[comp.mail.mh] inc

fritz@cit-vlsi.Caltech.Edu (fritz nordby) (01/07/89)

In a UNIX mailbox, the first line of each message is a postmark
beginning with the 5 characters "From ".  Inc seems to want to
remove this line from messages when reading from a unix mailbox.

Is there some way to preserve this line?  Perhaps inc could put
it in as a "Unix-From:" header line?  I've poked around a bit,
but I can't seem to find any way to keep this line around.
Anybody out there have any suggestions?

		Fritz Nordby.	fritz@vlsi.caltech.edu	cit-vax!cit-vlsi!fritz

wisner@killer.DALLAS.TX.US (Bill Wisner) (01/08/89)

If MH is compiled with the RPATHS configuration option defined, the
envelope information contained in the From_ line will be put into
a Return-Path: line.

allbery@ncoast.UUCP (Brandon S. Allbery) (01/14/89)

As quoted from <9038@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu> by fritz@cit-vlsi.Caltech.Edu (fritz nordby):
+---------------
| In a UNIX mailbox, the first line of each message is a postmark
| beginning with the 5 characters "From ".  Inc seems to want to
| remove this line from messages when reading from a unix mailbox.
| Is there some way to preserve this line?  Perhaps inc could put
| it in as a "Unix-From:" header line?  I've poked around a bit,
+---------------

2@ncoast:1 % comp -help
syntax: comp [+folder] [msg] [switches]
  switches are:
  -draftfolder +folder
  -draftmessage msg
  -nodraftfolder
  -editor editor
  -noedit
  -file file
  -form formfile
  -[no]use
  -whatnowproc program
  -nowhatnowproc
  -(help)

version: MH 6.5 #45[UCI] (nrtc-gremlin) of Tue Jul  8 11:38:00 PDT 1986
options: [SYS5] [MORE='"/usr/plx/more"'] [NDIR] [BERK] [OVERHEAD]
         [RPATHS] [BANG] [ISI] [WHATNOW] [SENDMTS]
2@ncoast:2 % _

The RPATHS option (I think; manuals aren't online) tells inc to save the
From_ line as a Return-Path: header.  Check the MH configuration manual for
the correct option.

++Brandon
-- 
Brandon S. Allbery, comp.sources.misc moderator and one admin of ncoast PA UN*X
uunet!hal.cwru.edu!ncoast!allbery		    ncoast!allbery@hal.cwru.edu
 ncoast is registering as "ncoast.org" -- watch for the official announcement!
      Send comp.sources.misc submissions to comp-sources-misc@<backbone>.

strike@pixel (strike) (01/01/91)

Can anyone tell me why inc has to be setuid?

Martin Streicher
CONVEX

dce@smsc.sony.com (David Elliott) (01/01/91)

In article <9012312114.AA15911@pixel.convex.com> strike@pixel (strike) writes:
>Can anyone tell me why inc has to be setuid?

Well, you don't say what kind of system you are using, but on some
systems (especially when using diskless workstations) you can only do
locking by creating a lock file.  On those systems, you either have
to make the lock directory mode 01777 (that is, 777 with the sticky
bit on, which again depends on the system type) or disable locking
in inc.

dcm@baldur.dell.com (Dave McCracken) (01/02/91)

strike@pixel (strike) writes:

>Can anyone tell me why inc has to be setuid?

I don't know exactly what kind of system you are using, but on most,
if not all, flavors of SYSV the mailboxes are protected by only allowing
group mail to have access to the /usr/mail directory.  This is not a
problem for just reading the mail, but most tools then turn around
and delete your mail file after they have read it, which requires
the program to be in group mail to get write access to the directory.


--
Dave McCracken      dcm@dell.dell.com      (512) 343-3720
Dell Computer       9505 Arboretum Blvd    Austin, TX 78759-7299

jik@PIT-MANAGER.MIT.EDU ("Jonathan I. Kamens") (01/03/91)

Another reason inc has to be setuid is if you use the RPOP protocol,
which requires the program doing the mail retrieval to bind to a
reserved port.  Only the superuser can bind to a reserved port (which
is, after all, why it's called "reserved" :-), so inc has to run as
root.

Jonathan Kamens			              USnail:
MIT Project Athena				11 Ashford Terrace
jik@Athena.MIT.EDU				Allston, MA  02134
Office: 617-253-8085			      Home: 617-782-0710