I run a private queue (I have my reasons) on a system on which I don't
have root privileges. I use my own sendmail.cf. Recently I stopped
getting
error reports back. They ended up in the queue with the complaint
'alias database unavailable' and stayed there (because I carelessly
set
my doublebounceaddress to my address). The headers have the
authentication warning that the message was sent with a non-root
sendmail.cf, and all the messages that go out use my alias database
successfully, just not error messages.

What makes this happen? Why would it change? I had a sendmail.cf
for 8.12.4 when the host had changed to 8.13.6 at some point.

random troll <RussellBell@gmail.com> wrote:

> I run a private queue (I have my reasons) on a system on which I don't
> have root privileges. I use my own sendmail.cf. Recently I stopped
> getting
> error reports back. They ended up in the queue with the complaint
> 'alias database unavailable' and stayed there (because I carelessly
> set
> my doublebounceaddress to my address). The headers have the
> authentication warning that the message was sent with a non-root
> sendmail.cf, and all the messages that go out use my alias database
> successfully, just not error messages.
>
> What makes this happen? Why would it change? I had a sendmail.cf
> for 8.12.4 when the host had changed to 8.13.6 at some point.

Most likely your sendmail running without root privileges can no access
"system wide" alias database. Consider using "personal" sendmail.cf.

--
[pl>en: Andrew] Andrzej Adam Filip : anfi@priv.onet.pl : anfi@xl.wp.pl
Open-Sendmail: http://open-sendmail.sourceforge.net/
"Just think of a computer as hardware you can program."
-- Nigel de la Tierre

On Mar 23, 9:14 am, Andrzej Adam Filip <a...@onet.eu> wrote:
> random troll <RussellB...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I run a private queue (I have my reasons) on a system on which I don't
> > have root privileges. I use my own sendmail.cf. Recently I stopped
> > getting
> > error reports back. They ended up in the queue with the complaint
> > 'alias database unavailable' and stayed there (because I carelessly
> > set
> > my doublebounceaddress to my address). The headers have the
> > authentication warning that the message was sent with a non-root
> > sendmail.cf, and all the messages that go out use my alias database
> > successfully, just not error messages.
>
> > What makes this happen? Why would it change? I had a sendmail.cf
> > for 8.12.4 when the host had changed to 8.13.6 at some point.
>
> Most likely your sendmail running without root privileges can no access
> "system wide" alias database. Consider using "personal" sendmail.cf.
>
> --
> [pl>en: Andrew] Andrzej Adam Filip : a...@priv.onet.pl : a...@xl.wp.pl
> Open-Sendmail:http://open-sendmail.sourceforge.net/
> "Just think of a computer as hardware you can program."
> -- Nigel de la Tierre

As I mentioned in my message I use my own sendmail.cf which
includes using my own alias database, queue directory, etc.
It works for every message EXCEPT error messages
reporting errors back to me. I just upgraded my sendmail.cf
to one built with the same version as the host uses; this
makes no difference.

I just noticed that the header of the error messages contains
'The following addresses had permanent fatal errors'
for my own address, even when fully qualified. How can
it not find a address in its own domain, the address of the
sender? Is this an error in the configuration of the local
mailer?

random troll <RussellBell@gmail.com> wrote:
> [...]
> As I mentioned in my message I use my own sendmail.cf which
> includes using my own alias database, queue directory, etc.

Sorry for *my* "lack of patience" in reading :-)

> It works for every message EXCEPT error messages
> reporting errors back to me.

So to clarify one more "issue":
You can send "non bounce" messages to "address for bounces" using your
custom sendmail.cf, can not you?

> I just upgraded my sendmail.cf
> to one built with the same version as the host uses; this
> makes no difference.
> I just noticed that the header of the error messages contains
> 'The following addresses had permanent fatal errors'
> for my own address, even when fully qualified. How can
> it not find a address in its own domain, the address of the
> sender? Is this an error in the configuration of the local
> mailer?

What is reported for the email address by the test commands below?

sendmail -C custom-sendmail.cf -bv _your_own_address_
echo '3,0 <>' | sendmail -C custom-sendmail.cf -bt

--
[pl>en: Andrew] Andrzej Adam Filip : anfi@priv.onet.pl : anfi@xl.wp.pl
Open-Sendmail: http://open-sendmail.sourceforge.net/
"In matters of principle, stand like a rock;
in matters of taste, swim with the current."
-- Thomas Jefferson

> So to clarify one more "issue":
> You can send "non bounce" messages to "address for bounces" using your
> custom sendmail.cf, can not you?
It seems I can't. I don't usually send myself messages so I
hadn't
noticed. It's the name I log in by, the address to which all the
messages
that arrive in my inbox are sent.
If I send the message using the system's sendmail.cf it goes
through, and
identifies my address as the sender and recipient, the same addresses
that don't work when I use my own sendmail.cf


> What is reported for the email address by the test commands below?
>
> sendmail -C custom-sendmail.cf -bv _your_own_address_

rbell... deliverable: mailer local, user rbell

> echo '3,0 <>' | sendmail -C custom-sendmail.cf -bt
ADDRESS TEST MODE (ruleset 3 NOT automatically invoked)
Enter <ruleset> <address>
> canonify input: < >
canonify returns: < @ >
parse input: < @ >
Parse0 input: < @ >
Parse0 returns: < @ >
parse returns: $# local $: < @ >

random troll <RussellBell@gmail.com> wrote:

>> So to clarify one more "issue":
>> You can send "non bounce" messages to "address for bounces" using your
>> custom sendmail.cf, can not you?
> It seems I can't. I don't usually send myself messages so I
> hadn't
> noticed. It's the name I log in by, the address to which all the
> messages
> that arrive in my inbox are sent.
> If I send the message using the system's sendmail.cf it goes
> through, and
> identifies my address as the sender and recipient, the same addresses
> that don't work when I use my own sendmail.cf

Send message to "address for bounces" using your custom sendmail.cf in
verbose mode.

(echo "subject: test"; echo) | sendmail -C test.cf -v _the_email_

> [...]

--
[pl>en: Andrew] Andrzej Adam Filip : anfi@priv.onet.pl : anfi@xl.wp.pl
Open-Sendmail: http://open-sendmail.sourceforge.net/
While your friend holds you affectionately by both your hands you are
safe, for you can watch both of his.
-- Ambrose Bierce, "The Devil's Dictionary"

'Send message to "address for bounces" using your custom
sendmail.cf in
verbose mode.'

rbell.... queued

It's in the queue, in my queue directory, unsent, 'alias database
unavailable'

random troll <RussellBell@gmail.com> wrote:

> I run a private queue (I have my reasons) on a system on which I don't
> have root privileges. I use my own sendmail.cf. Recently I stopped
> getting
> error reports back. They ended up in the queue with the complaint
> 'alias database unavailable' and stayed there (because I carelessly
> set
> my doublebounceaddress to my address). The headers have the
> authentication warning that the message was sent with a non-root
> sendmail.cf, and all the messages that go out use my alias database
> successfully, just not error messages.
>
> What makes this happen? Why would it change? I had a sendmail.cf
> for 8.12.4 when the host had changed to 8.13.6 at some point.

grep you custom-sendmail.cf for word alias and post the results

grep -ni alias your-custom-sendmail.cf

--
[pl>en: Andrew] Andrzej Adam Filip : anfi@priv.onet.pl : anfi@xl.wp.pl
Open-Sendmail: http://open-sendmail.sourceforge.net/
Neglect of duty does not cease, by repetition, to be neglect of duty.
-- Napoleon

'grep you custom-sendmail.cf for word alias and post the results'

171:# wait for alias file rebuild (default units: minutes)
172:O AliasWait=10
174:# location of alias file
175:O AliasFile=/home/rbell/sendmail/aliases
249:# send to me too, even in an alias expansion?
252:# verify RHS in newaliases?
253:O CheckAliases=False
501:# Maximum depth of alias recursion
502:#O MaxAliasRecursion=10
715:# local host aliases and pseudo-domains are always canonical
847:### Ruleset 5 -- special rewriting after aliases have been
expanded ###
860:# deal with plussed users so aliases work nicely
1521:# define(`ALIAS_FILE', `/home/rbell/sendmail/aliases')

aliases and aliases.db are in /home/rbell/sendmail

Most of my messages to addressees other than myself rely on this alias
file for expansion. Messages addressed to myself that stay in the
queue
forever, complaining of an unavailable alias database, have an X-
authentication-warning
that they use my custom sendmail.cf, so sendmail should look for this
same
alias database as all my other messages.

random troll <RussellBell@gmail.com> wrote:

> 'grep you custom-sendmail.cf for word alias and post the results'
>
> 171:# wait for alias file rebuild (default units: minutes)
> 172:O AliasWait=10
> 174:# location of alias file
> 175:O AliasFile=/home/rbell/sendmail/aliases
> 249:# send to me too, even in an alias expansion?
> 252:# verify RHS in newaliases?
> 253:O CheckAliases=False
> 501:# Maximum depth of alias recursion
> 502:#O MaxAliasRecursion=10
> 715:# local host aliases and pseudo-domains are always canonical
> 847:### Ruleset 5 -- special rewriting after aliases have been
> expanded ###
> 860:# deal with plussed users so aliases work nicely
> 1521:# define(`ALIAS_FILE', `/home/rbell/sendmail/aliases')
>
> aliases and aliases.db are in /home/rbell/sendmail
>
> Most of my messages to addressees other than myself rely on this alias
> file for expansion. Messages addressed to myself that stay in the
> queue
> forever, complaining of an unavailable alias database, have an X-
> authentication-warning
> that they use my custom sendmail.cf, so sendmail should look for this
> same
> alias database as all my other messages.

Next test:
praliases -C _your_custom_sendmail_cf

--
[pl>en: Andrew] Andrzej Adam Filip : anfi@priv.onet.pl : anfi@xl.wp.pl
Open-Sendmail: http://open-sendmail.sourceforge.net/
Counting in octal is just like counting in decimal--if you don't use your thumbs.
-- Tom Lehrer

Hallo, Andrzej,

Du (anfi) meintest am 27.03.08:

>> 'grep you custom-sendmail.cf for word alias and post the
>> results'

> Next test:
> praliases -C _your_custom_sendmail_cf

On my system: no answer (no error message)

in "/etc/mail":

praliases
praliases -f aliases
praliases -C sendmail.cf
praliases -C submit.cf

all commands send no answer.
"aliases" has 11 entries. "sendmail 8.14.2"

Viele Gruesse!
Helmut

helmut@hullen.de (Helmut Hullen) wrote:

> Hallo, Andrzej,
>
> Du (anfi) meintest am 27.03.08:
>
>>> 'grep you custom-sendmail.cf for word alias and post the
>>> results'
>
>> Next test:
>> praliases -C _your_custom_sendmail_cf
>
> On my system: no answer (no error message)
>
> in "/etc/mail":
>
> praliases
> praliases -f aliases
> praliases -C sendmail.cf
> praliases -C submit.cf
>
> all commands send no answer.
> "aliases" has 11 entries. "sendmail 8.14.2"

An alternative way to check "access right" may be:
newaliases -v -C _your_custom_sendmail_cf

AFAIR when I tested my "*personal*" sendmail.cf I had been forced to add
my OS account to list of trusted users.

define(`confTRUSTED_USER',`anfi')dnl

--
[pl>en: Andrew] Andrzej Adam Filip : anfi@priv.onet.pl : anfi@xl.wp.pl
Open-Sendmail: http://open-sendmail.sourceforge.net/
Faith is under the left nipple.
-- Martin Luther

Hallo, Andrzej,

Du (anfi) meintest am 27.03.08:

>>> Next test:
>>> praliases -C _your_custom_sendmail_cf
>>
>> On my system: no answer (no error message)
>>
>> in "/etc/mail":
>>
>> praliases
>> praliases -f aliases
>> praliases -C sendmail.cf
>> praliases -C submit.cf
>>
>> all commands send no answer.
>> "aliases" has 11 entries. "sendmail 8.14.2"


> An alternative way to check "access right" may be:
> newaliases -v -C _your_custom_sendmail_cf

hash map "Alias0": unsafe map file /etc/mail/aliases-system.db:
Permission denied
WARNING: cannot open alias database /etc/mail/aliases-system
Cannot create database for alias file /etc/mail/aliases-system
hash map "Alias1": unsafe map file /etc/mail/aliases.db: Permission denied
WARNING: cannot open alias database /etc/mail/aliases
Cannot create database for alias file /etc/mail/aliases

Okay - I'll take a longer look at it ...

"aliases" has 640 and belongs to smmsp:root.

Viele Gruesse!
Helmut

'praliases -C _your_custom_sendmail_cf'

open: Invalid argument

I notice that praliases returns the same when it uses
the system's sendmail.cf.

I have the Tom Lehrer record which contains that line. He said,
'Counting in base 8 is jut like counting in base 10 - if you're
missing
2 fingers.'

russell bell

'An alternative way to check "access right" may be:
newaliases -v -C _your_custom_sendmail_cf'
Of course I always run newaliases when I update my
aliases database. That returns:

/home/rbell/sendmail/aliases: 401 aliases, longest 712 bytes, 30078
bytes total


'AFAIR when I tested my "*personal*" sendmail.cf I had been
forced to add
my OS account to list of trusted users.
define(`confTRUSTED_USER',`anfi')dnl'
rbell is the trusted user in my sendmail.cf. For good measure
rbell is also
in the list of trusted users and is the run_as_user.

define(`confTRUSTED_USERS', ``rbell'')
define(`confTRUSTED_USER', ``rbell'')
define(`confRUN_AS_USER', ``rbell'')

random troll <RussellBell@gmail.com> wrote:

> 'praliases -C _your_custom_sendmail_cf'
>
> open: Invalid argument
>
> I notice that praliases returns the same when it uses
> the system's sendmail.cf.

Have you tried to trace "open" calls?
strace -e open praliases -C _your-custom-sendmail-cf_

[ It looks like my last "simple test" idea ]

--
[pl>en: Andrew] Andrzej Adam Filip : anfi@priv.onet.pl : anfi@xl.wp.pl
Open-Sendmail: http://open-sendmail.sourceforge.net/
America has been discovered before, but it has always been hushed up.
-- Oscar Wilde