Package: postfix Version: 2.4.6-1 I just converted my workstation from exim4 to postfix after seeing debian-devel postings.
After learning the postfix for a while and reading BTS, I encountered this bug report. The bug submitter uses smart host name without [] in his set up. I think that is the problem. Actually, relayhost can be CNAME but the debconf question may not be the best to lead us to set it. We need [] around hostname. Let me discuss debconf template and propose new one as below. ----------- Template: postfix/relayhost Type: string Description: SMTP relay host (blank for none): Please specify a domain, host, host:port, [address] or [address]:port. Use the form [destination] to turn off MX lookups. Leave this blank for no relay host. . Do not specify more than one host. . The relayhost parameter specifies the default host to send mail to when no entry is matched in the optional transport(5) table. When no relay host is given, mail is routed directly to the destination. --------------------- I thought [] are there like quotation mark just by reading this. Mixed use of words [address] and [destination] certainly confused me. Let's see how exim ask for smarthost: --------------------- Template: exim4/dc_smarthost Type: string _Description: IP address or host name of the outgoing smarthost: Please enter the IP address or the host name of a mail server that this system should use as outgoing smarthost. If the smarthost only accepts your mail on a port different from TCP/25, append two colons and the port number (for example smarthost.example::587 or 192.168.254.254::2525). Colons in IPv6 addresses need to be doubled. . If the smarthost requires authentication, please refer to the Debian-specific README files in /usr/share/doc/exim4-base for notes about setting up SMTP authentication. ----------------------------- [smarthost.example] is easier to unserstand than the mix of [address] and [destination]. Also, MX record is really irrelevant for smart host. That only gives SMTP server accepting external mail. Smarthost are the host itself. (It may be A record or CNAME) Let me propose possible alternative text: ------------------------------ Template: postfix/relayhost Type: string Description: Host name of the outgoing smarthost(blank for none): Please enter the host name of a mail server that this system should use as outgoing smarthost as [smarthost.example]. If the smarthost only accepts your mail on a port different from TCP/25, append colon and the port number (for example, [smarthost.example]:587 ). . Use the form [smarthost.example] with the bracket ensures to turn off MX lookups. Leave this blank for no relay host. Do not specify more than one host. . The relayhost parameter specifies the default host to send mail to when no entry is matched in the optional transport(5) table. When no relay host is given, mail is routed directly to the destination. . If the smarthost requires authentication, please refer to " Enabling SASL authentication in the Postfix SMTP client" in the /usr/share/doc/postfix/SASL_README.gz . ------------------------ I removed IP address thing since I was not sure postfix accepts such numeric values and usually ISP provides hostname. You may add text here on the numeric IP if it is OK. Speeking about debconf template, the question on the 4 configurations in postfix is a bit difficult on VT200 terminal. (2 screens) I think that came from the old exim. The current exim4 question as below in the source should replace postfix question "Template: postfix/main_mailer_type" and "Description: General type of mail configuration": ---------------- Template: exim4/dc_eximconfig_configtype Type: select # Translators beware! the following six strings form a single # Choices menu. - Every one of these strings has to fit in a standard # 80 characters console, as the fancy screen setup takes up some space # try to keep below ~71 characters. # DO NOT USE commas (,) in Choices translations otherwise # this will break the choices shown to users __Choices: internet site; mail is sent and received directly using SMTP, mail sent by smarthost; received via SMTP or fetchmail, mail sent by smarthost; no local mail, local delivery only; not on a network, no configuration at this time Default: local delivery only; not on a network _Description: General type of mail configuration: Please select the mail server configuration type that best meets your needs. . Systems with dynamic IP addresses, including dialup systems, should generally be configured to send outgoing mail to another machine, called a 'smarthost' for delivery because many receiving systems on the Internet block incoming mail from dynamic IP addresses as spam protection. . A system with a dynamic IP address can receive its own mail, or local delivery can be disabled entirely (except mail for root and postmaster). ------------------- The nice thing about this is quite short and this can be displayed in 1 page. Also choice itself is more self-explanatory. Currently on VT200 size terminal, when you see "Satellite system", explanation was already displayed in the previous screen. This new exem4 question does not have this problem. Unfortunately, under the current default install with mailname set to your ISP (or any domain name for recieving mail) while removing that hostname in the mailname from the mydestination list, even the mail to root mail get forwarded to there. This was surprized to me. Exim does not have this issue. This needs to be fixed separetely to enable above description. Maybe pointer description to generic(5) may be good idea. I think current configuration is aimed at server admin running postfix on internet reachable IP. There is some room for improvement for workstation situation. I found postfix itself was quite easy once you learn to use postmap command :-) With few debconf improvements and few place holder files in /etc/postfix such as etc/postfix/generic etc., it may be suitable for novice user too. Osamu -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
