in the password field.

   For details about adding a user account, refer to "Managing User Accounts and Groups (Tasks)" in System Administration Guide: Basic Administration.

3. After mail has been delivered, enable the mail program to read and write to the mailbox name.

   # mail -f postmaster

   postmaster

   Use the assigned address.