mem@sii.UUCP (Mark Mallett) (02/14/86)
We are using sendmail on an Ultrix 1.1 system (VAX 780) to control
delivery via uucp, tcp, and decnet; also to provide distribution lists
via aliases. I have as reference two documents: SENDMAIL Installation
and Operation Guide version 4.2, and Sendmail- an Internetwork Mail Router.
We do not have source code.
I have two problems/questions:
1. Sendmail provides a system-wide aliasing feature. It would be very
nice if it provided aliasing for individual users (private aliases
files). A single global database creates problems of coordination
and administration. Additionally, although one SENDMAIL manual says
that "we have found users to be basically trustworthy, and the cost
of having a read-only database greater than the expense of finding
and eradicating the rare nasty person", I can't agree, and even if
I could, I couldn't convince policy-makers to agree. Have individual
aliases files been implemented in some version of sendmail that we
don't have? Or (better yet) have I just failed to understand
something?
2. Still on the subject of aliases: I find it rather annoying that
the expansion of aliases is always hidden from the recipient. The
content of the distribution list is often a very important part of
a message. Is there a way to put this expansion in the mesage header?
I'm sorry if I have overlooked something and am merely displaying my
ignorance.
Please reply by mail...
Mark E. Mallett
decvax!sii!memeric@munnari.OZ (Eric Allman) (02/18/86)
It is possible to allow private administration of aliases using sendmail. For example, to create a list called foo-list, use: foo-list: :include:/usr/foo/list where /usr/foo/list is a list of the members of foo-list. Anyone can own this file. If you want aliases expanded in the message header, use the alias facility in Mail (a.k.a. xmail) or equivalent. Eric Allman -- Eric Allman