Postfix: Using MBOX

rgoodkin · Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2003 11:10 pm Post subject: Postfix: Using MBOX

Hello,

Followed the desktop configuration guide and setup postfix and mutt acordingly. I want to use the /var/spool/mail format, as per the guide I did "mkdir -p /var/spool/mail" and changed the appropriate settings in postfix.

Here is a copy of my mutt config file

<begin paste>

set mbox_type=mbox
#set folder=~/.maildir
set spoolfile=/var/spool/mail
#set record=~/.maildir-sent/
#unset mbox
set move=no
set index_format="%4C %Z %{%b %d} %-16.16L %s"

Mail is not being delivered or sent (well I don't know which). When I open up mutt as either root or my own user I get the following message..

"/var/spool/mail is not a mailbox."

Sending a message from one to another does not create the appropriate entires in /var/spool/mail..

all help appreciated.. thanks!

Bob

devon · l33t Joined: 23 Jun 2003 Posts: 943

Some questions.

Does Postfix generate any errors in /var/log/messages or /var/log/maillog? Is Postfix actually running (netstat -an --inet | egrep 25)? Can you post the relevant portions of the main.cf file? And do a ls -la /var/spool/mail too.

rgoodkin · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2003 2:02 am Post subject:

Postfix Config

<begin paste>
queue_directory = /var/spool/postfix
command_directory = /usr/sbin
daemon_directory = /usr/lib/postfix
mail_owner = postfix
myhostname = zaius1.homeunix.org
myorigin = $myhostname
inet_interfaces = $myhostname, localhost
mydestination = $myhostname, localhost.$mydomain
unknown_local_recipient_reject_code = 450
alias_maps = hash:/etc/mail/aliases
alias_database = hash:/etc/mail/aliases
mail_spool_directory = /var/spool/mail
sendmail_path = /usr/sbin/sendmail
newaliases_path = /usr/bin/newaliases
mailq_path = /usr/bin/mailq
setgid_group = postdrop
sample_directory = /etc/postfix/sample

It actually appears that postfix is opperating properly.. I sent a message from my yahoo account and it ended up in /var/spool/mail/rgoodkin and I can send messages to the outside world, but mutt still is not working properly..

Chris W · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2003 7:35 am Post subject:

The Postfix main.cf contains:

rgoodkin · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2003 7:54 am Post subject:

Well heck, I tried using the default configuration with the .maildir style and now mutt says..

"/root/.maildir/ is not a mailbox."

Something is weird..

Chris W · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2003 9:17 am Post subject:

Mutt is probably expecting an MBOX file and you just pointed it at a Maildir directory .. it got confused

To use a Maildir structure the following settings would be required in .muttrc:

rgoodkin · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2003 8:16 pm Post subject:

Got it to work in the .maildir case by running post-install create_missing but thats not what I want

Here is my current muttconfig.

set mbox_type=mbox
set folder=~/Mail
set spoolfile=/var/spool/mail
set record=~/Sent_Mail
#unset mbox
set move=no

Thanks

rgoodkin · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2003 8:29 pm Post subject:

I have found out it is DEFINEATLY a mutt problem, postfix is working fine.. I installed pine and it functions perfectly.. I'd rather use mutt though..

THanks

rgoodkin · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2003 11:01 pm Post subject:

Did some digging and found the problem..
spoolfile=/var/spool/mail/$USER

Somebody should alert the creater of the desktop configuration guide and let him/her know.

Thanks,
Bob