SMTPD

Section: Maintenance Commands (8)
 

NAME

smtpd - Postfix SMTP server  

SYNOPSIS

smtpd [generic Postfix daemon options]
 

DESCRIPTION

The SMTP server accepts network connection requests and performs zero or more SMTP transactions per connection. Each received message is piped through the cleanup(8) daemon, and is placed into the incoming queue as one single queue file. For this mode of operation, the program expects to be run from the master(8) process manager.

Alternatively, the SMTP server takes an established connection on standard input and deposits messages directly into the maildrop queue. In this so-called stand-alone mode, the SMTP server can accept mail even while the mail system is not running.

The SMTP server implements a variety of policies for connection requests, and for parameters given to HELO, ETRN, MAIL FROM, VRFY and RCPT TO commands. They are detailed below and in the main.cf configuration file.  

SECURITY



The SMTP server is moderately security-sensitive. It talks to SMTP
clients and to DNS servers on the network. The SMTP server can be
run chrooted at fixed low privilege.
 

STANDARDS




RFC 821 (SMTP protocol)
RFC 1123 (Host requirements)
RFC 1652 (8bit-MIME transport)
RFC 1869 (SMTP service extensions)
RFC 1870 (Message Size Declaration)
RFC 1985 (ETRN command)
RFC 2554 (AUTH command)
RFC 2821 (SMTP protocol)
RFC 2920 (SMTP Pipelining)

 

DIAGNOSTICS




Problems and transactions are logged to syslogd(8).


Depending on the setting of the notify_classes parameter,
the postmaster is notified of bounces, protocol problems,
policy violations, and of other trouble.
 

CONFIGURATION PARAMETERS






Changes to main.cf are picked up automatically, as smtpd(8)
processes run for only a limited amount of time. Use the command
"postfix reload" to speed up a change.


The text below provides only a parameter summary. See
postconf(5) for more details including examples.
 

COMPATIBILITY CONTROLS






The following parameters work around implementation errors in other
software, and/or allow you to override standards in order to prevent
undesirable use.





broken_sasl_auth_clients (no)

Enable inter-operability with SMTP clients that implement an obsolete
version of the AUTH command (RFC 2554).

disable_vrfy_command (no)

Disable the SMTP VRFY command.

smtpd_noop_commands (empty)

List of commands that the Postfix SMTP server replies to with "250
Ok", without doing any syntax checks and without changing state.

strict_rfc821_envelopes (no)

Require that addresses received in SMTP MAIL FROM and RCPT TO
commands are enclosed with <>, and that those addresses do
not contain RFC 822 style comments or phrases.





Available in Postfix version 2.1 and later:



resolve_null_domain (no)

Resolve an address that ends in the "@" null domain as if the
local hostname were specified, instead of rejecting the address as
invalid.

smtpd_reject_unlisted_sender (no)

Request that the Postfix SMTP server rejects mail from unknown
sender addresses, even when no explicit reject_unlisted_sender
access restriction is specified.

smtpd_sasl_exceptions_networks (empty)

What SMTP clients Postfix will not offer AUTH support to.


 

AFTER QUEUE EXTERNAL CONTENT INSPECTION CONTROLS






As of version 1.0, Postfix can be configured to send new mail to
an external content filter AFTER the mail is queued. This content
filter is expected to inject mail back into a (Postfix or other)
MTA for further delivery. See the FILTER_README document for details.



content_filter (empty)

The name of a mail delivery transport that filters mail after
it is queued.


 

BEFORE QUEUE EXTERNAL CONTENT INSPECTION CONTROLS






As of version 2.1, the Postfix SMTP server can be configured
to send incoming mail to a real-time SMTP-based content filter
BEFORE mail is queued.  This content filter is expected to inject
mail back into Postfix.  See the SMTPD_PROXY_README document for
details on how to configure and operate this feature.



smtpd_proxy_filter (empty)

The hostname and TCP port of the mail filtering proxy server.

smtpd_proxy_ehlo ($myhostname)

How the Postfix SMTP server announces itself to the proxy filter.

smtpd_proxy_timeout (100s)

The time limit for connecting to a proxy filter and for sending or
receiving information.


 

GENERAL CONTENT INSPECTION CONTROLS






The following parameters are applicable for both built-in
and external content filters.



Available in Postfix version 2.1 and later:



receive_override_options (empty)

Enable or disable recipient validation, built-in content
filtering, or address rewriting.


 

EXTERNAL CONTENT INSPECTION CONTROLS






The following parameters are applicable for both before-queue
and after-queue content filtering.



Available in Postfix version 2.1 and later:



smtpd_authorized_xforward_hosts (empty)

What SMTP clients are allowed to use the XFORWARD feature.


 

SASL AUTHENTICATION CONTROLS






Postfix SASL support (RFC 2554) can be used to authenticate remote
SMTP clients to the Postfix SMTP server, and to authenticate the
Postfix SMTP client to a remote SMTP server.
See the SASL_README document for details.



broken_sasl_auth_clients (no)

Enable inter-operability with SMTP clients that implement an obsolete
version of the AUTH command (RFC 2554).

smtpd_sasl_auth_enable (no)

Enable SASL authentication in the Postfix SMTP server.

smtpd_sasl_application_name (smtpd)

The application name used for SASL server initialization.

smtpd_sasl_local_domain (empty)

The name of the local SASL authentication realm.

smtpd_sasl_security_options (noanonymous)

Restrict what authentication mechanisms the Postfix SMTP server
will offer to the client.

smtpd_sender_login_maps (empty)

Optional lookup table with the SASL login names that own sender
(MAIL FROM) addresses.





Available in Postfix version 2.1 and later:



smtpd_sasl_exceptions_networks (empty)

What SMTP clients Postfix will not offer AUTH support to.


 

VERP SUPPORT CONTROLS






With VERP style delivery, each recipient of a message receives a
customized copy of the message with his/her own recipient address
encoded in the envelope sender address.  The VERP_README file
describes configuration and operation details of Postfix support
for variable envelope return path addresses.  VERP style delivery
is requested with the SMTP XVERP command or with the "sendmail
-V" command-line option and is available in Postfix version 1.1
and later.



default_verp_delimiters (+=)

The two default VERP delimiter characters.

verp_delimiter_filter (-=+)

The characters Postfix accepts as VERP delimiter characters on the
Postfix sendmail(1) command line and in SMTP commands.





Available in Postfix version 1.1 and 2.0:



authorized_verp_clients ($mynetworks)

What SMTP clients are allowed to specify the XVERP command.





Available in Postfix version 2.1 and later:



smtpd_authorized_verp_clients ($authorized_verp_clients)

What SMTP clients are allowed to specify the XVERP command.


 

TROUBLE SHOOTING CONTROLS






The DEBUG_README document describes how to debug parts of the
Postfix mail system. The methods vary from making the software log
a lot of detail, to running some daemon processes under control of
a call tracer or debugger.



debug_peer_level (2)

The increment in verbose logging level when a remote client or
server matches a pattern in the debug_peer_list parameter.

debug_peer_list (empty)

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 $debug_peer_level.

error_notice_recipient (postmaster)

The recipient of postmaster notifications about mail delivery
problems that are caused by policy, resource, software or protocol
errors.

notify_classes (resource, software)

The list of error classes that are reported to the postmaster.

soft_bounce (no)

Safety net to keep mail queued that would otherwise be returned to
the sender.





Available in Postfix version 2.1 and later:



smtpd_authorized_xclient_hosts (empty)

What SMTP clients are allowed to use the XCLIENT feature.


 

KNOWN VERSUS UNKNOWN RECIPIENT CONTROLS






As of Postfix version 2.0, the SMTP server rejects mail for
unknown recipients. This prevents the mail queue from clogging up
with undeliverable MAILER-DAEMON messages. Additional information
on this topic is in the LOCAL_RECIPIENT_README and ADDRESS_CLASS_README
documents.



show_user_unknown_table_name (yes)

Display the name of the recipient table in the "User unknown"
responses.

canonical_maps (empty)

Optional address mapping lookup tables for message headers and
envelopes.

recipient_canonical_maps (empty)

Optional address mapping lookup tables for envelope and header
recipient addresses.





Parameters concerning known/unknown local recipients:



mydestination ($myhostname, localhost.$mydomain, localhost)

The list of domains that are delivered via the $local_transport
mail delivery transport.

inet_interfaces (all)

The network interface addresses that this mail system receives mail
on.

proxy_interfaces (empty)

The network interface addresses that this mail system receives mail
on by way of a proxy or network address translation unit.

local_recipient_maps (proxy:unix:passwd.byname $alias_maps)

Lookup tables with all names or addresses of local recipients:
a recipient address is local when its domain matches $mydestination,
$inet_interfaces or $proxy_interfaces.

unknown_local_recipient_reject_code (550)

The numerical Postfix SMTP server response code when a recipient
address is local, and $local_recipient_maps specifies a list of
lookup tables that does not match the recipient.





Parameters concerning known/unknown recipients of relay destinations:



relay_domains ($mydestination)

What destination domains (and subdomains thereof) this system
will relay mail to.

relay_recipient_maps (empty)

Optional lookup tables with all valid addresses in the domains
that match $relay_domains.

unknown_relay_recipient_reject_code (550)

The numerical Postfix SMTP server reply code when a recipient
address matches $relay_domains, and relay_recipient_maps specifies
a list of lookup tables that does not match the recipient address.





Parameters concerning known/unknown recipients in virtual alias
domains:



virtual_alias_domains ($virtual_alias_maps)

Optional list of names of virtual alias domains, that is,
domains for which all addresses are aliased to addresses in other
local or remote domains.

virtual_alias_maps ($virtual_maps)

Optional lookup tables that alias specific mail addresses or domains
to other local or remote address.

unknown_virtual_alias_reject_code (550)

The SMTP server reply code when a recipient address matches
$virtual_alias_domains, and $virtual_alias_maps specifies a list
of lookup tables that does not match the recipient address.





Parameters concerning known/unknown recipients in virtual mailbox
domains:



virtual_mailbox_domains ($virtual_mailbox_maps)

The list of domains that are delivered via the $virtual_transport
mail delivery transport.

virtual_mailbox_maps (empty)

Optional lookup tables with all valid addresses in the domains that
match $virtual_mailbox_domains.

unknown_virtual_mailbox_reject_code (550)

The SMTP server reply code when a recipient address matches
$virtual_mailbox_domains, and $virtual_mailbox_maps specifies a list
of lookup tables that does not match the recipient address.


 

RESOURCE AND RATE CONTROLS






The following parameters limit resource usage by the SMTP
server and/or control client request rates.



line_length_limit (2048)

Upon input, long lines are chopped up into pieces of at most
this length; upon delivery, long lines are reconstructed.

queue_minfree (0)

The minimal amount of free space in bytes in the queue file system
that is needed to receive mail.

message_size_limit (10240000)

The maximal size in bytes of a message, including envelope information.

smtpd_recipient_limit (1000)

The maximal number of recipients that the Postfix SMTP server
accepts per message delivery request.

smtpd_timeout (300s)

The time limit for sending a Postfix SMTP server response and for
receiving a remote SMTP client request.

smtpd_history_flush_threshold (100)

The maximal number of lines in the Postfix SMTP server command history
before it is flushed upon receipt of EHLO, RSET, or end of DATA.





Not available in Postfix version 2.1:



smtpd_client_connection_count_limit (50)

How many simultaneous connections any SMTP client is allowed to
make to the SMTP service.

smtpd_client_connection_rate_limit (0)

The maximal number of connection attempts any client is allowed to
make to this service per time unit.

smtpd_client_connection_limit_exceptions ($mynetworks)

Clients that are excluded from connection count or connection rate
restrictions.


 

TARPIT CONTROLS






When a remote SMTP client makes errors, the Postfix SMTP server
can insert delays before responding. This can help to slow down
run-away software.  The behavior is controlled by an error counter
that counts the number of errors within an SMTP session that a
client makes without delivering mail.



smtpd_error_sleep_time (1s)

With Postfix 2.1 and later: the SMTP server response delay after
a client has made more than $smtpd_soft_error_limit errors, and
fewer than $smtpd_hard_error_limit errors, without delivering mail.

smtpd_soft_error_limit (10)

The number of errors a remote SMTP client is allowed to make without
delivering mail before the Postfix SMTP server slows down all its
responses.

smtpd_hard_error_limit (20)

The maximal number of errors a remote SMTP client is allowed to
make without delivering mail.

smtpd_junk_command_limit (100)

The number of junk commands (NOOP, VRFY, ETRN or RSET) that a remote
SMTP client can send before the Postfix SMTP server starts to
increment the error counter with each junk command.





Available in Postfix version 2.1 and later:



smtpd_recipient_overshoot_limit (1000)

The number of recipients that a remote SMTP client can send in
excess of the limit specified with $smtpd_recipient_limit, before
the Postfix SMTP server increments the per-session error count
for each excess recipient.


 

ACCESS POLICY DELEGATION CONTROLS






As of version 2.1, Postfix can be configured to delegate access
policy decisions to an external server that runs outside Postfix.
See the file SMTPD_POLICY_README for more information.



smtpd_policy_service_max_idle (300s)

The time after which an idle SMTPD policy service connection is
closed.

smtpd_policy_service_max_ttl (1000s)

The time after which an active SMTPD policy service connection is
closed.

smtpd_policy_service_timeout (100s)

The time limit for connecting to, writing to or receiving from a
delegated SMTPD policy server.


 

ACCESS CONTROLS






The SMTPD_ACCESS_README document gives an introduction to all the
SMTP server access control features.



smtpd_delay_reject (yes)

Wait until the RCPT TO command before evaluating
$smtpd_client_restrictions, $smtpd_helo_restrictions and
$smtpd_sender_restrictions, or wait until the ETRN command before
evaluating $smtpd_client_restrictions and $smtpd_helo_restrictions.

parent_domain_matches_subdomains (see 'postconf -d' output)

What Postfix features match subdomains of "domain.tld" automatically,
instead of requiring an explicit ".domain.tld" pattern.

smtpd_client_restrictions (empty)

Optional SMTP server access restrictions in the context of a client
SMTP connection request.

smtpd_helo_required (no)

Require that a remote SMTP client introduces itself at the beginning
of an SMTP session with the HELO or EHLO command.

smtpd_helo_restrictions (empty)

Optional restrictions that the Postfix SMTP server applies in the
context of the SMTP HELO command.

smtpd_sender_restrictions (empty)

Optional restrictions that the Postfix SMTP server applies in the
context of the MAIL FROM command.

smtpd_recipient_restrictions (permit_mynetworks, reject_unauth_destination)

The access restrictions that the Postfix SMTP server applies in
the context of the RCPT TO command.

smtpd_etrn_restrictions (empty)

Optional SMTP server access restrictions in the context of a client
ETRN request.

allow_untrusted_routing (no)

Forward mail with sender-specified routing (user[@%!]remote[@%!]site)
from untrusted clients to destinations matching $relay_domains.

smtpd_restriction_classes (empty)

User-defined aliases for groups of access restrictions.

smtpd_null_access_lookup_key (<>)

The lookup key to be used in SMTP access(5) tables instead of the
null sender address.

permit_mx_backup_networks (empty)

Restrict the use of the permit_mx_backup SMTP access feature to
only domains whose primary MX hosts match the listed networks.





Available in Postfix version 2.0 and later:



smtpd_data_restrictions (empty)

Optional access restrictions that the Postfix SMTP server applies
in the context of the SMTP DATA command.

smtpd_expansion_filter (see 'postconf -d' output)

What characters are allowed in $name expansions of RBL reply
templates.





Available in Postfix version 2.1 and later:



smtpd_reject_unlisted_sender (no)

Request that the Postfix SMTP server rejects mail from unknown
sender addresses, even when no explicit reject_unlisted_sender
access restriction is specified.

smtpd_reject_unlisted_recipient (yes)

Request that the Postfix SMTP server rejects mail for unknown
recipient addresses, even when no explicit reject_unlisted_recipient
access restriction is specified.


 

SENDER AND RECIPIENT ADDRESS VERIFICATION CONTROLS






Postfix version 2.1 introduces sender and recipient address verification.
This feature is implemented by sending probe email messages that
are not actually delivered.
This feature is requested via the reject_unverified_sender and
reject_unverified_recipient access restrictions.  The status of
verification probes is maintained by the verify(8) server.
See the file ADDRESS_VERIFICATION_README for information
about how to configure and operate the Postfix sender/recipient
address verification service.



address_verify_poll_count (3)

How many times to query the verify(8) service for the completion
of an address verification request in progress.

address_verify_poll_delay (3s)

The delay between queries for the completion of an address
verification request in progress.

address_verify_sender (postmaster)

The sender address to use in address verification probes.

unverified_sender_reject_code (450)

The numerical Postfix SMTP server response code when a recipient
address is rejected by the reject_unverified_sender restriction.

unverified_recipient_reject_code (450)

The numerical Postfix SMTP server response when a recipient address
is rejected by the reject_unverified_recipient restriction.


 

ACCESS CONTROL RESPONSES






The following parameters control numerical SMTP reply codes
and/or text responses.



access_map_reject_code (554)

The numerical Postfix SMTP server response code when a client
is rejected by an access(5) map restriction.

defer_code (450)

The numerical Postfix SMTP server response code when a remote SMTP
client request is rejected by the "defer" restriction.

invalid_hostname_reject_code (501)

The numerical Postfix SMTP server response code when the client
HELO or EHLO command parameter is rejected by the reject_invalid_hostname
restriction.

maps_rbl_reject_code (554)

The numerical Postfix SMTP server response code when a remote SMTP
client request is blocked by the reject_rbl_client, reject_rhsbl_client,
reject_rhsbl_sender or reject_rhsbl_recipient restriction.

non_fqdn_reject_code (504)

The numerical Postfix SMTP server reply code when a client request
is rejected by the reject_non_fqdn_hostname, reject_non_fqdn_sender
or reject_non_fqdn_recipient restriction.

reject_code (554)

The numerical Postfix SMTP server response code when a remote SMTP
client request is rejected by the "reject" restriction.

relay_domains_reject_code (554)

The numerical Postfix SMTP server response code when a client
request is rejected by the reject_unauth_destination recipient
restriction.

unknown_address_reject_code (450)

The numerical Postfix SMTP server response code when a sender or
recipient address is rejected by the reject_unknown_sender_domain
or reject_unknown_recipient_domain restriction.

unknown_client_reject_code (450)

The numerical Postfix SMTP server response code when a client
without valid address <=> name mapping is rejected by the
reject_unknown_client restriction.

unknown_hostname_reject_code (450)

The numerical Postfix SMTP server response code when the hostname
specified with the HELO or EHLO command is rejected by the
reject_unknown_hostname restriction.





Available in Postfix version 2.0 and later:



default_rbl_reply (see 'postconf -d' output)

The default SMTP server response template for a request that is
rejected by an RBL-based restriction.

multi_recipient_bounce_reject_code (550)

The numerical Postfix SMTP server response code when a remote SMTP
client request is blocked by the reject_multi_recipient_bounce
restriction.

rbl_reply_maps (empty)

Optional lookup tables with RBL response templates.


 

MISCELLANEOUS CONTROLS









config_directory (see 'postconf -d' output)

The default location of the Postfix main.cf and master.cf
configuration files.

daemon_timeout (18000s)

How much time a Postfix daemon process may take to handle a
request before it is terminated by a built-in watchdog timer.

command_directory (see 'postconf -d' output)

The location of all postfix administrative commands.

double_bounce_sender (double-bounce)

The sender address of postmaster notifications that are generated
by the mail system.

ipc_timeout (3600s)

The time limit for sending or receiving information over an internal
communication channel.

mail_name (Postfix)

The mail system name that is displayed in Received: headers, in
the SMTP greeting banner, and in bounced mail.

mail_owner (postfix)

The UNIX system account that owns the Postfix queue and most Postfix
daemon processes.

max_idle (100s)

The maximum amount of time that an idle Postfix daemon process
waits for the next service request before exiting.

max_use (100)

The maximal number of connection requests before a Postfix daemon
process terminates.

myhostname (see 'postconf -d' output)

The internet hostname of this mail system.

mynetworks (see 'postconf -d' output)

The list of "trusted" SMTP clients that have more privileges than
"strangers".

myorigin ($myhostname)

The domain name that locally-posted mail appears to come
from, and that locally posted mail is delivered to.

process_id (read-only)

The process ID of a Postfix command or daemon process.

process_name (read-only)

The process name of a Postfix command or daemon process.

queue_directory (see 'postconf -d' output)

The location of the Postfix top-level queue directory.

recipient_delimiter (empty)

The separator between user names and address extensions (user+foo).

smtpd_banner ($myhostname ESMTP $mail_name)

The text that follows the 220 status code in the SMTP greeting
banner.

syslog_facility (mail)

The syslog facility of Postfix logging.

syslog_name (postfix)

The mail system name that is prepended to the process name in syslog
records, so that "smtpd" becomes, for example, "postfix/smtpd".


 

SEE ALSO




cleanup(8), message canonicalization
trivial-rewrite(8), address resolver
verify(8), address verification service
postconf(5), configuration parameters
master(8), process manager
syslogd(8), system logging

 

README FILES






Use "postconf readme_directory" or
"postconf html_directory" to locate this information.


ADDRESS_CLASS_README, blocking unknown hosted or relay recipients
FILTER_README, external after-queue content filter
LOCAL_RECIPIENT_README, blocking unknown local recipients
SMTPD_ACCESS_README, built-in access policies
SMTPD_POLICY_README, external policy server
SMTPD_PROXY_README, external before-queue content filter
SASL_README, Postfix SASL howto
VERP_README, Postfix XVERP extension
XCLIENT_README, Postfix XCLIENT extension
XFORWARD_README, Postfix XFORWARD extension

 

LICENSE






The Secure Mailer license must be distributed with this software.
 

AUTHOR(S)




Wietse Venema
IBM T.J. Watson Research
P.O. Box 704
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, USA





 
Index




NAME


SYNOPSIS


DESCRIPTION


SECURITY


STANDARDS


DIAGNOSTICS


CONFIGURATION PARAMETERS


COMPATIBILITY CONTROLS


AFTER QUEUE EXTERNAL CONTENT INSPECTION CONTROLS


BEFORE QUEUE EXTERNAL CONTENT INSPECTION CONTROLS


GENERAL CONTENT INSPECTION CONTROLS


EXTERNAL CONTENT INSPECTION CONTROLS


SASL AUTHENTICATION CONTROLS


VERP SUPPORT CONTROLS


TROUBLE SHOOTING CONTROLS


KNOWN VERSUS UNKNOWN RECIPIENT CONTROLS


RESOURCE AND RATE CONTROLS


TARPIT CONTROLS


ACCESS POLICY DELEGATION CONTROLS


ACCESS CONTROLS


SENDER AND RECIPIENT ADDRESS VERIFICATION CONTROLS


ACCESS CONTROL RESPONSES


MISCELLANEOUS CONTROLS


SEE ALSO


README FILES


LICENSE


AUTHOR(S)