From ce104be851d2132a3a27c3e656030425eb6af74a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Heiko Schlittermann (HS12-RIPE)" Date: Thu, 5 Sep 2019 16:43:09 +0200 Subject: [PATCH 1/1] Add doc for 4.92.2 --- docbook/4.92.2/filter.xml | 2015 + docbook/4.92.2/spec.xml | 72745 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2 files changed, 74760 insertions(+) create mode 100644 docbook/4.92.2/filter.xml create mode 100644 docbook/4.92.2/spec.xml diff --git a/docbook/4.92.2/filter.xml b/docbook/4.92.2/filter.xml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d3cb3db --- /dev/null +++ b/docbook/4.92.2/filter.xml @@ -0,0 +1,2015 @@ + + + + + + + +Exim's interfaces to mail filtering +Exim filtering + +03 Sep 2019 + +PhilipHazel +PH + +4.92.2 +03 Sep 2019 + PH + + +2014 + University of Cambridge + + +Forwarding and filtering in Exim + +This document describes the user interfaces to Exim’s in-built mail filtering +facilities, and is copyright © University of Cambridge 2014. It +corresponds to Exim version 4.92.2. + +
+Introduction + +Most Unix mail transfer agents (programs that deliver mail) permit individual +users to specify automatic forwarding of their mail, usually by placing a list +of forwarding addresses in a file called .forward in their home +directories. Exim extends this facility by allowing the forwarding instructions +to be a set of rules rather than just a list of addresses, in effect providing +.forward with conditions. Operating the set of rules is called +filtering, and the file that contains them is called a filter file. + + +Exim supports two different kinds of filter file. An Exim filter contains +instructions in a format that is unique to Exim. A Sieve filter contains +instructions in the Sieve format that is defined by RFC 3028. As this is a +standard format, Sieve filter files may already be familiar to some users. +Sieve files should also be portable between different environments. However, +the Exim filtering facility contains more features (such as variable +expansion), and better integration with the host environment (such as the use +of external processes and pipes). + + +The choice of which kind of filter to use can be left to the end-user, provided +that the system administrator has configured Exim appropriately for both kinds +of filter. However, if interoperability is important, Sieve is the only +choice. + + +The ability to use filtering or traditional forwarding has to be enabled by the +system administrator, and some of the individual facilities can be separately +enabled or disabled. A local document should be provided to describe exactly +what has been enabled. In the absence of this, consult your system +administrator. + + +This document describes how to use a filter file and the format of its +contents. It is intended for use by end-users. Both Sieve filters and Exim +filters are covered. However, for Sieve filters, only issues that relate to the +Exim implementation are discussed, since Sieve itself is described elsewhere. + + +The contents of traditional .forward files are not described here. They +normally contain just a list of addresses, file names, or pipe commands, +separated by commas or newlines, but other types of item are also available. +The full details can be found in the chapter on the redirect router in the +Exim specification, which also describes how the system administrator can set +up and control the use of filtering. + +
+
+Filter operation + +It is important to realize that, in Exim, no deliveries are actually made while +a filter or traditional .forward file is being processed. Running a filter +or processing a traditional .forward file sets up future delivery +operations, but does not carry them out. + + +The result of filter or .forward file processing is a list of destinations +to which a message should be delivered. The deliveries themselves take place +later, along with all other deliveries for the message. This means that it is +not possible to test for successful deliveries while filtering. It also means +that any duplicate addresses that are generated are dropped, because Exim never +delivers the same message to the same address more than once. + +
+
+Testing a new filter file + +Filter files, especially the more complicated ones, should always be tested, as +it is easy to make mistakes. Exim provides a facility for preliminary testing +of a filter file before installing it. This tests the syntax of the file and +its basic operation, and can also be used with traditional .forward files. + + +Because a filter can do tests on the content of messages, a test message is +required. Suppose you have a new filter file called myfilter and a test +message in a file called test-message. Assuming that Exim is installed with +the conventional path name /usr/sbin/sendmail (some operating systems use +/usr/lib/sendmail), the following command can be used: + + +/usr/sbin/sendmail -bf myfilter <test-message + + +The option tells Exim that the following item on the command line is +the name of a filter file that is to be tested. There is also a option, +which is similar, but which is used for testing system filter files, as opposed +to user filter files, and which is therefore of use only to the system +administrator. + + +The test message is supplied on the standard input. If there are no +message-dependent tests in the filter, an empty file (/dev/null) can be +used. A supplied message must start with header lines or the From  message +separator line that is found in many multi-message folder files. Note that +blank lines at the start terminate the header lines. A warning is given if no +header lines are read. + + +The result of running this command, provided no errors are detected in the +filter file, is a list of the actions that Exim would try to take if presented +with the message for real. For example, for an Exim filter, the output + + +Deliver message to: gulliver@lilliput.fict.example +Save message to: /home/lemuel/mail/archive + + +means that one copy of the message would be sent to +gulliver@lilliput.fict.example, and another would be added to the file +/home/lemuel/mail/archive, if all went well. + + +The actions themselves are not attempted while testing a filter file in this +way; there is no check, for example, that any forwarding addresses are valid. +For an Exim filter, if you want to know why a particular action is being taken, +add the option to the command. This causes Exim to output the results of +any conditional tests and to indent its output according to the depth of +nesting of if commands. Further additional output from a filter test can be +generated by the testprint command, which is described below. + + +When Exim is outputting a list of the actions it would take, if any text +strings are included in the output, non-printing characters therein are +converted to escape sequences. In particular, if any text string contains a +newline character, this is shown as \n in the testing output. + + +When testing a filter in this way, Exim makes up an envelope for the +message. The recipient is by default the user running the command, and so is +the sender, but the command can be run with the option to supply a +different sender. For example, + + +/usr/sbin/sendmail -bf myfilter \ + -f islington@never.where <test-message + + +Alternatively, if the option is not used, but the first line of the +supplied message is a From  separator from a message folder file (not the +same thing as a From: header line), the sender is taken from there. If + is present, the contents of any From  line are ignored. + + +The return path is the same as the envelope sender, unless the message +contains a Return-path: header, in which case it is taken from there. You +need not worry about any of this unless you want to test out features of a +filter file that rely on the sender address or the return path. + + +It is possible to change the envelope recipient by specifying further options. +The option changes the domain of the recipient address, while the + option changes the local part, that is, the part before the @ +sign. An adviser could make use of these to test someone else’s filter file. + + +The and options specify the prefix or suffix for the local +part. These are relevant only when support for multiple personal mailboxes is +implemented; see the description in section below. + +
+
+Installing a filter file + +A filter file is normally installed under the name .forward in your home +directory – it is distinguished from a conventional .forward file by its +first line (described below). However, the file name is configurable, and some +system administrators may choose to use some different name or location for +filter files. + +
+
+Testing an installed filter file + +Testing a filter file before installation cannot find every potential problem; +for example, it does not actually run commands to which messages are piped. +Some live tests should therefore also be done once a filter is installed. + + +If at all possible, test your filter file by sending messages from some other +account. If you send a message to yourself from the filtered account, and +delivery fails, the error message will be sent back to the same account, which +may cause another delivery failure. It won’t cause an infinite sequence of such +messages, because delivery failure messages do not themselves generate further +messages. However, it does mean that the failure won’t be returned to you, and +also that the postmaster will have to investigate the stuck message. + + +If you have to test an Exim filter from the same account, a sensible precaution +is to include the line + + +if error_message then finish endif + + +as the first filter command, at least while testing. This causes filtering to +be abandoned for a delivery failure message, and since no destinations are +generated, the message goes on to be delivered to the original address. Unless +there is a good reason for not doing so, it is recommended that the above test +be left in all Exim filter files. (This does not apply to Sieve files.) + +
+
+Details of filtering commands + +The filtering commands for Sieve and Exim filters are completely different in +syntax and semantics. The Sieve mechanism is defined in RFC 3028; in the next +chapter we describe how it is integrated into Exim. The subsequent chapter +covers Exim filtering commands in detail. + +
+ + + +Sieve filter files + +The code for Sieve filtering in Exim was contributed by Michael Haardt, and +most of the content of this chapter is taken from the notes he provided. Since +Sieve is an extensible language, it is important to understand Sieve in +this context as the specific implementation of Sieve for Exim. + + +This chapter does not contain a description of Sieve, since that can be found +in RFC 3028, which should be read in conjunction with these notes. + + +The Exim Sieve implementation offers the core as defined by RFC 3028, +comparison tests, the subaddress parameter, the copy, envelope, +fileinto, notify, and vacation extensions, but not the reject +extension. Exim does not support message delivery notifications (MDNs), so +adding it just to the Sieve filter (as required for reject) makes little +sense. + + +In order for Sieve to work properly in Exim, the system administrator needs to +make some adjustments to the Exim configuration. These are described in the +chapter on the redirect router in the full Exim specification. + +
+Recognition of Sieve filters + +A filter file is interpreted as a Sieve filter if its first line is + + +# Sieve filter + + +This is what distinguishes it from a conventional .forward file or an Exim +filter file. + +
+
+Saving to specified folders + +If the system administrator has set things up as suggested in the Exim +specification, and you use keep or fileinto to save a mail into a +folder, absolute files are stored where specified, relative files are stored +relative to $home, and inbox goes to the standard mailbox location. + +
+
+Strings containing header names + +RFC 3028 does not specify what happens if a string denoting a header field does +not contain a valid header name, for example, it contains a colon. This +implementation generates an error instead of ignoring the header field in order +to ease script debugging, which fits in with the common picture of Sieve. + +
+
+Exists test with empty list of headers + +The exists test succeeds only if all the specified headers exist. RFC 3028 +does not explicitly specify what happens on an empty list of headers. This +implementation evaluates that condition as true, interpreting the RFC in a +strict sense. + +
+
+Header test with invalid MIME encoding in header + +Some MUAs process invalid base64 encoded data, generating junk. Others ignore +junk after seeing an equal sign in base64 encoded data. RFC 2047 does not +specify how to react in this case, other than stating that a client must not +forbid to process a message for that reason. RFC 2045 specifies that invalid +data should be ignored (apparently looking at end of line characters). It also +specifies that invalid data may lead to rejecting messages containing them (and +there it appears to talk about true encoding violations), which is a clear +contradiction to ignoring them. + + +RFC 3028 does not specify how to process incorrect MIME words. This +implementation treats them literally, as it does if the word is correct but its +character set cannot be converted to UTF-8. + +
+
+Address test for multiple addresses per header + +A header may contain multiple addresses. RFC 3028 does not explicitly specify +how to deal with them, but since the address test checks if anything matches +anything else, matching one address suffices to satisfy the condition. That +makes it impossible to test if a header contains a certain set of addresses and +no more, but it is more logical than letting the test fail if the header +contains an additional address besides the one the test checks for. + +
+
+Semantics of keep + +The keep command is equivalent to + + +fileinto "inbox"; + + +It saves the message and resets the implicit keep flag. It does not set the +implicit keep flag; there is no command to set it once it has been reset. + +
+
+Semantics of fileinto + +RFC 3028 does not specify whether fileinto should try to create a mail +folder if it does not exist. This implementation allows the sysadmin to +configure that aspect using the appendfile transport options +, , and . See the +appendfile transport in the Exim specification for details. + +
+
+Semantics of redirect + +Sieve scripts are supposed to be interoperable between servers, so this +implementation does not allow mail to be redirected to unqualified addresses, +because the domain would depend on the system being used. On systems with +virtual mail domains, the default domain is probably not what the user expects +it to be. + +
+
+String arguments + +There has been confusion if the string arguments to require are to be +matched case-sensitively or not. This implementation matches them with the +match type :is (default, see section 2.7.1 of the RFC) and the comparator +i;ascii-casemap (default, see section 2.7.3 of the RFC). The RFC defines +the command defaults clearly, so any different implementations violate RFC +3028. The same is valid for comparator names, also specified as strings. + +
+
+Number units + +There is a mistake in RFC 3028: the suffix G denotes gibi-, not tebibyte. +The mistake is obvious, because RFC 3028 specifies G to denote 2^30 +(which is gibi, not tebi), and that is what this implementation uses as +the scaling factor for the suffix G. + +
+
+RFC compliance + +Exim requires the first line of a Sieve filter to be + + +# Sieve filter + + +Of course the RFC does not specify that line. Do not expect examples to work +without adding it, though. + + +RFC 3028 requires the use of CRLF to terminate a line. The rationale was that +CRLF is universally used in network protocols to mark the end of the line. This +implementation does not embed Sieve in a network protocol, but uses Sieve +scripts as part of the Exim MTA. Since all parts of Exim use LF as the newline +character, this implementation does, too, by default, though the system +administrator may choose (at Exim compile time) to use CRLF instead. + + +Exim violates RFC 2822, section 3.6.8, by accepting 8-bit header names, so this +implementation repeats this violation to stay consistent with Exim. This is in +preparation for UTF-8 data. + + +Sieve scripts cannot contain NUL characters in strings, but mail headers could +contain MIME encoded NUL characters, which could never be matched by Sieve +scripts using exact comparisons. For that reason, this implementation extends +the Sieve quoted string syntax with \0 to describe a NUL character, violating +\0 being the same as 0 in RFC 3028. Even without using \0, the following tests +are all true in this implementation. Implementations that use C-style strings +will only evaluate the first test as true. + + +Subject: =?iso-8859-1?q?abc=00def + +header :contains "Subject" ["abc"] +header :contains "Subject" ["def"] +header :matches "Subject" ["abc?def"] + + +Note that by considering Sieve to be an MUA, RFC 2047 can be interpreted in a +way that NUL characters truncating strings is allowed for Sieve +implementations, although not recommended. It is further allowed to use encoded +NUL characters in headers, but that’s not recommended either. The above example +shows why. + + +RFC 3028 states that if an implementation fails to convert a character set to +UTF-8, two strings cannot be equal if one contains octets greater than 127. +Assuming that all unknown character sets are one-byte character sets with the +lower 128 octets being US-ASCII is not sound, so this implementation violates +RFC 3028 and treats such MIME words literally. That way at least something +could be matched. + + +The folder specified by fileinto must not contain the character sequence +.. to avoid security problems. RFC 3028 does not specify the syntax of +folders apart from keep being equivalent to + + +fileinto "INBOX"; + + +This implementation uses inbox instead. + + +Sieve script errors currently cause messages to be silently filed into +inbox. RFC 3028 requires that the user is notified of that condition. +This may be implemented in the future by adding a header line to mails that +are filed into inbox due to an error in the filter. + +
+ + + +Exim filter files + +This chapter contains a full description of the contents of Exim filter files. + +
+Format of Exim filter files + +Apart from leading white space, the first text in an Exim filter file must be + + +# Exim filter + + +This is what distinguishes it from a conventional .forward file or a Sieve +filter file. If the file does not have this initial line (or the equivalent for +a Sieve filter), it is treated as a conventional .forward file, both when +delivering mail and when using the testing mechanism. The white space +in the line is optional, and any capitalization may be used. Further text on +the same line is treated as a comment. For example, you could have + + +# Exim filter <<== do not edit or remove this line! + + +The remainder of the file is a sequence of filtering commands, which consist of +keywords and data values. For example, in the command + + +deliver gulliver@lilliput.fict.example + + +the keyword is deliver and the data value is +gulliver@lilliput.fict.example. White space or line breaks separate the +components of a command, except in the case of conditions for the if +command, where round brackets (parentheses) also act as separators. Complete +commands are separated from each other by white space or line breaks; there are +no special terminators. Thus, several commands may appear on one line, or one +command may be spread over a number of lines. + + +If the character # follows a separator anywhere in a command, everything from +# up to the next newline is ignored. This provides a way of including comments +in a filter file. + +
+
+Data values in filter commands + +There are two ways in which a data value can be input: + + + + +If the text contains no white space, it can be typed verbatim. However, if it +is part of a condition, it must also be free of round brackets (parentheses), +as these are used for grouping in conditions. + + + + +Otherwise, text must be enclosed in double quotation marks. In this case, the +character \ (backslash) is treated as an escape character within the +string, causing the following character or characters to be treated specially: + + +\n is replaced by a newline +\r is replaced by a carriage return +\t is replaced by a tab + + + + +Backslash followed by up to three octal digits is replaced by the character +specified by those digits, and \x followed by up to two hexadecimal digits +is treated similarly. Backslash followed by any other character is replaced by +the second character, so that in particular, \" becomes " and \\ +becomes \. A data item enclosed in double quotes can be continued onto the +next line by ending the first line with a backslash. Any leading white space at +the start of the continuation line is ignored. + + +In addition to the escape character processing that occurs when strings are +enclosed in quotes, most data values are also subject to string expansion +(as described in the next section), in which case the characters $ and +\ are also significant. This means that if a single backslash is actually +required in such a string, and the string is also quoted, \\\\ has to be +entered. + + +The maximum permitted length of a data string, before expansion, is 1024 +characters. + +
+
+String expansion + +Most data values are expanded before use. Expansion consists of replacing +substrings beginning with $ with other text. The full expansion facilities +available in Exim are extensive. If you want to know everything that Exim can +do with strings, you should consult the chapter on string expansion in the Exim +documentation. + + +In filter files, by far the most common use of string expansion is the +substitution of the contents of a variable. For example, the substring + + +$reply_address + + +is replaced by the address to which replies to the message should be sent. If +such a variable name is followed by a letter or digit or underscore, it must be +enclosed in curly brackets (braces), for example, + + +${reply_address} + + +If a $ character is actually required in an expanded string, it must be +escaped with a backslash, and because backslash is also an escape character in +quoted input strings, it must be doubled in that case. The following two +examples illustrate two different ways of testing for a $ character in a +message: + + +if $message_body contains \$ then ... +if $message_body contains "\\$" then ... + + +You can prevent part of a string from being expanded by enclosing it between +two occurrences of \N. For example, + + +if $message_body contains \N$$$$\N then ... + + +tests for a run of four dollar characters. + +
+
+Some useful general variables + +A complete list of the available variables is given in the Exim documentation. +This shortened list contains the ones that are most likely to be useful in +personal filter files: + + +$body_linecount: The number of lines in the body of the message. + + +$body_zerocount: The number of binary zero characters in the body of the +message. + + +$home: In conventional configurations, this variable normally contains the +user’s home directory. The system administrator can, however, change this. + + +$local_part: The part of the email address that precedes the @ sign – +normally the user’s login name. If support for multiple personal mailboxes is +enabled (see section below) and a prefix or suffix for the local +part was recognized, it is removed from the string in this variable. + + +$local_part_prefix: If support for multiple personal mailboxes is enabled +(see section below), and a local part prefix was recognized, +this variable contains the prefix. Otherwise it contains an empty string. + + +$local_part_suffix: If support for multiple personal mailboxes is enabled +(see section below), and a local part suffix was recognized, +this variable contains the suffix. Otherwise it contains an empty string. + + +$message_body: The initial portion of the body of the message. By default, +up to 500 characters are read into this variable, but the system administrator +can configure this to some other value. Newlines in the body are converted into +single spaces. + + +$message_body_end: The final portion of the body of the message, formatted +and limited in the same way as $message_body. + + +$message_body_size: The size of the body of the message, in bytes. + + +$message_exim_id: The message’s local identification string, which is unique +for each message handled by a single host. + + +$message_headers: The header lines of the message, concatenated into a +single string, with newline characters between them. + + +$message_size: The size of the entire message, in bytes. + + +$original_local_part: When an address that arrived with the message is +being processed, this contains the same value as the variable $local_part. +However, if an address generated by an alias, forward, or filter file is being +processed, this variable contains the local part of the original address. + + +$reply_address: The contents of the Reply-to: header, if the message +has one; otherwise the contents of the From: header. It is the address to +which normal replies to the message should be sent. + + +$return_path: The return path – that is, the sender field that will be +transmitted as part of the message’s envelope if the message is sent to another +host. This is the address to which delivery errors are sent. In many cases, +this variable has the same value as $sender_address, but if, for example, +an incoming message to a mailing list has been expanded, $return_path may +have been changed to contain the address of the list maintainer. + + +$sender_address: The sender address that was received in the envelope of +the message. This is not necessarily the same as the contents of the From: +or Sender: header lines. For delivery error messages (bounce messages) +there is no sender address, and this variable is empty. + + +$tod_full: A full version of the time and date, for example: Wed, 18 Oct +1995 09:51:40 +0100. The timezone is always given as a numerical offset from +GMT. + + +$tod_log: The time and date in the format used for writing Exim’s log files, +without the timezone, for example: 1995-10-12 15:32:29. + + +$tod_zone: The local timezone offset, for example: +0100. + +
+
+Header variables + +There is a special set of expansion variables containing the header lines of +the message being processed. These variables have names beginning with +$header_ followed by the name of the header line, terminated by a colon. +For example, + + +$header_from: +$header_subject: + + +The whole item, including the terminating colon, is replaced by the contents of +the message header line. If there is more than one header line with the same +name, their contents are concatenated. For header lines whose data consists of +a list of addresses (for example, From: and To:), a comma and newline +is inserted between each set of data. For all other header lines, just a +newline is used. + + +Leading and trailing white space is removed from header line data, and if there +are any MIME words that are encoded as defined by RFC 2047 (because they +contain non-ASCII characters), they are decoded and translated, if possible, to +a local character set. Translation is attempted only on operating systems that +have the iconv() function. This makes the header line look the same as it +would when displayed by an MUA. The default character set is ISO-8859-1, but +this can be changed by means of the headers command (see below). + + +If you want to see the actual characters that make up a header line, you can +specify $rheader_ instead of $header_. This inserts the raw +header line, unmodified. + + +There is also an intermediate form, requested by $bheader_, which removes +leading and trailing space and decodes MIME words, but does not do any +character translation. If an attempt to decode what looks superficially like a +MIME word fails, the raw string is returned. If decoding produces a binary +zero character, it is replaced by a question mark. + + +The capitalization of the name following $header_ is not significant. +Because any printing character except colon may appear in the name of a +message’s header (this is a requirement of RFC 2822, the document that +describes the format of a mail message) curly brackets must not be used in +this case, as they will be taken as part of the header name. Two shortcuts are +allowed in naming header variables: + + + + +The initiating $header_, $rheader_, or $bheader_ can be +abbreviated to $h_, $rh_, or $bh_, respectively. + + + + +The terminating colon can be omitted if the next character is white space. The +white space character is retained in the expanded string. However, this is not +recommended, because it makes it easy to forget the colon when it really is +needed. + + + + +If the message does not contain a header of the given name, an empty string is +substituted. Thus it is important to spell the names of headers correctly. Do +not use $header_Reply_to when you really mean $header_Reply-to. + +
+
+User variables + +There are ten user variables with names $n0 – $n9 that can be +incremented by the add command (see section ). These can be +used for scoring messages in various ways. If Exim is configured to run a +system filter on every message, the values left in these variables are +copied into the variables $sn0 – $sn9 at the end of the system filter, +thus making them available to users’ filter files. How these values are used is +entirely up to the individual installation. + +
+
+Current directory + +The contents of your filter file should not make any assumptions about the +current directory. It is best to use absolute paths for file names; you can +normally make use of the $home variable to refer to your home directory. The +save command automatically inserts $home at the start of non-absolute +paths. + +
+
+Significant deliveries + +When in the course of delivery a message is processed by a filter file, what +happens next, that is, after the filter file has been processed, depends on +whether or not the filter sets up any significant deliveries. If at least +one significant delivery is set up, the filter is considered to have handled +the entire delivery arrangements for the current address, and no further +processing of the address takes place. If, however, no significant deliveries +are set up, Exim continues processing the current address as if there were no +filter file, and typically sets up a delivery of a copy of the message into a +local mailbox. In particular, this happens in the special case of a filter file +containing only comments. + + +The delivery commands deliver, save, and pipe are by default +significant. However, if such a command is preceded by the word unseen, its +delivery is not considered to be significant. In contrast, other commands such +as mail and vacation do not set up significant deliveries unless +preceded by the word seen. The following example commands set up +significant deliveries: + + +deliver jack@beanstalk.example +pipe $home/bin/mymailscript +seen mail subject "message discarded" +seen finish + + +The following example commands do not set up significant deliveries: + + +unseen deliver jack@beanstalk.example +unseen pipe $home/bin/mymailscript +mail subject "message discarded" +finish + +
+
+Filter commands + +The filter commands that are described in subsequent sections are listed +below, with the section in which they are described in brackets: + + + + + + + +add +  increment a user variable (section ) + + +deliver +  deliver to an email address (section ) + + +fail +  force delivery failure (sysadmin use) (section ) + + +finish +  end processing (section ) + + +freeze +  freeze message (sysadmin use) (section ) + + +headers +  set the header character set (section ) + + +if +  test condition(s) (section ) + + +logfile +  define log file (section ) + + +logwrite +  write to log file (section ) + + +mail +  send a reply message (section ) + + +pipe +  pipe to a command (section ) + + +save +  save to a file (section ) + + +testprint +  print while testing (section ) + + +vacation +  tailored form of mail (section ) + + + + + +The headers command has additional parameters that can be used only in a +system filter. The fail and freeze commands are available only when +Exim’s filtering facilities are being used as a system filter, and are +therefore usable only by the system administrator and not by ordinary users. +They are mentioned only briefly in this document; for more information, see the +main Exim specification. + +
+
+The add command + + add <number> to <user variable> +e.g. add 2 to n3 + + +There are 10 user variables of this type, with names $n0 – $n9. Their +values can be obtained by the normal expansion syntax (for example $n3) in +other commands. At the start of filtering, these variables all contain zero. +Both arguments of the add command are expanded before use, making it +possible to add variables to each other. Subtraction can be obtained by adding +negative numbers. + +
+
+The deliver command + + deliver <mail address> +e.g. deliver "Dr Livingstone <David@somewhere.africa.example>" + + +This command provides a forwarding operation. The delivery that it sets up is +significant unless the command is preceded by unseen (see section +). The message is sent on to the given address, exactly as +happens if the address had appeared in a traditional .forward file. If you +want to deliver the message to a number of different addresses, you can use +more than one deliver command (each one may have only one address). +However, duplicate addresses are discarded. + + +To deliver a copy of the message to your normal mailbox, your login name can be +given as the address. Once an address has been processed by the filtering +mechanism, an identical generated address will not be so processed again, so +doing this does not cause a loop. + + +However, if you have a mail alias, you should not refer to it here. For +example, if the mail address L.Gulliver is aliased to lg303 then all +references in Gulliver’s .forward file should be to lg303. A reference +to the alias will not work for messages that are addressed to that alias, +since, like .forward file processing, aliasing is performed only once on an +address, in order to avoid looping. + + +Following the new address, an optional second address, preceded by +errors_to may appear. This changes the address to which delivery errors on +the forwarded message will be sent. Instead of going to the message’s original +sender, they go to this new address. For ordinary users, the only value that is +permitted for this address is the user whose filter file is being processed. +For example, the user lg303 whose mailbox is in the domain +lilliput.example could have a filter file that contains + + +deliver jon@elsewhere.example errors_to lg303@lilliput.example + + +Clearly, using this feature makes sense only in situations where not all +messages are being forwarded. In particular, bounce messages must not be +forwarded in this way, as this is likely to create a mail loop if something +goes wrong. + +
+
+The save command + + save <file name> +e.g. save $home/mail/bookfolder + + +This command specifies that a copy of the message is to be appended to the +given file (that is, the file is to be used as a mail folder). The delivery +that save sets up is significant unless the command is preceded by +unseen (see section ). + + +More than one save command may be obeyed; each one causes a copy of the +message to be written to its argument file, provided they are different +(duplicate save commands are ignored). + + +If the file name does not start with a / character, the contents of the +$home variable are prepended, unless it is empty, or the system +administrator has disabled this feature. In conventional configurations, this +variable is normally set in a user filter to the user’s home directory, but the +system administrator may set it to some other path. In some configurations, +$home may be unset, or prepending may be disabled, in which case a +non-absolute path name may be generated. Such configurations convert this to an +absolute path when the delivery takes place. In a system filter, $home is +never set. + + +The user must of course have permission to write to the file, and the writing +of the file takes place in a process that is running as the user, under the +user’s primary group. Any secondary groups to which the user may belong are not +normally taken into account, though the system administrator can configure Exim +to set them up. In addition, the ability to use this command at all is +controlled by the system administrator – it may be forbidden on some systems. + + +An optional mode value may be given after the file name. The value for the mode +is interpreted as an octal number, even if it does not begin with a zero. For +example: + + +save /some/folder 640 + + +This makes it possible for users to override the system-wide mode setting for +file deliveries, which is normally 600. If an existing file does not have the +correct mode, it is changed. + + +An alternative form of delivery may be enabled on your system, in which each +message is delivered into a new file in a given directory. If this is the case, +this functionality can be requested by giving the directory name terminated by +a slash after the save command, for example + + +save separated/messages/ + + +There are several different formats for such deliveries; check with your system +administrator or local documentation to find out which (if any) are available +on your system. If this functionality is not enabled, the use of a path name +ending in a slash causes an error. + +
+
+The pipe command + + pipe <command> +e.g. pipe "$home/bin/countmail $sender_address" + + +This command specifies that the message is to be delivered to the specified +command using a pipe. The delivery that it sets up is significant unless the +command is preceded by unseen (see section ). Remember, +however, that no deliveries are done while the filter is being processed. All +deliveries happen later on. Therefore, the result of running the pipe is not +available to the filter. + + +When the deliveries are done, a separate process is run, and a copy of the +message is passed on its standard input. The process runs as the user, under +the user’s primary group. Any secondary groups to which the user may belong are +not normally taken into account, though the system administrator can configure +Exim to set them up. More than one pipe command may appear; each one causes +a copy of the message to be written to its argument pipe, provided they are +different (duplicate pipe commands are ignored). + + +When the time comes to transport the message, the command supplied to pipe +is split up by Exim into a command name and a number of arguments. These are +delimited by white space except for arguments enclosed in double quotes, in +which case backslash is interpreted as an escape, or in single quotes, in which +case no escaping is recognized. Note that as the whole command is normally +supplied in double quotes, a second level of quoting is required for internal +double quotes. For example: + + +pipe "$home/myscript \"size is $message_size\"" + + +String expansion is performed on the separate components after the line has +been split up, and the command is then run directly by Exim; it is not run +under a shell. Therefore, substitution cannot change the number of arguments, +nor can quotes, backslashes or other shell metacharacters in variables cause +confusion. + + +Documentation for some programs that are normally run via this kind of pipe +often suggest that the command should start with + + +IFS=" " + + +This is a shell command, and should not be present in Exim filter files, +since it does not normally run the command under a shell. + + +However, there is an option that the administrator can set to cause a shell to +be used. In this case, the entire command is expanded as a single string and +passed to the shell for interpretation. It is recommended that this be avoided +if at all possible, since it can lead to problems when inserted variables +contain shell metacharacters. + + +The default PATH set up for the command is determined by the system +administrator, usually containing at least /bin and /usr/bin so that +common commands are available without having to specify an absolute file name. +However, it is possible for the system administrator to restrict the pipe +facility so that the command name must not contain any / characters, and must +be found in one of the directories in the configured PATH. It is also possible +for the system administrator to lock out the use of the pipe command +altogether. + + +When the command is run, a number of environment variables are set up. The +complete list for pipe deliveries may be found in the Exim reference manual. +Those that may be useful for pipe deliveries from user filter files are: + + +DOMAIN the domain of the address +HOME your home directory +LOCAL_PART see below +LOCAL_PART_PREFIX see below +LOCAL_PART_SUFFIX see below +LOGNAME your login name +MESSAGE_ID the unique id of the message +PATH the command search path +RECIPIENT the complete recipient address +SENDER the sender of the message +SHELL /bin/sh +USER see below + + +LOCAL_PART, LOGNAME, and USER are all set to the same value, namely, your login +id. LOCAL_PART_PREFIX and LOCAL_PART_SUFFIX may be set if Exim is configured to +recognize prefixes or suffixes in the local parts of addresses. For example, a +message addressed to pat-suf2@domain.example may cause the filter for user +pat to be run. If this sets up a pipe delivery, LOCAL_PART_SUFFIX is +-suf2 when the pipe command runs. The system administrator has to configure +Exim specially for this feature to be available. + + +If you run a command that is a shell script, be very careful in your use of +data from the incoming message in the commands in your script. RFC 2822 is very +generous in the characters that are permitted to appear in mail addresses, and +in particular, an address may begin with a vertical bar or a slash. For this +reason you should always use quotes round any arguments that involve data from +the message, like this: + + +/some/command '$SENDER' + + +so that inserted shell meta-characters do not cause unwanted effects. + + +Remember that, as was explained earlier, the pipe command is not run at the +time the filter file is interpreted. The filter just defines what deliveries +are required for one particular addressee of a message. The deliveries +themselves happen later, once Exim has decided everything that needs to be done +for the message. + + +A consequence of this is that you cannot inspect the return code from the pipe +command from within the filter. Nevertheless, the code returned by the command +is important, because Exim uses it to decide whether the delivery has succeeded +or failed. + + +The command should return a zero completion code if all has gone well. Most +non-zero codes are treated by Exim as indicating a failure of the pipe. This is +treated as a delivery failure, causing the message to be returned to its +sender. However, there are some completion codes that are treated as temporary +errors. The message remains on Exim’s spool disk, and the delivery is tried +again later, though it will ultimately time out if the delivery failures go on +too long. The completion codes to which this applies can be specified by the +system administrator; the default values are 73 and 75. + + +The pipe command should not normally write anything to its standard output or +standard error file descriptors. If it does, whatever is written is normally +returned to the sender of the message as a delivery error, though this action +can be varied by the system administrator. + +
+
+Mail commands + +There are two commands that cause the creation of a new mail message, neither +of which count as a significant delivery unless the command is preceded by the +word seen (see section ). This is a powerful facility, but +it should be used with care, because of the danger of creating infinite +sequences of messages. The system administrator can forbid the use of these +commands altogether. + + +To help prevent runaway message sequences, these commands have no effect when +the incoming message is a bounce (delivery error) message, and messages sent by +this means are treated as if they were reporting delivery errors. Thus, they +should never themselves cause a bounce message to be returned. The basic +mail-sending command is + + +mail [to <address-list>] + [cc <address-list>] + [bcc <address-list>] + [from <address>] + [reply_to <address>] + [subject <text>] + [extra_headers <text>] + [text <text>] + [[expand] file <filename>] + [return message] + [log <log file name>] + [once <note file name>] + [once_repeat <time interval>] +e.g. mail text "Your message about $h_subject: has been received" + + +Each <address-list> can contain a number of addresses, separated by commas, +in the format of a To: or Cc: header line. In fact, the text you supply +here is copied exactly into the appropriate header line. It may contain +additional information as well as email addresses. For example: + + +mail to "Julius Caesar <jc@rome.example>, \ + <ma@rome.example> (Mark A.)" + + +Similarly, the texts supplied for and are copied into +their respective header lines. + + +As a convenience for use in one common case, there is also a command called +vacation. It behaves in the same way as mail, except that the defaults +for the , , , , and options +are + + +subject "On vacation" +expand file .vacation.msg +log .vacation.log +once .vacation +once_repeat 7d + + +respectively. These are the same file names and repeat period used by the +traditional Unix vacation command. The defaults can be overridden by +explicit settings, but if a file name is given its contents are expanded only +if explicitly requested. + + +Warning: The vacation command should always be used conditionally, +subject to at least the personal condition (see section +below) so as not to send automatic replies to non-personal messages from +mailing lists or elsewhere. Sending an automatic response to a mailing list or +a mailing list manager is an Internet Sin. + + +For both commands, the key/value argument pairs can appear in any order. At +least one of or must appear (except with vacation, where +there is a default for ); if both are present, the text string appears +first in the message. If precedes , each line of the file is +subject to string expansion before it is included in the message. + + +Several lines of text can be supplied to by including the escape +sequence \n in the string wherever a newline is required. If the command is +output during filter file testing, newlines in the text are shown as \n. + + +Note that the keyword for creating a Reply-To: header is , +because Exim keywords may contain underscores, but not hyphens. If the +keyword is present and the given address does not match the user who owns the +forward file, Exim normally adds a Sender: header to the message, though it +can be configured not to do this. + + +The keyword allows you to add custom header lines to the +message. The text supplied must be one or more syntactically valid RFC 2822 +header lines. You can use \n within quoted text to specify newlines between +headers, and also to define continued header lines. For example: + + +extra_headers "h1: first\nh2: second\n continued\nh3: third" + + +No newline should appear at the end of the final header line. + + +If no argument appears, the message is sent to the address in the +$reply_address variable (see section above). +An In-Reply-To: header is automatically included in the created message, +giving a reference to the message identification of the incoming message. + + +If is specified, the incoming message that caused the filter +file to be run is added to the end of the message, subject to a maximum size +limitation. + + +If a log file is specified, a line is added to it for each message sent. + + +If a file is specified, it is used to hold a database for remembering +who has received a message, and no more than one message is ever sent to any +particular address, unless is set. This specifies a time +interval after which another copy of the message is sent. The interval is +specified as a sequence of numbers, each followed by the initial letter of one +of seconds, minutes, hours, days, or weeks. For example, + + +once_repeat 5d4h + + +causes a new message to be sent if at least 5 days and 4 hours have elapsed +since the last one was sent. There must be no white space in a time interval. + + +Commonly, the file name specified for is used as the base name for +direct-access (DBM) file operations. There are a number of different DBM +libraries in existence. Some operating systems provide one as a default, but +even in this case a different one may have been used when building Exim. With +some DBM libraries, specifying results in two files being created, +with the suffixes .dir and .pag being added to the given name. With +some others a single file with the suffix .db is used, or the name is used +unchanged. + + +Using a DBM file for implementing the feature means that the file +grows as large as necessary. This is not usually a problem, but some system +administrators want to put a limit on it. The facility can be configured not to +use a DBM file, but instead, to use a regular file with a maximum size. The +data in such a file is searched sequentially, and if the file fills up, the +oldest entry is deleted to make way for a new one. This means that some +correspondents may receive a second copy of the message after an unpredictable +interval. Consult your local information to see if your system is configured +this way. + + +More than one mail or vacation command may be obeyed in a single filter +run; they are all honoured, even when they are to the same recipient. + +
+
+Logging commands + +A log can be kept of actions taken by a filter file. This facility is normally +available in conventional configurations, but there are some situations where +it might not be. Also, the system administrator may choose to disable it. Check +your local information if in doubt. + + +Logging takes place while the filter file is being interpreted. It does not +queue up for later like the delivery commands. The reason for this is so that a +log file need be opened only once for several write operations. There are two +commands, neither of which constitutes a significant delivery. The first +defines a file to which logging output is subsequently written: + + + logfile <file name> +e.g. logfile $home/filter.log + + +The file name must be fully qualified. You can use $home, as in this +example, to refer to your home directory. The file name may optionally be +followed by a mode for the file, which is used if the file has to be created. +For example, + + +logfile $home/filter.log 0644 + + +The number is interpreted as octal, even if it does not begin with a zero. +The default for the mode is 600. It is suggested that the logfile command +normally appear as the first command in a filter file. Once a log file has +been obeyed, the logwrite command can be used to write to it: + + + logwrite "<some text string>" +e.g. logwrite "$tod_log $message_id processed" + + +It is possible to have more than one logfile command, to specify writing to +different log files in different circumstances. +A previously opened log is closed on a subsequent logfile command. +Writing takes place at the end +of the file, and a newline character is added to the end of each string if +there isn’t one already there. Newlines can be put in the middle of the string +by using the \n escape sequence. Lines from simultaneous deliveries may get +interleaved in the file, as there is no interlocking, so you should plan your +logging with this in mind. However, data should not get lost. + +
+
+The finish command + +The command finish, which has no arguments, causes Exim to stop +interpreting the filter file. This is not a significant action unless preceded +by seen. A filter file containing only seen finish is a black hole. + +
+
+The testprint command + +It is sometimes helpful to be able to print out the values of variables when +testing filter files. The command + + + testprint <text> +e.g. testprint "home=$home reply_address=$reply_address" + + +does nothing when mail is being delivered. However, when the filtering code is +being tested by means of the option (see section +above), the value of the string is written to the standard output. + +
+
+The fail command + +When Exim’s filtering facilities are being used as a system filter, the +fail command is available, to force delivery failure. Because this command +is normally usable only by the system administrator, and not enabled for use by +ordinary users, it is described in more detail in the main Exim specification +rather than in this document. + +
+
+The freeze command + +When Exim’s filtering facilities are being used as a system filter, the +freeze command is available, to freeze a message on the queue. Because this +command is normally usable only by the system administrator, and not enabled +for use by ordinary users, it is described in more detail in the main Exim +specification rather than in this document. + +
+
+The headers command + +The headers command can be used to change the target character set that is +used when translating the contents of encoded header lines for insertion by the +$header_ mechanism (see section above). The +default can be set in the Exim configuration; if not specified, ISO-8859-1 is +used. The only currently supported format for the headers command in user +filters is as in this example: + + +headers charset "UTF-8" + + +That is, headers is followed by the word charset and then the name of a +character set. This particular example would be useful if you wanted to compare +the contents of a header to a UTF-8 string. + + +In system filter files, the headers command can be used to add or remove +header lines from the message. These features are described in the main Exim +specification. + +
+
+Obeying commands conditionally + +Most of the power of filtering comes from the ability to test conditions and +obey different commands depending on the outcome. The if command is used to +specify conditional execution, and its general form is + + +if <condition> +then <commands> +elif <condition> +then <commands> +else <commands> +endif + + +There may be any number of elif and then sections (including none) and +the else section is also optional. Any number of commands, including nested +if commands, may appear in any of the <commands> sections. + + +Conditions can be combined by using the words and and or, and round +brackets (parentheses) can be used to specify how several conditions are to +combine. Without brackets, and is more binding than or. For example: + + +if +$h_subject: contains "Make money" or +$h_precedence: is "junk" or +($h_sender: matches ^\\d{8}@ and not personal) or +$message_body contains "this is not spam" +then +seen finish +endif + + +A condition can be preceded by not to negate it, and there are also some +negative forms of condition that are more English-like. + +
+
+String testing conditions + +There are a number of conditions that operate on text strings, using the words +begins, ends, is, contains and matches. If you want to +apply the same test to more than one header line, you can easily concatenate +them into a single string for testing, as in this example: + + +if "$h_to:, $h_cc:" contains me@domain.example then ... + + +If a string-testing condition name is written in lower case, the testing +of letters is done without regard to case; if it is written in upper case +(for example, CONTAINS), the case of letters is taken into account. + + + <text1> begins <text2> + <text1> does not begin <text2> +e.g. $header_from: begins "Friend@" + + +A begins test checks for the presence of the second string at the start of +the first, both strings having been expanded. + + + <text1> ends <text2> + <text1> does not end <text2> +e.g. $header_from: ends "public.com.example" + + +An ends test checks for the presence of the second string at the end of +the first, both strings having been expanded. + + + <text1> is <text2> + <text1> is not <text2> +e.g. $local_part_suffix is "-foo" + + +An is test does an exact match between the strings, having first expanded +both strings. + + + <text1> contains <text2> + <text1> does not contain <text2> +e.g. $header_subject: contains "evolution" + + +A contains test does a partial string match, having expanded both strings. + + + <text1> matches <text2> + <text1> does not match <text2> +e.g. $sender_address matches "(bill|john)@" + + +For a matches test, after expansion of both strings, the second one is +interpreted as a regular expression. Exim uses the PCRE regular expression +library, which provides regular expressions that are compatible with Perl. + + +The match succeeds if the regular expression matches any part of the first +string. If you want a regular expression to match only at the start or end of +the subject string, you must encode that requirement explicitly, using the +^ or $ metacharacters. The above example, which is not so constrained, +matches all these addresses: + + +bill@test.example +john@some.example +spoonbill@example.com +littlejohn@example.com + + +To match only the first two, you could use this: + + +if $sender_address matches "^(bill|john)@" then ... + + +Care must be taken if you need a backslash in a regular expression, because +backslashes are interpreted as escape characters both by the string expansion +code and by Exim’s normal processing of strings in quotes. For example, if you +want to test the sender address for a domain ending in .com the regular +expression is + + +\.com$ + + +The backslash and dollar sign in that expression have to be escaped when used +in a filter command, as otherwise they would be interpreted by the expansion +code. Thus, what you actually write is + + +if $sender_address matches \\.com\$ + + +An alternative way of handling this is to make use of the \N expansion +flag for suppressing expansion: + + +if $sender_address matches \N\.com$\N + + +Everything between the two occurrences of \N is copied without change by +the string expander (and in fact you do not need the final one, because it is +at the end of the string). If the regular expression is given in quotes +(mandatory only if it contains white space) you have to write either + + +if $sender_address matches "\\\\.com\\$" + + +or + + +if $sender_address matches "\\N\\.com$\\N" + + +If the regular expression contains bracketed sub-expressions, numeric +variable substitutions such as $1 can be used in the subsequent actions +after a successful match. If the match fails, the values of the numeric +variables remain unchanged. Previous values are not restored after endif. +In other words, only one set of values is ever available. If the condition +contains several sub-conditions connected by and or or, it is the +strings extracted from the last successful match that are available in +subsequent actions. Numeric variables from any one sub-condition are also +available for use in subsequent sub-conditions, because string expansion of a +condition occurs just before it is tested. + +
+
+Numeric testing conditions + +The following conditions are available for performing numerical tests: + + + <number1> is above <number2> + <number1> is not above <number2> + <number1> is below <number2> + <number1> is not below <number2> +e.g. $message_size is not above 10k + + +The <number> arguments must expand to strings of digits, optionally +followed by one of the letters K or M (upper case or lower case) which cause +multiplication by 1024 and 1024x1024 respectively. + +
+
+Testing for significant deliveries + +You can use the delivered condition to test whether or not any previously +obeyed filter commands have set up a significant delivery. For example: + + +if not delivered then save mail/anomalous endif + + +Delivered is perhaps a poor choice of name for this condition, because the +message has not actually been delivered; rather, a delivery has been set up for +later processing. + +
+
+Testing for error messages + +The condition error_message is true if the incoming message is a bounce +(mail delivery error) message. Putting the command + + +if error_message then finish endif + + +at the head of your filter file is a useful insurance against things going +wrong in such a way that you cannot receive delivery error reports. Note: +error_message is a condition, not an expansion variable, and therefore is +not preceded by $. + +
+
+Testing a list of addresses + +There is a facility for looping through a list of addresses and applying a +condition to each of them. It takes the form + + +foranyaddress <string> (<condition>) + + +where <string> is interpreted as a list of RFC 2822 addresses, as in a +typical header line, and <condition> is any valid filter condition or +combination of conditions. The group syntax that is defined for certain +header lines that contain addresses is supported. + + +The parentheses surrounding the condition are mandatory, to delimit it from +possible further sub-conditions of the enclosing if command. Within the +condition, the expansion variable $thisaddress is set to the non-comment +portion of each of the addresses in the string in turn. For example, if the +string is + + +B.Simpson <bart@sfld.example>, lisa@sfld.example (his sister) + + +then $thisaddress would take on the values bart@sfld.example and +lisa@sfld.example in turn. + + +If there are no valid addresses in the list, the whole condition is false. If +the internal condition is true for any one address, the overall condition is +true and the loop ends. If the internal condition is false for all addresses in +the list, the overall condition is false. This example tests for the presence +of an eight-digit local part in any address in a To: header: + + +if foranyaddress $h_to: ( $thisaddress matches ^\\d{8}@ ) then ... + + +When the overall condition is true, the value of $thisaddress in the +commands that follow then is the last value it took on inside the loop. At +the end of the if command, the value of $thisaddress is reset to what it +was before. It is best to avoid the use of multiple occurrences of +foranyaddress, nested or otherwise, in a single if command, if the +value of $thisaddress is to be used afterwards, because it isn’t always +clear what the value will be. Nested if commands should be used instead. + + +Header lines can be joined together if a check is to be applied to more than +one of them. For example: + + +if foranyaddress $h_to:,$h_cc: .... + + +This scans through the addresses in both the To: and the Cc: headers. + +
+
+Testing for personal mail + +A common requirement is to distinguish between incoming personal mail and mail +from a mailing list, or from a robot or other automatic process (for example, a +bounce message). In particular, this test is normally required for vacation +messages. + + +The personal condition checks that the message is not a bounce message and +that the current user’s email address appears in the To: header. It also +checks that the sender is not the current user or one of a number of common +daemons, and that there are no header lines starting List- in the message. +Finally, it checks the content of the Precedence: header line, if there is +one. + + +You should always use the personal condition when generating automatic +responses. This example shows the use of personal in a filter file that is +sending out vacation messages: + + +if personal then +mail to $reply_address +subject "I am on holiday" +file $home/vacation/message +once $home/vacation/once +once_repeat 10d +endif + + +It is tempting, when writing commands like the above, to quote the original +subject in the reply. For example: + + +subject "Re: $h_subject:" + + +There is a danger in doing this, however. It may allow a third party to +subscribe you to an opt-in mailing list, provided that the list accepts bounce +messages as subscription confirmations. (Messages sent from filters are always +sent as bounce messages.) Well-managed lists require a non-bounce message to +confirm a subscription, so the danger is relatively small. + + +If prefixes or suffixes are in use for local parts – something which depends +on the configuration of Exim (see section below) – the tests +for the current user are done with the full address (including the prefix and +suffix, if any) as well as with the prefix and suffix removed. If the system is +configured to rewrite local parts of mail addresses, for example, to rewrite +dag46 as Dirk.Gently, the rewritten form of the address is also used in +the tests. + +
+
+Alias addresses for the personal condition + +It is quite common for people who have mail accounts on a number of different +systems to forward all their mail to one system, and in this case a check for +personal mail should test all their various mail addresses. To allow for this, +the personal condition keyword can be followed by + + +alias <address> + + +any number of times, for example: + + +if personal alias smith@else.where.example + alias jones@other.place.example +then ... + + +The alias addresses are treated as alternatives to the current user’s email +address when testing the contents of header lines. + +
+
+Details of the personal condition + +The basic personal test is roughly equivalent to the following: + + +not error_message and +$message_headers does not contain "\nList-Id:" and +$message_headers does not contain "\nList-Help:" and +$message_headers does not contain "\nList-Subscribe:" and +$message_headers does not contain "\nList-Unsubscribe:" and +$message_headers does not contain "\nList-Post:" and +$message_headers does not contain "\nList-Owner:" and +$message_headers does not contain "\nList-Archive:" and +( +"${if def:h_auto-submitted:{present}{absent}}" is "absent" or +$header_auto-submitted: is "no" +) and +$header_precedence: does not contain "bulk" and +$header_precedence: does not contain "list" and +$header_precedence: does not contain "junk" and +foranyaddress $header_to: +( $thisaddress contains "$local_part$domain" ) and +not foranyaddress $header_from: +( +$thisaddress contains "$local_part@$domain" or +$thisaddress contains "server@" or +$thisaddress contains "daemon@" or +$thisaddress contains "root@" or +$thisaddress contains "listserv@" or +$thisaddress contains "majordomo@" or +$thisaddress contains "-request@" or +$thisaddress matches "^owner-[^@]+@" +) + + +The variable $local_part contains the local part of the mail address of +the user whose filter file is being run – it is normally your login id. The +$domain variable contains the mail domain. As explained above, if aliases +or rewriting are defined, or if prefixes or suffixes are in use, the tests for +the current user are also done with alternative addresses. + +
+
+Testing delivery status + +There are two conditions that are intended mainly for use in system filter +files, but which are available in users’ filter files as well. The condition +first_delivery is true if this is the first process that is attempting to +deliver the message, and false otherwise. This indicator is not reset until the +first delivery process successfully terminates; if there is a crash or a power +failure (for example), the next delivery attempt is also a first delivery. + + +In a user filter file first_delivery will be false if there was previously +an error in the filter, or if a delivery for the user failed owing to, for +example, a quota error, or if forwarding to a remote address was deferred for +some reason. + + +The condition manually_thawed is true if the message was frozen for +some reason, and was subsequently released by the system administrator. It is +unlikely to be of use in users’ filter files. + +
+
+Multiple personal mailboxes +SEC31 + +The system administrator can configure Exim so that users can set up variants +on their email addresses and handle them separately. Consult your system +administrator or local documentation to see if this facility is enabled on your +system, and if so, what the details are. + + +The facility involves the use of a prefix or a suffix on an email address. For +example, all mail addressed to lg303-<something> would be the property +of user lg303, who could determine how it was to be handled, depending on +the value of <something>. + + +There are two possible ways in which this can be set up. The first possibility +is the use of multiple .forward files. In this case, mail to lg303-foo, +for example, is handled by looking for a file called .forward-foo in +lg303’s home directory. If such a file does not exist, delivery fails +and the message is returned to its sender. + + +The alternative approach is to pass all messages through a single .forward +file, which must be a filter file so that it can distinguish between the +different cases by referencing the variables $local_part_prefix or +$local_part_suffix, as in the final example in section below. + + +It is possible to configure Exim to support both schemes at once. In this case, +a specific .forward-foo file is first sought; if it is not found, the basic +.forward file is used. + + +The personal test (see section ) includes prefixes and +suffixes in its checking. + +
+
+Ignoring delivery errors + +As was explained above, filtering just sets up addresses for delivery – no +deliveries are actually done while a filter file is active. If any of the +generated addresses subsequently suffers a delivery failure, an error message +is generated in the normal way. However, if a filter command that sets up a +delivery is preceded by the word noerror, errors for that delivery, +and any deliveries consequent on it (that is, from alias, forwarding, or +filter files it invokes) are ignored. + +
+
+Examples of Exim filter commands + +Simple forwarding: + + +# Exim filter +deliver baggins@rivendell.middle-earth.example + + +Vacation handling using traditional means, assuming that the .vacation.msg +and other files have been set up in your home directory: + + +# Exim filter +unseen pipe "/usr/ucb/vacation \"$local_part\"" + + +Vacation handling inside Exim, having first created a file called +.vacation.msg in your home directory: + + +# Exim filter +if personal then vacation endif + + +File some messages by subject: + + +# Exim filter +if $header_subject: contains "empire" or +$header_subject: contains "foundation" +then +save $home/mail/f+e +endif + + +Save all non-urgent messages by weekday: + + +# Exim filter +if $header_subject: does not contain "urgent" and +$tod_full matches "^(...)," +then +save $home/mail/$1 +endif + + +Throw away all mail from one site, except from postmaster: + + +# Exim filter +if $reply_address contains "@spam.site.example" and +$reply_address does not contain "postmaster@" +then +seen finish +endif + + +Handle multiple personal mailboxes: + + +# Exim filter +if $local_part_suffix is "-foo" +then +save $home/mail/foo +elif $local_part_suffix is "-bar" +then +save $home/mail/bar +endif + +
+ + + diff --git a/docbook/4.92.2/spec.xml b/docbook/4.92.2/spec.xml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..10a4f43 --- /dev/null +++ b/docbook/4.92.2/spec.xml @@ -0,0 +1,72745 @@ + + + + + + + +Specification of the Exim Mail Transfer Agent +The Exim MTA + +03 Sep 2019 + +EximMaintainers +EM + +4.92.2 +03 Sep 2019 + EM + + +2018 + University of Cambridge + + +Introduction + + + $1, $2, etc. + numerical variables + + + address + rewriting + rewriting + + + Bounce Address Tag Validation + BATV + + + Client SMTP Authorization + CSA + + + CR character + carriage return + + + CRL + certificate revocation list + + + delivery + failure report + bounce message + + + dialup + intermittently connected hosts + + + exiscan + content scanning + + + failover + fallback + + + fallover + fallback + + + filter + Sieve + Sieve filter + + + ident + RFC 1413 + + + LF character + linefeed + + + maximum + limit + + + monitor + Exim monitor + + + no_xxx + entry for xxx + + + NUL + binary zero + + + passwd file + /etc/passwd + + + process id + pid + + + RBL + DNS list + + + redirection + address redirection + + + return path + envelope sender + + + scanning + content scanning + + + SSL + TLS + + + string + expansion + expansion + + + top bit + 8-bit characters + + + variables + expansion, variables + + + zero, binary + binary zero + + + +Exim is a mail transfer agent (MTA) for hosts that are running Unix or +Unix-like operating systems. It was designed on the assumption that it would be +run on hosts that are permanently connected to the Internet. However, it can be +used on intermittently connected hosts with suitable configuration adjustments. + + +Configuration files currently exist for the following operating systems: AIX, +BSD/OS (aka BSDI), Darwin (Mac OS X), DGUX, Dragonfly, FreeBSD, GNU/Hurd, +GNU/Linux, HI-OSF (Hitachi), HI-UX, HP-UX, IRIX, MIPS RISCOS, NetBSD, OpenBSD, +OpenUNIX, QNX, SCO, SCO SVR4.2 (aka UNIX-SV), Solaris (aka SunOS5), SunOS4, +Tru64-Unix (formerly Digital UNIX, formerly DEC-OSF1), Ultrix, and UnixWare. +Some of these operating systems are no longer current and cannot easily be +tested, so the configuration files may no longer work in practice. + + +There are also configuration files for compiling Exim in the Cygwin environment +that can be installed on systems running Windows. However, this document does +not contain any information about running Exim in the Cygwin environment. + + +The terms and conditions for the use and distribution of Exim are contained in +the file NOTICE. Exim is distributed under the terms of the GNU General +Public Licence, a copy of which may be found in the file LICENCE. + + +The use, supply, or promotion of Exim for the purpose of sending bulk, +unsolicited electronic mail is incompatible with the basic aims of Exim, +which revolve around the free provision of a service that enhances the quality +of personal communications. The author of Exim regards indiscriminate +mass-mailing as an antisocial, irresponsible abuse of the Internet. + + +Exim owes a great deal to Smail 3 and its author, Ron Karr. Without the +experience of running and working on the Smail 3 code, I could never have +contemplated starting to write a new MTA. Many of the ideas and user interfaces +were originally taken from Smail 3, though the actual code of Exim is entirely +new, and has developed far beyond the initial concept. + + +Many people, both in Cambridge and around the world, have contributed to the +development and the testing of Exim, and to porting it to various operating +systems. I am grateful to them all. The distribution now contains a file called +ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, in which I have started recording the names of +contributors. + +
+Exim documentation + + +documentation + +This edition of the Exim specification applies to version 4.92.2 of Exim. +Substantive changes from the 4.91 edition are marked in some +renditions of this document; this paragraph is so marked if the rendition is +capable of showing a change indicator. + + +This document is very much a reference manual; it is not a tutorial. The reader +is expected to have some familiarity with the SMTP mail transfer protocol and +with general Unix system administration. Although there are some discussions +and examples in places, the information is mostly organized in a way that makes +it easy to look up, rather than in a natural order for sequential reading. +Furthermore, this manual aims to cover every aspect of Exim in detail, including +a number of rarely-used, special-purpose features that are unlikely to be of +very wide interest. + + + +books about Exim + +An easier discussion of Exim which provides more in-depth explanatory, +introductory, and tutorial material can be found in a book entitled The Exim +SMTP Mail Server (second edition, 2007), published by UIT Cambridge +(https://www.uit.co.uk/exim-book/). + + +The book also contains a chapter that gives a general introduction to SMTP and +Internet mail. Inevitably, however, the book is unlikely to be fully up-to-date +with the latest release of Exim. (Note that the earlier book about Exim, +published by O’Reilly, covers Exim 3, and many things have changed in Exim 4.) + + + +Debian +information sources + +If you are using a Debian distribution of Exim, you will find information about +Debian-specific features in the file +/usr/share/doc/exim4-base/README.Debian. +The command man update-exim.conf is another source of Debian-specific +information. + + + +doc/NewStuff + + +doc/ChangeLog + + +change log + +As Exim develops, there may be features in newer versions that have not +yet made it into this document, which is updated only when the most significant +digit of the fractional part of the version number changes. Specifications of +new features that are not yet in this manual are placed in the file +doc/NewStuff in the Exim distribution. + + +Some features may be classified as experimental. These may change +incompatibly while they are developing, or even be withdrawn. For this reason, +they are not documented in this manual. Information about experimental features +can be found in the file doc/experimental.txt. + + +All changes to Exim (whether new features, bug fixes, or other kinds of +change) are noted briefly in the file called doc/ChangeLog. + + + +doc/spec.txt + +This specification itself is available as an ASCII file in doc/spec.txt so +that it can easily be searched with a text editor. Other files in the doc +directory are: + + + + + + + +OptionLists.txt +list of all options in alphabetical order + + +dbm.discuss.txt +discussion about DBM libraries + + +exim.8 +a man page of Exim’s command line options + + +experimental.txt +documentation of experimental features + + +filter.txt +specification of the filter language + + +Exim3.upgrade +upgrade notes from release 2 to release 3 + + +Exim4.upgrade +upgrade notes from release 3 to release 4 + + +openssl.txt +installing a current OpenSSL release + + + + + +The main specification and the specification of the filtering language are also +available in other formats (HTML, PostScript, PDF, and Texinfo). Section + below tells you how to get hold of these. + +
+
+FTP site and websites + + +website + + +FTP site + +The primary site for Exim source distributions is the FTP site, +available over HTTPS, HTTP and FTP. These services, and the +website, are hosted at the University of Cambridge. + + + +wiki + + +FAQ + +As well as Exim distribution tar files, the Exim website contains a number of +differently formatted versions of the documentation. A recent addition to the +online information is the Exim wiki (https://wiki.exim.org), +which contains what used to be a separate FAQ, as well as various other +examples, tips, and know-how that have been contributed by Exim users. +The wiki site should always redirect to the correct place, which is currently +provided by GitHub, and is open to editing by anyone with a GitHub account. + + + +Bugzilla + +An Exim Bugzilla exists at https://bugs.exim.org. You can use +this to report bugs, and also to add items to the wish list. Please search +first to check that you are not duplicating a previous entry. +Please do not ask for configuration help in the bug-tracker. + +
+
+Mailing lists + + +mailing lists +for Exim users + +The following Exim mailing lists exist: + + + + + + + +exim-announce@exim.org +Moderated, low volume announcements list + + +exim-users@exim.org +General discussion list + + +exim-dev@exim.org +Discussion of bugs, enhancements, etc. + + +exim-cvs@exim.org +Automated commit messages from the VCS + + + + + +You can subscribe to these lists, change your existing subscriptions, and view +or search the archives via the mailing lists link on the Exim home page. + +Debian +mailing list for + +If you are using a Debian distribution of Exim, you may wish to subscribe to +the Debian-specific mailing list pkg-exim4-users@lists.alioth.debian.org +via this web page: + + +https://alioth-lists.debian.net/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pkg-exim4-users + + +Please ask Debian-specific questions on that list and not on the general Exim +lists. + +
+
+Bug reports + + +bug reports + + +reporting bugs + +Reports of obvious bugs can be emailed to bugs@exim.org or reported +via the Bugzilla (https://bugs.exim.org). However, if you are unsure +whether some behaviour is a bug or not, the best thing to do is to post a +message to the exim-dev mailing list and have it discussed. + +
+
+Where to find the Exim distribution + + +FTP site + + +HTTPS download site + + +distribution +FTP site + + +distribution +https site + +The master distribution site for the Exim distribution is + + +https://downloads.exim.org/ + + +The service is available over HTTPS, HTTP and FTP. +We encourage people to migrate to HTTPS. + + +The content served at https://downloads.exim.org/ is identical to the +content served at https://ftp.exim.org/pub/exim and +ftp://ftp.exim.org/pub/exim. + + +If accessing via a hostname containing ftp, then the file references that +follow are relative to the exim directories at these sites. +If accessing via the hostname downloads then the subdirectories described +here are top-level directories. + + +There are now quite a number of independent mirror sites around +the world. Those that I know about are listed in the file called Mirrors. + + +Within the top exim directory there are subdirectories called exim3 (for +previous Exim 3 distributions), exim4 (for the latest Exim 4 +distributions), and Testing for testing versions. In the exim4 +subdirectory, the current release can always be found in files called + + +exim-n.nn.tar.xz +exim-n.nn.tar.gz +exim-n.nn.tar.bz2 + + +where n.nn is the highest such version number in the directory. The three +files contain identical data; the only difference is the type of compression. +The .xz file is usually the smallest, while the .gz file is the +most portable to old systems. + + + +distribution +signing details + + +distribution +public key + + +public key for signed distribution + +The distributions will be PGP signed by an individual key of the Release +Coordinator. This key will have a uid containing an email address in the +exim.org domain and will have signatures from other people, including +other Exim maintainers. We expect that the key will be in the "strong set" of +PGP keys. There should be a trust path to that key from the Exim Maintainer’s +PGP keys, a version of which can be found in the release directory in the file +Exim-Maintainers-Keyring.asc. All keys used will be available in public keyserver pools, +such as pool.sks-keyservers.net. + + +At the time of the last update, releases were being made by Jeremy Harris and signed +with key 0xBCE58C8CE41F32DF. Other recent keys used for signing are those +of Heiko Schlittermann, 0x26101B62F69376CE, +and of Phil Pennock, 0x4D1E900E14C1CC04. + + +The signatures for the tar bundles are in: + + +exim-n.nn.tar.xz.asc +exim-n.nn.tar.gz.asc +exim-n.nn.tar.bz2.asc + + +For each released version, the log of changes is made available in a +separate file in the directory ChangeLogs so that it is possible to +find out what has changed without having to download the entire distribution. + + + +documentation +available formats + +The main distribution contains ASCII versions of this specification and other +documentation; other formats of the documents are available in separate files +inside the exim4 directory of the FTP site: + + +exim-html-n.nn.tar.gz +exim-pdf-n.nn.tar.gz +exim-postscript-n.nn.tar.gz +exim-texinfo-n.nn.tar.gz + + +These tar files contain only the doc directory, not the complete +distribution, and are also available in .bz2 and .xz forms. + +
+
+Limitations + + + + +limitations of Exim + + +bang paths +not handled by Exim + +Exim is designed for use as an Internet MTA, and therefore handles addresses in +RFC 2822 domain format only. It cannot handle UUCP bang paths, though +simple two-component bang paths can be converted by a straightforward rewriting +configuration. This restriction does not prevent Exim from being interfaced to +UUCP as a transport mechanism, provided that domain addresses are used. + + + + + +domainless addresses + + +address +without domain + +Exim insists that every address it handles has a domain attached. For incoming +local messages, domainless addresses are automatically qualified with a +configured domain value. Configuration options specify from which remote +systems unqualified addresses are acceptable. These are then qualified on +arrival. + + + + + +transport +external + + +external transports + +The only external transport mechanisms that are currently implemented are SMTP +and LMTP over a TCP/IP network (including support for IPv6). However, a pipe +transport is available, and there are facilities for writing messages to files +and pipes, optionally in batched SMTP format; these facilities can be used +to send messages to other transport mechanisms such as UUCP, provided they can +handle domain-style addresses. Batched SMTP input is also catered for. + + + + +Exim is not designed for storing mail for dial-in hosts. When the volumes of +such mail are large, it is better to get the messages delivered into files +(that is, off Exim’s queue) and subsequently passed on to the dial-in hosts by +other means. + + + + +Although Exim does have basic facilities for scanning incoming messages, these +are not comprehensive enough to do full virus or spam scanning. Such operations +are best carried out using additional specialized software packages. If you +compile Exim with the content-scanning extension, straightforward interfaces to +a number of common scanners are provided. + + + +
+
+Runtime configuration + +Exim’s runtime configuration is held in a single text file that is divided +into a number of sections. The entries in this file consist of keywords and +values, in the style of Smail 3 configuration files. A default configuration +file which is suitable for simple online installations is provided in the +distribution, and is described in chapter below. + +
+
+Calling interface + + +Sendmail compatibility +command line interface + +Like many MTAs, Exim has adopted the Sendmail command line interface so that it +can be a straight replacement for /usr/lib/sendmail or +/usr/sbin/sendmail when sending mail, but you do not need to know anything +about Sendmail in order to run Exim. For actions other than sending messages, +Sendmail-compatible options also exist, but those that produce output (for +example, , which lists the messages in the queue) do so in Exim’s own +format. There are also some additional options that are compatible with Smail +3, and some further options that are new to Exim. Chapter +documents all Exim’s command line options. This information is automatically +made into the man page that forms part of the Exim distribution. + + +Control of messages in the queue can be done via certain privileged command +line options. There is also an optional monitor program called eximon, +which displays current information in an X window, and which contains a menu +interface to Exim’s command line administration options. + +
+
+Terminology + + +terminology definitions + + +body of message +definition of + +The body of a message is the actual data that the sender wants to transmit. +It is the last part of a message and is separated from the header (see +below) by a blank line. + + + +bounce message +definition of + +When a message cannot be delivered, it is normally returned to the sender in a +delivery failure message or a non-delivery report (NDR). The term +bounce is commonly used for this action, and the error reports are often +called bounce messages. This is a convenient shorthand for delivery +failure error report. Such messages have an empty sender address in the +message’s envelope (see below) to ensure that they cannot themselves give +rise to further bounce messages. + + +The term default appears frequently in this manual. It is used to qualify a +value which is used in the absence of any setting in the configuration. It may +also qualify an action which is taken unless a configuration setting specifies +otherwise. + + +The term defer is used when the delivery of a message to a specific +destination cannot immediately take place for some reason (a remote host may be +down, or a user’s local mailbox may be full). Such deliveries are deferred +until a later time. + + +The word domain is sometimes used to mean all but the first component of a +host’s name. It is not used in that sense here, where it normally refers to +the part of an email address following the @ sign. + + + +envelope, definition of + + +sender +definition of + +A message in transit has an associated envelope, as well as a header and a +body. The envelope contains a sender address (to which bounce messages should +be delivered), and any number of recipient addresses. References to the +sender or the recipients of a message usually mean the addresses in the +envelope. An MTA uses these addresses for delivery, and for returning bounce +messages, not the addresses that appear in the header lines. + + + +message +header, definition of + + +header section +definition of + +The header of a message is the first part of a message’s text, consisting +of a number of lines, each of which has a name such as From:, To:, +Subject:, etc. Long header lines can be split over several text lines by +indenting the continuations. The header is separated from the body by a blank +line. + + + +local part +definition of + + +domain +definition of + +The term local part, which is taken from RFC 2822, is used to refer to the +part of an email address that precedes the @ sign. The part that follows the +@ sign is called the domain or mail domain. + + + +local delivery +definition of + + +remote delivery, definition of + +The terms local delivery and remote delivery are used to distinguish +delivery to a file or a pipe on the local host from delivery by SMTP over +TCP/IP to another host. As far as Exim is concerned, all hosts other than the +host it is running on are remote. + + + +return path +definition of + +Return path is another name that is used for the sender address in a +message’s envelope. + + + +queue +definition of + +The term queue is used to refer to the set of messages awaiting delivery +because this term is in widespread use in the context of MTAs. However, in +Exim’s case, the reality is more like a pool than a queue, because there is +normally no ordering of waiting messages. + + + +queue runner +definition of + +The term queue runner is used to describe a process that scans the queue +and attempts to deliver those messages whose retry times have come. This term +is used by other MTAs and also relates to the command , but in Exim +the waiting messages are normally processed in an unpredictable order. + + + +spool directory +definition of + +The term spool directory is used for a directory in which Exim keeps the +messages in its queue – that is, those that it is in the process of +delivering. This should not be confused with the directory in which local +mailboxes are stored, which is called a spool directory by some people. In +the Exim documentation, spool is always used in the first sense. + +
+ + + +Incorporated code + + +incorporated code + + +regular expressions +library + + +PCRE + + +OpenDMARC + +A number of pieces of external code are included in the Exim distribution. + + + + +Regular expressions are supported in the main Exim program and in the +Exim monitor using the freely-distributable PCRE library, copyright +© University of Cambridge. The source to PCRE is no longer shipped with +Exim, so you will need to use the version of PCRE shipped with your system, +or obtain and install the full version of the library from +ftp://ftp.csx.cam.ac.uk/pub/software/programming/pcre. + + + + + +cdb +acknowledgment + +Support for the cdb (Constant DataBase) lookup method is provided by code +contributed by Nigel Metheringham of (at the time he contributed it) Planet +Online Ltd. The implementation is completely contained within the code of Exim. +It does not link against an external cdb library. The code contains the +following statements: + +
+ +Copyright © 1998 Nigel Metheringham, Planet Online Ltd + + +This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under +the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software +Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later +version. +This code implements Dan Bernstein’s Constant DataBase (cdb) spec. Information, +the spec and sample code for cdb can be obtained from +https://cr.yp.to/cdb.html. This implementation borrows +some code from Dan Bernstein’s implementation (which has no license +restrictions applied to it). + +
+ + + + +SPA authentication + + +Samba project + + +Microsoft Secure Password Authentication + +Client support for Microsoft’s Secure Password Authentication is provided +by code contributed by Marc Prud’hommeaux. Server support was contributed by +Tom Kistner. This includes code taken from the Samba project, which is released +under the Gnu GPL. + + + + + +Cyrus + + +pwcheck daemon + + +pwauthd daemon + +Support for calling the Cyrus pwcheck and saslauthd daemons is provided +by code taken from the Cyrus-SASL library and adapted by Alexander S. +Sabourenkov. The permission notice appears below, in accordance with the +conditions expressed therein. + +
+ +Copyright © 2001 Carnegie Mellon University. All rights reserved. + + +Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without +modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions +are met: + + + + +Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright +notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer. + + + + +Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright +notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in +the documentation and/or other materials provided with the +distribution. + + + + +The name Carnegie Mellon University must not be used to +endorse or promote products derived from this software without +prior written permission. For permission or any other legal +details, please contact + + + Office of Technology Transfer + Carnegie Mellon University + 5000 Forbes Avenue + Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890 + (412) 268-4387, fax: (412) 268-7395 + tech-transfer@andrew.cmu.edu + + + + +Redistributions of any form whatsoever must retain the following +acknowledgment: + + +This product includes software developed by Computing Services +at Carnegie Mellon University (https://www.cmu.edu/computing/. + + +CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO +THIS SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY +AND FITNESS, IN NO EVENT SHALL CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY BE LIABLE +FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES +WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN +AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING +OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE. + + + +
+ + + + +Exim monitor +acknowledgment + + +X-windows + + +Athena + +The Exim Monitor program, which is an X-Window application, includes +modified versions of the Athena StripChart and TextPop widgets. +This code is copyright by DEC and MIT, and their permission notice appears +below, in accordance with the conditions expressed therein. + +
+ +Copyright 1987, 1988 by Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard, Massachusetts, +and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts. + + +All Rights Reserved + + +Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its +documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted, +provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that +both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in +supporting documentation, and that the names of Digital or MIT not be +used in advertising or publicity pertaining to distribution of the +software without specific, written prior permission. + + +DIGITAL DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THIS SOFTWARE, INCLUDING +ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS, IN NO EVENT SHALL +DIGITAL BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR +ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, +WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, +ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS +SOFTWARE. + +
+ + + + +opendmarc +acknowledgment + +The DMARC implementation uses the OpenDMARC library which is Copyrighted by +The Trusted Domain Project. Portions of Exim source which use OpenDMARC +derived code are indicated in the respective source files. The full OpenDMARC +license is provided in the LICENSE.opendmarc file contained in the distributed +source code. + + + + +Many people have contributed code fragments, some large, some small, that were +not covered by any specific license requirements. It is assumed that the +contributors are happy to see their code incorporated into Exim under the GPL. + + + + + + +How Exim receives and delivers mail +Receiving and delivering mail +
+Overall philosophy + + +design philosophy + +Exim is designed to work efficiently on systems that are permanently connected +to the Internet and are handling a general mix of mail. In such circumstances, +most messages can be delivered immediately. Consequently, Exim does not +maintain independent queues of messages for specific domains or hosts, though +it does try to send several messages in a single SMTP connection after a host +has been down, and it also maintains per-host retry information. + +
+
+Policy control + + +policy control +overview + +Policy controls are now an important feature of MTAs that are connected to the +Internet. Perhaps their most important job is to stop MTAs from being abused as +open relays by misguided individuals who send out vast amounts of +unsolicited junk and want to disguise its source. Exim provides flexible +facilities for specifying policy controls on incoming mail: + + + + + +access control lists (ACLs) +introduction + +Exim 4 (unlike previous versions of Exim) implements policy controls on +incoming mail by means of Access Control Lists (ACLs). Each list is a +series of statements that may either grant or deny access. ACLs can be used at +several places in the SMTP dialogue while receiving a message from a remote +host. However, the most common places are after each RCPT command, and at the +very end of the message. The sysadmin can specify conditions for accepting or +rejecting individual recipients or the entire message, respectively, at these +two points (see chapter ). Denial of access results in an SMTP +error code. + + + + +An ACL is also available for locally generated, non-SMTP messages. In this +case, the only available actions are to accept or deny the entire message. + + + + +When Exim is compiled with the content-scanning extension, facilities are +provided in the ACL mechanism for passing the message to external virus and/or +spam scanning software. The result of such a scan is passed back to the ACL, +which can then use it to decide what to do with the message. + + + + +When a message has been received, either from a remote host or from the local +host, but before the final acknowledgment has been sent, a locally supplied C +function called local_scan() can be run to inspect the message and decide +whether to accept it or not (see chapter ). If the message +is accepted, the list of recipients can be modified by the function. + + + + +Using the local_scan() mechanism is another way of calling external scanner +software. The add-on package works this way. It does not require +Exim to be compiled with the content-scanning extension. + + + + +After a message has been accepted, a further checking mechanism is available in +the form of the system filter (see chapter ). This +runs at the start of every delivery process. + + + +
+
+User filters + + +filter +introduction + + +Sieve filter + +In a conventional Exim configuration, users are able to run private filters by +setting up appropriate .forward files in their home directories. See +chapter (about the redirect router) for the +configuration needed to support this, and the separate document entitled +Exim’s interfaces to mail filtering for user details. Two different kinds +of filtering are available: + + + + +Sieve filters are written in the standard filtering language that is defined +by RFC 3028. + + + + +Exim filters are written in a syntax that is unique to Exim, but which is more +powerful than Sieve, which it pre-dates. + + + + +User filters are run as part of the routing process, described below. + +
+
+Message identification + + +message ids +details of format + + +format +of message id + + +id of message + + +base62 + + +base36 + + +Darwin + + +Cygwin + +Every message handled by Exim is given a message id which is sixteen +characters long. It is divided into three parts, separated by hyphens, for +example 16VDhn-0001bo-D3. Each part is a sequence of letters and digits, +normally encoding numbers in base 62. However, in the Darwin operating +system (Mac OS X) and when Exim is compiled to run under Cygwin, base 36 +(avoiding the use of lower case letters) is used instead, because the message +id is used to construct filenames, and the names of files in those systems are +not always case-sensitive. + + + +pid (process id) +re-use of + +The detail of the contents of the message id have changed as Exim has evolved. +Earlier versions relied on the operating system not re-using a process id (pid) +within one second. On modern operating systems, this assumption can no longer +be made, so the algorithm had to be changed. To retain backward compatibility, +the format of the message id was retained, which is why the following rules are +somewhat eccentric: + + + + +The first six characters of the message id are the time at which the message +started to be received, to a granularity of one second. That is, this field +contains the number of seconds since the start of the epoch (the normal Unix +way of representing the date and time of day). + + + + +After the first hyphen, the next six characters are the id of the process that +received the message. + + + + +There are two different possibilities for the final two characters: + + + + + + + +If is not set, this value is the fractional part of the +time of reception, normally in units of 1/2000 of a second, but for systems +that must use base 36 instead of base 62 (because of case-insensitive file +systems), the units are 1/1000 of a second. + + + + +If is set, it is multiplied by 200 (100) and added to +the fractional part of the time, which in this case is in units of 1/200 +(1/100) of a second. + + + + + + +After a message has been received, Exim waits for the clock to tick at the +appropriate resolution before proceeding, so that if another message is +received by the same process, or by another process with the same (re-used) +pid, it is guaranteed that the time will be different. In most cases, the clock +will already have ticked while the message was being received. + +
+
+Receiving mail + + +receiving mail + + +message +reception + +The only way Exim can receive mail from another host is using SMTP over +TCP/IP, in which case the sender and recipient addresses are transferred using +SMTP commands. However, from a locally running process (such as a user’s MUA), +there are several possibilities: + + + + +If the process runs Exim with the option, the message is read +non-interactively (usually via a pipe), with the recipients taken from the +command line, or from the body of the message if is also used. + + + + +If the process runs Exim with the option, the message is also read +non-interactively, but in this case the recipients are listed at the start of +the message in a series of SMTP RCPT commands, terminated by a DATA +command. This is called batch SMTP format, +but it isn’t really SMTP. The SMTP commands are just another way of passing +envelope addresses in a non-interactive submission. + + + + +If the process runs Exim with the option, the message is read +interactively, using the SMTP protocol. A two-way pipe is normally used for +passing data between the local process and the Exim process. +This is real SMTP and is handled in the same way as SMTP over TCP/IP. For +example, the ACLs for SMTP commands are used for this form of submission. + + + + +A local process may also make a TCP/IP call to the host’s loopback address +(127.0.0.1) or any other of its IP addresses. When receiving messages, Exim +does not treat the loopback address specially. It treats all such connections +in the same way as connections from other hosts. + + + + + +message sender, constructed by Exim + + +sender +constructed by Exim + +In the three cases that do not involve TCP/IP, the sender address is +constructed from the login name of the user that called Exim and a default +qualification domain (which can be set by the configuration +option). For local or batch SMTP, a sender address that is passed using the +SMTP MAIL command is ignored. However, the system administrator may allow +certain users (trusted users) to specify a different sender addresses +unconditionally, or all users to specify certain forms of different sender +address. The option or the SMTP MAIL command is used to specify these +different addresses. See section for details of trusted +users, and the option for a way of allowing untrusted +users to change sender addresses. + + +Messages received by either of the non-interactive mechanisms are subject to +checking by the non-SMTP ACL if one is defined. Messages received using SMTP +(either over TCP/IP or interacting with a local process) can be checked by a +number of ACLs that operate at different times during the SMTP session. Either +individual recipients or the entire message can be rejected if local policy +requirements are not met. The local_scan() function (see chapter +) is run for all incoming messages. + + +Exim can be configured not to start a delivery process when a message is +received; this can be unconditional, or depend on the number of incoming SMTP +connections or the system load. In these situations, new messages wait on the +queue until a queue runner process picks them up. However, in standard +configurations under normal conditions, delivery is started as soon as a +message is received. + +
+
+Handling an incoming message + + +spool directory +files that hold a message + + +file +how a message is held + +When Exim accepts a message, it writes two files in its spool directory. The +first contains the envelope information, the current status of the message, and +the header lines, and the second contains the body of the message. The names of +the two spool files consist of the message id, followed by -H for the +file containing the envelope and header, and -D for the data file. + + + +spool directory +input sub-directory + +By default, all these message files are held in a single directory called +input inside the general Exim spool directory. Some operating systems do +not perform very well if the number of files in a directory gets large; to +improve performance in such cases, the option can be +used. This causes Exim to split up the input files into 62 sub-directories +whose names are single letters or digits. When this is done, the queue is +processed one sub-directory at a time instead of all at once, which can improve +overall performance even when there are not enough files in each directory to +affect file system performance. + + +The envelope information consists of the address of the message’s sender and +the addresses of the recipients. This information is entirely separate from +any addresses contained in the header lines. The status of the message includes +a list of recipients who have already received the message. The format of the +first spool file is described in chapter . + + + +rewriting +addresses + +Address rewriting that is specified in the rewrite section of the configuration +(see chapter ) is done once and for all on incoming addresses, +both in the header lines and the envelope, at the time the message is accepted. +If during the course of delivery additional addresses are generated (for +example, via aliasing), these new addresses are rewritten as soon as they are +generated. At the time a message is actually delivered (transported) further +rewriting can take place; because this is a transport option, it can be +different for different forms of delivery. It is also possible to specify the +addition or removal of certain header lines at the time the message is +delivered (see chapters and +). + +
+
+Life of a message + + +message +life of + + +message +frozen + +A message remains in the spool directory until it is completely delivered to +its recipients or to an error address, or until it is deleted by an +administrator or by the user who originally created it. In cases when delivery +cannot proceed – for example when a message can neither be delivered to its +recipients nor returned to its sender, the message is marked frozen on the +spool, and no more deliveries are attempted. + + + +frozen messages +thawing + + +message +thawing frozen + +An administrator can thaw such messages when the problem has been +corrected, and can also freeze individual messages by hand if necessary. In +addition, an administrator can force a delivery error, causing a bounce message +to be sent. + + + + + + + + +There are options called and +, which discard frozen messages after a certain time. +The first applies only to frozen bounces, the second to all frozen messages. + + + +message +log file for + + +log +file for each message + +While Exim is working on a message, it writes information about each delivery +attempt to its main log file. This includes successful, unsuccessful, and +delayed deliveries for each recipient (see chapter ). The log +lines are also written to a separate message log file for each message. +These logs are solely for the benefit of the administrator and are normally +deleted along with the spool files when processing of a message is complete. +The use of individual message logs can be disabled by setting +; this might give an improvement in performance on very busy +systems. + + + +journal file + + +file +journal + +All the information Exim itself needs to set up a delivery is kept in the first +spool file, along with the header lines. When a successful delivery occurs, the +address is immediately written at the end of a journal file, whose name is the +message id followed by -J. At the end of a delivery run, if there are some +addresses left to be tried again later, the first spool file (the -H file) +is updated to indicate which these are, and the journal file is then deleted. +Updating the spool file is done by writing a new file and renaming it, to +minimize the possibility of data loss. + + +Should the system or Exim crash after a successful delivery but before +the spool file has been updated, the journal is left lying around. The next +time Exim attempts to deliver the message, it reads the journal file and +updates the spool file before proceeding. This minimizes the chances of double +deliveries caused by crashes. + +
+
+Processing an address for delivery + + +drivers +definition of + + +router +definition of + + +transport +definition of + +The main delivery processing elements of Exim are called routers and +transports, and collectively these are known as drivers. Code for a +number of them is provided in the source distribution, and compile-time options +specify which ones are included in the binary. Runtime options specify which +ones are actually used for delivering messages. + + + +drivers +instance definition + +Each driver that is specified in the runtime configuration is an instance +of that particular driver type. Multiple instances are allowed; for example, +you can set up several different smtp transports, each with different +option values that might specify different ports or different timeouts. Each +instance has its own identifying name. In what follows we will normally use the +instance name when discussing one particular instance (that is, one specific +configuration of the driver), and the generic driver name when discussing +the driver’s features in general. + + +A router is a driver that operates on an address, either determining how +its delivery should happen, by assigning it to a specific transport, or +converting the address into one or more new addresses (for example, via an +alias file). A router may also explicitly choose to fail an address, causing it +to be bounced. + + +A transport is a driver that transmits a copy of the message from Exim’s +spool to some destination. There are two kinds of transport: for a local +transport, the destination is a file or a pipe on the local host, whereas for a +remote transport the destination is some other host. A message is passed +to a specific transport as a result of successful routing. If a message has +several recipients, it may be passed to a number of different transports. + + + +preconditions +definition of + +An address is processed by passing it to each configured router instance in +turn, subject to certain preconditions, until a router accepts the address or +specifies that it should be bounced. We will describe this process in more +detail shortly. First, as a simple example, we consider how each recipient +address in a message is processed in a small configuration of three routers. + + +To make this a more concrete example, it is described in terms of some actual +routers, but remember, this is only an example. You can configure Exim’s +routers in many different ways, and there may be any number of routers in a +configuration. + + +The first router that is specified in a configuration is often one that handles +addresses in domains that are not recognized specifically by the local host. +Typically these are addresses for arbitrary domains on the Internet. A precondition +is set up which looks for the special domains known to the host (for example, +its own domain name), and the router is run for addresses that do not +match. Typically, this is a router that looks up domains in the DNS in order to +find the hosts to which this address routes. If it succeeds, the address is +assigned to a suitable SMTP transport; if it does not succeed, the router is +configured to fail the address. + + +The second router is reached only when the domain is recognized as one that +belongs to the local host. This router does redirection – also known as +aliasing and forwarding. When it generates one or more new addresses from the +original, each of them is routed independently from the start. Otherwise, the +router may cause an address to fail, or it may simply decline to handle the +address, in which case the address is passed to the next router. + + +The final router in many configurations is one that checks to see if the +address belongs to a local mailbox. The precondition may involve a check to +see if the local part is the name of a login account, or it may look up the +local part in a file or a database. If its preconditions are not met, or if +the router declines, we have reached the end of the routers. When this happens, +the address is bounced. + +
+
+Processing an address for verification + + +router +for verification + + +verifying address +overview + +As well as being used to decide how to deliver to an address, Exim’s routers +are also used for address verification. Verification can be requested as +one of the checks to be performed in an ACL for incoming messages, on both +sender and recipient addresses, and it can be tested using the and + command line options. + + +When an address is being verified, the routers are run in verify mode. This +does not affect the way the routers work, but it is a state that can be +detected. By this means, a router can be skipped or made to behave differently +when verifying. A common example is a configuration in which the first router +sends all messages to a message-scanning program unless they have been +previously scanned. Thus, the first router accepts all addresses without any +checking, making it useless for verifying. Normally, the option +would be set for such a router, causing it to be skipped in verify mode. + +
+
+Running an individual router + + +router +running details + + +preconditions +checking + + +router +result of running + +As explained in the example above, a number of preconditions are checked before +running a router. If any are not met, the router is skipped, and the address is +passed to the next router. When all the preconditions on a router are met, +the router is run. What happens next depends on the outcome, which is one of +the following: + + + + +accept: The router accepts the address, and either assigns it to a +transport or generates one or more child addresses. Processing the +original address ceases + + + +unless the option is set on the router. This option +can be used to set up multiple deliveries with different routing (for example, +for keeping archive copies of messages). When is set, the address is +passed to the next router. Normally, however, an accept return marks the +end of routing. + + +Any child addresses generated by the router are processed independently, +starting with the first router by default. It is possible to change this by +setting the option to specify which router to start at for +child addresses. Unlike (see below) the router specified by + may be anywhere in the router configuration. + + + + +pass: The router recognizes the address, but cannot handle it itself. It +requests that the address be passed to another router. By default, the address +is passed to the next router, but this can be changed by setting the + option. However, (unlike ) the named router +must be below the current router (to avoid loops). + + + + +decline: The router declines to accept the address because it does not +recognize it at all. By default, the address is passed to the next router, but +this can be prevented by setting the option. When is +set, all the remaining routers are skipped. In effect, converts +decline into fail. + + + + +fail: The router determines that the address should fail, and queues it for +the generation of a bounce message. There is no further processing of the +original address unless is set on the router. + + + + +defer: The router cannot handle the address at the present time. (A +database may be offline, or a DNS lookup may have timed out.) No further +processing of the address happens in this delivery attempt. It is tried again +next time the message is considered for delivery. + + + + +error: There is some error in the router (for example, a syntax error in +its configuration). The action is as for defer. + + + + +If an address reaches the end of the routers without having been accepted by +any of them, it is bounced as unrouteable. The default error message in this +situation is unrouteable address, but you can set your own message by +making use of the option. This can be set for any +router; the value from the last router that saw the address is used. + + +Sometimes while routing you want to fail a delivery when some conditions are +met but others are not, instead of passing the address on for further routing. +You can do this by having a second router that explicitly fails the delivery +when the relevant conditions are met. The redirect router has a fail +facility for this purpose. + +
+
+Duplicate addresses + + +case of local parts + + +address duplicate, discarding + + +duplicate addresses + +Once routing is complete, Exim scans the addresses that are assigned to local +and remote transports and discards any duplicates that it finds. During this +check, local parts are treated case-sensitively. This happens only when +actually delivering a message; when testing routers with , all the +routed addresses are shown. + +
+
+Router preconditions + + +router +preconditions, order of processing + + +preconditions +order of processing + +The preconditions that are tested for each router are listed below, in the +order in which they are tested. The individual configuration options are +described in more detail in chapter . + + + + + +affix +router precondition + +The and options can specify that +the local parts handled by the router may or must have certain prefixes and/or +suffixes. If a mandatory affix (prefix or suffix) is not present, the router is +skipped. These conditions are tested first. When an affix is present, it is +removed from the local part before further processing, including the evaluation +of any other conditions. + + + + +Routers can be designated for use only when not verifying an address, that is, +only when routing it for delivery (or testing its delivery routing). If the + option is set false, the router is skipped when Exim is verifying an +address. +Setting the option actually sets two options, and +, which independently control the use of the router for +sender and recipient verification. You can set these options directly if +you want a router to be used for only one type of verification. +Note that cutthrough delivery is classed as a recipient verification for this purpose. + + + + +If the option is set false, the router is skipped when Exim is +run with the option to test an address routing. This can be helpful +when the first router sends all new messages to a scanner of some sort; it +makes it possible to use to test subsequent delivery routing without +having to simulate the effect of the scanner. + + + + +Routers can be designated for use only when verifying an address, as +opposed to routing it for delivery. The option controls this. +Again, cutthrough delivery counts as a verification. + + + + +Individual routers can be explicitly skipped when running the routers to +check an address given in the SMTP EXPN command (see the option). + + + + +If the option is set, the domain of the address must be in the set +of domains that it defines. + + + + + +$local_part_prefix + + +$local_part + + +$local_part_suffix + + +affix +router precondition + +If the option is set, the local part of the address must be in +the set of local parts that it defines. If or + is in use, the prefix or suffix is removed from the local +part before this check. If you want to do precondition tests on local parts +that include affixes, you can do so by using a option (see below) +that uses the variables $local_part, $local_part_prefix, and +$local_part_suffix as necessary. + + + + + +$local_user_uid + + +$local_user_gid + + +$home + +If the option is set, the local part must be the name of +an account on the local host. If this check succeeds, the uid and gid of the +local user are placed in $local_user_uid and $local_user_gid and the +user’s home directory is placed in $home; these values can be used in the +remaining preconditions. + + + + +If the option is set, it is expanded at this point, +because it overrides the value of $home. If this expansion were left till +later, the value of $home as set by would be used in +subsequent tests. Having two different values of $home in the same router +could lead to confusion. + + + + +If the option is set, the envelope sender address must be in the +set of addresses that it defines. + + + + +If the option is set, the existence or non-existence of +specified files is tested. + + + + + +customizing +precondition + +If the option is set, it is evaluated and tested. This option +uses an expanded string to allow you to set up your own custom preconditions. +Expanded strings are described in chapter . + + + + +Note that comes near the end of the list, so you cannot use +it to check for the existence of a file in which to lookup up a domain, local +part, or sender. However, as these options are all expanded, you can use the + expansion condition to make such tests within each condition. The + option is intended for checking files that the router may be +going to use internally, or which are needed by a specific transport (for +example, .procmailrc). + +
+
+Delivery in detail + + +delivery +in detail + +When a message is to be delivered, the sequence of events is as follows: + + + + +If a system-wide filter file is specified, the message is passed to it. The +filter may add recipients to the message, replace the recipients, discard the +message, cause a new message to be generated, or cause the message delivery to +fail. The format of the system filter file is the same as for Exim user filter +files, described in the separate document entitled Exim’s interfaces to mail +filtering. + +Sieve filter +not available for system filter + +(Note: Sieve cannot be used for system filter files.) + + +Some additional features are available in system filters – see chapter + for details. Note that a message is passed to the system +filter only once per delivery attempt, however many recipients it has. However, +if there are several delivery attempts because one or more addresses could not +be immediately delivered, the system filter is run each time. The filter +condition can be used to detect the first run of the system +filter. + + + + +Each recipient address is offered to each configured router, in turn, subject to +its preconditions, until one is able to handle it. If no router can handle the +address, that is, if they all decline, the address is failed. Because routers +can be targeted at particular domains, several locally handled domains can be +processed entirely independently of each other. + + + + + +routing +loops in + + +loop +while routing + +A router that accepts an address may assign it to a local or a remote +transport. However, the transport is not run at this time. Instead, the address +is placed on a list for the particular transport, which will be run later. +Alternatively, the router may generate one or more new addresses (typically +from alias, forward, or filter files). New addresses are fed back into this +process from the top, but in order to avoid loops, a router ignores any address +which has an identically-named ancestor that was processed by itself. + + + + +When all the routing has been done, addresses that have been successfully +handled are passed to their assigned transports. When local transports are +doing real local deliveries, they handle only one address at a time, but if a +local transport is being used as a pseudo-remote transport (for example, to +collect batched SMTP messages for transmission by some other means) multiple +addresses can be handled. Remote transports can always handle more than one +address at a time, but can be configured not to do so, or to restrict multiple +addresses to the same domain. + + + + +Each local delivery to a file or a pipe runs in a separate process under a +non-privileged uid, and these deliveries are run one at a time. Remote +deliveries also run in separate processes, normally under a uid that is private +to Exim (the Exim user), but in this case, several remote deliveries can be +run in parallel. The maximum number of simultaneous remote deliveries for any +one message is set by the option. +The order in which deliveries are done is not defined, except that all local +deliveries happen before any remote deliveries. + + + + + +queue runner + +When it encounters a local delivery during a queue run, Exim checks its retry +database to see if there has been a previous temporary delivery failure for the +address before running the local transport. If there was a previous failure, +Exim does not attempt a new delivery until the retry time for the address is +reached. However, this happens only for delivery attempts that are part of a +queue run. Local deliveries are always attempted when delivery immediately +follows message reception, even if retry times are set for them. This makes for +better behaviour if one particular message is causing problems (for example, +causing quota overflow, or provoking an error in a filter file). + + + + + +delivery +retry in remote transports + +Remote transports do their own retry handling, since an address may be +deliverable to one of a number of hosts, each of which may have a different +retry time. If there have been previous temporary failures and no host has +reached its retry time, no delivery is attempted, whether in a queue run or +not. See chapter for details of retry strategies. + + + + +If there were any permanent errors, a bounce message is returned to an +appropriate address (the sender in the common case), with details of the error +for each failing address. Exim can be configured to send copies of bounce +messages to other addresses. + + + + + +delivery +deferral + +If one or more addresses suffered a temporary failure, the message is left on +the queue, to be tried again later. Delivery of these addresses is said to be +deferred. + + + + +When all the recipient addresses have either been delivered or bounced, +handling of the message is complete. The spool files and message log are +deleted, though the message log can optionally be preserved if required. + + + +
+
+Retry mechanism + + +delivery +retry mechanism + + +retry +description of mechanism + + +queue runner + +Exim’s mechanism for retrying messages that fail to get delivered at the first +attempt is the queue runner process. You must either run an Exim daemon that +uses the option with a time interval to start queue runners at regular +intervals or use some other means (such as cron) to start them. If you do +not arrange for queue runners to be run, messages that fail temporarily at the +first attempt will remain in your queue forever. A queue runner process works +its way through the queue, one message at a time, trying each delivery that has +passed its retry time. +You can run several queue runners at once. + + +Exim uses a set of configured rules to determine when next to retry the failing +address (see chapter ). These rules also specify when Exim +should give up trying to deliver to the address, at which point it generates a +bounce message. If no retry rules are set for a particular host, address, and +error combination, no retries are attempted, and temporary errors are treated +as permanent. + +
+
+Temporary delivery failure + + +delivery +temporary failure + +There are many reasons why a message may not be immediately deliverable to a +particular address. Failure to connect to a remote machine (because it, or the +connection to it, is down) is one of the most common. Temporary failures may be +detected during routing as well as during the transport stage of delivery. +Local deliveries may be delayed if NFS files are unavailable, or if a mailbox +is on a file system where the user is over quota. Exim can be configured to +impose its own quotas on local mailboxes; where system quotas are set they will +also apply. + + +If a host is unreachable for a period of time, a number of messages may be +waiting for it by the time it recovers, and sending them in a single SMTP +connection is clearly beneficial. Whenever a delivery to a remote host is +deferred, + +hints database +deferred deliveries + +Exim makes a note in its hints database, and whenever a successful +SMTP delivery has happened, it looks to see if any other messages are waiting +for the same host. If any are found, they are sent over the same SMTP +connection, subject to a configuration limit as to the maximum number in any +one connection. + +
+
+Permanent delivery failure + + +delivery +permanent failure + + +bounce message +when generated + +When a message cannot be delivered to some or all of its intended recipients, a +bounce message is generated. Temporary delivery failures turn into permanent +errors when their timeout expires. All the addresses that fail in a given +delivery attempt are listed in a single message. If the original message has +many recipients, it is possible for some addresses to fail in one delivery +attempt and others to fail subsequently, giving rise to more than one bounce +message. The wording of bounce messages can be customized by the administrator. +See chapter for details. + + + +X-Failed-Recipients: header line + +Bounce messages contain an X-Failed-Recipients: header line that lists the +failed addresses, for the benefit of programs that try to analyse such messages +automatically. + + + +bounce message +recipient of + +A bounce message is normally sent to the sender of the original message, as +obtained from the message’s envelope. For incoming SMTP messages, this is the +address given in the MAIL command. However, when an address is expanded via a +forward or alias file, an alternative address can be specified for delivery +failures of the generated addresses. For a mailing list expansion (see section +) it is common to direct bounce messages to the manager +of the list. + +
+
+Failures to deliver bounce messages + + +bounce message +failure to deliver + +If a bounce message (either locally generated or received from a remote host) +itself suffers a permanent delivery failure, the message is left in the queue, +but it is frozen, awaiting the attention of an administrator. There are options +that can be used to make Exim discard such failed messages, or to keep them +for only a short time (see and +). + +
+ + + +Building and installing Exim + + +building Exim + + +
+Unpacking + +Exim is distributed as a gzipped or bzipped tar file which, when unpacked, +creates a directory with the name of the current release (for example, +exim-4.92.2) into which the following files are placed: + + + + + + + +    ACKNOWLEDGMENTS +contains some acknowledgments + + +    CHANGES +contains a reference to where changes are documented + + +    LICENCE +the GNU General Public Licence + + +    Makefile +top-level make file + + +    NOTICE +conditions for the use of Exim + + +    README +list of files, directories and simple build instructions + + + + + +Other files whose names begin with README may also be present. The +following subdirectories are created: + + + + + + + +    Local +an empty directory for local configuration files + + +    OS +OS-specific files + + +    doc +documentation files + + +    exim_monitor +source files for the Exim monitor + + +    scripts +scripts used in the build process + + +    src +remaining source files + + +    util +independent utilities + + + + + +The main utility programs are contained in the src directory and are built +with the Exim binary. The util directory contains a few optional scripts +that may be useful to some sites. + +
+
+Multiple machine architectures and operating systems + + +building Exim +multiple OS/architectures + +The building process for Exim is arranged to make it easy to build binaries for +a number of different architectures and operating systems from the same set of +source files. Compilation does not take place in the src directory. +Instead, a build directory is created for each architecture and operating +system. + +symbolic link +to build directory + +Symbolic links to the sources are installed in this directory, which is where +the actual building takes place. In most cases, Exim can discover the machine +architecture and operating system for itself, but the defaults can be +overridden if necessary. + +compiler +requirements + + +compiler +version + +A C99-capable compiler will be required for the build. + +
+
+PCRE library + + +PCRE library + +Exim no longer has an embedded PCRE library as the vast majority of +modern systems include PCRE as a system library, although you may need to +install the PCRE package or the PCRE development package for your operating +system. If your system has a normal PCRE installation the Exim build +process will need no further configuration. If the library or the +headers are in an unusual location you will need to either set the PCRE_LIBS +and INCLUDE directives appropriately, +or set PCRE_CONFIG=yes to use the installed pcre-config command. +If your operating system has no +PCRE support then you will need to obtain and build the current PCRE +from ftp://ftp.csx.cam.ac.uk/pub/software/programming/pcre/. +More information on PCRE is available at https://www.pcre.org/. + +
+
+DBM libraries + + +DBM libraries +discussion of + + +hints database +DBM files used for + +Even if you do not use any DBM files in your configuration, Exim still needs a +DBM library in order to operate, because it uses indexed files for its hints +databases. Unfortunately, there are a number of DBM libraries in existence, and +different operating systems often have different ones installed. + + + +Solaris +DBM library for + + +IRIX, DBM library for + + +BSD, DBM library for + + +Linux, DBM library for + +If you are using Solaris, IRIX, one of the modern BSD systems, or a modern +Linux distribution, the DBM configuration should happen automatically, and you +may be able to ignore this section. Otherwise, you may have to learn more than +you would like about DBM libraries from what follows. + + + +ndbm DBM library + +Licensed versions of Unix normally contain a library of DBM functions operating +via the ndbm interface, and this is what Exim expects by default. Free +versions of Unix seem to vary in what they contain as standard. In particular, +some early versions of Linux have no default DBM library, and different +distributors have chosen to bundle different libraries with their packaged +versions. However, the more recent releases seem to have standardized on the +Berkeley DB library. + + +Different DBM libraries have different conventions for naming the files they +use. When a program opens a file called dbmfile, there are several +possibilities: + + + + +A traditional ndbm implementation, such as that supplied as part of +Solaris, operates on two files called dbmfile.dir and dbmfile.pag. + + + + + +gdbm DBM library + +The GNU library, gdbm, operates on a single file. If used via its ndbm +compatibility interface it makes two different hard links to it with names +dbmfile.dir and dbmfile.pag, but if used via its native interface, the +filename is used unmodified. + + + + + +Berkeley DB library + +The Berkeley DB package, if called via its ndbm compatibility interface, +operates on a single file called dbmfile.db, but otherwise looks to the +programmer exactly the same as the traditional ndbm implementation. + + + + +If the Berkeley package is used in its native mode, it operates on a single +file called dbmfile; the programmer’s interface is somewhat different to +the traditional ndbm interface. + + + + +To complicate things further, there are several very different versions of the +Berkeley DB package. Version 1.85 was stable for a very long time, releases +2.x and 3.x were current for a while, but the latest versions when Exim last revamped support were numbered 4.x. +Maintenance of some of the earlier releases has ceased. All versions of +Berkeley DB could be obtained from +http://www.sleepycat.com/, which is now a redirect to their new owner’s +page with far newer versions listed. +It is probably wise to plan to move your storage configurations away from +Berkeley DB format, as today there are smaller and simpler alternatives more +suited to Exim’s usage model. + + + + + +tdb DBM library + +Yet another DBM library, called tdb, is available from +https://sourceforge.net/projects/tdb/files/. It has its own interface, and also +operates on a single file. + + + + + +USE_DB + + +DBM libraries +configuration for building + +Exim and its utilities can be compiled to use any of these interfaces. In order +to use any version of the Berkeley DB package in native mode, you must set +USE_DB in an appropriate configuration file (typically +Local/Makefile). For example: + + +USE_DB=yes + + +Similarly, for gdbm you set USE_GDBM, and for tdb you set USE_TDB. An +error is diagnosed if you set more than one of these. + + +At the lowest level, the build-time configuration sets none of these options, +thereby assuming an interface of type (1). However, some operating system +configuration files (for example, those for the BSD operating systems and +Linux) assume type (4) by setting USE_DB as their default, and the +configuration files for Cygwin set USE_GDBM. Anything you set in +Local/Makefile, however, overrides these system defaults. + + +As well as setting USE_DB, USE_GDBM, or USE_TDB, it may also be +necessary to set DBMLIB, to cause inclusion of the appropriate library, as +in one of these lines: + + +DBMLIB = -ldb +DBMLIB = -ltdb + + +Settings like that will work if the DBM library is installed in the standard +place. Sometimes it is not, and the library’s header file may also not be in +the default path. You may need to set INCLUDE to specify where the header +file is, and to specify the path to the library more fully in DBMLIB, as in +this example: + + +INCLUDE=-I/usr/local/include/db-4.1 +DBMLIB=/usr/local/lib/db-4.1/libdb.a + + +There is further detailed discussion about the various DBM libraries in the +file doc/dbm.discuss.txt in the Exim distribution. + +
+
+Pre-building configuration + + +building Exim +pre-building configuration + + +configuration for building Exim + + +Local/Makefile + + +src/EDITME + +Before building Exim, a local configuration file that specifies options +independent of any operating system has to be created with the name +Local/Makefile. A template for this file is supplied as the file +src/EDITME, and it contains full descriptions of all the option settings +therein. These descriptions are therefore not repeated here. If you are +building Exim for the first time, the simplest thing to do is to copy +src/EDITME to Local/Makefile, then read it and edit it appropriately. + + +There are three settings that you must supply, because Exim will not build +without them. They are the location of the runtime configuration file +(CONFIGURE_FILE), the directory in which Exim binaries will be installed +(BIN_DIRECTORY), and the identity of the Exim user (EXIM_USER and +maybe EXIM_GROUP as well). The value of CONFIGURE_FILE can in fact be +a colon-separated list of filenames; Exim uses the first of them that exists. + + +There are a few other parameters that can be specified either at build time or +at runtime, to enable the same binary to be used on a number of different +machines. However, if the locations of Exim’s spool directory and log file +directory (if not within the spool directory) are fixed, it is recommended that +you specify them in Local/Makefile instead of at runtime, so that errors +detected early in Exim’s execution (such as a malformed configuration file) can +be logged. + + + +content scanning +specifying at build time + +Exim’s interfaces for calling virus and spam scanning software directly from +access control lists are not compiled by default. If you want to include these +facilities, you need to set + + +WITH_CONTENT_SCAN=yes + + +in your Local/Makefile. For details of the facilities themselves, see +chapter . + + + +Local/eximon.conf + + +exim_monitor/EDITME + +If you are going to build the Exim monitor, a similar configuration process is +required. The file exim_monitor/EDITME must be edited appropriately for +your installation and saved under the name Local/eximon.conf. If you are +happy with the default settings described in exim_monitor/EDITME, +Local/eximon.conf can be empty, but it must exist. + + +This is all the configuration that is needed in straightforward cases for known +operating systems. However, the building process is set up so that it is easy +to override options that are set by default or by operating-system-specific +configuration files, for example, to change the C compiler, which +defaults to . See section below for details of how to +do this. + +
+
+Support for iconv() + + +iconv() support + + +RFC 2047 + +The contents of header lines in messages may be encoded according to the rules +described RFC 2047. This makes it possible to transmit characters that are not +in the ASCII character set, and to label them as being in a particular +character set. When Exim is inspecting header lines by means of the +mechanism, it decodes them, and translates them into a specified character set +(default is set at build time). The translation is possible only if the operating system +supports the iconv() function. + + +However, some of the operating systems that supply iconv() do not support +very many conversions. The GNU library (available from +https://www.gnu.org/software/libiconv/) can be installed on such +systems to remedy this deficiency, as well as on systems that do not supply +iconv() at all. After installing , you should add + + +HAVE_ICONV=yes + + +to your Local/Makefile and rebuild Exim. + +
+
+Including TLS/SSL encryption support + + +TLS +including support for TLS + + +encryption +including support for + + +SUPPORT_TLS + + +OpenSSL +building Exim with + + +GnuTLS +building Exim with + +Exim can be built to support encrypted SMTP connections, using the STARTTLS +command as per RFC 2487. It can also support legacy clients that expect to +start a TLS session immediately on connection to a non-standard port (see the + runtime option and the command +line option). + + +If you want to build Exim with TLS support, you must first install either the +OpenSSL or GnuTLS library. There is no cryptographic code in Exim itself for +implementing SSL. + + +If OpenSSL is installed, you should set + + +SUPPORT_TLS=yes +TLS_LIBS=-lssl -lcrypto + + +in Local/Makefile. You may also need to specify the locations of the +OpenSSL library and include files. For example: + + +SUPPORT_TLS=yes +TLS_LIBS=-L/usr/local/openssl/lib -lssl -lcrypto +TLS_INCLUDE=-I/usr/local/openssl/include/ + + + +pkg-config +OpenSSL + +If you have pkg-config available, then instead you can just use: + + +SUPPORT_TLS=yes +USE_OPENSSL_PC=openssl + + + +USE_GNUTLS + +If GnuTLS is installed, you should set + + +SUPPORT_TLS=yes +USE_GNUTLS=yes +TLS_LIBS=-lgnutls -ltasn1 -lgcrypt + + +in Local/Makefile, and again you may need to specify the locations of the +library and include files. For example: + + +SUPPORT_TLS=yes +USE_GNUTLS=yes +TLS_LIBS=-L/usr/gnu/lib -lgnutls -ltasn1 -lgcrypt +TLS_INCLUDE=-I/usr/gnu/include + + + +pkg-config +GnuTLS + +If you have pkg-config available, then instead you can just use: + + +SUPPORT_TLS=yes +USE_GNUTLS=yes +USE_GNUTLS_PC=gnutls + + +You do not need to set TLS_INCLUDE if the relevant directory is already +specified in INCLUDE. Details of how to configure Exim to make use of TLS are +given in chapter . + +
+
+Use of tcpwrappers + + +tcpwrappers, building Exim to support + + +USE_TCP_WRAPPERS + + +TCP_WRAPPERS_DAEMON_NAME + + +tcp_wrappers_daemon_name + +Exim can be linked with the tcpwrappers library in order to check incoming +SMTP calls using the tcpwrappers control files. This may be a convenient +alternative to Exim’s own checking facilities for installations that are +already making use of tcpwrappers for other purposes. To do this, you +should set USE_TCP_WRAPPERS in Local/Makefile, arrange for the file +tcpd.h to be available at compile time, and also ensure that the library +libwrap.a is available at link time, typically by including in +EXTRALIBS_EXIM. For example, if tcpwrappers is installed in /usr/local, +you might have + + +USE_TCP_WRAPPERS=yes +CFLAGS=-O -I/usr/local/include +EXTRALIBS_EXIM=-L/usr/local/lib -lwrap + + +in Local/Makefile. The daemon name to use in the tcpwrappers control +files is exim. For example, the line + + +exim : LOCAL 192.168.1. .friendly.domain.example + + +in your /etc/hosts.allow file allows connections from the local host, from +the subnet 192.168.1.0/24, and from all hosts in friendly.domain.example. +All other connections are denied. The daemon name used by tcpwrappers +can be changed at build time by setting TCP_WRAPPERS_DAEMON_NAME in +Local/Makefile, or by setting tcp_wrappers_daemon_name in the +configure file. Consult the tcpwrappers documentation for +further details. + +
+
+Including support for IPv6 + + +IPv6 +including support for + +Exim contains code for use on systems that have IPv6 support. Setting +HAVE_IPV6=YES in Local/Makefile causes the IPv6 code to be included; +it may also be necessary to set IPV6_INCLUDE and IPV6_LIBS on systems +where the IPv6 support is not fully integrated into the normal include and +library files. + + +Two different types of DNS record for handling IPv6 addresses have been +defined. AAAA records (analogous to A records for IPv4) are in use, and are +currently seen as the mainstream. Another record type called A6 was proposed +as better than AAAA because it had more flexibility. However, it was felt to be +over-complex, and its status was reduced to experimental. +Exim used to +have a compile option for including A6 record support but this has now been +withdrawn. + +
+
+Dynamically loaded lookup module support + + +lookup modules + + +dynamic modules + + +.so building + +On some platforms, Exim supports not compiling all lookup types directly into +the main binary, instead putting some into external modules which can be loaded +on demand. +This permits packagers to build Exim with support for lookups with extensive +library dependencies without requiring all users to install all of those +dependencies. +Most, but not all, lookup types can be built this way. + + +Set LOOKUP_MODULE_DIR to the directory into which the modules will be +installed; Exim will only load modules from that directory, as a security +measure. You will need to set CFLAGS_DYNAMIC if not already defined +for your OS; see OS/Makefile-Linux for an example. +Some other requirements for adjusting EXTRALIBS may also be necessary, +see src/EDITME for details. + + +Then, for each module to be loaded dynamically, define the relevant +LOOKUP_<lookup_type> flags to have the value "2" instead of "yes". +For example, this will build in lsearch but load sqlite and mysql support +on demand: + + +LOOKUP_LSEARCH=yes +LOOKUP_SQLITE=2 +LOOKUP_MYSQL=2 + +
+
+The building process + + +build directory + +Once Local/Makefile (and Local/eximon.conf, if required) have been +created, run make at the top level. It determines the architecture and +operating system types, and creates a build directory if one does not exist. +For example, on a Sun system running Solaris 8, the directory +build-SunOS5-5.8-sparc is created. + +symbolic link +to source files + +Symbolic links to relevant source files are installed in the build directory. + + +If this is the first time make has been run, it calls a script that builds +a make file inside the build directory, using the configuration files from the +Local directory. The new make file is then passed to another instance of +make. This does the real work, building a number of utility scripts, and +then compiling and linking the binaries for the Exim monitor (if configured), a +number of utility programs, and finally Exim itself. The command make +makefile can be used to force a rebuild of the make file in the build +directory, should this ever be necessary. + + +If you have problems building Exim, check for any comments there may be in the +README file concerning your operating system, and also take a look at the +FAQ, where some common problems are covered. + +
+
+Output from <quote>make</quote> + +The output produced by the make process for compile lines is often very +unreadable, because these lines can be very long. For this reason, the normal +output is suppressed by default, and instead output similar to that which +appears when compiling the 2.6 Linux kernel is generated: just a short line for +each module that is being compiled or linked. However, it is still possible to +get the full output, by calling make like this: + + +FULLECHO='' make -e + + +The value of FULLECHO defaults to @, the flag character that suppresses +command reflection in make. When you ask for the full output, it is +given in addition to the short output. + +
+
+Overriding build-time options for Exim + + +build-time options, overriding + +The main make file that is created at the beginning of the building process +consists of the concatenation of a number of files which set configuration +values, followed by a fixed set of make instructions. If a value is set +more than once, the last setting overrides any previous ones. This provides a +convenient way of overriding defaults. The files that are concatenated are, in +order: + + +OS/Makefile-Default +OS/Makefile-<ostype> +Local/Makefile +Local/Makefile-<ostype> +Local/Makefile-<archtype> +Local/Makefile-<ostype>-<archtype> +OS/Makefile-Base + + + +Local/Makefile + + +building Exim +operating system type + + +building Exim +architecture type + +where <ostype> is the operating system type and <archtype> is the +architecture type. Local/Makefile is required to exist, and the building +process fails if it is absent. The other three Local files are optional, +and are often not needed. + + +The values used for <ostype> and <archtype> are obtained from scripts +called scripts/os-type and scripts/arch-type respectively. If either of +the environment variables EXIM_OSTYPE or EXIM_ARCHTYPE is set, their +values are used, thereby providing a means of forcing particular settings. +Otherwise, the scripts try to get values from the command. If this +fails, the shell variables OSTYPE and ARCHTYPE are inspected. A number +of ad hoc transformations are then applied, to produce the standard names +that Exim expects. You can run these scripts directly from the shell in order +to find out what values are being used on your system. + + +OS/Makefile-Default contains comments about the variables that are set +therein. Some (but not all) are mentioned below. If there is something that +needs changing, review the contents of this file and the contents of the make +file for your operating system (OS/Makefile-<ostype>) to see what the +default values are. + + + +building Exim +overriding default settings + +If you need to change any of the values that are set in OS/Makefile-Default +or in OS/Makefile-<ostype>, or to add any new definitions, you do not +need to change the original files. Instead, you should make the changes by +putting the new values in an appropriate Local file. For example, + +Tru64-Unix build-time settings + +when building Exim in many releases of the Tru64-Unix (formerly Digital UNIX, +formerly DEC-OSF1) operating system, it is necessary to specify that the C +compiler is called cc rather than gcc. Also, the compiler must be +called with the option , to make it recognize some of the features of +Standard C that Exim uses. (Most other compilers recognize Standard C by +default.) To do this, you should create a file called Local/Makefile-OSF1 +containing the lines + + +CC=cc +CFLAGS=-std1 + + +If you are compiling for just one operating system, it may be easier to put +these lines directly into Local/Makefile. + + +Keeping all your local configuration settings separate from the distributed +files makes it easy to transfer them to new versions of Exim simply by copying +the contents of the Local directory. + + + +NIS lookup type +including support for + + +NIS+ lookup type +including support for + + +LDAP +including support for + + +lookup +inclusion in binary + +Exim contains support for doing LDAP, NIS, NIS+, and other kinds of file +lookup, but not all systems have these components installed, so the default is +not to include the relevant code in the binary. All the different kinds of file +and database lookup that Exim supports are implemented as separate code modules +which are included only if the relevant compile-time options are set. In the +case of LDAP, NIS, and NIS+, the settings for Local/Makefile are: + + +LOOKUP_LDAP=yes +LOOKUP_NIS=yes +LOOKUP_NISPLUS=yes + + +and similar settings apply to the other lookup types. They are all listed in +src/EDITME. In many cases the relevant include files and interface +libraries need to be installed before compiling Exim. + +cdb +including support for + +However, there are some optional lookup types (such as cdb) for which +the code is entirely contained within Exim, and no external include +files or libraries are required. When a lookup type is not included in the +binary, attempts to configure Exim to use it cause runtime configuration +errors. + + + +pkg-config +lookups + + +pkg-config +authenticators + +Many systems now use a tool called pkg-config to encapsulate information +about how to compile against a library; Exim has some initial support for +being able to use pkg-config for lookups and authenticators. For any given +makefile variable which starts LOOKUP_ or AUTH_, you can add a new +variable with the _PC suffix in the name and assign as the value the +name of the package to be queried. The results of querying via the +pkg-config command will be added to the appropriate Makefile variables +with += directives, so your version of make will need to support that +syntax. For instance: + + +LOOKUP_SQLITE=yes +LOOKUP_SQLITE_PC=sqlite3 +AUTH_GSASL=yes +AUTH_GSASL_PC=libgsasl +AUTH_HEIMDAL_GSSAPI=yes +AUTH_HEIMDAL_GSSAPI_PC=heimdal-gssapi + + + +Perl +including support for + +Exim can be linked with an embedded Perl interpreter, allowing Perl +subroutines to be called during string expansion. To enable this facility, + + +EXIM_PERL=perl.o + + +must be defined in Local/Makefile. Details of this facility are given in +chapter . + + + +X11 libraries, location of + +The location of the X11 libraries is something that varies a lot between +operating systems, and there may be different versions of X11 to cope +with. Exim itself makes no use of X11, but if you are compiling the Exim +monitor, the X11 libraries must be available. +The following three variables are set in OS/Makefile-Default: + + +X11=/usr/X11R6 +XINCLUDE=-I$(X11)/include +XLFLAGS=-L$(X11)/lib + + +These are overridden in some of the operating-system configuration files. For +example, in OS/Makefile-SunOS5 there is + + +X11=/usr/openwin +XINCLUDE=-I$(X11)/include +XLFLAGS=-L$(X11)/lib -R$(X11)/lib + + +If you need to override the default setting for your operating system, place a +definition of all three of these variables into your +Local/Makefile-<ostype> file. + + + +EXTRALIBS + +If you need to add any extra libraries to the link steps, these can be put in a +variable called EXTRALIBS, which appears in all the link commands, but by +default is not defined. In contrast, EXTRALIBS_EXIM is used only on the +command for linking the main Exim binary, and not for any associated utilities. + + + +DBM libraries +configuration for building + +There is also DBMLIB, which appears in the link commands for binaries that +use DBM functions (see also section ). Finally, there is +EXTRALIBS_EXIMON, which appears only in the link step for the Exim monitor +binary, and which can be used, for example, to include additional X11 +libraries. + + + +configuration file +editing + +The make file copes with rebuilding Exim correctly if any of the configuration +files are edited. However, if an optional configuration file is deleted, it is +necessary to touch the associated non-optional file (that is, +Local/Makefile or Local/eximon.conf) before rebuilding. + +
+
+OS-specific header files + + +os.h + + +building Exim +OS-specific C header files + +The OS directory contains a number of files with names of the form +os.h-<ostype>. These are system-specific C header files that should not +normally need to be changed. There is a list of macro settings that are +recognized in the file OS/os.configuring, which should be consulted if you +are porting Exim to a new operating system. + +
+
+Overriding build-time options for the monitor + + +building Eximon + +A similar process is used for overriding things when building the Exim monitor, +where the files that are involved are + + +OS/eximon.conf-Default +OS/eximon.conf-<ostype> +Local/eximon.conf +Local/eximon.conf-<ostype> +Local/eximon.conf-<archtype> +Local/eximon.conf-<ostype>-<archtype> + + + +Local/eximon.conf + +As with Exim itself, the final three files need not exist, and in this case the +OS/eximon.conf-<ostype> file is also optional. The default values in +OS/eximon.conf-Default can be overridden dynamically by setting environment +variables of the same name, preceded by EXIMON_. For example, setting +EXIMON_LOG_DEPTH in the environment overrides the value of +LOG_DEPTH at runtime. + + +
+
+Installing Exim binaries and scripts + + +installing Exim + + +BIN_DIRECTORY + +The command make install runs the exim_install script with no +arguments. The script copies binaries and utility scripts into the directory +whose name is specified by the BIN_DIRECTORY setting in Local/Makefile. + +setuid +installing Exim with + +The install script copies files only if they are newer than the files they are +going to replace. The Exim binary is required to be owned by root and have the +setuid bit set, for normal configurations. Therefore, you must run make +install as root so that it can set up the Exim binary in this way. However, in +some special situations (for example, if a host is doing no local deliveries) +it may be possible to run Exim without making the binary setuid root (see +chapter for details). + + + +CONFIGURE_FILE + +Exim’s runtime configuration file is named by the CONFIGURE_FILE setting +in Local/Makefile. If this names a single file, and the file does not +exist, the default configuration file src/configure.default is copied there +by the installation script. If a runtime configuration file already exists, it +is left alone. If CONFIGURE_FILE is a colon-separated list, naming several +alternative files, no default is installed. + + + +system aliases file + + +/etc/aliases + +One change is made to the default configuration file when it is installed: the +default configuration contains a router that references a system aliases file. +The path to this file is set to the value specified by +SYSTEM_ALIASES_FILE in Local/Makefile (/etc/aliases by default). +If the system aliases file does not exist, the installation script creates it, +and outputs a comment to the user. + + +The created file contains no aliases, but it does contain comments about the +aliases a site should normally have. Mail aliases have traditionally been +kept in /etc/aliases. However, some operating systems are now using +/etc/mail/aliases. You should check if yours is one of these, and change +Exim’s configuration if necessary. + + +The default configuration uses the local host’s name as the only local domain, +and is set up to do local deliveries into the shared directory /var/mail, +running as the local user. System aliases and .forward files in users’ home +directories are supported, but no NIS or NIS+ support is configured. Domains +other than the name of the local host are routed using the DNS, with delivery +over SMTP. + + +It is possible to install Exim for special purposes (such as building a binary +distribution) in a private part of the file system. You can do this by a +command such as + + +make DESTDIR=/some/directory/ install + + +This has the effect of pre-pending the specified directory to all the file +paths, except the name of the system aliases file that appears in the default +configuration. (If a default alias file is created, its name is modified.) +For backwards compatibility, ROOT is used if DESTDIR is not set, +but this usage is deprecated. + + + +installing Exim +what is not installed + +Running make install does not copy the Exim 4 conversion script +convert4r4. You will probably run this only once if you are +upgrading from Exim 3. None of the documentation files in the doc +directory are copied, except for the info files when you have set +INFO_DIRECTORY, as described in section below. + + +For the utility programs, old versions are renamed by adding the suffix .O +to their names. The Exim binary itself, however, is handled differently. It is +installed under a name that includes the version number and the compile number, +for example, exim-4.92.2-1. The script then arranges for a symbolic link +called exim to point to the binary. If you are updating a previous version +of Exim, the script takes care to ensure that the name exim is never absent +from the directory (as seen by other processes). + + + +installing Exim +testing the script + +If you want to see what the make install will do before running it for +real, you can pass the option to the installation script by this +command: + + +make INSTALL_ARG=-n install + + +The contents of the variable INSTALL_ARG are passed to the installation +script. You do not need to be root to run this test. Alternatively, you can run +the installation script directly, but this must be from within the build +directory. For example, from the top-level Exim directory you could use this +command: + + +(cd build-SunOS5-5.5.1-sparc; ../scripts/exim_install -n) + + + +installing Exim +install script options + +There are two other options that can be supplied to the installation script. + + + + + bypasses the call to change the owner of the installed binary +to root, and the call to make it a setuid binary. + + + + + bypasses the setting up of the symbolic link exim to the +installed binary. + + + + +INSTALL_ARG can be used to pass these options to the script. For example: + + +make INSTALL_ARG=-no_symlink install + + +The installation script can also be given arguments specifying which files are +to be copied. For example, to install just the Exim binary, and nothing else, +without creating the symbolic link, you could use: + + +make INSTALL_ARG='-no_symlink exim' install + +
+
+Installing info documentation + + +installing Exim +info documentation + +Not all systems use the GNU info system for documentation, and for this +reason, the Texinfo source of Exim’s documentation is not included in the main +distribution. Instead it is available separately from the FTP site (see section +). + + +If you have defined INFO_DIRECTORY in Local/Makefile and the Texinfo +source of the documentation is found in the source tree, running make +install automatically builds the info files and installs them. + +
+
+Setting up the spool directory + + +spool directory +creating + +When it starts up, Exim tries to create its spool directory if it does not +exist. The Exim uid and gid are used for the owner and group of the spool +directory. Sub-directories are automatically created in the spool directory as +necessary. + +
+
+Testing + + +testing +installation + +Having installed Exim, you can check that the runtime configuration file is +syntactically valid by running the following command, which assumes that the +Exim binary directory is within your PATH environment variable: + + +exim -bV + + +If there are any errors in the configuration file, Exim outputs error messages. +Otherwise it outputs the version number and build date, +the DBM library that is being used, and information about which drivers and +other optional code modules are included in the binary. +Some simple routing tests can be done by using the address testing option. For +example, + + +exim -bt <local username> + + +should verify that it recognizes a local mailbox, and + + +exim -bt <remote address> + + +a remote one. Then try getting it to deliver mail, both locally and remotely. +This can be done by passing messages directly to Exim, without going through a +user agent. For example: + + +exim -v postmaster@your.domain.example +From: user@your.domain.example +To: postmaster@your.domain.example +Subject: Testing Exim + +This is a test message. +^D + + +The option causes Exim to output some verification of what it is doing. +In this case you should see copies of three log lines, one for the message’s +arrival, one for its delivery, and one containing Completed. + + + +delivery +problems with + +If you encounter problems, look at Exim’s log files (mainlog and +paniclog) to see if there is any relevant information there. Another source +of information is running Exim with debugging turned on, by specifying the + option. If a message is stuck on Exim’s spool, you can force a delivery +with debugging turned on by a command of the form + + +exim -d -M <exim-message-id> + + +You must be root or an admin user in order to do this. The option +produces rather a lot of output, but you can cut this down to specific areas. +For example, if you use only the debugging information +relevant to routing is included. (See the option in chapter + for more details.) + + + +sticky bit + + +lock files + +One specific problem that has shown up on some sites is the inability to do +local deliveries into a shared mailbox directory, because it does not have the +sticky bit set on it. By default, Exim tries to create a lock file before +writing to a mailbox file, and if it cannot create the lock file, the delivery +is deferred. You can get round this either by setting the sticky bit on the +directory, or by setting a specific group for local deliveries and allowing +that group to create files in the directory (see the comments above the +local_delivery transport in the default configuration file). Another +approach is to configure Exim not to use lock files, but just to rely on +fcntl() locking instead. However, you should do this only if all user +agents also use fcntl() locking. For further discussion of locking issues, +see chapter . + + +One thing that cannot be tested on a system that is already running an MTA is +the receipt of incoming SMTP mail on the standard SMTP port. However, the + option can be used to run an Exim daemon that listens on some other +port, or inetd can be used to do this. The option and the +exim_checkaccess utility can be used to check out policy controls on +incoming SMTP mail. + + +Testing a new version on a system that is already running Exim can most easily +be done by building a binary with a different CONFIGURE_FILE setting. From +within the runtime configuration, all other file and directory names +that Exim uses can be altered, in order to keep it entirely clear of the +production version. + +
+
+Replacing another MTA with Exim + + +replacing another MTA + +Building and installing Exim for the first time does not of itself put it in +general use. The name by which the system’s MTA is called by mail user agents +is either /usr/sbin/sendmail, or /usr/lib/sendmail (depending on the +operating system), and it is necessary to make this name point to the exim +binary in order to get the user agents to pass messages to Exim. This is +normally done by renaming any existing file and making /usr/sbin/sendmail +or /usr/lib/sendmail + +symbolic link +to exim binary + +a symbolic link to the exim binary. It is a good idea to remove any setuid +privilege and executable status from the old MTA. It is then necessary to stop +and restart the mailer daemon, if one is running. + + + +FreeBSD, MTA indirection + + +/etc/mail/mailer.conf + +Some operating systems have introduced alternative ways of switching MTAs. For +example, if you are running FreeBSD, you need to edit the file +/etc/mail/mailer.conf instead of setting up a symbolic link as just +described. A typical example of the contents of this file for running Exim is +as follows: + + +sendmail /usr/exim/bin/exim +send-mail /usr/exim/bin/exim +mailq /usr/exim/bin/exim -bp +newaliases /usr/bin/true + + +Once you have set up the symbolic link, or edited /etc/mail/mailer.conf, +your Exim installation is live. Check it by sending a message from your +favourite user agent. + + +You should consider what to tell your users about the change of MTA. Exim may +have different capabilities to what was previously running, and there are +various operational differences such as the text of messages produced by +command line options and in bounce messages. If you allow your users to make +use of Exim’s filtering capabilities, you should make the document entitled +Exim’s interface to mail filtering available to them. + +
+
+Upgrading Exim + + +upgrading Exim + +If you are already running Exim on your host, building and installing a new +version automatically makes it available to MUAs, or any other programs that +call the MTA directly. However, if you are running an Exim daemon, you do need +to send it a HUP signal, to make it re-execute itself, and thereby pick up the +new binary. You do not need to stop processing mail in order to install a new +version of Exim. The install script does not modify an existing runtime +configuration file. + +
+
+Stopping the Exim daemon on Solaris + + +Solaris +stopping Exim on + +The standard command for stopping the mailer daemon on Solaris is + + +/etc/init.d/sendmail stop + + +If /usr/lib/sendmail has been turned into a symbolic link, this script +fails to stop Exim because it uses the command ps -e and greps the output +for the text sendmail; this is not present because the actual program name +(that is, exim) is given by the ps command with these options. A +solution is to replace the line that finds the process id with something like + + +pid=`cat /var/spool/exim/exim-daemon.pid` + + +to obtain the daemon’s pid directly from the file that Exim saves it in. + + +Note, however, that stopping the daemon does not stop Exim. Messages can +still be received from local processes, and if automatic delivery is configured +(the normal case), deliveries will still occur. + +
+ + + +The Exim command line + + +command line +options + + +options +command line + +Exim’s command line takes the standard Unix form of a sequence of options, +each starting with a hyphen character, followed by a number of arguments. The +options are compatible with the main options of Sendmail, and there are also +some additional options, some of which are compatible with Smail 3. Certain +combinations of options do not make sense, and provoke an error if used. +The form of the arguments depends on which options are set. + +
+Setting options by program name + + +mailq + +If Exim is called under the name mailq, it behaves as if the option +were present before any other options. +The option requests a listing of the contents of the mail queue on the +standard output. +This feature is for compatibility with some systems that contain a command of +that name in one of the standard libraries, symbolically linked to +/usr/sbin/sendmail or /usr/lib/sendmail. + + + +rsmtp + +If Exim is called under the name rsmtp it behaves as if the option +were present before any other options, for compatibility with Smail. The + option is used for reading in a number of messages in batched SMTP +format. + + + +rmail + +If Exim is called under the name rmail it behaves as if the and + options were present before any other options, for compatibility with +Smail. The name rmail is used as an interface by some UUCP systems. + + + +runq + + +queue runner + +If Exim is called under the name runq it behaves as if the option +were present before any other options, for compatibility with Smail. The +option causes a single queue runner process to be started. + + + +newaliases + + +alias file +building + + +Sendmail compatibility +calling Exim as newaliases + +If Exim is called under the name newaliases it behaves as if the option + were present before any other options, for compatibility with Sendmail. +This option is used for rebuilding Sendmail’s alias file. Exim does not have +the concept of a single alias file, but can be configured to run a given +command if called with the option. + +
+
+Trusted and admin users + +Some Exim options are available only to trusted users and others are +available only to admin users. In the description below, the phrases Exim +user and Exim group mean the user and group defined by EXIM_USER and +EXIM_GROUP in Local/Makefile or set by the and + options. These do not necessarily have to use the name exim. + + + + + +trusted users +definition of + + +user +trusted definition of + +The trusted users are root, the Exim user, any user listed in the + configuration option, and any user whose current group or any +supplementary group is one of those listed in the +configuration option. Note that the Exim group is not automatically trusted. + + + +From line + + +envelope sender + +Trusted users are always permitted to use the option or a leading +From  line to specify the envelope sender of a message that is passed to +Exim through the local interface (see the and options below). +See the option for a way of permitting non-trusted +users to set envelope senders. + + + +From: header line + + +Sender: header line + + +header lines +From: + + +header lines +Sender: + +For a trusted user, there is never any check on the contents of the From: +header line, and a Sender: line is never added. Furthermore, any existing +Sender: line in incoming local (non-TCP/IP) messages is not removed. + + +Trusted users may also specify a host name, host address, interface address, +protocol name, ident value, and authentication data when submitting a message +locally. Thus, they are able to insert messages into Exim’s queue locally that +have the characteristics of messages received from a remote host. Untrusted +users may in some circumstances use , but can never set the other values +that are available to trusted users. + + + + + +user +admin definition of + + +admin user +definition of + +The admin users are root, the Exim user, and any user that is a member of the +Exim group or of any group listed in the configuration option. +The current group does not have to be one of these groups. + + +Admin users are permitted to list the queue, and to carry out certain +operations on messages, for example, to force delivery failures. It is also +necessary to be an admin user in order to see the full information provided by +the Exim monitor, and full debugging output. + + +By default, the use of the , , , and options to cause +Exim to attempt delivery of messages on its queue is restricted to admin users. +However, this restriction can be relaxed by setting the +option false (that is, specifying ). + + +Similarly, the use of the option to list all the messages in the queue +is restricted to admin users unless is set +false. + + + + +Warning: If you configure your system so that admin users are able to +edit Exim’s configuration file, you are giving those users an easy way of +getting root. There is further discussion of this issue at the start of chapter +. + +
+
+Command line options + +Exim’s command line options are described in alphabetical order below. If none +of the options that specifies a specific action (such as starting the daemon or +a queue runner, or testing an address, or receiving a message in a specific +format, or listing the queue) are present, and there is at least one argument +on the command line, (accept a local message on the standard input, +with the arguments specifying the recipients) is assumed. Otherwise, Exim +outputs a brief message about itself and exits. + + + + + + + + +-- + + +options +command line; terminating + +This is a pseudo-option whose only purpose is to terminate the options and +therefore to cause subsequent command line items to be treated as arguments +rather than options, even if they begin with hyphens. + + + + + + + + + +This option causes Exim to output a few sentences stating what it is. +The same output is generated if the Exim binary is called with no options and +no arguments. + + + + + + + + + +This option is an alias for and causes version information to be +displayed. + + + + + + + + + + + + + +These options are used by Sendmail for selecting configuration files and are +ignored by Exim. + + + +<type> + + + + + + +8-bit characters + + +Sendmail compatibility +8-bit characters + +This is a Sendmail option for selecting 7 or 8 bit processing. Exim is 8-bit +clean; it ignores this option. + + + + + + + + + + +daemon + + +SMTP +listener + + +queue runner + +This option runs Exim as a daemon, awaiting incoming SMTP connections. Usually +the option is combined with the <time> option, to specify +that the daemon should also initiate periodic queue runs. + + +The option can be used only by an admin user. If either of the +(debugging) or (verifying) options are set, the daemon does not +disconnect from the controlling terminal. When running this way, it can be +stopped by pressing ctrl-C. + + +By default, Exim listens for incoming connections to the standard SMTP port on +all the host’s running interfaces. However, it is possible to listen on other +ports, on multiple ports, and only on specific interfaces. Chapter + contains a description of the options that control this. + + +When a listening daemon + +daemon +process id (pid) + + +pid (process id) +of daemon + +is started without the use of (that is, without overriding the normal +configuration), it writes its process id to a file called exim-daemon.pid +in Exim’s spool directory. This location can be overridden by setting +PID_FILE_PATH in Local/Makefile. The file is written while Exim is still +running as root. + + +When is used on the command line to start a listening daemon, the +process id is not written to the normal pid file path. However, can be +used to specify a path on the command line if a pid file is required. + + +The SIGHUP signal + +SIGHUP + + +daemon +restarting + +can be used to cause the daemon to re-execute itself. This should be done +whenever Exim’s configuration file, or any file that is incorporated into it by +means of the facility, is changed, and also whenever a new version +of Exim is installed. It is not necessary to do this when other files that are +referenced from the configuration (for example, alias files) are changed, +because these are reread each time they are used. + + + + + + + + + +This option has the same effect as except that it never disconnects +from the controlling terminal, even when no debugging is specified. + + + + + + + + + + +testing +string expansion + + +expansion +testing + +Run Exim in expansion testing mode. Exim discards its root privilege, to +prevent ordinary users from using this mode to read otherwise inaccessible +files. If no arguments are given, Exim runs interactively, prompting for lines +of data. Otherwise, it processes each argument in turn. + + +If Exim was built with USE_READLINE=yes in Local/Makefile, it tries +to load the library dynamically whenever the option is +used without command line arguments. If successful, it uses the readline() +function, which provides extensive line-editing facilities, for reading the +test data. A line history is supported. + + +Long expansion expressions can be split over several lines by using backslash +continuations. As in Exim’s runtime configuration, white space at the start of +continuation lines is ignored. Each argument or data line is passed through the +string expansion mechanism, and the result is output. Variable values from the +configuration file (for example, $qualify_domain) are available, but no +message-specific values (such as $message_exim_id) are set, because no message +is being processed (but see and ). + + +Note: If you use this mechanism to test lookups, and you change the data +files or databases you are using, you must exit and restart Exim before trying +the same lookup again. Otherwise, because each Exim process caches the results +of lookups, you will just get the same result as before. + + +Macro processing is done on lines before string-expansion: new macros can be +defined and macros will be expanded. +Because macros in the config file are often used for secrets, those are only +available to admin users. + + + + <filename> + + + + + + +testing +string expansion + + +expansion +testing + +This option operates like except that it must be followed by the name +of a file. For example: + + +exim -bem /tmp/testmessage + + +The file is read as a message (as if receiving a locally-submitted non-SMTP +message) before any of the test expansions are done. Thus, message-specific +variables such as $message_size and $header_from: are available. However, +no Received: header is added to the message. If the option is set, +recipients are read from the headers in the normal way, and are shown in the +$recipients variable. Note that recipients cannot be given on the command +line, because further arguments are taken as strings to expand (just like +). + + + + <filename> + + + + + + +system filter +testing + + +testing +system filter + +This option is the same as except that it assumes that the filter being +tested is a system filter. The additional commands that are available only in +system filters are recognized. + + + + <filename> + + + + + + +filter +testing + + +testing +filter file + + +forward file +testing + + +testing +forward file + + +Sieve filter +testing + +This option runs Exim in user filter testing mode; the file is the filter file +to be tested, and a test message must be supplied on the standard input. If +there are no message-dependent tests in the filter, an empty file can be +supplied. + + +If you want to test a system filter file, use instead of . You +can use both and on the same command, in order to test a system +filter and a user filter in the same run. For example: + + +exim -bF /system/filter -bf /user/filter </test/message + + +This is helpful when the system filter adds header lines or sets filter +variables that are used by the user filter. + + +If the test filter file does not begin with one of the special lines + + +# Exim filter +# Sieve filter + + +it is taken to be a normal .forward file, and is tested for validity under +that interpretation. See sections to + for a description of the possible contents of non-filter +redirection lists. + + +The result of an Exim command that uses , provided no errors are +detected, is a list of the actions that Exim would try to take if presented +with the message for real. More details of filter testing are given in the +separate document entitled Exim’s interfaces to mail filtering. + + +When testing a filter file, + +From line + + +envelope sender + + + +for filter testing + +the envelope sender can be set by the option, +or by a From  line at the start of the test message. Various parameters +that would normally be taken from the envelope recipient address of the message +can be set by means of additional command line options (see the next four +options). + + + + <domain> + + + + + + +$qualify_domain + +This sets the domain of the recipient address when a filter file is being +tested by means of the option. The default is the value of +$qualify_domain. + + + + <local part> + + + + + +This sets the local part of the recipient address when a filter file is being +tested by means of the option. The default is the username of the +process that calls Exim. A local part should be specified with any prefix or +suffix stripped, because that is how it appears to the filter when a message is +actually being delivered. + + + + <prefix> + + + + + + +affix +filter testing + +This sets the prefix of the local part of the recipient address when a filter +file is being tested by means of the option. The default is an empty +prefix. + + + + <suffix> + + + + + + +affix +filter testing + +This sets the suffix of the local part of the recipient address when a filter +file is being tested by means of the option. The default is an empty +suffix. + + + + <IP address> + + + + + + +testing +incoming SMTP + + +SMTP +testing incoming + + +testing +relay control + + +relaying +testing configuration + + +policy control +testing + + +debugging + option + +This option runs a fake SMTP session as if from the given IP address, using the +standard input and output. The IP address may include a port number at the end, +after a full stop. For example: + + +exim -bh 10.9.8.7.1234 +exim -bh fe80::a00:20ff:fe86:a061.5678 + + +When an IPv6 address is given, it is converted into canonical form. In the case +of the second example above, the value of $sender_host_address after +conversion to the canonical form is +fe80:0000:0000:0a00:20ff:fe86:a061.5678. + + +Comments as to what is going on are written to the standard error file. These +include lines beginning with LOG for anything that would have been logged. +This facility is provided for testing configuration options for incoming +messages, to make sure they implement the required policy. For example, you can +test your relay controls using . + + +Warning 1: + +RFC 1413 + +You can test features of the configuration that rely on ident (RFC 1413) +information by using the option. However, Exim cannot actually perform +an ident callout when testing using because there is no incoming SMTP +connection. + + +Warning 2: Address verification callouts (see section ) +are also skipped when testing using . If you want these callouts to +occur, use instead. + + +Messages supplied during the testing session are discarded, and nothing is +written to any of the real log files. There may be pauses when DNS (and other) +lookups are taking place, and of course these may time out. The option +can be used to specify a specific IP interface and port if this is important, +and and can be used to set parameters as if the SMTP +session were authenticated. + + +The exim_checkaccess utility is a packaged version of whose +output just states whether a given recipient address from a given host is +acceptable or not. See section . + + +Features such as authentication and encryption, where the client input is not +plain text, cannot easily be tested with . Instead, you should use a +specialized SMTP test program such as +swaks. + + + + <IP address> + + + + + +This option operates in the same way as , except that address +verification callouts are performed if required. This includes consulting and +updating the callout cache database. + + + + + + + + + + +alias file +building + + +building alias file + + +Sendmail compatibility + option + +Sendmail interprets the option as a request to rebuild its alias file. +Exim does not have the concept of a single alias file, and so it cannot mimic +this behaviour. However, calls to /usr/lib/sendmail with the option +tend to appear in various scripts such as NIS make files, so the option must be +recognized. + + +If is encountered, the command specified by the +configuration option is run, under the uid and gid of the caller of Exim. If +the option is used, its value is passed to the command as an argument. +The command set by may not contain arguments. The command can +use the exim_dbmbuild utility, or some other means, to rebuild alias files +if this is required. If the option is not set, calling Exim with + is a no-op. + + + + + + + + + + +querying exim information + +We shall provide various options starting -bI: for querying Exim for +information. The output of many of these will be intended for machine +consumption. This one is not. The option asks Exim for a +synopsis of supported options beginning -bI:. Use of any of these +options shall cause Exim to exit after producing the requested output. + + + + + + + + + + +DSCP +values + +This option causes Exim to emit an alphabetically sorted list of all +recognised DSCP names. + + + + + + + + + + +Sieve filter +capabilities + +This option causes Exim to emit an alphabetically sorted list of all supported +Sieve protocol extensions on stdout, one per line. This is anticipated to be +useful for ManageSieve (RFC 5804) implementations, in providing that protocol’s +SIEVE capability response line. As the precise list may depend upon +compile-time build options, which this option will adapt to, this is the only +way to guarantee a correct response. + + + + + + + + + + +local message reception + +This option runs an Exim receiving process that accepts an incoming, +locally-generated message on the standard input. The recipients are given as the +command arguments (except when is also present – see below). Each +argument can be a comma-separated list of RFC 2822 addresses. This is the +default option for selecting the overall action of an Exim call; it is assumed +if no other conflicting option is present. + + +If any addresses in the message are unqualified (have no domain), they are +qualified by the values of the or +options, as appropriate. The option (see below) provides a way of +suppressing this for special cases. + + +Policy checks on the contents of local messages can be enforced by means of +the non-SMTP ACL. See chapter for details. + + + +return code +for + +The return code is zero if the message is successfully accepted. Otherwise, the +action is controlled by the x option setting – see below. + + +The format + +message +format + + +format +message + + +From line + + +UUCP +From line + + +Sendmail compatibility +From line + +of the message must be as defined in RFC 2822, except that, for +compatibility with Sendmail and Smail, a line in one of the forms + + +From sender Fri Jan 5 12:55 GMT 1997 +From sender Fri, 5 Jan 97 12:55:01 + + +(with the weekday optional, and possibly with additional text after the date) +is permitted to appear at the start of the message. There appears to be no +authoritative specification of the format of this line. Exim recognizes it by +matching against the regular expression defined by the +option, which can be changed if necessary. + + + + +overriding From line + +The specified sender is treated as if it were given as the argument to the + option, but if a option is also present, its argument is used in +preference to the address taken from the message. The caller of Exim must be a +trusted user for the sender of a message to be set in this way. + + + + <filename> + + + + + + +testing +, + + +malware scan test + +This debugging option causes Exim to scan the given file or directory +(depending on the used scanner interface), +using the malware scanning framework. The option of influences +this option, so if ’s value is dependent upon an expansion then +the expansion should have defaults which apply to this invocation. ACLs are +not invoked, so if references an ACL variable then that variable +will never be populated and will fail. + + +Exim will have changed working directory before resolving the filename, so +using fully qualified pathnames is advisable. Exim will be running as the Exim +user when it tries to open the file, rather than as the invoking user. +This option requires admin privileges. + + +The option will not be extended to be more generally useful, +there are better tools for file-scanning. This option exists to help +administrators verify their Exim and AV scanner configuration. + + + + + + + + + + +address qualification, suppressing + +By default, Exim automatically qualifies unqualified addresses (those +without domains) that appear in messages that are submitted locally (that +is, not over TCP/IP). This qualification applies both to addresses in +envelopes, and addresses in header lines. Sender addresses are qualified using +, and recipient addresses using (which +defaults to the value of ). + + +Sometimes, qualification is not wanted. For example, if (batch SMTP) is +being used to re-submit messages that originally came from remote hosts after +content scanning, you probably do not want to qualify unqualified addresses in +header lines. (Such lines will be present only if you have not enabled a header +syntax check in the appropriate ACL.) + + +The option suppresses all qualification of unqualified addresses in +messages that originate on the local host. When this is used, unqualified +addresses in the envelope provoke errors (causing message rejection) and +unqualified addresses in header lines are left alone. + + + + + + + + + + +configuration options +extracting + + +options +configuration – extracting + +If this option is given with no arguments, it causes the values of all Exim’s +main configuration options to be written to the standard output. The values +of one or more specific options can be requested by giving their names as +arguments, for example: + + +exim -bP qualify_domain hold_domains + + + +hiding configuration option values + + +configuration options +hiding value of + + +options +hiding value of + +However, any option setting that is preceded by the word hide in the +configuration file is not shown in full, except to an admin user. For other +users, the output is as in this example: + + +mysql_servers = <value not displayable> + + +If is given as an argument, the config is +output, as it was parsed, any include file resolved, any comment removed. + + +If is given as an argument, the name of the runtime +configuration file is output. ( works too, for +backward compatibility.) +If a list of configuration files was supplied, the value that is output here +is the name of the file that was actually used. + + + +options +hiding name of + +If the flag is given, then for most modes of operation the +name will not be output. + + + +daemon +process id (pid) + + +pid (process id) +of daemon + +If or are given, the names of the +directories where log files and daemon pid files are written are output, +respectively. If these values are unset, log files are written in a +sub-directory of the spool directory called , and the pid file is +written directly into the spool directory. + + +If is followed by a name preceded by +, for example, + + +exim -bP +local_domains + + +it searches for a matching named list of any type (domain, host, address, or +local part) and outputs what it finds. + + + +options +router – extracting + + +options +transport – extracting + + +options +authenticator – extracting + +If one of the words , , or is given, +followed by the name of an appropriate driver instance, the option settings for +that driver are output. For example: + + +exim -bP transport local_delivery + + +The generic driver options are output first, followed by the driver’s private +options. A list of the names of drivers of a particular type can be obtained by +using one of the words , , or +, and a complete list of all drivers with their option +settings can be obtained by using , , or +. + + + +environment + +If is given as an argument, the set of environment +variables is output, line by line. Using the flag suppresses the value of the +variables. + + + +options +macro – extracting + +If invoked by an admin user, then , and +are available, similarly to the drivers. Because macros are sometimes used +for storing passwords, this option is restricted. +The output format is one item per line. +For the "-bP macro <name>" form, if no such macro is found +the exit status will be nonzero. + + + + + + + + + + +queue +listing messages in + + +listing +messages in the queue + +This option requests a listing of the contents of the mail queue on the +standard output. If the option is followed by a list of message ids, +just those messages are listed. By default, this option can be used only by an +admin user. However, the option can be set false +to allow any user to see the queue. + + +Each message in the queue is displayed as in the following example: + + +25m 2.9K 0t5C6f-0000c8-00 <alice@wonderland.fict.example> + red.king@looking-glass.fict.example + <other addresses> + + + +message +size in queue listing + + +size +of message + +The first line contains the length of time the message has been in the queue +(in this case 25 minutes), the size of the message (2.9K), the unique local +identifier for the message, and the message sender, as contained in the +envelope. For bounce messages, the sender address is empty, and appears as +<>. If the message was submitted locally by an untrusted user who overrode +the default sender address, the user’s login name is shown in parentheses +before the sender address. + + + +frozen messages +in queue listing + +If the message is frozen (attempts to deliver it are suspended) then the text +*** frozen *** is displayed at the end of this line. + + +The recipients of the message (taken from the envelope, not the headers) are +displayed on subsequent lines. Those addresses to which the message has already +been delivered are marked with the letter D. If an original address gets +expanded into several addresses via an alias or forward file, the original is +displayed with a D only when deliveries for all of its child addresses are +complete. + + + + + + + + + +This option operates like , but in addition it shows delivered addresses +that were generated from the original top level address(es) in each message by +alias or forwarding operations. These addresses are flagged with +D instead +of just D. + + + + + + + + + + +queue +count of messages on + +This option counts the number of messages in the queue, and writes the total +to the standard output. It is restricted to admin users, unless + is set false. + + + + + + + + + +This option operates like , but the output is not sorted into +chronological order of message arrival. This can speed it up when there are +lots of messages in the queue, and is particularly useful if the output is +going to be post-processed in a way that doesn’t need the sorting. + + + + + + + + + +This option is a combination of and . + + + + + + + + + +This option is a combination of and . + + + + + + + + + +This option operates like but shows only undelivered top-level +addresses for each message displayed. Addresses generated by aliasing or +forwarding are not shown, unless the message was deferred after processing by a +router with the option set. + + + + + + + + + + +testing +retry configuration + + +retry +configuration testing + +This option is for testing retry rules, and it must be followed by up to three +arguments. It causes Exim to look for a retry rule that matches the values +and to write it to the standard output. For example: + + +exim -brt bach.comp.mus.example +Retry rule: *.comp.mus.example F,2h,15m; F,4d,30m; + + +See chapter for a description of Exim’s retry rules. The first +argument, which is required, can be a complete address in the form +local_part@domain, or it can be just a domain name. If the second argument +contains a dot, it is interpreted as an optional second domain name; if no +retry rule is found for the first argument, the second is tried. This ties in +with Exim’s behaviour when looking for retry rules for remote hosts – if no +rule is found that matches the host, one that matches the mail domain is +sought. Finally, an argument that is the name of a specific delivery error, as +used in setting up retry rules, can be given. For example: + + +exim -brt haydn.comp.mus.example quota_3d +Retry rule: *@haydn.comp.mus.example quota_3d F,1h,15m + + + + + + + + + + +testing +rewriting + + +rewriting +testing + +This option is for testing address rewriting rules, and it must be followed by +a single argument, consisting of either a local part without a domain, or a +complete address with a fully qualified domain. Exim outputs how this address +would be rewritten for each possible place it might appear. See chapter + for further details. + + + + + + + + + + +SMTP +batched incoming + + +batched SMTP input + +This option is used for batched SMTP input, which is an alternative interface +for non-interactive local message submission. A number of messages can be +submitted in a single run. However, despite its name, this is not really SMTP +input. Exim reads each message’s envelope from SMTP commands on the standard +input, but generates no responses. If the caller is trusted, or + is set, the senders in the SMTP MAIL commands are +believed; otherwise the sender is always the caller of Exim. + + +The message itself is read from the standard input, in SMTP format (leading +dots doubled), terminated by a line containing just a single dot. An error is +provoked if the terminating dot is missing. A further message may then follow. + + +As for other local message submissions, the contents of incoming batch SMTP +messages can be checked using the non-SMTP ACL (see chapter ). +Unqualified addresses are automatically qualified using and +, as appropriate, unless the option is used. + + +Some other SMTP commands are recognized in the input. HELO and EHLO act +as RSET; VRFY, EXPN, ETRN, and HELP act as NOOP; +QUIT quits, ignoring the rest of the standard input. + + + +return code +for + +If any error is encountered, reports are written to the standard output and +error streams, and Exim gives up immediately. The return code is 0 if no error +was detected; it is 1 if one or more messages were accepted before the error +was detected; otherwise it is 2. + + +More details of input using batched SMTP are given in section +. + + + + + + + + + + +SMTP +local input + + +local SMTP input + +This option causes Exim to accept one or more messages by reading SMTP commands +on the standard input, and producing SMTP replies on the standard output. SMTP +policy controls, as defined in ACLs (see chapter ) are applied. +Some user agents use this interface as a way of passing locally-generated +messages to the MTA. + + +In + +sender +source of + +this usage, if the caller of Exim is trusted, or is +set, the senders of messages are taken from the SMTP MAIL commands. +Otherwise the content of these commands is ignored and the sender is set up as +the calling user. Unqualified addresses are automatically qualified using + and , as appropriate, unless the + option is used. + + + +inetd + +The + option is also used to run Exim from inetd, as an alternative to +using a listening daemon. Exim can distinguish the two cases by checking +whether the standard input is a TCP/IP socket. When Exim is called from +inetd, the source of the mail is assumed to be remote, and the comments +above concerning senders and qualification do not apply. In this situation, +Exim behaves in exactly the same way as it does when receiving a message via +the listening daemon. + + + + + + + + + + +testing +addresses + + +address +testing + +This option runs Exim in address testing mode, in which each argument is taken +as a recipient address to be tested for deliverability. The results are +written to the standard output. If a test fails, and the caller is not an admin +user, no details of the failure are output, because these might contain +sensitive information such as usernames and passwords for database lookups. + + +If no arguments are given, Exim runs in an interactive manner, prompting with a +right angle bracket for addresses to be tested. + + +Unlike the test option, you cannot arrange for Exim to use the +readline() function, because it is running as root and there are +security issues. + + +Each address is handled as if it were the recipient address of a message +(compare the option). It is passed to the routers and the result is +written to the standard output. However, any router that has + set is bypassed. This can make easier to use for +genuine routing tests if your first router passes everything to a scanner +program. + + + +return code +for + +The return code is 2 if any address failed outright; it is 1 if no address +failed outright but at least one could not be resolved for some reason. Return +code 0 is given only when all addresses succeed. + + + +duplicate addresses + +Note: When actually delivering a message, Exim removes duplicate recipient +addresses after routing is complete, so that only one delivery takes place. +This does not happen when testing with ; the full results of routing are +always shown. + + +Warning: can only do relatively simple testing. If any of the +routers in the configuration makes any tests on the sender address of a +message, + + +for address testing + +you can use the option to set an appropriate sender when running + tests. Without it, the sender is assumed to be the calling user at the +default qualifying domain. However, if you have set up (for example) routers +whose behaviour depends on the contents of an incoming message, you cannot test +those conditions using . The option provides a possible way of +doing such tests. + + + + + + + + + + +version number of Exim + +This option causes Exim to write the current version number, compilation +number, and compilation date of the exim binary to the standard output. +It also lists the DBM library that is being used, the optional modules (such as +specific lookup types), the drivers that are included in the binary, and the +name of the runtime configuration file that is in use. + + +As part of its operation, causes Exim to read and syntax check its +configuration file. However, this is a static check only. It cannot check +values that are to be expanded. For example, although a misspelt ACL verb is +detected, an error in the verb’s arguments is not. You cannot rely on +alone to discover (for example) all the typos in the configuration; some +realistic testing is needed. The and options provide more +dynamic testing facilities. + + + + + + + + + + +verifying address +using + + +address +verification + +This option runs Exim in address verification mode, in which each argument is +taken as a recipient address to be verified by the routers. (This does +not involve any verification callouts). During normal operation, verification +happens mostly as a consequence processing a condition in an ACL +(see chapter ). If you want to test an entire ACL, possibly +including callouts, see the and options. + + +If verification fails, and the caller is not an admin user, no details of the +failure are output, because these might contain sensitive information such as +usernames and passwords for database lookups. + + +If no arguments are given, Exim runs in an interactive manner, prompting with a +right angle bracket for addresses to be verified. + + +Unlike the test option, you cannot arrange for Exim to use the +readline() function, because it is running as exim and there are +security issues. + + +Verification differs from address testing (the option) in that routers +that have set are skipped, and if the address is accepted by a +router that has set, verification fails. The address is +verified as a recipient if is used; to test verification for a sender +address, should be used. + + +If the option is not set, the output consists of a single line for each +address, stating whether it was verified or not, and giving a reason in the +latter case. Without , generating more than one address by redirection +causes verification to end successfully, without considering the generated +addresses. However, if just one address is generated, processing continues, +and the generated address must verify successfully for the overall verification +to succeed. + + +When is set, more details are given of how the address has been handled, +and in the case of address redirection, all the generated addresses are also +considered. Verification may succeed for some and fail for others. + + +The + +return code +for + +return code is 2 if any address failed outright; it is 1 if no address +failed outright but at least one could not be resolved for some reason. Return +code 0 is given only when all addresses succeed. + + +If any of the routers in the configuration makes any tests on the sender +address of a message, you should use the option to set an appropriate +sender when running tests. Without it, the sender is assumed to be the +calling user at the default qualifying domain. + + + + + + + + + +This option acts like , but verifies the address as a sender rather +than a recipient address. This affects any rewriting and qualification that +might happen. + + + + + + + + + + +daemon + + +inetd + + +inetd +wait mode + +This option runs Exim as a daemon, awaiting incoming SMTP connections, +similarly to the option. All port specifications on the command-line +and in the configuration file are ignored. Queue-running may not be specified. + + +In this mode, Exim expects to be passed a socket as fd 0 (stdin) which is +listening for connections. This permits the system to start up and have +inetd (or equivalent) listen on the SMTP ports, starting an Exim daemon for +each port only when the first connection is received. + + +If the option is given as <time> then the time is a timeout, after +which the daemon will exit, which should cause inetd to listen once more. + + + + <filelist> + + + + + + +configuration file +alternate + + +CONFIGURE_FILE + + +alternate configuration file + +This option causes Exim to find the runtime configuration file from the given +list instead of from the list specified by the CONFIGURE_FILE +compile-time setting. Usually, the list will consist of just a single filename, +but it can be a colon-separated list of names. In this case, the first +file that exists is used. Failure to open an existing file stops Exim from +proceeding any further along the list, and an error is generated. + + +When this option is used by a caller other than root, and the list is different +from the compiled-in list, Exim gives up its root privilege immediately, and +runs with the real and effective uid and gid set to those of the caller. +However, if a TRUSTED_CONFIG_LIST file is defined in Local/Makefile, that +file contains a list of full pathnames, one per line, for configuration files +which are trusted. Root privilege is retained for any configuration file so +listed, as long as the caller is the Exim user (or the user specified in the +CONFIGURE_OWNER option, if any), and as long as the configuration file is +not writeable by inappropriate users or groups. + + +Leaving TRUSTED_CONFIG_LIST unset precludes the possibility of testing a +configuration using right through message reception and delivery, +even if the caller is root. The reception works, but by that time, Exim is +running as the Exim user, so when it re-executes to regain privilege for the +delivery, the use of causes privilege to be lost. However, root can +test reception and delivery using two separate commands (one to put a message +in the queue, using , and another to do the delivery, using ). + + +If ALT_CONFIG_PREFIX is defined in Local/Makefile, it specifies a +prefix string with which any file named in a command line option +must start. In addition, the filename must not contain the sequence /../. +However, if the value of the option is identical to the value of +CONFIGURE_FILE in Local/Makefile, Exim ignores and proceeds as +usual. There is no default setting for ALT_CONFIG_PREFIX; when it is +unset, any filename can be used with . + + +ALT_CONFIG_PREFIX can be used to confine alternative configuration files +to a directory to which only root has access. This prevents someone who has +broken into the Exim account from running a privileged Exim with an arbitrary +configuration file. + + +The facility is useful for ensuring that configuration files are +syntactically correct, but cannot be used for test deliveries, unless the +caller is privileged, or unless it is an exotic configuration that does not +require privilege. No check is made on the owner or group of the files +specified by this option. + + + +<macro>=<value> + + + + + + +macro +setting on command line + +This option can be used to override macro definitions in the configuration file +(see section ). However, like , if it is used by an +unprivileged caller, it causes Exim to give up its root privilege. +If DISABLE_D_OPTION is defined in Local/Makefile, the use of is +completely disabled, and its use causes an immediate error exit. + + +If WHITELIST_D_MACROS is defined in Local/Makefile then it should be a +colon-separated list of macros which are considered safe and, if only +supplies macros from this list, and the values are acceptable, then Exim will +not give up root privilege if the caller is root, the Exim run-time user, or +the CONFIGURE_OWNER, if set. This is a transition mechanism and is expected +to be removed in the future. Acceptable values for the macros satisfy the +regexp: ^[A-Za-z0-9_/.-]*$ + + +The entire option (including equals sign if present) must all be within one +command line item. can be used to set the value of a macro to the empty +string, in which case the equals sign is optional. These two commands are +synonymous: + + +exim -DABC ... +exim -DABC= ... + + +To include spaces in a macro definition item, quotes must be used. If you use +quotes, spaces are permitted around the macro name and the equals sign. For +example: + + +exim '-D ABC = something' ... + + + may be repeated up to 10 times on a command line. +Only macro names up to 22 letters long can be set. + + + +<debug options> + + + + + + +debugging +list of selectors + + +debugging + option + +This option causes debugging information to be written to the standard +error stream. It is restricted to admin users because debugging output may show +database queries that contain password information. Also, the details of users’ +filter files should be protected. If a non-admin user uses , Exim +writes an error message to the standard error stream and exits with a non-zero +return code. + + +When is used, is assumed. If is given on its own, a lot of +standard debugging data is output. This can be reduced, or increased to include +some more rarely needed information, by directly following with a string +made up of names preceded by plus or minus characters. These add or remove sets +of debugging data, respectively. For example, adds filter +debugging, whereas selects only filter debugging. Note that +no spaces are allowed in the debug setting. The available debugging categories +are: + + +acl ACL interpretation +auth authenticators +deliver general delivery logic +dns DNS lookups (see also resolver) +dnsbl DNS black list (aka RBL) code +exec arguments for execv() calls +expand detailed debugging for string expansions +filter filter handling +hints_lookup hints data lookups +host_lookup all types of name-to-IP address handling +ident ident lookup +interface lists of local interfaces +lists matching things in lists +load system load checks +local_scan can be used by local_scan() (see chapter ) +lookup general lookup code and all lookups +memory memory handling +noutf8 modifier: avoid UTF-8 line-drawing +pid modifier: add pid to debug output lines +process_info setting info for the process log +queue_run queue runs +receive general message reception logic +resolver turn on the DNS resolver’s debugging output +retry retry handling +rewrite address rewriting +route address routing +timestamp modifier: add timestamp to debug output lines +tls TLS logic +transport transports +uid changes of uid/gid and looking up uid/gid +verify address verification logic +all almost all of the above (see below), and also + + +The all option excludes memory when used as +all, but includes it +for -all. The reason for this is that +all is something that people +tend to use when generating debug output for Exim maintainers. If +memory +is included, an awful lot of output that is very rarely of interest is +generated, so it now has to be explicitly requested. However, -all does +turn everything off. + + + +resolver, debugging output + + +DNS resolver, debugging output + +The resolver option produces output only if the DNS resolver was compiled +with DEBUG enabled. This is not the case in some operating systems. Also, +unfortunately, debugging output from the DNS resolver is written to stdout +rather than stderr. + + +The default ( with no argument) omits expand, filter, +interface, load, memory, pid, resolver, and timestamp. +However, the pid selector is forced when debugging is turned on for a +daemon, which then passes it on to any re-executed Exims. Exim also +automatically adds the pid to debug lines when several remote deliveries are +run in parallel. + + +The timestamp selector causes the current time to be inserted at the start +of all debug output lines. This can be useful when trying to track down delays +in processing. + + + +debugging +UTF-8 in + + +UTF-8 +in debug output + +The noutf8 selector disables the use of +UTF-8 line-drawing characters to group related information. +When disabled. ascii-art is used instead. +Using the +all option does not set this modifier, + + +If the option is set in any driver, it produces output whenever +any debugging is selected, or if is used. + + + +<debug options> + + + + + +This option behaves exactly like except when used on a command that +starts a daemon process. In that case, debugging is turned off for the +subprocesses that the daemon creates. Thus, it is useful for monitoring the +behaviour of the daemon without creating as much output as full debugging does. + + + + + + + + + +This is an obsolete option that is now a no-op. It used to affect the way Exim +handled CR and LF characters in incoming messages. What happens now is +described in section . + + + + + + + + + + +bounce message +generating + +This option specifies that an incoming message is a locally-generated delivery +failure report. It is used internally by Exim when handling delivery failures +and is not intended for external use. Its only effect is to stop Exim +generating certain messages to the postmaster, as otherwise message cascades +could occur in some situations. As part of the same option, a message id may +follow the characters . If it does, the log entry for the receipt of the +new message contains the id, following R=, as a cross-reference. + + + +x + + + +x + +There are a number of Sendmail options starting with which seem to be +called by various programs without the leading in the option. For +example, the program uses . Exim treats all options of the +form x as synonymous with the corresponding x options. + + + + <string> + + + + + + +sender +name + + +name +of sender + +This option sets the sender’s full name for use when a locally-generated +message is being accepted. In the absence of this option, the user’s gecos +entry from the password data is used. As users are generally permitted to alter +their gecos entries, no security considerations are involved. White space +between and the <string> is optional. + + + + <address> + + + + + + +sender +address + + +address +sender + + +trusted users + + +envelope sender + + +user +trusted + +This option sets the address of the envelope sender of a locally-generated +message (also known as the return path). The option can normally be used only +by a trusted user, but can be set to allow untrusted +users to use it. + + +Processes running as root or the Exim user are always trusted. Other +trusted users are defined by the or +options. In the absence of , or if the caller is not trusted, the sender +of a local message is set to the caller’s login name at the default qualify +domain. + + +There is one exception to the restriction on the use of : an empty sender +can be specified by any user, trusted or not, to create a message that can +never provoke a bounce. An empty sender can be specified either as an empty +string, or as a pair of angle brackets with nothing between them, as in these +examples of shell commands: + + +exim -f '<>' user@domain +exim -f "" user@domain + + +In addition, the use of is not restricted when testing a filter file +with or when testing or verifying addresses using the or + options. + + +Allowing untrusted users to change the sender address does not of itself make +it possible to send anonymous mail. Exim still checks that the From: header +refers to the local user, and if it does not, it adds a Sender: header, +though this can be overridden by setting . + + +White + +From line + +space between and the <address> is optional (that is, they can be +given as two arguments or one combined argument). The sender of a +locally-generated message can also be set (when permitted) by an initial +From  line in the message – see the description of above – but +if is also present, it overrides From . + + + + + + + + + + +submission fixups, suppressing (command-line) + +This option is equivalent to an ACL applying: + + +control = suppress_local_fixups + + +for every message received. Note that Sendmail will complain about such +bad formatting, where Exim silently just does not fix it up. This may change +in future. + + +As this affects audit information, the caller must be a trusted user to use +this option. + + + + <number> + + + + + + +Sendmail compatibility + option ignored + +This option is accepted for compatibility with Sendmail, but has no effect. (In +Sendmail it overrides the hop count obtained by counting Received: +headers.) + + + + + + + + + + +Solaris +mail command + + +dot +in incoming non-SMTP message + +This option, which has the same effect as , specifies that a dot on a +line by itself should not terminate an incoming, non-SMTP message. I can find +no documentation for this option in Solaris 2.4 Sendmail, but the mailx +command in Solaris 2.4 uses it. See also . + + + + <tag> + + + + + + +syslog +process name; set with flag + +This option is equivalent to setting in the config +file and setting to syslog. +Its use is restricted to administrators. The configuration file has to be +read and parsed, to determine access rights, before this is set and takes +effect, so early configuration file errors will not honour this flag. + + +The tag should not be longer than 32 characters. + + + + <message id> <message id> ... + + + + + + +forcing delivery + + +delivery +forcing attempt + + +frozen messages +forcing delivery + +This option requests Exim to run a delivery attempt on each message in turn. If +any of the messages are frozen, they are automatically thawed before the +delivery attempt. The settings of , , +and are ignored. + + +Retry + +hints database +overriding retry hints + +hints for any of the addresses are overridden – Exim tries to deliver even if +the normal retry time has not yet been reached. This option requires the caller +to be an admin user. However, there is an option called +which can be set false to relax this restriction (and also the same requirement +for the , , and options). + + +The deliveries happen synchronously, that is, the original Exim process does +not terminate until all the delivery attempts have finished. No output is +produced unless there is a serious error. If you want to see what is happening, +use the option as well, or inspect Exim’s main log. + + + + <message id> <address> <address> ... + + + + + + +message +adding recipients + + +recipient +adding + +This option requests Exim to add the addresses to the list of recipients of the +message (ar for add recipients). The first argument must be a message +id, and the remaining ones must be email addresses. However, if the message is +active (in the middle of a delivery attempt), it is not altered. This option +can be used only by an admin user. + + + + <transport> <hostname> <sequence number> <message id> + + + + + + +SMTP +passed connection + + +SMTP +multiple deliveries + + +multiple SMTP deliveries + +This option is not intended for use by external callers. It is used internally +by Exim to invoke another instance of itself to deliver a waiting message using +an existing SMTP connection, which is passed as the standard input. Details are +given in chapter . This must be the final option, and the caller +must be root or the Exim user in order to use it. + + + + + + + + + +This option is not intended for use by external callers. It is used internally +by Exim in conjunction with the option. It signifies that the +connection to the remote host has been authenticated. + + + + + + + + + +This option is not intended for use by external callers. It is used internally +by Exim in conjunction with the option. It signifies that the +remote host supports the ESMTP DSN extension. + + + + <queue name> + + + + + +This option is not intended for use by external callers. It is used internally +by Exim in conjunction with the option. It signifies that an +alternate queue is used, named by the following argument. + + + + + + + + + +This option is not intended for use by external callers. It is used internally +by Exim in conjunction with the option. It signifies that a +remote host supports the ESMTP CHUNKING extension. + + + + + + + + + +This option is not intended for use by external callers. It is used internally +by Exim in conjunction with the option. It signifies that the server to +which Exim is connected supports pipelining. + + + + <process id> <pipe fd> + + + + + +This option is not intended for use by external callers. It is used internally +by Exim in conjunction with the option when the original delivery was +started by a queue runner. It passes on the process id of the queue runner, +together with the file descriptor number of an open pipe. Closure of the pipe +signals the final completion of the sequence of processes that are passing +messages through the same SMTP connection. + + + + + + + + + +This option is not intended for use by external callers. It is used internally +by Exim in conjunction with the option, and passes on the fact that the +SMTP SIZE option should be used on messages delivered down the existing +connection. + + + + + + + + + +This option is not intended for use by external callers. It is used internally +by Exim in conjunction with the option, and passes on the fact that the +host to which Exim is connected supports TLS encryption. + + + + <IP address> <port> <cipher> + + + + + +This option is not intended for use by external callers. It is used internally +by Exim in conjunction with the option, and passes on the fact that the +connection is being proxied by a parent process for handling TLS encryption. +The arguments give the local address and port being proxied, and the TLS cipher. + + + + <message id> <message id> ... + + + + + + +hints database +not overridden by + + +delivery +manually started – not forced + +This option requests Exim to run a delivery attempt on each message, in turn, +but unlike the option, it does check for retry hints, and respects any +that are found. This option is not very useful to external callers. It is +provided mainly for internal use by Exim when it needs to re-invoke itself in +order to regain root privilege for a delivery (see chapter ). +However, can be useful when testing, in order to run a delivery that +respects retry times and other options such as that are +overridden when is used. Such a delivery does not count as a queue run. +If you want to run a specific delivery as if in a queue run, you should use + with a message id argument. A distinction between queue run deliveries +and other deliveries is made in one or two places. + + + + <message id> <address> + + + + + + +message +changing sender + + +sender +changing + +This option requests Exim to change the sender address in the message to the +given address, which must be a fully qualified address or <> (es for +edit sender). There must be exactly two arguments. The first argument must +be a message id, and the second one an email address. However, if the message +is active (in the middle of a delivery attempt), its status is not altered. +This option can be used only by an admin user. + + + + <message id> <message id> ... + + + + + + +freezing messages + + +message +manually freezing + +This option requests Exim to mark each listed message as frozen. This +prevents any delivery attempts taking place until the message is thawed, +either manually or as a result of the configuration option. +However, if any of the messages are active (in the middle of a delivery +attempt), their status is not altered. This option can be used only by an admin +user. + + + + <message id> <message id> ... + + + + + + +giving up on messages + + +message +abandoning delivery attempts + + +delivery +abandoning further attempts + +This option requests Exim to give up trying to deliver the listed messages, +including any that are frozen. However, if any of the messages are active, +their status is not altered. For non-bounce messages, a delivery error message +is sent to the sender, containing the text cancelled by administrator. +Bounce messages are just discarded. This option can be used only by an admin +user. + + + + <message id> <message id> ... + + + + + + +delivery +cancelling all + +This option requests Exim to mark all the recipient addresses in the messages +as already delivered (mad for mark all delivered). However, if any +message is active (in the middle of a delivery attempt), its status is not +altered. This option can be used only by an admin user. + + + + <message id> <address> <address> ... + + + + + + +delivery +cancelling by address + + +recipient +removing + + +removing recipients + +This option requests Exim to mark the given addresses as already delivered +(md for mark delivered). The first argument must be a message id, and +the remaining ones must be email addresses. These are matched to recipient +addresses in the message in a case-sensitive manner. If the message is active +(in the middle of a delivery attempt), its status is not altered. This option +can be used only by an admin user. + + + + <message id> <message id> ... + + + + + + +removing messages + + +abandoning mail + + +message +manually discarding + +This option requests Exim to remove the given messages from the queue. No +bounce messages are sent; each message is simply forgotten. However, if any of +the messages are active, their status is not altered. This option can be used +only by an admin user or by the user who originally caused the message to be +placed in the queue. + + + + <message id> + + + + + + +testing +string expansion + + +expansion +testing + +This option is useful only in conjunction with (that is, when testing +string expansions). Exim loads the given message from its spool before doing +the test expansions, thus setting message-specific variables such as +$message_size and the header variables. The $recipients variable is made +available. This feature is provided to make it easier to test expansions that +make use of these variables. However, this option can be used only by an admin +user. See also . + + + + <message id> <message id> ... + + + + + + +thawing messages + + +unfreezing messages + + +frozen messages +thawing + + +message +thawing frozen + +This option requests Exim to thaw any of the listed messages that are +frozen, so that delivery attempts can resume. However, if any of the +messages are active, their status is not altered. This option can be used only +by an admin user. + + + + <message id> + + + + + + +listing +message body + + +message +listing body of + +This option causes the contents of the message body (-D) spool file to be +written to the standard output. This option can be used only by an admin user. + + + + <message id> + + + + + + +message +listing in RFC 2822 format + + +listing +message in RFC 2822 format + +This option causes a copy of the complete message (header lines plus body) to +be written to the standard output in RFC 2822 format. This option can be used +only by an admin user. + + + + <message id> + + + + + + +listing +message headers + + +header lines +listing + + +message +listing header lines + +This option causes the contents of the message headers (-H) spool file to be +written to the standard output. This option can be used only by an admin user. + + + + <message id> + + + + + + +listing +message log + + +message +listing message log + +This option causes the contents of the message log spool file to be written to +the standard output. This option can be used only by an admin user. + + + + + + + + + +This is apparently a synonym for that is accepted by Sendmail, so Exim +treats it that way too. + + + + + + + + + + +debugging + option + + +debugging +suppressing delivery + +This is a debugging option that inhibits delivery of a message at the transport +level. It implies . Exim goes through many of the motions of delivery – +it just doesn’t actually transport the message, but instead behaves as if it +had successfully done so. However, it does not make any updates to the retry +database, and the log entries for deliveries are flagged with *> rather +than =>. + + +Because discards any message to which it applies, only root or the Exim +user are allowed to use it with , , or . In other +words, an ordinary user can use it only when supplying an incoming message to +which it will apply. Although transportation never fails when is set, an +address may be deferred because of a configuration problem on a transport, or a +routing problem. Once has been used for a delivery attempt, it sticks to +the message, and applies to any subsequent delivery attempts that may happen +for that message. + + + + + + + + + +This option is interpreted by Sendmail to mean no aliasing. +For normal modes of operation, it is ignored by Exim. +When combined with it makes the output more terse (suppresses +option names, environment values and config pretty printing). + + + + <data> + + + + + +This option is interpreted by Sendmail to mean set option. It is ignored by +Exim. + + + + <file name> + + + + + + +Sendmail compatibility + option + +This option is used by Sendmail in conjunction with to specify an +alternative alias filename. Exim handles differently; see the +description above. + + + + <n> + + + + + + +SMTP +passed connection + + +SMTP +multiple deliveries + + +multiple SMTP deliveries + +This is a debugging option which limits the maximum number of messages that can +be delivered down one SMTP connection, overriding the value set in any smtp +transport. If <n> is omitted, the limit is set to 1. + + + + + + + + + + +background delivery + + +delivery +in the background + +This option applies to all modes in which Exim accepts incoming messages, +including the listening daemon. It requests background delivery of such +messages, which means that the accepting process automatically starts a +delivery process for each message received, but does not wait for the delivery +processes to finish. + + +When all the messages have been received, the reception process exits, +leaving the delivery processes to finish in their own time. The standard output +and error streams are closed at the start of each delivery process. +This is the default action if none of the options are present. + + +If one of the queueing options in the configuration file +( or , for example) is in effect, +overrides it if is set true, which is the default +setting. If is set false, has no effect. + + + + + + + + + + +foreground delivery + + +delivery +in the foreground + +This option requests foreground (synchronous) delivery when Exim has +accepted a locally-generated message. (For the daemon it is exactly the same as +.) A delivery process is automatically started to deliver the message, +and Exim waits for it to complete before proceeding. + + +The original Exim reception process does not finish until the delivery +process for the final message has ended. The standard error stream is left open +during deliveries. + + +However, like , this option has no effect if is +false and one of the queueing options in the configuration file is in effect. + + +If there is a temporary delivery error during foreground delivery, the +message is left in the queue for later delivery, and the original reception +process exits. See chapter for a way of setting up a +restricted configuration that never queues messages. + + + + + + + + + +This option is synonymous with . It is provided for compatibility with +Sendmail. + + + + + + + + + + +non-immediate delivery + + +delivery +suppressing immediate + + +queueing incoming messages + +This option applies to all modes in which Exim accepts incoming messages, +including the listening daemon. It specifies that the accepting process should +not automatically start a delivery process for each message received. Messages +are placed in the queue, and remain there until a subsequent queue runner +process encounters them. There are several configuration options (such as +) that can be used to queue incoming messages under certain +conditions. This option overrides all of them and also . It always +forces queueing. + + + + + + + + + + +SMTP +delaying delivery + +This option is a hybrid between / and . +However, like and , this option has no effect if + is false and one of the queueing options in the +configuration file is in effect. + + +When does operate, a delivery process is started for each incoming +message, in the background by default, but in the foreground if is +also present. The recipient addresses are routed, and local deliveries are done +in the normal way. However, if any SMTP deliveries are required, they are not +done at this time, so the message remains in the queue until a subsequent queue +runner process encounters it. Because routing was done, Exim knows which +messages are waiting for which hosts, and so a number of messages for the same +host can be sent in a single SMTP connection. The +configuration option has the same effect for specific domains. See also the + option. + + + + + + + + + + +error +reporting + +If an error is detected while a non-SMTP message is being received (for +example, a malformed address), the error is reported to the sender in a mail +message. + + + +return code +for + +Provided +this error message is successfully sent, the Exim receiving process +exits with a return code of zero. If not, the return code is 2 if the problem +is that the original message has no recipients, or 1 for any other error. +This is the default x option if Exim is called as rmail. + + + + + + + + + + +error +reporting + + +return code +for + +This is the same as , except that Exim always exits with a non-zero +return code, whether or not the error message was successfully sent. +This is the default x option, unless Exim is called as rmail. + + + + + + + + + + +error +reporting + +If an error is detected while a non-SMTP message is being received, the +error is reported by writing a message to the standard error file (stderr). + +return code +for + +The return code is 1 for all errors. + + + + + + + + + + +error +reporting + +This option is supported for compatibility with Sendmail, but has the same +effect as . + + + + + + + + + + +error +reporting + +This option is supported for compatibility with Sendmail, but has the same +effect as . + + + + + + + + + + +dot +in incoming non-SMTP message + +This option, which has the same effect as , specifies that a dot on a +line by itself should not terminate an incoming, non-SMTP message. Otherwise, a +single dot does terminate, though Exim does no special processing for other +lines that start with a dot. This option is set by default if Exim is called as +rmail. See also . + + + + + + + + + +This option is treated as synonymous with . + + + + <host address> + + + + + + +sender +host address, specifying for local message + +A number of options starting with can be used to set values associated +with remote hosts on locally-submitted messages (that is, messages not received +over TCP/IP). These options can be used by any caller in conjunction with the +, , , , , or testing options. In +other circumstances, they are ignored unless the caller is trusted. + + +The option sets the sender host address. This may include a port +number at the end, after a full stop (period). For example: + + +exim -bs -oMa 10.9.8.7.1234 + + +An alternative syntax is to enclose the IP address in square brackets, +followed by a colon and the port number: + + +exim -bs -oMa [10.9.8.7]:1234 + + +The IP address is placed in the $sender_host_address variable, and the +port, if present, in $sender_host_port. If both and +are present on the command line, the sender host IP address is taken from +whichever one is last. + + + + <name> + + + + + + +authentication +name, specifying for local message + +See above for general remarks about the options. The +option sets the value of $sender_host_authenticated (the authenticator +name). See chapter for a discussion of SMTP authentication. +This option can be used with and to set up an +authenticated SMTP session without actually using the SMTP AUTH command. + + + + <string> + + + + + + +authentication +id, specifying for local message + +See above for general remarks about the options. The +option sets the value of $authenticated_id (the id that was authenticated). +This overrides the default value (the caller’s login id, except with , +where there is no default) for messages from local sources. See chapter + for a discussion of authenticated ids. + + + + <address> + + + + + + +authentication +sender, specifying for local message + +See above for general remarks about the options. The +option sets the authenticated sender value in $authenticated_sender. It +overrides the sender address that is created from the caller’s login id for +messages from local sources, except when is used, when there is no +default. For both and , an authenticated sender that is +specified on a MAIL command overrides this value. See chapter + for a discussion of authenticated senders. + + + + <interface address> + + + + + + +interface +address, specifying for local message + +See above for general remarks about the options. The +option sets the IP interface address value. A port number may be included, +using the same syntax as for . The interface address is placed in +$received_ip_address and the port number, if present, in $received_port. + + + + <message reference> + + + + + + +message reference +message reference, specifying for local message + +See above for general remarks about the options. The +option sets the message reference, e.g. message-id, and is logged during +delivery. This is useful when some kind of audit trail is required to tie +messages together. The format of the message reference is checked and will +abort if the format is invalid. The option will only be accepted if exim is +running in trusted mode, not as any regular user. + + +The best example of a message reference is when Exim sends a bounce message. +The message reference is the message-id of the original message for which Exim +is sending the bounce. + + + + <protocol name> + + + + + + +protocol, specifying for local message + + +$received_protocol + +See above for general remarks about the options. The +option sets the received protocol value that is stored in +$received_protocol. However, it does not apply (and is ignored) when +or is used. For , the protocol is forced to one of the standard +SMTP protocol names (see the description of $received_protocol in section +). For , the protocol is always local- followed by +one of those same names. For (batched SMTP) however, the protocol can +be set by . Repeated use of this option is not supported. + + + + <host name> + + + + + + +sender +host name, specifying for local message + +See above for general remarks about the options. The +option sets the sender host name in $sender_host_name. When this option is +present, Exim does not attempt to look up a host name from an IP address; it +uses the name it is given. + + + + <ident string> + + + + + + +sender +ident string, specifying for local message + +See above for general remarks about the options. The +option sets the sender ident value in $sender_ident. The default setting for +local callers is the login id of the calling process, except when is +used, when there is no default. + + + + + + + + + + +Sendmail compatibility + option ignored + +In Sendmail, this option means me too, indicating that the sender of a +message should receive a copy of the message if the sender appears in an alias +expansion. Exim always does this, so the option does nothing. + + + + + + + + + + +Sendmail compatibility + option ignored + +This option is ignored. In Sendmail it specifies old style headers, +whatever that means. + + + + <path> + + + + + + +pid (process id) +of daemon + + +daemon +process id (pid) + +This option is useful only in conjunction with or with a time +value. The option specifies the file to which the process id of the daemon is +written. When is used with , or when with a time is used +without , this is the only way of causing Exim to write a pid file, +because in those cases, the normal pid file is not used. + + + + <time> + + + + + + +timeout +for non-SMTP input + +This option sets a timeout value for incoming non-SMTP messages. If it is not +set, Exim will wait forever for the standard input. The value can also be set +by the option. The format used for specifying times is +described in section . + + + + <time> + + + + + + +timeout +for SMTP input + + +SMTP +input timeout + +This option sets a timeout value for incoming SMTP messages. The timeout +applies to each SMTP command and block of data. The value can also be set by +the option; it defaults to 5 minutes. The format used +for specifying times is described in section . + + + + + + + + + +This option has exactly the same effect as . + + + + <number or string> + + + + + + +TCP/IP +setting listening ports + + +TCP/IP +setting listening interfaces + + +port +receiving TCP/IP + +This option is relevant only when the (start listening daemon) option +is also given. It controls which ports and interfaces the daemon uses. Details +of the syntax, and how it interacts with configuration file options, are given +in chapter . When is used to start a daemon, no pid +file is written unless is also present to specify a pid filename. + + + + + + + + + + +Perl +starting the interpreter + +This option applies when an embedded Perl interpreter is linked with Exim (see +chapter ). It overrides the setting of the +option, forcing the starting of the interpreter to be delayed until it is +needed. + + + + + + + + + + +Perl +starting the interpreter + +This option applies when an embedded Perl interpreter is linked with Exim (see +chapter ). It overrides the setting of the +option, forcing the starting of the interpreter to occur as soon as Exim is +started. + + + +<rval>:<sval> + + + + + +For compatibility with Sendmail, this option is equivalent to + + +-oMr <rval> -oMs <sval> + + +It sets the incoming protocol and host name (for trusted callers). The +host name and its colon can be omitted when only the protocol is to be set. +Note the Exim already has two private options, and , that refer +to embedded Perl. It is therefore impossible to set a protocol value of d +or s using this option (but that does not seem a real limitation). +Repeated use of this option is not supported. + + + + + + + + + + +queue runner +starting manually + +This option is normally restricted to admin users. However, there is a +configuration option called which can be set false to +relax this restriction (and also the same requirement for the , , +and options). + + + +queue runner +description of operation + +If other commandline options do not specify an action, +the option starts one queue runner process. This scans the queue of +waiting messages, and runs a delivery process for each one in turn. It waits +for each delivery process to finish before starting the next one. A delivery +process may not actually do any deliveries if the retry times for the addresses +have not been reached. Use (see below) if you want to override this. + + +If + +SMTP +passed connection + + +SMTP +multiple deliveries + + +multiple SMTP deliveries + +the delivery process spawns other processes to deliver other messages down +passed SMTP connections, the queue runner waits for these to finish before +proceeding. + + +When all the queued messages have been considered, the original queue runner +process terminates. In other words, a single pass is made over the waiting +mail, one message at a time. Use with a time (see below) if you want +this to be repeated periodically. + + +Exim processes the waiting messages in an unpredictable order. It isn’t very +random, but it is likely to be different each time, which is all that matters. +If one particular message screws up a remote MTA, other messages to the same +MTA have a chance of getting through if they get tried first. + + +It is possible to cause the messages to be processed in lexical message id +order, which is essentially the order in which they arrived, by setting the + option, but this is not recommended for normal use. + + + +<qflags> + + +The option may be followed by one or more flag letters that change its +behaviour. They are all optional, but if more than one is present, they must +appear in the correct order. Each flag is described in a separate item below. + + + + + + + + + + +queue +double scanning + + +queue +routing + + +routing +whole queue before delivery + +An option starting with requests a two-stage queue run. In the first +stage, the queue is scanned as if the option matched +every domain. Addresses are routed, local deliveries happen, but no remote +transports are run. + + + +hints database +remembering routing + +The hints database that remembers which messages are waiting for specific hosts +is updated, as if delivery to those hosts had been deferred. After this is +complete, a second, normal queue scan happens, with routing and delivery taking +place as normal. Messages that are routed to the same host should mostly be +delivered down a single SMTP + +SMTP +passed connection + + +SMTP +multiple deliveries + + +multiple SMTP deliveries + +connection because of the hints that were set up during the first queue scan. +This option may be useful for hosts that are connected to the Internet +intermittently. + + + + + + + + + + +queue +initial delivery + +If the i flag is present, the queue runner runs delivery processes only for +those messages that haven’t previously been tried. (i stands for initial +delivery.) This can be helpful if you are putting messages in the queue using + and want a queue runner just to process the new messages. + + + + + + + + + + +queue +forcing delivery + + +delivery +forcing in queue run + +If one f flag is present, a delivery attempt is forced for each non-frozen +message, whereas without f only those non-frozen addresses that have passed +their retry times are tried. + + + + + + + + + + +frozen messages +forcing delivery + +If ff is present, a delivery attempt is forced for every message, whether +frozen or not. + + + + + + + + + + +queue +local deliveries only + +The l (the letter ell) flag specifies that only local deliveries are to +be done. If a message requires any remote deliveries, it remains in the queue +for later delivery. + + + + + + + + + + +queue +named + + +named queues + + +queue +delivering specific messages + +If the G flag and a name is present, the queue runner operates on the +queue with the given name rather than the default queue. +The name should not contain a / character. +For a periodic queue run (see below) +append to the name a slash and a time value. + + +If other commandline options specify an action, a -qG<name> option +will specify a queue to operate on. +For example: + + +exim -bp -qGquarantine +mailq -qGquarantine +exim -qGoffpeak -Rf @special.domain.example + + + +<qflags> <start id> <end id> + + +When scanning the queue, Exim can be made to skip over messages whose ids are +lexically less than a given value by following the option with a +starting message id. For example: + + +exim -q 0t5C6f-0000c8-00 + + +Messages that arrived earlier than 0t5C6f-0000c8-00 are not inspected. If a +second message id is given, messages whose ids are lexically greater than it +are also skipped. If the same id is given twice, for example, + + +exim -q 0t5C6f-0000c8-00 0t5C6f-0000c8-00 + + +just one delivery process is started, for that message. This differs from + in that retry data is respected, and it also differs from in +that it counts as a delivery from a queue run. Note that the selection +mechanism does not affect the order in which the messages are scanned. There +are also other ways of selecting specific sets of messages for delivery in a +queue run – see and . + + + +<qflags><time> + + + +queue runner +starting periodically + + +periodic queue running + +When a time value is present, the option causes Exim to run as a daemon, +starting a queue runner process at intervals specified by the given time value +(whose format is described in section ). This form of the + option is commonly combined with the option, in which case a +single daemon process handles both functions. A common way of starting up a +combined daemon at system boot time is to use a command such as + + +/usr/exim/bin/exim -bd -q30m + + +Such a daemon listens for incoming SMTP calls, and also starts a queue runner +process every 30 minutes. + + +When a daemon is started by with a time value, but without , no +pid file is written unless one is explicitly requested by the option. + + + +<rsflags> <string> + + + + + +This option is synonymous with . It is provided for Sendmail +compatibility. + + + +<rsflags> <string> + + + + + +This option is synonymous with . + + + +<rsflags> <string> + + + + + + +queue runner +for specific recipients + + +delivery +to given domain + + +domain +delivery to + +The <rsflags> may be empty, in which case the white space before the string +is optional, unless the string is f, ff, r, rf, or rff, +which are the possible values for <rsflags>. White space is required if +<rsflags> is not empty. + + +This option is similar to with no time value, that is, it causes Exim to +perform a single queue run, except that, when scanning the messages on the +queue, Exim processes only those that have at least one undelivered recipient +address containing the given string, which is checked in a case-independent +way. If the <rsflags> start with r, <string> is interpreted as a +regular expression; otherwise it is a literal string. + + +If you want to do periodic queue runs for messages with specific recipients, +you can combine with and a time value. For example: + + +exim -q25m -R @special.domain.example + + +This example does a queue run for messages with recipients in the given domain +every 25 minutes. Any additional flags that are specified with are +applied to each queue run. + + +Once a message is selected for delivery by this mechanism, all its addresses +are processed. For the first selected message, Exim overrides any retry +information and forces a delivery attempt for each undelivered address. This +means that if delivery of any address in the first message is successful, any +existing retry information is deleted, and so delivery attempts for that +address in subsequently selected messages (which are processed without forcing) +will run. However, if delivery of any address does not succeed, the retry +information is updated, and in subsequently selected messages, the failing +address will be skipped. + + + +frozen messages +forcing delivery + +If the <rsflags> contain f or ff, the delivery forcing applies to +all selected messages, not just the first; frozen messages are included when +ff is present. + + +The option makes it straightforward to initiate delivery of all messages +to a given domain after a host has been down for some time. When the SMTP +command ETRN is accepted by its ACL (see chapter ), its default +effect is to run Exim with the option, but it can be configured to run +an arbitrary command instead. + + + + + + + + + +This is a documented (for Sendmail) obsolete alternative name for . + + + +<rsflags> <string> + + + + + + +delivery +from given sender + + +queue runner +for specific senders + +This option acts like except that it checks the string against each +message’s sender instead of against the recipients. If is also set, both +conditions must be met for a message to be selected. If either of the options +has f or ff in its flags, the associated action is taken. + + + + <times> + + + + + +This is an option that is exclusively for use by the Exim testing suite. It is not +recognized when Exim is run normally. It allows for the setting up of explicit +queue times so that various warning/retry features can be tested. + + + + + + + + + + +recipient +extracting from header lines + + +Bcc: header line + + +Cc: header line + + +To: header line + +When Exim is receiving a locally-generated, non-SMTP message on its standard +input, the option causes the recipients of the message to be obtained +from the To:, Cc:, and Bcc: header lines in the message instead of +from the command arguments. The addresses are extracted before any rewriting +takes place and the Bcc: header line, if present, is then removed. + + + +Sendmail compatibility + option + +If the command has any arguments, they specify addresses to which the message +is not to be delivered. That is, the argument addresses are removed from +the recipients list obtained from the headers. This is compatible with Smail 3 +and in accordance with the documented behaviour of several versions of +Sendmail, as described in man pages on a number of operating systems (e.g. +Solaris 8, IRIX 6.5, HP-UX 11). However, some versions of Sendmail add +argument addresses to those obtained from the headers, and the O’Reilly +Sendmail book documents it that way. Exim can be made to add argument addresses +instead of subtracting them by setting the option + false. + + + + header lines +with + +If there are any header lines in the message, Exim extracts +recipients from all Resent-To:, Resent-Cc:, and Resent-Bcc: header +lines instead of from To:, Cc:, and Bcc:. This is for compatibility +with Sendmail and other MTAs. (Prior to release 4.20, Exim gave an error if + was used in conjunction with header lines.) + + +RFC 2822 talks about different sets of header lines (for when a +message is resent several times). The RFC also specifies that they should be +added at the front of the message, and separated by Received: lines. It is +not at all clear how should operate in the present of multiple sets, +nor indeed exactly what constitutes a set. +In practice, it seems that MUAs do not follow the RFC. The lines +are often added at the end of the header, and if a message is resent more than +once, it is common for the original set of headers to be renamed as + when a new set is added. This removes any possible ambiguity. + + + + + + + + + +This option is exactly equivalent to . It is provided for +compatibility with Sendmail. + + + + + + + + + + +TLS +use without STARTTLS + + +TLS +automatic start + +This option is available when Exim is compiled with TLS support. It forces all +incoming SMTP connections to behave as if the incoming port is listed in the + option. See section and chapter + for further details. + + + + + + + + + + +Sendmail compatibility + option ignored + +Sendmail uses this option for initial message submission, and its +documentation states that in future releases, it may complain about +syntactically invalid messages rather than fixing them when this flag is not +set. Exim ignores this option. + + + + + + + + + +This option causes Exim to write information to the standard error stream, +describing what it is doing. In particular, it shows the log lines for +receiving and delivering a message, and if an SMTP connection is made, the SMTP +dialogue is shown. Some of the log lines shown may not actually be written to +the log if the setting of discards them. Any relevant +selectors are shown with each log line. If none are shown, the logging is +unconditional. + + + + + + + + + +AIX uses for a private purpose (mail from a local mail program has +National Language Support extended characters in the body of the mail item). +It sets when calling the MTA from its command. Exim ignores +this option. + + + + <logfile> + + + + + +This option is interpreted by Sendmail to cause debug information to be sent +to the named file. It is ignored by Exim. + + + + <log-line> + + + + + +This option writes its argument to Exim’s logfile. +Use is restricted to administrators; the intent is for operational notes. +Quotes should be used to maintain a multi-word item as a single argument, +under most shells. + + + + + + + + +
+ + + +The Exim runtime configuration file +The runtime configuration file + + +runtime configuration + + +configuration file +general description + + +CONFIGURE_FILE + + +configuration file +errors in + + +error +in configuration file + + +return code +for bad configuration + +Exim uses a single runtime configuration file that is read whenever an Exim +binary is executed. Note that in normal operation, this happens frequently, +because Exim is designed to operate in a distributed manner, without central +control. + + +If a syntax error is detected while reading the configuration file, Exim +writes a message on the standard error, and exits with a non-zero return code. +The message is also written to the panic log. Note: Only simple syntax +errors can be detected at this time. The values of any expanded options are +not checked until the expansion happens, even when the expansion does not +actually alter the string. + + +The name of the configuration file is compiled into the binary for security +reasons, and is specified by the CONFIGURE_FILE compilation option. In +most configurations, this specifies a single file. However, it is permitted to +give a colon-separated list of filenames, in which case Exim uses the first +existing file in the list. + + + +EXIM_USER + + +EXIM_GROUP + + +CONFIGURE_OWNER + + +CONFIGURE_GROUP + + +configuration file +ownership + + +ownership +configuration file + +The runtime configuration file must be owned by root or by the user that is +specified at compile time by the CONFIGURE_OWNER option (if set). The +configuration file must not be world-writeable, or group-writeable unless its +group is the root group or the one specified at compile time by the +CONFIGURE_GROUP option. + + +Warning: In a conventional configuration, where the Exim binary is setuid +to root, anybody who is able to edit the runtime configuration file has an +easy way to run commands as root. If you specify a user or group in the +CONFIGURE_OWNER or CONFIGURE_GROUP options, then that user and/or any users +who are members of that group will trivially be able to obtain root privileges. + + +Up to Exim version 4.72, the runtime configuration file was also permitted to +be writeable by the Exim user and/or group. That has been changed in Exim 4.73 +since it offered a simple privilege escalation for any attacker who managed to +compromise the Exim user account. + + +A default configuration file, which will work correctly in simple situations, +is provided in the file src/configure.default. If CONFIGURE_FILE +defines just one filename, the installation process copies the default +configuration to a new file of that name if it did not previously exist. If +CONFIGURE_FILE is a list, no default is automatically installed. Chapter + is a walk-through discussion of the default +configuration. + +
+Using a different configuration file + + +configuration file +alternate + +A one-off alternate configuration can be specified by the command line +option, which may specify a single file or a list of files. However, when + is used, Exim gives up its root privilege, unless called by root (or +unless the argument for is identical to the built-in value from +CONFIGURE_FILE), or is listed in the TRUSTED_CONFIG_LIST file and the caller +is the Exim user or the user specified in the CONFIGURE_OWNER setting. +is useful mainly for checking the syntax of configuration files before +installing them. No owner or group checks are done on a configuration file +specified by , if root privilege has been dropped. + + +Even the Exim user is not trusted to specify an arbitrary configuration file +with the option to be used with root privileges, unless that file is +listed in the TRUSTED_CONFIG_LIST file. This locks out the possibility of +testing a configuration using right through message reception and +delivery, even if the caller is root. The reception works, but by that time, +Exim is running as the Exim user, so when it re-execs to regain privilege for +the delivery, the use of causes privilege to be lost. However, root +can test reception and delivery using two separate commands (one to put a +message in the queue, using , and another to do the delivery, using +). + + +If ALT_CONFIG_PREFIX is defined in Local/Makefile, it specifies a +prefix string with which any file named in a command line option must +start. In addition, the filename must not contain the sequence /../. +There is no default setting for ALT_CONFIG_PREFIX; when it is unset, any +filename can be used with . + + +One-off changes to a configuration can be specified by the command line +option, which defines and overrides values for macros used inside the +configuration file. However, like , the use of this option by a +non-privileged user causes Exim to discard its root privilege. +If DISABLE_D_OPTION is defined in Local/Makefile, the use of is +completely disabled, and its use causes an immediate error exit. + + +The WHITELIST_D_MACROS option in Local/Makefile permits the binary builder +to declare certain macro names trusted, such that root privilege will not +necessarily be discarded. +WHITELIST_D_MACROS defines a colon-separated list of macros which are +considered safe and, if only supplies macros from this list, and the +values are acceptable, then Exim will not give up root privilege if the caller +is root, the Exim run-time user, or the CONFIGURE_OWNER, if set. This is a +transition mechanism and is expected to be removed in the future. Acceptable +values for the macros satisfy the regexp: ^[A-Za-z0-9_/.-]*$ + + +Some sites may wish to use the same Exim binary on different machines that +share a file system, but to use different configuration files on each machine. +If CONFIGURE_FILE_USE_NODE is defined in Local/Makefile, Exim first +looks for a file whose name is the configuration filename followed by a dot +and the machine’s node name, as obtained from the uname() function. If this +file does not exist, the standard name is tried. This processing occurs for +each filename in the list given by CONFIGURE_FILE or . + + +In some esoteric situations different versions of Exim may be run under +different effective uids and the CONFIGURE_FILE_USE_EUID is defined to +help with this. See the comments in src/EDITME for details. + +
+
+Configuration file format + + +configuration file +format of + + +format +configuration file + +Exim’s configuration file is divided into a number of different parts. General +option settings must always appear at the start of the file. The other parts +are all optional, and may appear in any order. Each part other than the first +is introduced by the word begin followed by at least one literal +space, and the name of the part. The optional parts are: + + + + +ACL: Access control lists for controlling incoming SMTP mail (see chapter +). + + + + + +AUTH +configuration + +authenticators: Configuration settings for the authenticator drivers. These +are concerned with the SMTP AUTH command (see chapter ). + + + + +routers: Configuration settings for the router drivers. Routers process +addresses and determine how the message is to be delivered (see chapters +–). + + + + +transports: Configuration settings for the transport drivers. Transports +define mechanisms for copying messages to destinations (see chapters +–). + + + + +retry: Retry rules, for use when a message cannot be delivered immediately. +If there is no retry section, or if it is empty (that is, no retry rules are +defined), Exim will not retry deliveries. In this situation, temporary errors +are treated the same as permanent errors. Retry rules are discussed in chapter +. + + + + +rewrite: Global address rewriting rules, for use when a message arrives and +when new addresses are generated during delivery. Rewriting is discussed in +chapter . + + + + +local_scan: Private options for the local_scan() function. If you +want to use this feature, you must set + + +LOCAL_SCAN_HAS_OPTIONS=yes + + +in Local/Makefile before building Exim. Details of the local_scan() +facility are given in chapter . + + + + + +configuration file +leading white space in + + +configuration file +trailing white space in + + +white space +in configuration file + +Leading and trailing white space in configuration lines is always ignored. + + +Blank lines in the file, and lines starting with a # character (ignoring +leading white space) are treated as comments and are ignored. Note: A +# character other than at the beginning of a line is not treated specially, +and does not introduce a comment. + + +Any non-comment line can be continued by ending it with a backslash. Note that +the general rule for white space means that trailing white space after the +backslash and leading white space at the start of continuation +lines is ignored. Comment lines beginning with # (but not empty lines) may +appear in the middle of a sequence of continuation lines. + + +A convenient way to create a configuration file is to start from the +default, which is supplied in src/configure.default, and add, delete, or +change settings as required. + + +The ACLs, retry rules, and rewriting rules have their own syntax which is +described in chapters , , and , +respectively. The other parts of the configuration file have some syntactic +items in common, and these are described below, from section +onwards. Before that, the inclusion, macro, and conditional facilities are +described. + +
+
+File inclusions in the configuration file + + +inclusions in configuration file + + +configuration file +including other files + + +.include in configuration file + + +.include_if_exists in configuration file + +You can include other files inside Exim’s runtime configuration file by +using this syntax: + + +.include <filename> +.include_if_exists <filename> + + +on a line by itself. Double quotes round the filename are optional. If you use +the first form, a configuration error occurs if the file does not exist; the +second form does nothing for non-existent files. +The first form allows a relative name. It is resolved relative to +the directory of the including file. For the second form an absolute filename +is required. + + +Includes may be nested to any depth, but remember that Exim reads its +configuration file often, so it is a good idea to keep them to a minimum. +If you change the contents of an included file, you must HUP the daemon, +because an included file is read only when the configuration itself is read. + + +The processing of inclusions happens early, at a physical line level, so, like +comment lines, an inclusion can be used in the middle of an option setting, +for example: + + +hosts_lookup = a.b.c \ + .include /some/file + + +Include processing happens after macro processing (see below). Its effect is to +process the lines of the included file as if they occurred inline where the +inclusion appears. + +
+
+Macros in the configuration file + + +macro +description of + + +configuration file +macros + +If a line in the main part of the configuration (that is, before the first +begin line) begins with an upper case letter, it is taken as a macro +definition, and must be of the form + + +<name> = <rest of line> + + +The name must consist of letters, digits, and underscores, and need not all be +in upper case, though that is recommended. The rest of the line, including any +continuations, is the replacement text, and has leading and trailing white +space removed. Quotes are not removed. The replacement text can never end with +a backslash character, but this doesn’t seem to be a serious limitation. + + +Macros may also be defined between router, transport, authenticator, or ACL +definitions. They may not, however, be defined within an individual driver or +ACL, or in the , retry, or rewrite sections of the configuration. + +
+
+Macro substitution + +Once a macro is defined, all subsequent lines in the file (and any included +files) are scanned for the macro name; if there are several macros, the line is +scanned for each, in turn, in the order in which the macros are defined. The +replacement text is not re-scanned for the current macro, though it is scanned +for subsequently defined macros. For this reason, a macro name may not contain +the name of a previously defined macro as a substring. You could, for example, +define + + +ABCD_XYZ = <something> +ABCD = <something else> + + +but putting the definitions in the opposite order would provoke a configuration +error. Macro expansion is applied to individual physical lines from the file, +before checking for line continuation or file inclusion (see above). If a line +consists solely of a macro name, and the expansion of the macro is empty, the +line is ignored. A macro at the start of a line may turn the line into a +comment line or a .include line. + +
+
+Redefining macros + +Once defined, the value of a macro can be redefined later in the configuration +(or in an included file). Redefinition is specified by using == instead of +=. For example: + + +MAC = initial value +... +MAC == updated value + + +Redefinition does not alter the order in which the macros are applied to the +subsequent lines of the configuration file. It is still the same order in which +the macros were originally defined. All that changes is the macro’s value. +Redefinition makes it possible to accumulate values. For example: + + +MAC = initial value +... +MAC == MAC and something added + + +This can be helpful in situations where the configuration file is built +from a number of other files. + +
+
+Overriding macro values + +The values set for macros in the configuration file can be overridden by the + command line option, but Exim gives up its root privilege when is +used, unless called by root or the Exim user. A definition on the command line +using the option causes all definitions and redefinitions within the +file to be ignored. + +
+
+Example of macro usage + +As an example of macro usage, consider a configuration where aliases are looked +up in a MySQL database. It helps to keep the file less cluttered if long +strings such as SQL statements are defined separately as macros, for example: + + +ALIAS_QUERY = select mailbox from user where \ + login='${quote_mysql:$local_part}'; + + +This can then be used in a redirect router setting like this: + + +data = ${lookup mysql{ALIAS_QUERY}} + + +In earlier versions of Exim macros were sometimes used for domain, host, or +address lists. In Exim 4 these are handled better by named lists – see +section . + +
+
+Builtin macros + +Exim defines some macros depending on facilities available, which may +differ due to build-time definitions and from one release to another. +All of these macros start with an underscore. +They can be used to conditionally include parts of a configuration +(see below). + + +The following classes of macros are defined: + + + _HAVE_* build-time defines + _DRIVER_ROUTER_* router drivers + _DRIVER_TRANSPORT_* transport drivers + _DRIVER_AUTHENTICATOR_* authenticator drivers + _LOG_* log_selector values + _OPT_MAIN_* main config options + _OPT_ROUTERS_* generic router options + _OPT_TRANSPORTS_* generic transport options + _OPT_AUTHENTICATORS_* generic authenticator options + _OPT_ROUTER_*_* private router options + _OPT_TRANSPORT_*_* private transport options + _OPT_AUTHENTICATOR_*_* private authenticator options + + +Use an exim -bP macros command to get the list of macros. + +
+
+Conditional skips in the configuration file + + +configuration file +conditional skips + + +.ifdef + +You can use the directives .ifdef, .ifndef, .elifdef, +.elifndef, .else, and .endif to dynamically include or exclude +portions of the configuration file. The processing happens whenever the file is +read (that is, when an Exim binary starts to run). + + +The implementation is very simple. Instances of the first four directives must +be followed by text that includes the names of one or macros. The condition +that is tested is whether or not any macro substitution has taken place in the +line. Thus: + + +.ifdef AAA +message_size_limit = 50M +.else +message_size_limit = 100M +.endif + + +sets a message size limit of 50M if the macro AAA is defined +(or A or AA), and 100M +otherwise. If there is more than one macro named on the line, the condition +is true if any of them are defined. That is, it is an or condition. To +obtain an and condition, you need to use nested .ifdefs. + + +Although you can use a macro expansion to generate one of these directives, +it is not very useful, because the condition there was a macro substitution +in this line will always be true. + + +Text following .else and .endif is ignored, and can be used as comment +to clarify complicated nestings. + +
+
+Common option syntax + + +common option syntax + + +syntax of common options + + +configuration file +common option syntax + +For the main set of options, driver options, and local_scan() options, +each setting is on a line by itself, and starts with a name consisting of +lower-case letters and underscores. Many options require a data value, and in +these cases the name must be followed by an equals sign (with optional white +space) and then the value. For example: + + +qualify_domain = mydomain.example.com + + + +hiding configuration option values + + +configuration options +hiding value of + + +options +hiding value of + +Some option settings may contain sensitive data, for example, passwords for +accessing databases. To stop non-admin users from using the command +line option to read these values, you can precede the option settings with the +word hide. For example: + + +hide mysql_servers = localhost/users/admin/secret-password + + +For non-admin users, such options are displayed like this: + + +mysql_servers = <value not displayable> + + +If hide is used on a driver option, it hides the value of that option on +all instances of the same driver. + + +The following sections describe the syntax used for the different data types +that are found in option settings. + +
+
+Boolean options + + +format +boolean + + +boolean configuration values + + +xxx + + +xxx + +Options whose type is given as boolean are on/off switches. There are two +different ways of specifying such options: with and without a data value. If +the option name is specified on its own without data, the switch is turned on; +if it is preceded by no_ or not_ the switch is turned off. However, +boolean options may be followed by an equals sign and one of the words +true, false, yes, or no, as an alternative syntax. For example, +the following two settings have exactly the same effect: + + +queue_only +queue_only = true + + +The following two lines also have the same (opposite) effect: + + +no_queue_only +queue_only = false + + +You can use whichever syntax you prefer. + +
+
+Integer values + + +integer configuration values + + +format +integer + +If an option’s type is given as integer, the value can be given in decimal, +hexadecimal, or octal. If it starts with a digit greater than zero, a decimal +number is assumed. Otherwise, it is treated as an octal number unless it starts +with the characters 0x, in which case the remainder is interpreted as a +hexadecimal number. + + +If an integer value is followed by the letter K, it is multiplied by 1024; if +it is followed by the letter M, it is multiplied by 1024x1024; +if by the letter G, 1024x1024x1024. +When the values +of integer option settings are output, values which are an exact multiple of +1024 or 1024x1024 are sometimes, but not always, printed using the letters K +and M. The printing style is independent of the actual input format that was +used. + +
+
+Octal integer values + + +integer format + + +format +octal integer + +If an option’s type is given as octal integer, its value is always +interpreted as an octal number, whether or not it starts with the digit zero. +Such options are always output in octal. + +
+
+Fixed point numbers + + +fixed point configuration values + + +format +fixed point + +If an option’s type is given as fixed-point, its value must be a decimal +integer, optionally followed by a decimal point and up to three further digits. + +
+
+Time intervals + + +time interval +specifying in configuration + + +format +time interval + +A time interval is specified as a sequence of numbers, each followed by one of +the following letters, with no intervening white space: + + + + + + + +     +seconds + + +     +minutes + + +     +hours + + +     +days + + +     +weeks + + + + + +For example, 3h50m specifies 3 hours and 50 minutes. The values of time +intervals are output in the same format. Exim does not restrict the values; it +is perfectly acceptable, for example, to specify 90m instead of 1h30m. + +
+
+String values + + +string +format of configuration values + + +format +string + +If an option’s type is specified as string, the value can be specified with +or without double-quotes. If it does not start with a double-quote, the value +consists of the remainder of the line plus any continuation lines, starting at +the first character after any leading white space, with trailing white space +removed, and with no interpretation of the characters in the string. Because +Exim removes comment lines (those beginning with #) at an early stage, they can +appear in the middle of a multi-line string. The following two settings are +therefore equivalent: + + +trusted_users = uucp:mail +trusted_users = uucp:\ + # This comment line is ignored + mail + + + +string +quoted + + +escape characters in quoted strings + +If a string does start with a double-quote, it must end with a closing +double-quote, and any backslash characters other than those used for line +continuation are interpreted as escape characters, as follows: + + + + + + + +    \\ +single backslash + + +    \n +newline + + +    \r +carriage return + + +    \t +tab + + +    \<octal digits> +up to 3 octal digits specify one character + + +    \x<hex digits> +up to 2 hexadecimal digits specify one character + + + + + +If a backslash is followed by some other character, including a double-quote +character, that character replaces the pair. + + +Quoting is necessary only if you want to make use of the backslash escapes to +insert special characters, or if you need to specify a value with leading or +trailing spaces. These cases are rare, so quoting is almost never needed in +current versions of Exim. In versions of Exim before 3.14, quoting was required +in order to continue lines, so you may come across older configuration files +and examples that apparently quote unnecessarily. + +
+
+Expanded strings + + +expansion +definition of + +Some strings in the configuration file are subjected to string expansion, +by which means various parts of the string may be changed according to the +circumstances (see chapter ). The input syntax for such strings +is as just described; in particular, the handling of backslashes in quoted +strings is done as part of the input process, before expansion takes place. +However, backslash is also an escape character for the expander, so any +backslashes that are required for that reason must be doubled if they are +within a quoted configuration string. + +
+
+User and group names + + +user name +format of + + +format +user name + + +groups +name format + + +format +group name + +User and group names are specified as strings, using the syntax described +above, but the strings are interpreted specially. A user or group name must +either consist entirely of digits, or be a name that can be looked up using the +getpwnam() or getgrnam() function, as appropriate. + +
+
+List construction + + +list +syntax of in configuration + + +format +list item in configuration + + +string +list, definition of + +The data for some configuration options is a list of items, with colon as the +default separator. Many of these options are shown with type string list in +the descriptions later in this document. Others are listed as domain list, +host list, address list, or local part list. Syntactically, they +are all the same; however, those other than string list are subject to +particular kinds of interpretation, as described in chapter +. + + +In all these cases, the entire list is treated as a single string as far as the +input syntax is concerned. The setting in section + above is an example. If a colon is actually needed in an item +in a list, it must be entered as two colons. Leading and trailing white space +on each item in a list is ignored. This makes it possible to include items that +start with a colon, and in particular, certain forms of IPv6 address. For +example, the list + + +local_interfaces = 127.0.0.1 : ::::1 + + +contains two IP addresses, the IPv4 address 127.0.0.1 and the IPv6 address ::1. + + +Note: Although leading and trailing white space is ignored in individual +list items, it is not ignored when parsing the list. The space after the first +colon in the example above is necessary. If it were not there, the list would +be interpreted as the two items 127.0.0.1:: and 1. + +
+
+Changing list separators + + +list separator +changing + + +IPv6 +addresses in lists + +Doubling colons in IPv6 addresses is an unwelcome chore, so a mechanism was +introduced to allow the separator character to be changed. If a list begins +with a left angle bracket, followed by any punctuation character, that +character is used instead of colon as the list separator. For example, the list +above can be rewritten to use a semicolon separator like this: + + +local_interfaces = <; 127.0.0.1 ; ::1 + + +This facility applies to all lists, with the exception of the list in +. It is recommended that the use of non-colon separators be +confined to circumstances where they really are needed. + + + +list separator +newline as + + +newline +as list separator + +It is also possible to use newline and other control characters (those with +code values less than 32, plus DEL) as separators in lists. Such separators +must be provided literally at the time the list is processed. For options that +are string-expanded, you can write the separator using a normal escape +sequence. This will be processed by the expander before the string is +interpreted as a list. For example, if a newline-separated list of domains is +generated by a lookup, you can process it directly by a line such as this: + + +domains = <\n ${lookup mysql{.....}} + + +This avoids having to change the list separator in such data. You are unlikely +to want to use a control character as a separator in an option that is not +expanded, because the value is literal text. However, it can be done by giving +the value in quotes. For example: + + +local_interfaces = "<\n 127.0.0.1 \n ::1" + + +Unlike printing character separators, which can be included in list items by +doubling, it is not possible to include a control character as data when it is +set as the separator. Two such characters in succession are interpreted as +enclosing an empty list item. + +
+
+Empty items in lists + + +list +empty item in + +An empty item at the end of a list is always ignored. In other words, trailing +separator characters are ignored. Thus, the list in + + +senders = user@domain : + + +contains only a single item. If you want to include an empty string as one item +in a list, it must not be the last item. For example, this list contains three +items, the second of which is empty: + + +senders = user1@domain : : user2@domain + + +Note: There must be white space between the two colons, as otherwise they +are interpreted as representing a single colon data character (and the list +would then contain just one item). If you want to specify a list that contains +just one, empty item, you can do it as in this example: + + +senders = : + + +In this case, the first item is empty, and the second is discarded because it +is at the end of the list. + +
+
+Format of driver configurations + + +drivers +configuration format + +There are separate parts in the configuration for defining routers, transports, +and authenticators. In each part, you are defining a number of driver +instances, each with its own set of options. Each driver instance is defined by +a sequence of lines like this: + + +<instance name>: + <option> + ... + <option> + + +In the following example, the instance name is localuser, and it is +followed by three options settings: + + +localuser: + driver = accept + check_local_user + transport = local_delivery + + +For each driver instance, you specify which Exim code module it uses – by the +setting of the option – and (optionally) some configuration +settings. For example, in the case of transports, if you want a transport to +deliver with SMTP you would use the smtp driver; if you want to deliver to +a local file you would use the appendfile driver. Each of the drivers is +described in detail in its own separate chapter later in this manual. + + +You can have several routers, transports, or authenticators that are based on +the same underlying driver (each must have a different instance name). + + +The order in which routers are defined is important, because addresses are +passed to individual routers one by one, in order. The order in which +transports are defined does not matter at all. The order in which +authenticators are defined is used only when Exim, as a client, is searching +them to find one that matches an authentication mechanism offered by the +server. + + + +generic options + + +options +generic – definition of + +Within a driver instance definition, there are two kinds of option: generic +and private. The generic options are those that apply to all drivers of the +same type (that is, all routers, all transports or all authenticators). The + option is a generic option that must appear in every definition. + +private options + +The private options are special for each driver, and none need appear, because +they all have default values. + + +The options may appear in any order, except that the option must +precede any private options, since these depend on the particular driver. For +this reason, it is recommended that always be the first option. + + +Driver instance names, which are used for reference in log entries and +elsewhere, can be any sequence of letters, digits, and underscores (starting +with a letter) and must be unique among drivers of the same type. A router and +a transport (for example) can each have the same name, but no two router +instances can have the same name. The name of a driver instance should not be +confused with the name of the underlying driver module. For example, the +configuration lines: + + +remote_smtp: + driver = smtp + + +create an instance of the smtp transport driver whose name is +remote_smtp. The same driver code can be used more than once, with +different instance names and different option settings each time. A second +instance of the smtp transport, with different options, might be defined +thus: + + +special_smtp: + driver = smtp + port = 1234 + command_timeout = 10s + + +The names remote_smtp and special_smtp would be used to reference +these transport instances from routers, and these names would appear in log +lines. + + +Comment lines may be present in the middle of driver specifications. The full +list of option settings for any particular driver instance, including all the +defaulted values, can be extracted by making use of the command line +option. + +
+ + + +The default configuration file + + +configuration file +default walk through + + +default +configuration file walk through + +The default configuration file supplied with Exim as src/configure.default +is sufficient for a host with simple mail requirements. As an introduction to +the way Exim is configured, this chapter walks through the default +configuration, giving brief explanations of the settings. Detailed descriptions +of the options are given in subsequent chapters. The default configuration file +itself contains extensive comments about ways you might want to modify the +initial settings. However, note that there are many options that are not +mentioned at all in the default configuration. + +
+Macros + +All macros should be defined before any options. + + +One macro is specified, but commented out, in the default configuration: + + +# ROUTER_SMARTHOST=MAIL.HOSTNAME.FOR.CENTRAL.SERVER.EXAMPLE + + +If all off-site mail is expected to be delivered to a "smarthost", then set the +hostname here and uncomment the macro. This will affect which router is used +later on. If this is left commented out, then Exim will perform direct-to-MX +deliveries using a dnslookup router. + + +In addition to macros defined here, Exim includes a number of built-in macros +to enable configuration to be guarded by a binary built with support for a +given feature. See section for more details. + +
+
+Main configuration settings + +The main (global) configuration option settings section must always come first +in the file, after the macros. +The first thing you’ll see in the file, after some initial comments, is the line + + +# primary_hostname = + + +This is a commented-out setting of the option. Exim needs +to know the official, fully qualified name of your host, and this is where you +can specify it. However, in most cases you do not need to set this option. When +it is unset, Exim uses the uname() system function to obtain the host name. + + +The first three non-comment configuration lines are as follows: + + +domainlist local_domains = @ +domainlist relay_to_domains = +hostlist relay_from_hosts = 127.0.0.1 + + +These are not, in fact, option settings. They are definitions of two named +domain lists and one named host list. Exim allows you to give names to lists of +domains, hosts, and email addresses, in order to make it easier to manage the +configuration file (see section ). + + +The first line defines a domain list called local_domains; this is used +later in the configuration to identify domains that are to be delivered +on the local host. + + + +@ in a domain list + +There is just one item in this list, the string @. This is a special form +of entry which means the name of the local host. Thus, if the local host is +called a.host.example, mail to any.user@a.host.example is expected to +be delivered locally. Because the local host’s name is referenced indirectly, +the same configuration file can be used on different hosts. + + +The second line defines a domain list called relay_to_domains, but the +list itself is empty. Later in the configuration we will come to the part that +controls mail relaying through the local host; it allows relaying to any +domains in this list. By default, therefore, no relaying on the basis of a mail +domain is permitted. + + +The third line defines a host list called relay_from_hosts. This list is +used later in the configuration to permit relaying from any host or IP address +that matches the list. The default contains just the IP address of the IPv4 +loopback interface, which means that processes on the local host are able to +submit mail for relaying by sending it over TCP/IP to that interface. No other +hosts are permitted to submit messages for relaying. + + +Just to be sure there’s no misunderstanding: at this point in the configuration +we aren’t actually setting up any controls. We are just defining some domains +and hosts that will be used in the controls that are specified later. + + +The next two configuration lines are genuine option settings: + + +acl_smtp_rcpt = acl_check_rcpt +acl_smtp_data = acl_check_data + + +These options specify Access Control Lists (ACLs) that are to be used +during an incoming SMTP session for every recipient of a message (every RCPT +command), and after the contents of the message have been received, +respectively. The names of the lists are acl_check_rcpt and +acl_check_data, and we will come to their definitions below, in the ACL +section of the configuration. The RCPT ACL controls which recipients are +accepted for an incoming message – if a configuration does not provide an ACL +to check recipients, no SMTP mail can be accepted. The DATA ACL allows the +contents of a message to be checked. + + +Two commented-out option settings are next: + + +# av_scanner = clamd:/tmp/clamd +# spamd_address = 127.0.0.1 783 + + +These are example settings that can be used when Exim is compiled with the +content-scanning extension. The first specifies the interface to the virus +scanner, and the second specifies the interface to SpamAssassin. Further +details are given in chapter . + + +Three more commented-out option settings follow: + + +# tls_advertise_hosts = * +# tls_certificate = /etc/ssl/exim.crt +# tls_privatekey = /etc/ssl/exim.pem + + +These are example settings that can be used when Exim is compiled with +support for TLS (aka SSL) as described in section . The +first one specifies the list of clients that are allowed to use TLS when +connecting to this server; in this case, the wildcard means all clients. The +other options specify where Exim should find its TLS certificate and private +key, which together prove the server’s identity to any clients that connect. +More details are given in chapter . + + +Another two commented-out option settings follow: + + +# daemon_smtp_ports = 25 : 465 : 587 +# tls_on_connect_ports = 465 + + + +port +465 and 587 + + +port +for message submission + + +message +submission, ports for + + +submissions protocol + + +smtps protocol + + +ssmtp protocol + + +SMTP +submissions protocol + + +SMTP +ssmtp protocol + + +SMTP +smtps protocol + +These options provide better support for roaming users who wish to use this +server for message submission. They are not much use unless you have turned on +TLS (as described in the previous paragraph) and authentication (about which +more in section ). +Mail submission from mail clients (MUAs) should be separate from inbound mail +to your domain (MX delivery) for various good reasons (eg, ability to impose +much saner TLS protocol and ciphersuite requirements without unintended +consequences). +RFC 6409 (previously 4409) specifies use of port 587 for SMTP Submission, +which uses STARTTLS, so this is the submission port. +RFC 8314 specifies use of port 465 as the submissions protocol, +which should be used in preference to 587. +You should also consider deploying SRV records to help clients find +these ports. +Older names for submissions are smtps and ssmtp. + + +Two more commented-out options settings follow: + + +# qualify_domain = +# qualify_recipient = + + +The first of these specifies a domain that Exim uses when it constructs a +complete email address from a local login name. This is often needed when Exim +receives a message from a local process. If you do not set , +the value of is used. If you set both of these options, +you can have different qualification domains for sender and recipient +addresses. If you set only the first one, its value is used in both cases. + + + +domain literal +recognizing format + +The following line must be uncommented if you want Exim to recognize +addresses of the form user@[10.11.12.13] that is, with a domain literal +(an IP address within square brackets) instead of a named domain. + + +# allow_domain_literals + + +The RFCs still require this form, but many people think that in the modern +Internet it makes little sense to permit mail to be sent to specific hosts by +quoting their IP addresses. This ancient format has been used by people who +try to abuse hosts by using them for unwanted relaying. However, some +people believe there are circumstances (for example, messages addressed to +postmaster) where domain literals are still useful. + + +The next configuration line is a kind of trigger guard: + + +never_users = root + + +It specifies that no delivery must ever be run as the root user. The normal +convention is to set up root as an alias for the system administrator. This +setting is a guard against slips in the configuration. +The list of users specified by is not, however, the complete +list; the build-time configuration in Local/Makefile has an option called +FIXED_NEVER_USERS specifying a list that cannot be overridden. The +contents of are added to this list. By default +FIXED_NEVER_USERS also specifies root. + + +When a remote host connects to Exim in order to send mail, the only information +Exim has about the host’s identity is its IP address. The next configuration +line, + + +host_lookup = * + + +specifies that Exim should do a reverse DNS lookup on all incoming connections, +in order to get a host name. This improves the quality of the logging +information, but if you feel it is too expensive, you can remove it entirely, +or restrict the lookup to hosts on nearby networks. +Note that it is not always possible to find a host name from an IP address, +because not all DNS reverse zones are maintained, and sometimes DNS servers are +unreachable. + + +The next two lines are concerned with ident callbacks, as defined by RFC +1413 (hence their names): + + +rfc1413_hosts = * +rfc1413_query_timeout = 0s + + +These settings cause Exim to avoid ident callbacks for all incoming SMTP calls. +Few hosts offer RFC1413 service these days; calls have to be +terminated by a timeout and this needlessly delays the startup +of an incoming SMTP connection. +If you have hosts for which you trust RFC1413 and need this +information, you can change this. + + +This line enables an efficiency SMTP option. It is negotiated by clients +and not expected to cause problems but can be disabled if needed. + + +prdr_enable = true + + +When Exim receives messages over SMTP connections, it expects all addresses to +be fully qualified with a domain, as required by the SMTP definition. However, +if you are running a server to which simple clients submit messages, you may +find that they send unqualified addresses. The two commented-out options: + + +# sender_unqualified_hosts = +# recipient_unqualified_hosts = + + +show how you can specify hosts that are permitted to send unqualified sender +and recipient addresses, respectively. + + +The option is used to increase the detail of logging +over the default: + + +log_selector = +smtp_protocol_error +smtp_syntax_error \ + +tls_certificate_verified + + +The option is also commented out: + + +# percent_hack_domains = + + +It provides a list of domains for which the percent hack is to operate. +This is an almost obsolete form of explicit email routing. If you do not know +anything about it, you can safely ignore this topic. + + +The next two settings in the main part of the default configuration are +concerned with messages that have been frozen on Exim’s queue. When a +message is frozen, Exim no longer continues to try to deliver it. Freezing +occurs when a bounce message encounters a permanent failure because the sender +address of the original message that caused the bounce is invalid, so the +bounce cannot be delivered. This is probably the most common case, but there +are also other conditions that cause freezing, and frozen messages are not +always bounce messages. + + +ignore_bounce_errors_after = 2d +timeout_frozen_after = 7d + + +The first of these options specifies that failing bounce messages are to be +discarded after 2 days in the queue. The second specifies that any frozen +message (whether a bounce message or not) is to be timed out (and discarded) +after a week. In this configuration, the first setting ensures that no failing +bounce message ever lasts a week. + + +Exim queues it’s messages in a spool directory. If you expect to have +large queues, you may consider using this option. It splits the spool +directory into subdirectories to avoid file system degradation from +many files in a single directory, resulting in better performance. +Manual manipulation of queued messages becomes more complex (though fortunately +not often needed). + + +# split_spool_directory = true + + +In an ideal world everybody follows the standards. For non-ASCII +messages RFC 2047 is a standard, allowing a maximum line length of 76 +characters. Exim adheres that standard and won’t process messages which +violate this standard. (Even ${rfc2047:...} expansions will fail.) +In particular, the Exim maintainers have had multiple reports of +problems from Russian administrators of issues until they disable this +check, because of some popular, yet buggy, mail composition software. + + +# check_rfc2047_length = false + + +If you need to be strictly RFC compliant you may wish to disable the +8BITMIME advertisement. Use this, if you exchange mails with systems +that are not 8-bit clean. + + +# accept_8bitmime = false + + +Libraries you use may depend on specific environment settings. This +imposes a security risk (e.g. PATH). There are two lists: + for the variables to import as they are, and + for variables we want to set to a fixed value. +Note that TZ is handled separately, by the $%timezone%$ runtime +option and by the TIMEZONE_DEFAULT buildtime option. + + +# keep_environment = ^LDAP +# add_environment = PATH=/usr/bin::/bin + +
+
+ACL configuration + + +default +ACLs + + +access control lists (ACLs) +default configuration + +In the default configuration, the ACL section follows the main configuration. +It starts with the line + + +begin acl + + +and it contains the definitions of two ACLs, called acl_check_rcpt and +acl_check_data, that were referenced in the settings of +and above. + + + +RCPT +ACL for + +The first ACL is used for every RCPT command in an incoming SMTP message. Each +RCPT command specifies one of the message’s recipients. The ACL statements +are considered in order, until the recipient address is either accepted or +rejected. The RCPT command is then accepted or rejected, according to the +result of the ACL processing. + + +acl_check_rcpt: + + +This line, consisting of a name terminated by a colon, marks the start of the +ACL, and names it. + + +accept hosts = : + + +This ACL statement accepts the recipient if the sending host matches the list. +But what does that strange list mean? It doesn’t actually contain any host +names or IP addresses. The presence of the colon puts an empty item in the +list; Exim matches this only if the incoming message did not come from a remote +host, because in that case, the remote hostname is empty. The colon is +important. Without it, the list itself is empty, and can never match anything. + + +What this statement is doing is to accept unconditionally all recipients in +messages that are submitted by SMTP from local processes using the standard +input and output (that is, not using TCP/IP). A number of MUAs operate in this +manner. + + +deny message = Restricted characters in address + domains = +local_domains + local_parts = ^[.] : ^.*[@%!/|] + +deny message = Restricted characters in address + domains = !+local_domains + local_parts = ^[./|] : ^.*[@%!] : ^.*/\\.\\./ + + +These statements are concerned with local parts that contain any of the +characters @, %, !, /, |, or dots in unusual places. +Although these characters are entirely legal in local parts (in the case of +@ and leading dots, only if correctly quoted), they do not commonly occur +in Internet mail addresses. + + +The first three have in the past been associated with explicitly routed +addresses (percent is still sometimes used – see the +option). Addresses containing these characters are regularly tried by spammers +in an attempt to bypass relaying restrictions, and also by open relay testing +programs. Unless you really need them it is safest to reject these characters +at this early stage. This configuration is heavy-handed in rejecting these +characters for all messages it accepts from remote hosts. This is a deliberate +policy of being as safe as possible. + + +The first rule above is stricter, and is applied to messages that are addressed +to one of the local domains handled by this host. This is implemented by the +first condition, which restricts it to domains that are listed in the +local_domains domain list. The + character is used to indicate a +reference to a named list. In this configuration, there is just one domain in +local_domains, but in general there may be many. + + +The second condition on the first statement uses two regular expressions to +block local parts that begin with a dot or contain @, %, !, /, +or |. If you have local accounts that include these characters, you will +have to modify this rule. + + +Empty components (two dots in a row) are not valid in RFC 2822, but Exim +allows them because they have been encountered in practice. (Consider the +common convention of local parts constructed as +first-initial.second-initial.family-name when applied to someone like +the author of Exim, who has no second initial.) However, a local part starting +with a dot or containing /../ can cause trouble if it is used as part of a +filename (for example, for a mailing list). This is also true for local parts +that contain slashes. A pipe symbol can also be troublesome if the local part +is incorporated unthinkingly into a shell command line. + + +The second rule above applies to all other domains, and is less strict. This +allows your own users to send outgoing messages to sites that use slashes +and vertical bars in their local parts. It blocks local parts that begin +with a dot, slash, or vertical bar, but allows these characters within the +local part. However, the sequence /../ is barred. The use of @, %, +and ! is blocked, as before. The motivation here is to prevent your users +(or your users’ viruses) from mounting certain kinds of attack on remote sites. + + +accept local_parts = postmaster + domains = +local_domains + + +This statement, which has two conditions, accepts an incoming address if the +local part is postmaster and the domain is one of those listed in the +local_domains domain list. The + character is used to indicate a +reference to a named list. In this configuration, there is just one domain in +local_domains, but in general there may be many. + + +The presence of this statement means that mail to postmaster is never blocked +by any of the subsequent tests. This can be helpful while sorting out problems +in cases where the subsequent tests are incorrectly denying access. + + +require verify = sender + + +This statement requires the sender address to be verified before any subsequent +ACL statement can be used. If verification fails, the incoming recipient +address is refused. Verification consists of trying to route the address, to +see if a bounce message could be delivered to it. In the case of remote +addresses, basic verification checks only the domain, but callouts can be +used for more verification if required. Section +discusses the details of address verification. + + +accept hosts = +relay_from_hosts + control = submission + + +This statement accepts the address if the message is coming from one of the +hosts that are defined as being allowed to relay through this host. Recipient +verification is omitted here, because in many cases the clients are dumb MUAs +that do not cope well with SMTP error responses. For the same reason, the +second line specifies submission mode for messages that are accepted. This +is described in detail in section ; it causes Exim to fix +messages that are deficient in some way, for example, because they lack a +Date: header line. If you are actually relaying out from MTAs, you should +probably add recipient verification here, and disable submission mode. + + +accept authenticated = * + control = submission + + +This statement accepts the address if the client host has authenticated itself. +Submission mode is again specified, on the grounds that such messages are most +likely to come from MUAs. The default configuration does not define any +authenticators, though it does include some nearly complete commented-out +examples described in . This means that no client can in +fact authenticate until you complete the authenticator definitions. + + +require message = relay not permitted + domains = +local_domains : +relay_to_domains + + +This statement rejects the address if its domain is neither a local domain nor +one of the domains for which this host is a relay. + + +require verify = recipient + + +This statement requires the recipient address to be verified; if verification +fails, the address is rejected. + + +# deny message = rejected because $sender_host_address \ +# is in a black list at $dnslist_domain\n\ +# $dnslist_text +# dnslists = black.list.example +# +# warn dnslists = black.list.example +# add_header = X-Warning: $sender_host_address is in \ +# a black list at $dnslist_domain +# log_message = found in $dnslist_domain + + +These commented-out lines are examples of how you could configure Exim to check +sending hosts against a DNS black list. The first statement rejects messages +from blacklisted hosts, whereas the second just inserts a warning header +line. + + +# require verify = csa + + +This commented-out line is an example of how you could turn on client SMTP +authorization (CSA) checking. Such checks do DNS lookups for special SRV +records. + + +accept + + +The final statement in the first ACL unconditionally accepts any recipient +address that has successfully passed all the previous tests. + + +acl_check_data: + + +This line marks the start of the second ACL, and names it. Most of the contents +of this ACL are commented out: + + +# deny malware = * +# message = This message contains a virus \ +# ($malware_name). + + +These lines are examples of how to arrange for messages to be scanned for +viruses when Exim has been compiled with the content-scanning extension, and a +suitable virus scanner is installed. If the message is found to contain a +virus, it is rejected with the given custom error message. + + +# warn spam = nobody +# message = X-Spam_score: $spam_score\n\ +# X-Spam_score_int: $spam_score_int\n\ +# X-Spam_bar: $spam_bar\n\ +# X-Spam_report: $spam_report + + +These lines are an example of how to arrange for messages to be scanned by +SpamAssassin when Exim has been compiled with the content-scanning extension, +and SpamAssassin has been installed. The SpamAssassin check is run with +nobody as its user parameter, and the results are added to the message as a +series of extra header line. In this case, the message is not rejected, +whatever the spam score. + + +accept + + +This final line in the DATA ACL accepts the message unconditionally. + +
+
+Router configuration + + +default +routers + + +routers +default + +The router configuration comes next in the default configuration, introduced +by the line + + +begin routers + + +Routers are the modules in Exim that make decisions about where to send +messages. An address is passed to each router, in turn, until it is either +accepted, or failed. This means that the order in which you define the routers +matters. Each router is fully described in its own chapter later in this +manual. Here we give only brief overviews. + + +# domain_literal: +# driver = ipliteral +# domains = !+local_domains +# transport = remote_smtp + + + +domain literal +default router + +This router is commented out because the majority of sites do not want to +support domain literal addresses (those of the form user@[10.9.8.7]). If +you uncomment this router, you also need to uncomment the setting of + in the main part of the configuration. + + +Which router is used next depends upon whether or not the ROUTER_SMARTHOST +macro has been defined, per + + +.ifdef ROUTER_SMARTHOST +smarthost: +#... +.else +dnslookup: +#... +.endif + + +If ROUTER_SMARTHOST has been defined, either at the top of the file or on the +command-line, then we route all non-local mail to that smarthost; otherwise, we’ll +perform DNS lookups for direct-to-MX lookup. Any mail which is to a local domain will +skip these routers because of the option. + + +smarthost: + driver = manualroute + domains = ! +local_domains + transport = smarthost_smtp + route_data = ROUTER_SMARTHOST + ignore_target_hosts = <; 0.0.0.0 ; 127.0.0.0/8 ; ::1 + no_more + + +This router only handles mail which is not to any local domains; this is +specified by the line + + +domains = ! +local_domains + + +The option lists the domains to which this router applies, but the +exclamation mark is a negation sign, so the router is used only for domains +that are not in the domain list called local_domains (which was defined at +the start of the configuration). The plus sign before local_domains +indicates that it is referring to a named list. Addresses in other domains are +passed on to the following routers. + + +The name of the router driver is manualroute because we are manually +specifying how mail should be routed onwards, instead of using DNS MX. +While the name of this router instance is arbitrary, the option must +be one of the driver modules that is in the Exim binary. + + +With no pre-conditions other than , all mail for non-local domains +will be handled by this router, and the setting will ensure that no +other routers will be used for messages matching the pre-conditions. See + for more on how the pre-conditions apply. For messages which +are handled by this router, we provide a hostname to deliver to in +and the macro supplies the value; the address is then queued for the +smarthost_smtp transport. + + +dnslookup: + driver = dnslookup + domains = ! +local_domains + transport = remote_smtp + ignore_target_hosts = 0.0.0.0 : 127.0.0.0/8 + no_more + + +The option behaves as per smarthost, above. + + +The name of the router driver is dnslookup, +and is specified by the option. Do not be confused by the fact that +the name of this router instance is the same as the name of the driver. The +instance name is arbitrary, but the name set in the option must be +one of the driver modules that is in the Exim binary. + + +The dnslookup router routes addresses by looking up their domains in the +DNS in order to obtain a list of hosts to which the address is routed. If the +router succeeds, the address is queued for the remote_smtp transport, as +specified by the option. If the router does not find the domain +in the DNS, no further routers are tried because of the setting, so +the address fails and is bounced. + + +The option specifies a list of IP addresses that are to +be entirely ignored. This option is present because a number of cases have been +encountered where MX records in the DNS point to host names +whose IP addresses are 0.0.0.0 or are in the 127 subnet (typically 127.0.0.1). +Completely ignoring these IP addresses causes Exim to fail to route the +email address, so it bounces. Otherwise, Exim would log a routing problem, and +continue to try to deliver the message periodically until the address timed +out. + + +system_aliases: + driver = redirect + allow_fail + allow_defer + data = ${lookup{$local_part}lsearch{/etc/aliases}} +# user = exim + file_transport = address_file + pipe_transport = address_pipe + + +Control reaches this and subsequent routers only for addresses in the local +domains. This router checks to see whether the local part is defined as an +alias in the /etc/aliases file, and if so, redirects it according to the +data that it looks up from that file. If no data is found for the local part, +the value of the option is empty, causing the address to be passed to +the next router. + + +/etc/aliases is a conventional name for the system aliases file that is +often used. That is why it is referenced by from the default configuration +file. However, you can change this by setting SYSTEM_ALIASES_FILE in +Local/Makefile before building Exim. + + +userforward: + driver = redirect + check_local_user +# local_part_suffix = +* : -* +# local_part_suffix_optional + file = $home/.forward +# allow_filter + no_verify + no_expn + check_ancestor + file_transport = address_file + pipe_transport = address_pipe + reply_transport = address_reply + + +This is the most complicated router in the default configuration. It is another +redirection router, but this time it is looking for forwarding data set up by +individual users. The setting specifies a check that the +local part of the address is the login name of a local user. If it is not, the +router is skipped. The two commented options that follow , +namely: + + +# local_part_suffix = +* : -* +# local_part_suffix_optional + + + +$local_part_suffix + +show how you can specify the recognition of local part suffixes. If the first +is uncommented, a suffix beginning with either a plus or a minus sign, followed +by any sequence of characters, is removed from the local part and placed in the +variable $local_part_suffix. The second suffix option specifies that the +presence of a suffix in the local part is optional. When a suffix is present, +the check for a local login uses the local part with the suffix removed. + + +When a local user account is found, the file called .forward in the user’s +home directory is consulted. If it does not exist, or is empty, the router +declines. Otherwise, the contents of .forward are interpreted as +redirection data (see chapter for more details). + + + +Sieve filter +enabling in default router + +Traditional .forward files contain just a list of addresses, pipes, or +files. Exim supports this by default. However, if is set (it +is commented out by default), the contents of the file are interpreted as a set +of Exim or Sieve filtering instructions, provided the file begins with #Exim +filter or #Sieve filter, respectively. User filtering is discussed in the +separate document entitled Exim’s interfaces to mail filtering. + + +The and options mean that this router is skipped when +verifying addresses, or when running as a consequence of an SMTP EXPN command. +There are two reasons for doing this: + + + + +Whether or not a local user has a .forward file is not really relevant when +checking an address for validity; it makes sense not to waste resources doing +unnecessary work. + + + + +More importantly, when Exim is verifying addresses or handling an EXPN +command during an SMTP session, it is running as the Exim user, not as root. +The group is the Exim group, and no additional groups are set up. +It may therefore not be possible for Exim to read users’ .forward files at +this time. + + + + +The setting of prevents the router from generating a new +address that is the same as any previous address that was redirected. (This +works round a problem concerning a bad interaction between aliasing and +forwarding – see section ). + + +The final three option settings specify the transports that are to be used when +forwarding generates a direct delivery to a file, or to a pipe, or sets up an +auto-reply, respectively. For example, if a .forward file contains + + +a.nother@elsewhere.example, /home/spqr/archive + + +the delivery to /home/spqr/archive is done by running the +transport. + + +localuser: + driver = accept + check_local_user +# local_part_suffix = +* : -* +# local_part_suffix_optional + transport = local_delivery + + +The final router sets up delivery into local mailboxes, provided that the local +part is the name of a local login, by accepting the address and assigning it to +the local_delivery transport. Otherwise, we have reached the end of the +routers, so the address is bounced. The commented suffix settings fulfil the +same purpose as they do for the userforward router. + +
+
+Transport configuration + + +default +transports + + +transports +default + +Transports define mechanisms for actually delivering messages. They operate +only when referenced from routers, so the order in which they are defined does +not matter. The transports section of the configuration starts with + + +begin transports + + +Two remote transports and four local transports are defined. + + +remote_smtp: + driver = smtp + message_size_limit = ${if > {$max_received_linelength}{998} {1}{0}} +.ifdef _HAVE_DANE + dnssec_request_domains = * + hosts_try_dane = * +.endif +.ifdef _HAVE_PRDR + hosts_try_prdr = * +.endif + + +This transport is used for delivering messages over SMTP connections. +The list of remote hosts comes from the router. +The usage is a hack to avoid sending on messages +with over-long lines. The built-in macro _HAVE_DANE guards configuration +to try to use DNSSEC for all queries and to use DANE for delivery; +see section for more details. + + +The option enables an efficiency SMTP option. It is +negotiated between client and server and not expected to cause problems +but can be disabled if needed. The built-in macro _HAVE_PRDR guards the +use of the configuration option. + + +The other remote transport is used when delivering to a specific smarthost +with whom there must be some kind of existing relationship, instead of the +usual federated system. + + +smarthost_smtp: + driver = smtp + message_size_limit = ${if > {$max_received_linelength}{998} {1}{0}} + multi_domain + # +.ifdef _HAVE_TLS + # Comment out any of these which you have to, then file a Support + # request with your smarthost provider to get things fixed: + hosts_require_tls = * + tls_verify_hosts = * + # As long as tls_verify_hosts is enabled, this won't matter, but if you + # have to comment it out then this will at least log whether you succeed + # or not: + tls_try_verify_hosts = * + # + # The SNI name should match the name which we'll expect to verify; + # many mail systems don't use SNI and this doesn't matter, but if it does, + # we need to send a name which the remote site will recognize. + # This _should_ be the name which the smarthost operators specified as + # the hostname for sending your mail to. + tls_sni = ROUTER_SMARTHOST + # +.ifdef _HAVE_OPENSSL + tls_require_ciphers = HIGH:!aNULL:@STRENGTH +.endif +.ifdef _HAVE_GNUTLS + tls_require_ciphers = SECURE192:-VERS-SSL3.0:-VERS-TLS1.0:-VERS-TLS1.1 +.endif +.endif +.ifdef _HAVE_PRDR + hosts_try_prdr = * +.endif + + +After the same hack, we then specify that this Transport +can handle messages to multiple domains in one run. The assumption here is +that you’re routing all non-local mail to the same place and that place is +happy to take all messages from you as quickly as possible. +All other options depend upon built-in macros; if Exim was built without TLS support +then no other options are defined. +If TLS is available, then we configure "stronger than default" TLS ciphersuites +and versions using the option, where the value to be +used depends upon the library providing TLS. +Beyond that, the options adopt the stance that you should have TLS support available +from your smarthost on today’s Internet, so we turn on requiring TLS for the +mail to be delivered, and requiring that the certificate be valid, and match +the expected hostname. The option can be used by service providers +to select an appropriate certificate to present to you and here we re-use the +ROUTER_SMARTHOST macro, because that is unaffected by CNAMEs present in DNS. +You want to specify the hostname which you’ll expect to validate for, and that +should not be subject to insecure tampering via DNS results. + + +For the option see the previous transport. + + +All other options are defaulted. + + +local_delivery: + driver = appendfile + file = /var/mail/$local_part + delivery_date_add + envelope_to_add + return_path_add +# group = mail +# mode = 0660 + + +This appendfile transport is used for local delivery to user mailboxes in +traditional BSD mailbox format. By default it runs under the uid and gid of the +local user, which requires the sticky bit to be set on the /var/mail +directory. Some systems use the alternative approach of running mail deliveries +under a particular group instead of using the sticky bit. The commented options +show how this can be done. + + +Exim adds three headers to the message as it delivers it: Delivery-date:, +Envelope-to: and Return-path:. This action is requested by the three +similarly-named options above. + + +address_pipe: + driver = pipe + return_output + + +This transport is used for handling deliveries to pipes that are generated by +redirection (aliasing or users’ .forward files). The +option specifies that any output on stdout or stderr generated by the pipe is to +be returned to the sender. + + +address_file: + driver = appendfile + delivery_date_add + envelope_to_add + return_path_add + + +This transport is used for handling deliveries to files that are generated by +redirection. The name of the file is not specified in this instance of +appendfile, because it comes from the redirect router. + + +address_reply: + driver = autoreply + + +This transport is used for handling automatic replies generated by users’ +filter files. + +
+
+Default retry rule + + +retry +default rule + + +default +retry rule + +The retry section of the configuration file contains rules which affect the way +Exim retries deliveries that cannot be completed at the first attempt. It is +introduced by the line + + +begin retry + + +In the default configuration, there is just one rule, which applies to all +errors: + + +* * F,2h,15m; G,16h,1h,1.5; F,4d,6h + + +This causes any temporarily failing address to be retried every 15 minutes for +2 hours, then at intervals starting at one hour and increasing by a factor of +1.5 until 16 hours have passed, then every 6 hours up to 4 days. If an address +is not delivered after 4 days of temporary failure, it is bounced. The time is +measured from first failure, not from the time the message was received. + + +If the retry section is removed from the configuration, or is empty (that is, +if no retry rules are defined), Exim will not retry deliveries. This turns +temporary errors into permanent errors. + +
+
+Rewriting configuration + +The rewriting section of the configuration, introduced by + + +begin rewrite + + +contains rules for rewriting addresses in messages as they arrive. There are no +rewriting rules in the default configuration file. + +
+
+Authenticators configuration + + +AUTH +configuration + +The authenticators section of the configuration, introduced by + + +begin authenticators + + +defines mechanisms for the use of the SMTP AUTH command. The default +configuration file contains two commented-out example authenticators +which support plaintext username/password authentication using the +standard PLAIN mechanism and the traditional but non-standard LOGIN +mechanism, with Exim acting as the server. PLAIN and LOGIN are enough +to support most MUA software. + + +The example PLAIN authenticator looks like this: + + +#PLAIN: +# driver = plaintext +# server_set_id = $auth2 +# server_prompts = : +# server_condition = Authentication is not yet configured +# server_advertise_condition = ${if def:tls_in_cipher } + + +And the example LOGIN authenticator looks like this: + + +#LOGIN: +# driver = plaintext +# server_set_id = $auth1 +# server_prompts = <| Username: | Password: +# server_condition = Authentication is not yet configured +# server_advertise_condition = ${if def:tls_in_cipher } + + +The option makes Exim remember the authenticated username +in $authenticated_id, which can be used later in ACLs or routers. The + option configures the plaintext authenticator so +that it implements the details of the specific authentication mechanism, +i.e. PLAIN or LOGIN. The setting controls +when Exim offers authentication to clients; in the examples, this is only +when TLS or SSL has been started, so to enable the authenticators you also +need to add support for TLS as described in section . + + +The setting defines how to verify that the username and +password are correct. In the examples it just produces an error message. +To make the authenticators work, you can use a string expansion +expression like one of the examples in chapter . + + +Beware that the sequence of the parameters to PLAIN and LOGIN differ; the +usercode and password are in different positions. +Chapter covers both. + + + + +
+ + + +Regular expressions + + +regular expressions +library + + +PCRE + +Exim supports the use of regular expressions in many of its options. It +uses the PCRE regular expression library; this provides regular expression +matching that is compatible with Perl 5. The syntax and semantics of +regular expressions is discussed in +online Perl manpages, in +many Perl reference books, and also in +Jeffrey Friedl’s Mastering Regular Expressions, which is published by +O’Reilly (see http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/regex2/). + + +The documentation for the syntax and semantics of the regular expressions that +are supported by PCRE is included in the PCRE distribution, and no further +description is included here. The PCRE functions are called from Exim using +the default option settings (that is, with no PCRE options set), except that +the PCRE_CASELESS option is set when the matching is required to be +case-insensitive. + + +In most cases, when a regular expression is required in an Exim configuration, +it has to start with a circumflex, in order to distinguish it from plain text +or an ends with wildcard. In this example of a configuration setting, the +second item in the colon-separated list is a regular expression. + + +domains = a.b.c : ^\\d{3} : *.y.z : ... + + +The doubling of the backslash is required because of string expansion that +precedes interpretation – see section for more discussion +of this issue, and a way of avoiding the need for doubling backslashes. The +regular expression that is eventually used in this example contains just one +backslash. The circumflex is included in the regular expression, and has the +normal effect of anchoring it to the start of the string that is being +matched. + + +There are, however, two cases where a circumflex is not required for the +recognition of a regular expression: these are the condition in a +string expansion, and the condition in an Exim filter file. In +these cases, the relevant string is always treated as a regular expression; if +it does not start with a circumflex, the expression is not anchored, and can +match anywhere in the subject string. + + +In all cases, if you want a regular expression to match at the end of a string, +you must code the $ metacharacter to indicate this. For example: + + +domains = ^\\d{3}\\.example + + +matches the domain 123.example, but it also matches 123.example.com. +You need to use: + + +domains = ^\\d{3}\\.example\$ + + +if you want example to be the top-level domain. The backslash before the +$ is needed because string expansion also interprets dollar characters. + + + + +File and database lookups + + +file +lookups + + +database +lookups + + +lookup +description of + +Exim can be configured to look up data in files or databases as it processes +messages. Two different kinds of syntax are used: + + + + +A string that is to be expanded may contain explicit lookup requests. These +cause parts of the string to be replaced by data that is obtained from the +lookup. Lookups of this type are conditional expansion items. Different results +can be defined for the cases of lookup success and failure. See chapter +, where string expansions are described in detail. +The key for the lookup is specified as part of the string expansion. + + + + +Lists of domains, hosts, and email addresses can contain lookup requests as a +way of avoiding excessively long linear lists. In this case, the data that is +returned by the lookup is often (but not always) discarded; whether the lookup +succeeds or fails is what really counts. These kinds of list are described in +chapter . +The key for the lookup is given by the context in which the list is expanded. + + + + +String expansions, lists, and lookups interact with each other in such a way +that there is no order in which to describe any one of them that does not +involve references to the others. Each of these three chapters makes more sense +if you have read the other two first. If you are reading this for the first +time, be aware that some of it will make a lot more sense after you have read +chapters and . + +
+Examples of different lookup syntax + +It is easy to confuse the two different kinds of lookup, especially as the +lists that may contain the second kind are always expanded before being +processed as lists. Therefore, they may also contain lookups of the first kind. +Be careful to distinguish between the following two examples: + + +domains = ${lookup{$sender_host_address}lsearch{/some/file}} +domains = lsearch;/some/file + + +The first uses a string expansion, the result of which must be a domain list. +No strings have been specified for a successful or a failing lookup; the +defaults in this case are the looked-up data and an empty string, respectively. +The expansion takes place before the string is processed as a list, and the +file that is searched could contain lines like this: + + +192.168.3.4: domain1:domain2:... +192.168.1.9: domain3:domain4:... + + +When the lookup succeeds, the result of the expansion is a list of domains (and +possibly other types of item that are allowed in domain lists). + + +In the second example, the lookup is a single item in a domain list. It causes +Exim to use a lookup to see if the domain that is being processed can be found +in the file. The file could contains lines like this: + + +domain1: +domain2: + + +Any data that follows the keys is not relevant when checking that the domain +matches the list item. + + +It is possible, though no doubt confusing, to use both kinds of lookup at once. +Consider a file containing lines like this: + + +192.168.5.6: lsearch;/another/file + + +If the value of $sender_host_address is 192.168.5.6, expansion of the +first setting above generates the second setting, which therefore +causes a second lookup to occur. + + +The rest of this chapter describes the different lookup types that are +available. Any of them can be used in any part of the configuration where a +lookup is permitted. + +
+
+Lookup types + + +lookup +types of + + +single-key lookup +definition of + +Two different types of data lookup are implemented: + + + + +The single-key type requires the specification of a file in which to look, +and a single key to search for. The key must be a non-empty string for the +lookup to succeed. The lookup type determines how the file is searched. + + + + + +query-style lookup +definition of + +The query-style type accepts a generalized database query. No particular +key value is assumed by Exim for query-style lookups. You can use whichever +Exim variables you need to construct the database query. + + + + +The code for each lookup type is in a separate source file that is included in +the binary of Exim only if the corresponding compile-time option is set. The +default settings in src/EDITME are: + + +LOOKUP_DBM=yes +LOOKUP_LSEARCH=yes + + +which means that only linear searching and DBM lookups are included by default. +For some types of lookup (e.g. SQL databases), you need to install appropriate +libraries and header files before building Exim. + +
+
+Single-key lookup types + + +lookup +single-key types + + +single-key lookup +list of types + +The following single-key lookup types are implemented: + + + + + +cdb +description of + + +lookup +cdb + + +binary zero +in lookup key + +cdb: The given file is searched as a Constant DataBase file, using the key +string without a terminating binary zero. The cdb format is designed for +indexed files that are read frequently and never updated, except by total +re-creation. As such, it is particularly suitable for large files containing +aliases or other indexed data referenced by an MTA. Information about cdb and +tools for building the files can be found in several places: + + +https://cr.yp.to/cdb.html +http://www.corpit.ru/mjt/tinycdb.html +https://packages.debian.org/stable/utils/freecdb +https://github.com/philpennock/cdbtools (in Go) + + +A cdb distribution is not needed in order to build Exim with cdb support, +because the code for reading cdb files is included directly in Exim itself. +However, no means of building or testing cdb files is provided with Exim, so +you need to obtain a cdb distribution in order to do this. + + + + + +DBM +lookup type + + +lookup +dbm + + +binary zero +in lookup key + +dbm: Calls to DBM library functions are used to extract data from the given +DBM file by looking up the record with the given key. A terminating binary +zero is included in the key that is passed to the DBM library. See section + for a discussion of DBM libraries. + + + +Berkeley DB library +file format + +For all versions of Berkeley DB, Exim uses the DB_HASH style of database +when building DBM files using the utility. However, when +using Berkeley DB versions 3 or 4, it opens existing databases for reading with +the DB_UNKNOWN option. This enables it to handle any of the types of database +that the library supports, and can be useful for accessing DBM files created by +other applications. (For earlier DB versions, DB_HASH is always used.) + + + + + +lookup +dbmjz + + +lookup +dbm – embedded NULs + + +sasldb2 + + +dbmjz lookup type + +dbmjz: This is the same as dbm, except that the lookup key is +interpreted as an Exim list; the elements of the list are joined together with +ASCII NUL characters to form the lookup key. An example usage would be to +authenticate incoming SMTP calls using the passwords from Cyrus SASL’s +/etc/sasldb2 file with the gsasl authenticator or Exim’s own +cram_md5 authenticator. + + + + + +lookup +dbmnz + + +lookup +dbm – terminating zero + + +binary zero +in lookup key + + +Courier + + +/etc/userdbshadow.dat + + +dbmnz lookup type + +dbmnz: This is the same as dbm, except that a terminating binary zero +is not included in the key that is passed to the DBM library. You may need this +if you want to look up data in files that are created by or shared with some +other application that does not use terminating zeros. For example, you need to +use dbmnz rather than dbm if you want to authenticate incoming SMTP +calls using the passwords from Courier’s /etc/userdbshadow.dat file. Exim’s +utility program for creating DBM files (exim_dbmbuild) includes the zeros +by default, but has an option to omit them (see section ). + + + + + +lookup +dsearch + + +dsearch lookup type + +dsearch: The given file must be a directory; this is searched for an entry +whose name is the key by calling the lstat() function. The key may not +contain any forward slash characters. If lstat() succeeds, the result of +the lookup is the name of the entry, which may be a file, directory, +symbolic link, or any other kind of directory entry. An example of how this +lookup can be used to support virtual domains is given in section +. + + + + + +lookup +iplsearch + + +iplsearch lookup type + +iplsearch: The given file is a text file containing keys and data. A key is +terminated by a colon or white space or the end of the line. The keys in the +file must be IP addresses, or IP addresses with CIDR masks. Keys that involve +IPv6 addresses must be enclosed in quotes to prevent the first internal colon +being interpreted as a key terminator. For example: + + +1.2.3.4: data for 1.2.3.4 +192.168.0.0/16: data for 192.168.0.0/16 +"abcd::cdab": data for abcd::cdab +"abcd:abcd::/32" data for abcd:abcd::/32 + + +The key for an iplsearch lookup must be an IP address (without a mask). The +file is searched linearly, using the CIDR masks where present, until a matching +key is found. The first key that matches is used; there is no attempt to find a +best match. Apart from the way the keys are matched, the processing for +iplsearch is the same as for lsearch. + + +Warning 1: Unlike most other single-key lookup types, a file of data for +iplsearch can not be turned into a DBM or cdb file, because those +lookup types support only literal keys. + + +Warning 2: In a host list, you must always use net-iplsearch so that +the implicit key is the host’s IP address rather than its name (see section +). + + + + + +linear search + + +lookup +lsearch + + +lsearch lookup type + + +case sensitivity +in lsearch lookup + +lsearch: The given file is a text file that is searched linearly for a +line beginning with the search key, terminated by a colon or white space or the +end of the line. The search is case-insensitive; that is, upper and lower case +letters are treated as the same. The first occurrence of the key that is found +in the file is used. + + +White space between the key and the colon is permitted. The remainder of the +line, with leading and trailing white space removed, is the data. This can be +continued onto subsequent lines by starting them with any amount of white +space, but only a single space character is included in the data at such a +junction. If the data begins with a colon, the key must be terminated by a +colon, for example: + + +baduser: :fail: + + +Empty lines and lines beginning with # are ignored, even if they occur in the +middle of an item. This is the traditional textual format of alias files. Note +that the keys in an lsearch file are literal strings. There is no +wildcarding of any kind. + + + +lookup +lsearch – colons in keys + + +white space +in lsearch key + +In most lsearch files, keys are not required to contain colons or # +characters, or white space. However, if you need this feature, it is available. +If a key begins with a doublequote character, it is terminated only by a +matching quote (or end of line), and the normal escaping rules apply to its +contents (see section ). An optional colon is permitted after +quoted keys (exactly as for unquoted keys). There is no special handling of +quotes for the data part of an lsearch line. + + + + + +NIS lookup type + + +lookup +NIS + + +binary zero +in lookup key + +nis: The given file is the name of a NIS map, and a NIS lookup is done with +the given key, without a terminating binary zero. There is a variant called +nis0 which does include the terminating binary zero in the key. This is +reportedly needed for Sun-style alias files. Exim does not recognize NIS +aliases; the full map names must be used. + + + + + +wildlsearch lookup type + + +lookup +wildlsearch + + +nwildlsearch lookup type + + +lookup +nwildlsearch + +wildlsearch or nwildlsearch: These search a file linearly, like +lsearch, but instead of being interpreted as a literal string, each key in +the file may be wildcarded. The difference between these two lookup types is +that for wildlsearch, each key in the file is string-expanded before being +used, whereas for nwildlsearch, no expansion takes place. + + + +case sensitivity +in (n)wildlsearch lookup + +Like lsearch, the testing is done case-insensitively. However, keys in the +file that are regular expressions can be made case-sensitive by the use of +(-i) within the pattern. The following forms of wildcard are recognized: + + + + +The string may begin with an asterisk to mean ends with. For example: + + + *.a.b.c data for anything.a.b.c + *fish data for anythingfish + + + + +The string may begin with a circumflex to indicate a regular expression. For +example, for wildlsearch: + + + ^\N\d+\.a\.b\N data for <digits>.a.b + + +Note the use of \N to disable expansion of the contents of the regular +expression. If you are using nwildlsearch, where the keys are not +string-expanded, the equivalent entry is: + + + ^\d+\.a\.b data for <digits>.a.b + + +The case-insensitive flag is set at the start of compiling the regular +expression, but it can be turned off by using (-i) at an appropriate point. +For example, to make the entire pattern case-sensitive: + + + ^(?-i)\d+\.a\.b data for <digits>.a.b + + +If the regular expression contains white space or colon characters, you must +either quote it (see lsearch above), or represent these characters in other +ways. For example, \s can be used for white space and \x3A for a +colon. This may be easier than quoting, because if you quote, you have to +escape all the backslashes inside the quotes. + + +Note: It is not possible to capture substrings in a regular expression +match for later use, because the results of all lookups are cached. If a lookup +is repeated, the result is taken from the cache, and no actual pattern matching +takes place. The values of all the numeric variables are unset after a +(n)wildlsearch match. + + + + +Although I cannot see it being of much use, the general matching function that +is used to implement (n)wildlsearch means that the string may begin with a +lookup name terminated by a semicolon, and followed by lookup data. For +example: + + + cdb;/some/file data for keys that match the file + + +The data that is obtained from the nested lookup is discarded. + + + + +Keys that do not match any of these patterns are interpreted literally. The +continuation rules for the data are the same as for lsearch, and keys may +be followed by optional colons. + + +Warning: Unlike most other single-key lookup types, a file of data for +(n)wildlsearch can not be turned into a DBM or cdb file, because those +lookup types support only literal keys. + + + + + +lookup +spf + +If Exim is built with SPF support, manual lookups can be done +(as opposed to the standard ACL condition method. +For details see section . + + + +
+
+Query-style lookup types + + +lookup +query-style types + + +query-style lookup +list of types + +The supported query-style lookup types are listed below. Further details about +many of them are given in later sections. + + + + + +DNS +as a lookup type + + +lookup +DNS + +dnsdb: This does a DNS search for one or more records whose domain names +are given in the supplied query. The resulting data is the contents of the +records. See section . + + + + + +InterBase lookup type + + +lookup +InterBase + +ibase: This does a lookup in an InterBase database. + + + + + +LDAP +lookup type + + +lookup +LDAP + +ldap: This does an LDAP lookup using a query in the form of a URL, and +returns attributes from a single entry. There is a variant called ldapm +that permits values from multiple entries to be returned. A third variant +called ldapdn returns the Distinguished Name of a single entry instead of +any attribute values. See section . + + + + + +MySQL +lookup type + + +lookup +MySQL + +mysql: The format of the query is an SQL statement that is passed to a +MySQL database. See section . + + + + + +NIS+ lookup type + + +lookup +NIS+ + +nisplus: This does a NIS+ lookup using a query that can specify the name of +the field to be returned. See section . + + + + + +Oracle +lookup type + + +lookup +Oracle + +oracle: The format of the query is an SQL statement that is passed to an +Oracle database. See section . + + + + + +lookup +passwd + + +passwd lookup type + + +/etc/passwd + +passwd is a query-style lookup with queries that are just user names. The +lookup calls getpwnam() to interrogate the system password data, and on +success, the result string is the same as you would get from an lsearch +lookup on a traditional /etc/passwd file, though with * for the +password value. For example: + + +*:42:42:King Rat:/home/kr:/bin/bash + + + + + +PostgreSQL lookup type + + +lookup +PostgreSQL + +pgsql: The format of the query is an SQL statement that is passed to a +PostgreSQL database. See section . + + + + + +Redis lookup type + + +lookup +Redis + +redis: The format of the query is either a simple get or simple set, +passed to a Redis database. See section . + + + + + +sqlite lookup type + + +lookup +sqlite + +sqlite: The format of the query is a filename followed by an SQL statement +that is passed to an SQLite database. See section . + + + + +testdb: This is a lookup type that is used for testing Exim. It is +not likely to be useful in normal operation. + + + + + +whoson lookup type + + +lookup +whoson + +whoson: Whoson (http://whoson.sourceforge.net) is a protocol that +allows a server to check whether a particular (dynamically allocated) IP +address is currently allocated to a known (trusted) user and, optionally, to +obtain the identity of the said user. For SMTP servers, Whoson was popular +at one time for POP before SMTP authentication, but that approach has been +superseded by SMTP authentication. In Exim, Whoson can be used to implement +POP before SMTP checking using ACL statements such as + + +require condition = \ + ${lookup whoson {$sender_host_address}{yes}{no}} + + +The query consists of a single IP address. The value returned is the name of +the authenticated user, which is stored in the variable $value. However, in +this example, the data in $value is not used; the result of the lookup is +one of the fixed strings yes or no. + + + +
+
+Temporary errors in lookups + + +lookup +temporary error in + +Lookup functions can return temporary error codes if the lookup cannot be +completed. For example, an SQL or LDAP database might be unavailable. For this +reason, it is not advisable to use a lookup that might do this for critical +options such as a list of local domains. + + +When a lookup cannot be completed in a router or transport, delivery +of the message (to the relevant address) is deferred, as for any other +temporary error. In other circumstances Exim may assume the lookup has failed, +or may give up altogether. + +
+
+Default values in single-key lookups + + +wildcard lookups + + +lookup +default values + + +lookup +wildcard + + +lookup +* added to type + + +default +in single-key lookups + +In this context, a default value is a value specified by the administrator +that is to be used if a lookup fails. + + +Note: This section applies only to single-key lookups. For query-style +lookups, the facilities of the query language must be used. An attempt to +specify a default for a query-style lookup provokes an error. + + +If * is added to a single-key lookup type (for example, ) +and the initial lookup fails, the key * is looked up in the file to +provide a default value. See also the section on partial matching below. + + + +*@ with single-key lookup + + +lookup +*@ added to type + + +alias file +per-domain default + +Alternatively, if *@ is added to a single-key lookup type (for example +) then, if the initial lookup fails and the key contains an @ +character, a second lookup is done with everything before the last @ replaced +by *. This makes it possible to provide per-domain defaults in alias files +that include the domains in the keys. If the second lookup fails (or doesn’t +take place because there is no @ in the key), * is looked up. +For example, a redirect router might contain: + + +data = ${lookup{$local_part@$domain}lsearch*@{/etc/mix-aliases}} + + +Suppose the address that is being processed is jane@eyre.example. Exim +looks up these keys, in this order: + + +jane@eyre.example +*@eyre.example +* + + +The data is taken from whichever key it finds first. Note: In an +lsearch file, this does not mean the first of these keys in the file. A +complete scan is done for each key, and only if it is not found at all does +Exim move on to try the next key. + +
+
+Partial matching in single-key lookups + + +partial matching + + +wildcard lookups + + +lookup +partial matching + + +lookup +wildcard + + +asterisk +in search type + +The normal operation of a single-key lookup is to search the file for an exact +match with the given key. However, in a number of situations where domains are +being looked up, it is useful to be able to do partial matching. In this case, +information in the file that has a key starting with *. is matched by any +domain that ends with the components that follow the full stop. For example, if +a key in a DBM file is + + +*.dates.fict.example + + +then when partial matching is enabled this is matched by (amongst others) +2001.dates.fict.example and 1984.dates.fict.example. It is also matched +by dates.fict.example, if that does not appear as a separate key in the +file. + + +Note: Partial matching is not available for query-style lookups. It is +also not available for any lookup items in address lists (see section +). + + +Partial matching is implemented by doing a series of separate lookups using +keys constructed by modifying the original subject key. This means that it can +be used with any of the single-key lookup types, provided that +partial matching keys +beginning with a special prefix (default *.) are included in the data file. +Keys in the file that do not begin with the prefix are matched only by +unmodified subject keys when partial matching is in use. + + +Partial matching is requested by adding the string partial- to the front of +the name of a single-key lookup type, for example, . When this +is done, the subject key is first looked up unmodified; if that fails, *. +is added at the start of the subject key, and it is looked up again. If that +fails, further lookups are tried with dot-separated components removed from the +start of the subject key, one-by-one, and *. added on the front of what +remains. + + +A minimum number of two non-* components are required. This can be adjusted +by including a number before the hyphen in the search type. For example, + specifies a minimum of three non-* components in the +modified keys. Omitting the number is equivalent to partial2-. If the +subject key is 2250.dates.fict.example then the following keys are looked +up when the minimum number of non-* components is two: + + +2250.dates.fict.example +*.2250.dates.fict.example +*.dates.fict.example +*.fict.example + + +As soon as one key in the sequence is successfully looked up, the lookup +finishes. + + + +lookup +partial matching – changing prefix + + +prefix +for partial matching + +The use of *. as the partial matching prefix is a default that can be +changed. The motivation for this feature is to allow Exim to operate with file +formats that are used by other MTAs. A different prefix can be supplied in +parentheses instead of the hyphen after partial. For example: + + +domains = partial(.)lsearch;/some/file + + +In this example, if the domain is a.b.c, the sequence of lookups is +a.b.c, .a.b.c, and .b.c (the default minimum of 2 non-wild +components is unchanged). The prefix may consist of any punctuation characters +other than a closing parenthesis. It may be empty, for example: + + +domains = partial1()cdb;/some/file + + +For this example, if the domain is a.b.c, the sequence of lookups is +a.b.c, b.c, and c. + + +If partial0 is specified, what happens at the end (when the lookup with +just one non-wild component has failed, and the original key is shortened right +down to the null string) depends on the prefix: + + + + +If the prefix has zero length, the whole lookup fails. + + + + +If the prefix has length 1, a lookup for just the prefix is done. For +example, the final lookup for partial0(.) is for . alone. + + + + +Otherwise, if the prefix ends in a dot, the dot is removed, and the +remainder is looked up. With the default prefix, therefore, the final lookup is +for * on its own. + + + + +Otherwise, the whole prefix is looked up. + + + + +If the search type ends in * or *@ (see section + above), the search for an ultimate default that +this implies happens after all partial lookups have failed. If partial0 is +specified, adding * to the search type has no effect with the default +prefix, because the * key is already included in the sequence of partial +lookups. However, there might be a use for lookup types such as +partial0(.)lsearch*. + + +The use of * in lookup partial matching differs from its use as a wildcard +in domain lists and the like. Partial matching works only in terms of +dot-separated components; a key such as *fict.example +in a database file is useless, because the asterisk in a partial matching +subject key is always followed by a dot. + +
+
+Lookup caching + + +lookup +caching + + +caching +lookup data + +Exim caches all lookup results in order to avoid needless repetition of +lookups. However, because (apart from the daemon) Exim operates as a collection +of independent, short-lived processes, this caching applies only within a +single Exim process. There is no inter-process lookup caching facility. + + +For single-key lookups, Exim keeps the relevant files open in case there is +another lookup that needs them. In some types of configuration this can lead to +many files being kept open for messages with many recipients. To avoid hitting +the operating system limit on the number of simultaneously open files, Exim +closes the least recently used file when it needs to open more files than its +own internal limit, which can be changed via the option. + + +The single-key lookup files are closed and the lookup caches are flushed at +strategic points during delivery – for example, after all routing is +complete. + +
+
+Quoting lookup data + + +lookup +quoting + + +quoting +in lookups + +When data from an incoming message is included in a query-style lookup, there +is the possibility of special characters in the data messing up the syntax of +the query. For example, a NIS+ query that contains + + +[name=$local_part] + + +will be broken if the local part happens to contain a closing square bracket. +For NIS+, data can be enclosed in double quotes like this: + + +[name="$local_part"] + + +but this still leaves the problem of a double quote in the data. The rule for +NIS+ is that double quotes must be doubled. Other lookup types have different +rules, and to cope with the differing requirements, an expansion operator +of the following form is provided: + + +${quote_<lookup-type>:<string>} + + +For example, the safest way to write the NIS+ query is + + +[name="${quote_nisplus:$local_part}"] + + +See chapter for full coverage of string expansions. The quote +operator can be used for all lookup types, but has no effect for single-key +lookups, since no quoting is ever needed in their key strings. + +
+
+More about dnsdb + + +dnsdb lookup + + +lookup +dnsdb + + +DNS +as a lookup type + +The dnsdb lookup type uses the DNS as its database. A simple query consists +of a record type and a domain name, separated by an equals sign. For example, +an expansion string could contain: + + +${lookup dnsdb{mx=a.b.example}{$value}fail} + + +If the lookup succeeds, the result is placed in $value, which in this case +is used on its own as the result. If the lookup does not succeed, the +fail keyword causes a forced expansion failure – see section + for an explanation of what this means. + + +The supported DNS record types are A, CNAME, MX, NS, PTR, SOA, SPF, SRV, TLSA +and TXT, and, when Exim is compiled with IPv6 support, AAAA. +If no type is given, TXT is assumed. + + +For any record type, if multiple records are found, the data is returned as a +concatenation, with newline as the default separator. The order, of course, +depends on the DNS resolver. You can specify a different separator character +between multiple records by putting a right angle-bracket followed immediately +by the new separator at the start of the query. For example: + + +${lookup dnsdb{>: a=host1.example}} + + +It is permitted to specify a space as the separator character. Further +white space is ignored. +For lookup types that return multiple fields per record, +an alternate field separator can be specified using a comma after the main +separator character, followed immediately by the field separator. + + + +PTR record +in dnsdb lookup + +When the type is PTR, +the data can be an IP address, written as normal; inversion and the addition of + or happens automatically. For example: + + +${lookup dnsdb{ptr=192.168.4.5}{$value}fail} + + +If the data for a PTR record is not a syntactically valid IP address, it is not +altered and nothing is added. + + + +MX record +in dnsdb lookup + + +SRV record +in dnsdb lookup + +For an MX lookup, both the preference value and the host name are returned for +each record, separated by a space. For an SRV lookup, the priority, weight, +port, and host name are returned for each record, separated by spaces. +The field separator can be modified as above. + + + +TXT record +in dnsdb lookup + + +SPF record +in dnsdb lookup + +For TXT records with multiple items of data, only the first item is returned, +unless a field separator is specified. +To concatenate items without a separator, use a semicolon instead. +For SPF records the +default behaviour is to concatenate multiple items without using a separator. + + +${lookup dnsdb{>\n,: txt=a.b.example}} +${lookup dnsdb{>\n; txt=a.b.example}} +${lookup dnsdb{spf=example.org}} + + +It is permitted to specify a space as the separator character. Further +white space is ignored. + + + +SOA record +in dnsdb lookup + +For an SOA lookup, while no result is obtained the lookup is redone with +successively more leading components dropped from the given domain. +Only the primary-nameserver field is returned unless a field separator is +specified. + + +${lookup dnsdb{>:,; soa=a.b.example.com}} + +
+
+Dnsdb lookup modifiers + + +dnsdb modifiers + + +modifiers +dnsdb + + +options +dnsdb + +Modifiers for dnsdb lookups are given by optional keywords, +each followed by a comma, +that may appear before the record type. + + +The dnsdb lookup fails only if all the DNS lookups fail. If there is a +temporary DNS error for any of them, the behaviour is controlled by +a defer-option modifier. +The possible keywords are +defer_strict, defer_never, and defer_lax. +With strict behaviour, any temporary DNS error causes the +whole lookup to defer. With never behaviour, a temporary DNS error is +ignored, and the behaviour is as if the DNS lookup failed to find anything. +With lax behaviour, all the queries are attempted, but a temporary DNS +error causes the whole lookup to defer only if none of the other lookups +succeed. The default is lax, so the following lookups are equivalent: + + +${lookup dnsdb{defer_lax,a=one.host.com:two.host.com}} +${lookup dnsdb{a=one.host.com:two.host.com}} + + +Thus, in the default case, as long as at least one of the DNS lookups +yields some data, the lookup succeeds. + + + +DNSSEC +dns lookup + +Use of DNSSEC is controlled by a dnssec modifier. +The possible keywords are +dnssec_strict, dnssec_lax, and dnssec_never. +With strict or lax DNSSEC information is requested +with the lookup. +With strict a response from the DNS resolver that +is not labelled as authenticated data +is treated as equivalent to a temporary DNS error. +The default is never. + + +See also the $lookup_dnssec_authenticated variable. + + + +timeout +dns lookup + + +DNS +timeout + +Timeout for the dnsdb lookup can be controlled by a retrans modifier. +The form is retrans_VAL where VAL is an Exim time specification +(e.g. 5s). +The default value is set by the main configuration option . + + +Retries for the dnsdb lookup can be controlled by a retry modifier. +The form if retry_VAL where VAL is an integer. +The default count is set by the main configuration option . + + + +caching +of dns lookup + + +TTL +of dns lookup + + +DNS +TTL + +Dnsdb lookup results are cached within a single process (and its children). +The cache entry lifetime is limited to the smallest time-to-live (TTL) +value of the set of returned DNS records. + +
+
+Pseudo dnsdb record types + + +MX record +in dnsdb lookup + +By default, both the preference value and the host name are returned for +each MX record, separated by a space. If you want only host names, you can use +the pseudo-type MXH: + + +${lookup dnsdb{mxh=a.b.example}} + + +In this case, the preference values are omitted, and just the host names are +returned. + + + +name server for enclosing domain + +Another pseudo-type is ZNS (for zone NS). It performs a lookup for NS +records on the given domain, but if none are found, it removes the first +component of the domain name, and tries again. This process continues until NS +records are found or there are no more components left (or there is a DNS +error). In other words, it may return the name servers for a top-level domain, +but it never returns the root name servers. If there are no NS records for the +top-level domain, the lookup fails. Consider these examples: + + +${lookup dnsdb{zns=xxx.quercite.com}} +${lookup dnsdb{zns=xxx.edu}} + + +Assuming that in each case there are no NS records for the full domain name, +the first returns the name servers for , and the second returns +the name servers for . + + +You should be careful about how you use this lookup because, unless the +top-level domain does not exist, the lookup always returns some host names. The +sort of use to which this might be put is for seeing if the name servers for a +given domain are on a blacklist. You can probably assume that the name servers +for the high-level domains such as or are not going to be on +such a list. + + + +CSA +in dnsdb lookup + +A third pseudo-type is CSA (Client SMTP Authorization). This looks up SRV +records according to the CSA rules, which are described in section +. Although dnsdb supports SRV lookups directly, this is +not sufficient because of the extra parent domain search behaviour of CSA. The +result of a successful lookup such as: + + +${lookup dnsdb {csa=$sender_helo_name}} + + +has two space-separated fields: an authorization code and a target host name. +The authorization code can be Y for yes, N for no, X for explicit +authorization required but absent, or ? for unknown. + + + +A+ +in dnsdb lookup + +The pseudo-type A+ performs an AAAA +and then an A lookup. All results are returned; defer processing +(see below) is handled separately for each lookup. Example: + + +${lookup dnsdb {>; a+=$sender_helo_name}} + +
+
+Multiple dnsdb lookups + +In the previous sections, dnsdb lookups for a single domain are described. +However, you can specify a list of domains or IP addresses in a single +dnsdb lookup. The list is specified in the normal Exim way, with colon as +the default separator, but with the ability to change this. For example: + + +${lookup dnsdb{one.domain.com:two.domain.com}} +${lookup dnsdb{a=one.host.com:two.host.com}} +${lookup dnsdb{ptr = <; 1.2.3.4 ; 4.5.6.8}} + + +In order to retain backwards compatibility, there is one special case: if +the lookup type is PTR and no change of separator is specified, Exim looks +to see if the rest of the string is precisely one IPv6 address. In this +case, it does not treat it as a list. + + +The data from each lookup is concatenated, with newline separators by default, +in the same way that multiple DNS records for a single item are handled. A +different separator can be specified, as described above. + +
+
+More about LDAP + + +LDAP +lookup, more about + + +lookup +LDAP + + +Solaris +LDAP + +The original LDAP implementation came from the University of Michigan; this has +become Open LDAP, and there are now two different releases. Another +implementation comes from Netscape, and Solaris 7 and subsequent releases +contain inbuilt LDAP support. Unfortunately, though these are all compatible at +the lookup function level, their error handling is different. For this reason +it is necessary to set a compile-time variable when building Exim with LDAP, to +indicate which LDAP library is in use. One of the following should appear in +your Local/Makefile: + + +LDAP_LIB_TYPE=UMICHIGAN +LDAP_LIB_TYPE=OPENLDAP1 +LDAP_LIB_TYPE=OPENLDAP2 +LDAP_LIB_TYPE=NETSCAPE +LDAP_LIB_TYPE=SOLARIS + + +If LDAP_LIB_TYPE is not set, Exim assumes OPENLDAP1, which has the +same interface as the University of Michigan version. + + +There are three LDAP lookup types in Exim. These behave slightly differently in +the way they handle the results of a query: + + + + +ldap requires the result to contain just one entry; if there are more, it +gives an error. + + + + +ldapdn also requires the result to contain just one entry, but it is the +Distinguished Name that is returned rather than any attribute values. + + + + +ldapm permits the result to contain more than one entry; the attributes +from all of them are returned. + + + + +For ldap and ldapm, if a query finds only entries with no attributes, +Exim behaves as if the entry did not exist, and the lookup fails. The format of +the data returned by a successful lookup is described in the next section. +First we explain how LDAP queries are coded. + +
+
+Format of LDAP queries + + +LDAP +query format + +An LDAP query takes the form of a URL as defined in RFC 2255. For example, in +the configuration of a redirect router one might have this setting: + + +data = ${lookup ldap \ + {ldap:///cn=$local_part,o=University%20of%20Cambridge,\ + c=UK?mailbox?base?}} + + + +LDAP +with TLS + +The URL may begin with ldap or ldaps if your LDAP library supports +secure (encrypted) LDAP connections. The second of these ensures that an +encrypted TLS connection is used. + + +With sufficiently modern LDAP libraries, Exim supports forcing TLS over regular +LDAP connections, rather than the SSL-on-connect ldaps. +See the option. + + +Starting with Exim 4.83, the initialization of LDAP with TLS is more tightly +controlled. Every part of the TLS configuration can be configured by settings in +exim.conf. Depending on the version of the client libraries installed on +your system, some of the initialization may have required setting options in +/etc/ldap.conf or ~/.ldaprc to get TLS working with self-signed +certificates. This revealed a nuance where the current UID that exim was +running as could affect which config files it read. With Exim 4.83, these +methods become optional, only taking effect if not specifically set in +exim.conf. + +
+
+LDAP quoting + + +LDAP +quoting + +Two levels of quoting are required in LDAP queries, the first for LDAP itself +and the second because the LDAP query is represented as a URL. Furthermore, +within an LDAP query, two different kinds of quoting are required. For this +reason, there are two different LDAP-specific quoting operators. + + +The operator is designed for use on strings that are part of +filter specifications. Conceptually, it first does the following conversions on +the string: + + +* => \2A +( => \28 +) => \29 +\ => \5C + + +in accordance with RFC 2254. The resulting string is then quoted according +to the rules for URLs, that is, all non-alphanumeric characters except + + +! $ ' - . _ ( ) * + + + +are converted to their hex values, preceded by a percent sign. For example: + + +${quote_ldap: a(bc)*, a<yz>; } + + +yields + + +%20a%5C28bc%5C29%5C2A%2C%20a%3Cyz%3E%3B%20 + + +Removing the URL quoting, this is (with a leading and a trailing space): + + +a\28bc\29\2A, a<yz>; + + +The operator is designed for use on strings that are part of +base DN specifications in queries. Conceptually, it first converts the string +by inserting a backslash in front of any of the following characters: + + +, + " \ < > ; + + +It also inserts a backslash before any leading spaces or # characters, and +before any trailing spaces. (These rules are in RFC 2253.) The resulting string +is then quoted according to the rules for URLs. For example: + + +${quote_ldap_dn: a(bc)*, a<yz>; } + + +yields + + +%5C%20a(bc)*%5C%2C%20a%5C%3Cyz%5C%3E%5C%3B%5C%20 + + +Removing the URL quoting, this is (with a trailing space): + + +\ a(bc)*\, a\<yz\>\;\ + + +There are some further comments about quoting in the section on LDAP +authentication below. + +
+
+LDAP connections + + +LDAP +connections + +The connection to an LDAP server may either be over TCP/IP, or, when OpenLDAP +is in use, via a Unix domain socket. The example given above does not specify +an LDAP server. A server that is reached by TCP/IP can be specified in a query +by starting it with + + +ldap://<hostname>:<port>/... + + +If the port (and preceding colon) are omitted, the standard LDAP port (389) is +used. When no server is specified in a query, a list of default servers is +taken from the configuration option. This supplies a +colon-separated list of servers which are tried in turn until one successfully +handles a query, or there is a serious error. Successful handling either +returns the requested data, or indicates that it does not exist. Serious errors +are syntactical, or multiple values when only a single value is expected. +Errors which cause the next server to be tried are connection failures, bind +failures, and timeouts. + + +For each server name in the list, a port number can be given. The standard way +of specifying a host and port is to use a colon separator (RFC 1738). Because + is a colon-separated list, such colons have to be +doubled. For example + + +ldap_default_servers = ldap1.example.com::145:ldap2.example.com + + +If is unset, a URL with no server name is passed +to the LDAP library with no server name, and the library’s default (normally +the local host) is used. + + +If you are using the OpenLDAP library, you can connect to an LDAP server using +a Unix domain socket instead of a TCP/IP connection. This is specified by using +ldapi instead of ldap in LDAP queries. What follows here applies only +to OpenLDAP. If Exim is compiled with a different LDAP library, this feature is +not available. + + +For this type of connection, instead of a host name for the server, a pathname +for the socket is required, and the port number is not relevant. The pathname +can be specified either as an item in , or inline in +the query. In the former case, you can have settings such as + + +ldap_default_servers = /tmp/ldap.sock : backup.ldap.your.domain + + +When the pathname is given in the query, you have to escape the slashes as +%2F to fit in with the LDAP URL syntax. For example: + + +${lookup ldap {ldapi://%2Ftmp%2Fldap.sock/o=... + + +When Exim processes an LDAP lookup and finds that the hostname is really +a pathname, it uses the Unix domain socket code, even if the query actually +specifies ldap or ldaps. In particular, no encryption is used for a +socket connection. This behaviour means that you can use a setting of + such as in the example above with traditional ldap +or ldaps queries, and it will work. First, Exim tries a connection via +the Unix domain socket; if that fails, it tries a TCP/IP connection to the +backup host. + + +If an explicit ldapi type is given in a query when a host name is +specified, an error is diagnosed. However, if there are more items in +, they are tried. In other words: + + + + +Using a pathname with ldap or ldaps forces the use of the Unix domain +interface. + + + + +Using ldapi with a host name causes an error. + + + + +Using ldapi with no host or path in the query, and no setting of +, does whatever the library does by default. + +
+
+LDAP authentication and control information + + +LDAP +authentication + +The LDAP URL syntax provides no way of passing authentication and other control +information to the server. To make this possible, the URL in an LDAP query may +be preceded by any number of <name>=<value> settings, separated by +spaces. If a value contains spaces it must be enclosed in double quotes, and +when double quotes are used, backslash is interpreted in the usual way inside +them. The following names are recognized: + + +DEREFERENCE set the dereferencing parameter +NETTIME set a timeout for a network operation +USER set the DN, for authenticating the LDAP bind +PASS set the password, likewise +REFERRALS set the referrals parameter +SERVERS set alternate server list for this query only +SIZE set the limit for the number of entries returned +TIME set the maximum waiting time for a query + + +The value of the DEREFERENCE parameter must be one of the words never, +searching, finding, or always. The value of the REFERRALS parameter +must be follow (the default) or nofollow. The latter stops the LDAP +library from trying to follow referrals issued by the LDAP server. + + + +LDAP +timeout + + +timeout +LDAP lookup + +The name CONNECT is an obsolete name for NETTIME, retained for +backwards compatibility. This timeout (specified as a number of seconds) is +enforced from the client end for operations that can be carried out over a +network. Specifically, it applies to network connections and calls to the +ldap_result() function. If the value is greater than zero, it is used if +LDAP_OPT_NETWORK_TIMEOUT is defined in the LDAP headers (OpenLDAP), or +if LDAP_X_OPT_CONNECT_TIMEOUT is defined in the LDAP headers (Netscape +SDK 4.1). A value of zero forces an explicit setting of no timeout for +Netscape SDK; for OpenLDAP no action is taken. + + +The TIME parameter (also a number of seconds) is passed to the server to +set a server-side limit on the time taken to complete a search. + + +The SERVERS parameter allows you to specify an alternate list of ldap servers +to use for an individual lookup. The global option provides a +default list of ldap servers, and a single lookup can specify a single ldap +server to use. But when you need to do a lookup with a list of servers that is +different than the default list (maybe different order, maybe a completely +different set of servers), the SERVERS parameter allows you to specify this +alternate list (colon-separated). + + +Here is an example of an LDAP query in an Exim lookup that uses some of these +values. This is a single line, folded to fit on the page: + + +${lookup ldap + {user="cn=manager,o=University of Cambridge,c=UK" pass=secret + ldap:///o=University%20of%20Cambridge,c=UK?sn?sub?(cn=foo)} + {$value}fail} + + +The encoding of spaces as %20 is a URL thing which should not be done for +any of the auxiliary data. Exim configuration settings that include lookups +which contain password information should be preceded by hide to prevent +non-admin users from using the option to see their values. + + +The auxiliary data items may be given in any order. The default is no +connection timeout (the system timeout is used), no user or password, no limit +on the number of entries returned, and no time limit on queries. + + +When a DN is quoted in the USER= setting for LDAP authentication, Exim +removes any URL quoting that it may contain before passing it LDAP. Apparently +some libraries do this for themselves, but some do not. Removing the URL +quoting has two advantages: + + + + +It makes it possible to use the same expansion for USER= +DNs as with DNs inside actual queries. + + + + +It permits spaces inside USER= DNs. + + + + +For example, a setting such as + + +USER=cn=${quote_ldap_dn:$1} + + +should work even if $1 contains spaces. + + +Expanded data for the PASS= value should be quoted using the +expansion operator, rather than the LDAP quote operators. The only reason this +field needs quoting is to ensure that it conforms to the Exim syntax, which +does not allow unquoted spaces. For example: + + +PASS=${quote:$3} + + +The LDAP authentication mechanism can be used to check passwords as part of +SMTP authentication. See the expansion string condition in chapter +. + +
+
+Format of data returned by LDAP + + +LDAP +returned data formats + +The ldapdn lookup type returns the Distinguished Name from a single entry +as a sequence of values, for example + + +cn=manager,o=University of Cambridge,c=UK + + +The ldap lookup type generates an error if more than one entry matches the +search filter, whereas ldapm permits this case, and inserts a newline in +the result between the data from different entries. It is possible for multiple +values to be returned for both ldap and ldapm, but in the former case +you know that whatever values are returned all came from a single entry in the +directory. + + +In the common case where you specify a single attribute in your LDAP query, the +result is not quoted, and does not contain the attribute name. If the attribute +has multiple values, they are separated by commas. Any comma that is +part of an attribute’s value is doubled. + + +If you specify multiple attributes, the result contains space-separated, quoted +strings, each preceded by the attribute name and an equals sign. Within the +quotes, the quote character, backslash, and newline are escaped with +backslashes, and commas are used to separate multiple values for the attribute. +Any commas in attribute values are doubled +(permitting treatment of the values as a comma-separated list). +Apart from the escaping, the string within quotes takes the same form as the +output when a single attribute is requested. Specifying no attributes is the +same as specifying all of an entry’s attributes. + + +Here are some examples of the output format. The first line of each pair is an +LDAP query, and the second is the data that is returned. The attribute called + has two values, one of them with an embedded comma, whereas + has only one value. Both attributes are derived from +(they have SUP in their schema definitions). + + +ldap:///o=base?attr1?sub?(uid=fred) +value1.1,value1,,2 + +ldap:///o=base?attr2?sub?(uid=fred) +value two + +ldap:///o=base?attr?sub?(uid=fred) +value1.1,value1,,2,value two + +ldap:///o=base?attr1,attr2?sub?(uid=fred) +attr1="value1.1,value1,,2" attr2="value two" + +ldap:///o=base??sub?(uid=fred) +objectClass="top" attr1="value1.1,value1,,2" attr2="value two" + + +You can +make use of Exim’s option to run expansion tests and thereby check the +results of LDAP lookups. +The operator in string expansions can be used to pick out +individual fields from data that consists of key=value pairs. +The operator should be used to pick out individual values +of attributes, even when only a single value is expected. +The doubling of embedded commas allows you to use the returned data as a +comma separated list (using the "<," syntax for changing the input list separator). + +
+
+More about NIS+ + + +NIS+ lookup type + + +lookup +NIS+ + +NIS+ queries consist of a NIS+ indexed name followed by an optional colon +and field name. If this is given, the result of a successful query is the +contents of the named field; otherwise the result consists of a concatenation +of field-name=field-value pairs, separated by spaces. Empty values and +values containing spaces are quoted. For example, the query + + +[name=mg1456],passwd.org_dir + + +might return the string + + +name=mg1456 passwd="" uid=999 gid=999 gcos="Martin Guerre" +home=/home/mg1456 shell=/bin/bash shadow="" + + +(split over two lines here to fit on the page), whereas + + +[name=mg1456],passwd.org_dir:gcos + + +would just return + + +Martin Guerre + + +with no quotes. A NIS+ lookup fails if NIS+ returns more than one table entry +for the given indexed key. The effect of the expansion +operator is to double any quote characters within the text. + +
+
+SQL lookups + + +SQL lookup types + + +MySQL +lookup type + + +PostgreSQL lookup type + + +lookup +MySQL + + +lookup +PostgreSQL + + +Oracle +lookup type + + +lookup +Oracle + + +InterBase lookup type + + +lookup +InterBase + + +Redis lookup type + + +lookup +Redis + +Exim can support lookups in InterBase, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, Redis, +and SQLite +databases. Queries for these databases contain SQL statements, so an example +might be + + +${lookup mysql{select mailbox from users where id='userx'}\ + {$value}fail} + + +If the result of the query contains more than one field, the data for each +field in the row is returned, preceded by its name, so the result of + + +${lookup pgsql{select home,name from users where id='userx'}\ + {$value}} + + +might be + + +home=/home/userx name="Mister X" + + +Empty values and values containing spaces are double quoted, with embedded +quotes escaped by a backslash. If the result of the query contains just one +field, the value is passed back verbatim, without a field name, for example: + + +Mister X + + +If the result of the query yields more than one row, it is all concatenated, +with a newline between the data for each row. + +
+
+More about MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, InterBase, and Redis + + +MySQL +lookup type + + +PostgreSQL lookup type + + +lookup +MySQL + + +lookup +PostgreSQL + + +Oracle +lookup type + + +lookup +Oracle + + +InterBase lookup type + + +lookup +InterBase + + +Redis lookup type + + +lookup +Redis + +If any MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, InterBase or Redis lookups are used, the +, , , , +or +option (as appropriate) must be set to a colon-separated list of server +information. +(For MySQL and PostgreSQL, the global option need not be set if all +queries contain their own server information – see section +.) +For all but Redis +each item in the list is a slash-separated list of four +items: host name, database name, user name, and password. In the case of +Oracle, the host name field is used for the service name, and the database +name field is not used and should be empty. For example: + + +hide oracle_servers = oracle.plc.example//userx/abcdwxyz + + +Because password data is sensitive, you should always precede the setting with +hide, to prevent non-admin users from obtaining the setting via the +option. Here is an example where two MySQL servers are listed: + + +hide mysql_servers = localhost/users/root/secret:\ + otherhost/users/root/othersecret + + +For MySQL and PostgreSQL, a host may be specified as <name>:<port> but +because this is a colon-separated list, the colon has to be doubled. For each +query, these parameter groups are tried in order until a connection is made and +a query is successfully processed. The result of a query may be that no data is +found, but that is still a successful query. In other words, the list of +servers provides a backup facility, not a list of different places to look. + + +For Redis the global option need not be specified if all queries contain their +own server information – see section . +If specified, the option must be set to a colon-separated list of server +information. +Each item in the list is a slash-separated list of three items: +host, database number, and password. + + + + +The host is required and may be either an IPv4 address and optional +port number (separated by a colon, which needs doubling due to the +higher-level list), or a Unix socket pathname enclosed in parentheses + + + + +The database number is optional; if present that number is selected in the backend + + + + +The password is optional; if present it is used to authenticate to the backend + + + + +The , , and expansion operators +convert newline, tab, carriage return, and backspace to \n, \t, \r, and \b +respectively, and the characters single-quote, double-quote, and backslash +itself are escaped with backslashes. + + +The expansion operator +escapes whitespace and backslash characters with a backslash. + +
+
+Specifying the server in the query + +For MySQL, PostgreSQL and Redis lookups (but not currently for Oracle and InterBase), +it is possible to specify a list of servers with an individual query. This is +done by starting the query with + + +servers=server1:server2:server3:...; + + +Each item in the list may take one of two forms: + + + + +If it contains no slashes it is assumed to be just a host name. The appropriate +global option ( or ) is searched for a host +of the same name, and the remaining parameters (database, user, password) are +taken from there. + + + + +If it contains any slashes, it is taken as a complete parameter set. + + + + +The list of servers is used in exactly the same way as the global list. +Once a connection to a server has happened and a query has been +successfully executed, processing of the lookup ceases. + + +This feature is intended for use in master/slave situations where updates +are occurring and you want to update the master rather than a slave. If the +master is in the list as a backup for reading, you might have a global setting +like this: + + +mysql_servers = slave1/db/name/pw:\ + slave2/db/name/pw:\ + master/db/name/pw + + +In an updating lookup, you could then write: + + +${lookup mysql{servers=master; UPDATE ...} } + + +That query would then be sent only to the master server. If, on the other hand, +the master is not to be used for reading, and so is not present in the global +option, you can still update it by a query of this form: + + +${lookup pgsql{servers=master/db/name/pw; UPDATE ...} } + +
+
+Special MySQL features + +For MySQL, an empty host name or the use of localhost in +causes a connection to the server on the local host by means of a Unix domain +socket. An alternate socket can be specified in parentheses. +An option group name for MySQL option files can be specified in square brackets; +the default value is exim. +The full syntax of each item in is: + + +<hostname>::<port>(<socket name>)[<option group>]/<database>/<user>/<password> + + +Any of the four sub-parts of the first field can be omitted. For normal use on +the local host it can be left blank or set to just localhost. + + +No database need be supplied – but if it is absent here, it must be given in +the queries. + + +If a MySQL query is issued that does not request any data (an insert, update, +or delete command), the result of the lookup is the number of rows affected. + + +Warning: This can be misleading. If an update does not actually change +anything (for example, setting a field to the value it already has), the result +is zero because no rows are affected. + +
+
+Special PostgreSQL features + +PostgreSQL lookups can also use Unix domain socket connections to the database. +This is usually faster and costs less CPU time than a TCP/IP connection. +However it can be used only if the mail server runs on the same machine as the +database server. A configuration line for PostgreSQL via Unix domain sockets +looks like this: + + +hide pgsql_servers = (/tmp/.s.PGSQL.5432)/db/user/password : ... + + +In other words, instead of supplying a host name, a path to the socket is +given. The path name is enclosed in parentheses so that its slashes aren’t +visually confused with the delimiters for the other server parameters. + + +If a PostgreSQL query is issued that does not request any data (an insert, +update, or delete command), the result of the lookup is the number of rows +affected. + +
+
+More about SQLite + + +lookup +SQLite + + +sqlite lookup type + +SQLite is different to the other SQL lookups because a filename is required in +addition to the SQL query. An SQLite database is a single file, and there is no +daemon as in the other SQL databases. The interface to Exim requires the name +of the file, as an absolute path, to be given at the start of the query. It is +separated from the query by white space. This means that the path name cannot +contain white space. Here is a lookup expansion example: + + +${lookup sqlite {/some/thing/sqlitedb \ + select name from aliases where id='userx';}} + + +In a list, the syntax is similar. For example: + + +domainlist relay_to_domains = sqlite;/some/thing/sqlitedb \ + select * from relays where ip='$sender_host_address'; + + +The only character affected by the operator is a single +quote, which it doubles. + + + +timeout +SQLite + + +sqlite +lookup timeout + +The SQLite library handles multiple simultaneous accesses to the database +internally. Multiple readers are permitted, but only one process can +update at once. Attempts to access the database while it is being updated +are rejected after a timeout period, during which the SQLite library +waits for the lock to be released. In Exim, the default timeout is set +to 5 seconds, but it can be changed by means of the +option. + +
+
+More about Redis + + +lookup +Redis + + +redis lookup type + +Redis is a non-SQL database. Commands are simple get and set. +Examples: + + +${lookup redis{set keyname ${quote_redis:objvalue plus}}} +${lookup redis{get keyname}} + + +As of release 4.91, "lightweight" support for Redis Cluster is available. +Requires list to contain all the servers in the cluster, all +of which must be reachable from the running exim instance. If the cluster has +master/slave replication, the list must contain all the master and slave +servers. + + +When the Redis Cluster returns a "MOVED" response to a query, Exim does not +immediately follow the redirection but treats the response as a DEFER, moving on +to the next server in the list until the correct server is +reached. + + + + + +
+ + + +Domain, host, address, and local part lists +Domain, host, and address lists + + +lists of domains; hosts; etc. + +A number of Exim configuration options contain lists of domains, hosts, +email addresses, or local parts. For example, the option +contains a list of domains whose delivery is currently suspended. These lists +are also used as data in ACL statements (see chapter ), and as +arguments to expansion conditions such as . + + +Each item in one of these lists is a pattern to be matched against a domain, +host, email address, or local part, respectively. In the sections below, the +different types of pattern for each case are described, but first we cover some +general facilities that apply to all four kinds of list. + + +Note that other parts of Exim use a string list which does not +support all the complexity available in +domain, host, address and local part lists. + +
+Expansion of lists + + +expansion +of lists + +Each list is expanded as a single string before it is used. + + +Exception: the router headers_remove option, where list-item +splitting is done before string-expansion. + + +The result of +expansion must be a list, possibly containing empty items, which is split up +into separate items for matching. By default, colon is the separator character, +but this can be varied if necessary. See sections and + for details of the list syntax; the second of these +discusses the way to specify empty list items. + + +If the string expansion is forced to fail, Exim behaves as if the item it is +testing (domain, host, address, or local part) is not in the list. Other +expansion failures cause temporary errors. + + +If an item in a list is a regular expression, backslashes, dollars and possibly +other special characters in the expression must be protected against +misinterpretation by the string expander. The easiest way to do this is to use +the \N expansion feature to indicate that the contents of the regular +expression should not be expanded. For example, in an ACL you might have: + + +deny senders = \N^\d{8}\w@.*\.baddomain\.example$\N : \ + ${lookup{$domain}lsearch{/badsenders/bydomain}} + + +The first item is a regular expression that is protected from expansion by +\N, whereas the second uses the expansion to obtain a list of unwanted +senders based on the receiving domain. + +
+
+Negated items in lists + + +list +negation + + +negation +in lists + +Items in a list may be positive or negative. Negative items are indicated by a +leading exclamation mark, which may be followed by optional white space. A list +defines a set of items (domains, etc). When Exim processes one of these lists, +it is trying to find out whether a domain, host, address, or local part +(respectively) is in the set that is defined by the list. It works like this: + + +The list is scanned from left to right. If a positive item is matched, the +subject that is being checked is in the set; if a negative item is matched, the +subject is not in the set. If the end of the list is reached without the +subject having matched any of the patterns, it is in the set if the last item +was a negative one, but not if it was a positive one. For example, the list in + + +domainlist relay_to_domains = !a.b.c : *.b.c + + +matches any domain ending in .b.c except for a.b.c. Domains that match +neither a.b.c nor *.b.c do not match, because the last item in the +list is positive. However, if the setting were + + +domainlist relay_to_domains = !a.b.c + + +then all domains other than a.b.c would match because the last item in the +list is negative. In other words, a list that ends with a negative item behaves +as if it had an extra item :* on the end. + + +Another way of thinking about positive and negative items in lists is to read +the connector as or after a positive item and as and after a negative +item. + +
+
+File names in lists + + +list +filename in + +If an item in a domain, host, address, or local part list is an absolute +filename (beginning with a slash character), each line of the file is read and +processed as if it were an independent item in the list, except that further +filenames are not allowed, +and no expansion of the data from the file takes place. +Empty lines in the file are ignored, and the file may also contain comment +lines: + + + + +For domain and host lists, if a # character appears anywhere in a line of the +file, it and all following characters are ignored. + + + + +Because local parts may legitimately contain # characters, a comment in an +address list or local part list file is recognized only if # is preceded by +white space or the start of the line. For example: + + +not#comment@x.y.z # but this is a comment + + + + +Putting a filename in a list has the same effect as inserting each line of the +file as an item in the list (blank lines and comments excepted). However, there +is one important difference: the file is read each time the list is processed, +so if its contents vary over time, Exim’s behaviour changes. + + +If a filename is preceded by an exclamation mark, the sense of any match +within the file is inverted. For example, if + + +hold_domains = !/etc/nohold-domains + + +and the file contains the lines + + +!a.b.c +*.b.c + + +then a.b.c is in the set of domains defined by , whereas +any domain matching *.b.c is not. + +
+
+An lsearch file is not an out-of-line list + +As will be described in the sections that follow, lookups can be used in lists +to provide indexed methods of checking list membership. There has been some +confusion about the way lsearch lookups work in lists. Because +an lsearch file contains plain text and is scanned sequentially, it is +sometimes thought that it is allowed to contain wild cards and other kinds of +non-constant pattern. This is not the case. The keys in an lsearch file are +always fixed strings, just as for any other single-key lookup type. + + +If you want to use a file to contain wild-card patterns that form part of a +list, just give the filename on its own, without a search type, as described +in the previous section. You could also use the wildlsearch or +nwildlsearch, but there is no advantage in doing this. + +
+
+Named lists + + +named lists + + +list +named + +A list of domains, hosts, email addresses, or local parts can be given a name +which is then used to refer to the list elsewhere in the configuration. This is +particularly convenient if the same list is required in several different +places. It also allows lists to be given meaningful names, which can improve +the readability of the configuration. For example, it is conventional to define +a domain list called local_domains for all the domains that are handled +locally on a host, using a configuration line such as + + +domainlist local_domains = localhost:my.dom.example + + +Named lists are referenced by giving their name preceded by a plus sign, so, +for example, a router that is intended to handle local domains would be +configured with the line + + +domains = +local_domains + + +The first router in a configuration is often one that handles all domains +except the local ones, using a configuration with a negated item like this: + + +dnslookup: + driver = dnslookup + domains = ! +local_domains + transport = remote_smtp + no_more + + +The four kinds of named list are created by configuration lines starting with +the words , , , or , +respectively. Then there follows the name that you are defining, followed by an +equals sign and the list itself. For example: + + +hostlist relay_from_hosts = 192.168.23.0/24 : my.friend.example +addresslist bad_senders = cdb;/etc/badsenders + + +A named list may refer to other named lists: + + +domainlist dom1 = first.example : second.example +domainlist dom2 = +dom1 : third.example +domainlist dom3 = fourth.example : +dom2 : fifth.example + + +Warning: If the last item in a referenced list is a negative one, the +effect may not be what you intended, because the negation does not propagate +out to the higher level. For example, consider: + + +domainlist dom1 = !a.b +domainlist dom2 = +dom1 : *.b + + +The second list specifies either in the list or *.b. The first +list specifies just not a.b, so the domain x.y matches it. That +means it matches the second list as well. The effect is not the same as + + +domainlist dom2 = !a.b : *.b + + +where x.y does not match. It’s best to avoid negation altogether in +referenced lists if you can. + + +Named lists may have a performance advantage. When Exim is routing an +address or checking an incoming message, it caches the result of tests on named +lists. So, if you have a setting such as + + +domains = +local_domains + + +on several of your routers +or in several ACL statements, +the actual test is done only for the first one. However, the caching works only +if there are no expansions within the list itself or any sublists that it +references. In other words, caching happens only for lists that are known to be +the same each time they are referenced. + + +By default, there may be up to 16 named lists of each type. This limit can be +extended by changing a compile-time variable. The use of domain and host lists +is recommended for concepts such as local domains, relay domains, and relay +hosts. The default configuration is set up like this. + +
+
+Named lists compared with macros + + +list +named compared with macro + + +macro +compared with named list + +At first sight, named lists might seem to be no different from macros in the +configuration file. However, macros are just textual substitutions. If you +write + + +ALIST = host1 : host2 +auth_advertise_hosts = !ALIST + + +it probably won’t do what you want, because that is exactly the same as + + +auth_advertise_hosts = !host1 : host2 + + +Notice that the second host name is not negated. However, if you use a host +list, and write + + +hostlist alist = host1 : host2 +auth_advertise_hosts = ! +alist + + +the negation applies to the whole list, and so that is equivalent to + + +auth_advertise_hosts = !host1 : !host2 + +
+
+Named list caching + + +list +caching of named + + +caching +named lists + +While processing a message, Exim caches the result of checking a named list if +it is sure that the list is the same each time. In practice, this means that +the cache operates only if the list contains no $ characters, which guarantees +that it will not change when it is expanded. Sometimes, however, you may have +an expanded list that you know will be the same each time within a given +message. For example: + + +domainlist special_domains = \ + ${lookup{$sender_host_address}cdb{/some/file}} + + +This provides a list of domains that depends only on the sending host’s IP +address. If this domain list is referenced a number of times (for example, +in several ACL lines, or in several routers) the result of the check is not +cached by default, because Exim does not know that it is going to be the +same list each time. + + +By appending _cache to domainlist you can tell Exim to go ahead and +cache the result anyway. For example: + + +domainlist_cache special_domains = ${lookup{... + + +If you do this, you should be absolutely sure that caching is going to do +the right thing in all cases. When in doubt, leave it out. + +
+
+Domain lists + + +domain list +patterns for + + +list +domain list + +Domain lists contain patterns that are to be matched against a mail domain. +The following types of item may appear in domain lists: + + + + + +primary host name + + +host name +matched in domain list + + + + + +domain list +matching primary host name + + +@ in a domain list + +If a pattern consists of a single @ character, it matches the local host name, +as set by the option (or defaulted). This makes it +possible to use the same configuration file on several different hosts that +differ only in their names. + + + + + +@[] in a domain list + + +domain list +matching local IP interfaces + + +domain literal + +If a pattern consists of the string @[] it matches an IP address enclosed +in square brackets (as in an email address that contains a domain literal), but +only if that IP address is recognized as local for email routing purposes. The + and options can be used to +control which of a host’s several IP addresses are treated as local. +In today’s Internet, the use of domain literals is controversial. + + + + + +@mx_any + + +@mx_primary + + +@mx_secondary + + +domain list +matching MX pointers to local host + +If a pattern consists of the string @mx_any it matches any domain that +has an MX record pointing to the local host or to any host that is listed in + + + +. The items @mx_primary and @mx_secondary +are similar, except that the first matches only when a primary MX target is the +local host, and the second only when no primary MX target is the local host, +but a secondary MX target is. Primary means an MX record with the lowest +preference value – there may of course be more than one of them. + + +The MX lookup that takes place when matching a pattern of this type is +performed with the resolver options for widening names turned off. Thus, for +example, a single-component domain will not be expanded by adding the +resolver’s default domain. See the and +options of the dnslookup router for a discussion of domain widening. + + +Sometimes you may want to ignore certain IP addresses when using one of these +patterns. You can specify this by following the pattern with /ignore=<ip +list>, where <ip list> is a list of IP addresses. These addresses are +ignored when processing the pattern (compare the option +on a router). For example: + + +domains = @mx_any/ignore=127.0.0.1 + + +This example matches any domain that has an MX record pointing to one of +the local host’s IP addresses other than 127.0.0.1. + + +The list of IP addresses is in fact processed by the same code that processes +host lists, so it may contain CIDR-coded network specifications and it may also +contain negative items. + + +Because the list of IP addresses is a sublist within a domain list, you have to +be careful about delimiters if there is more than one address. Like any other +list, the default delimiter can be changed. Thus, you might have: + + +domains = @mx_any/ignore=<;127.0.0.1;0.0.0.0 : \ + an.other.domain : ... + + +so that the sublist uses semicolons for delimiters. When IPv6 addresses are +involved, it is easiest to change the delimiter for the main list as well: + + +domains = <? @mx_any/ignore=<;127.0.0.1;::1 ? \ + an.other.domain ? ... + + + + + +asterisk +in domain list + + +domain list +asterisk in + + +domain list +matching ends with + +If a pattern starts with an asterisk, the remaining characters of the pattern +are compared with the terminating characters of the domain. The use of * in +domain lists differs from its use in partial matching lookups. In a domain +list, the character following the asterisk need not be a dot, whereas partial +matching works only in terms of dot-separated components. For example, a domain +list item such as *key.ex matches donkey.ex as well as +cipher.key.ex. + + + + + +regular expressions +in domain list + + +domain list +matching regular expression + +If a pattern starts with a circumflex character, it is treated as a regular +expression, and matched against the domain using a regular expression matching +function. The circumflex is treated as part of the regular expression. +Email domains are case-independent, so this regular expression match is by +default case-independent, but you can make it case-dependent by starting it +with (?-i). References to descriptions of the syntax of regular expressions +are given in chapter . + + +Warning: Because domain lists are expanded before being processed, you +must escape any backslash and dollar characters in the regular expression, or +use the special \N sequence (see chapter ) to specify that +it is not to be expanded (unless you really do want to build a regular +expression by expansion, of course). + + + + + +lookup +in domain list + + +domain list +matching by lookup + +If a pattern starts with the name of a single-key lookup type followed by a +semicolon (for example, dbm; or lsearch;), the remainder of the pattern +must be a filename in a suitable format for the lookup type. For example, for +cdb; it must be an absolute path: + + +domains = cdb;/etc/mail/local_domains.cdb + + +The appropriate type of lookup is done on the file using the domain name as the +key. In most cases, the data that is looked up is not used; Exim is interested +only in whether or not the key is present in the file. However, when a lookup +is used for the option on a router +or a condition in an ACL statement, the data is preserved in the +$domain_data variable and can be referred to in other router options or +other statements in the same ACL. + + + + +Any of the single-key lookup type names may be preceded by +partial<n>-, where the <n> is optional, for example, + + +domains = partial-dbm;/partial/domains + + +This causes partial matching logic to be invoked; a description of how this +works is given in section . + + + + + +asterisk +in lookup type + +Any of the single-key lookup types may be followed by an asterisk. This causes +a default lookup for a key consisting of a single asterisk to be done if the +original lookup fails. This is not a useful feature when using a domain list to +select particular domains (because any domain would match), but it might have +value if the result of the lookup is being used via the $domain_data +expansion variable. + + + + +If the pattern starts with the name of a query-style lookup type followed by a +semicolon (for example, nisplus; or ldap;), the remainder of the +pattern must be an appropriate query for the lookup type, as described in +chapter . For example: + + +hold_domains = mysql;select domain from holdlist \ + where domain = '${quote_mysql:$domain}'; + + +In most cases, the data that is looked up is not used (so for an SQL query, for +example, it doesn’t matter what field you select). Exim is interested only in +whether or not the query succeeds. However, when a lookup is used for the + option on a router, the data is preserved in the $domain_data +variable and can be referred to in other options. + + + + + +domain list +matching literal domain name + +If none of the above cases apply, a caseless textual comparison is made +between the pattern and the domain. + + + + +Here is an example that uses several different kinds of pattern: + + +domainlist funny_domains = \ + @ : \ + lib.unseen.edu : \ + *.foundation.fict.example : \ + \N^[1-2]\d{3}\.fict\.example$\N : \ + partial-dbm;/opt/data/penguin/book : \ + nis;domains.byname : \ + nisplus;[name=$domain,status=local],domains.org_dir + + +There are obvious processing trade-offs among the various matching modes. Using +an asterisk is faster than a regular expression, and listing a few names +explicitly probably is too. The use of a file or database lookup is expensive, +but may be the only option if hundreds of names are required. Because the +patterns are tested in order, it makes sense to put the most commonly matched +patterns earlier. + +
+
+Host lists + + +host list +patterns in + + +list +host list + +Host lists are used to control what remote hosts are allowed to do. For +example, some hosts may be allowed to use the local host as a relay, and some +may be permitted to use the SMTP ETRN command. Hosts can be identified in +two different ways, by name or by IP address. In a host list, some types of +pattern are matched to a host name, and some are matched to an IP address. +You need to be particularly careful with this when single-key lookups are +involved, to ensure that the right value is being used as the key. + +
+
+Special host list patterns + + +empty item in hosts list + + +host list +empty string in + +If a host list item is the empty string, it matches only when no remote host is +involved. This is the case when a message is being received from a local +process using SMTP on the standard input, that is, when a TCP/IP connection is +not used. + + + +asterisk +in host list + +The special pattern * in a host list matches any host or no host. Neither +the IP address nor the name is actually inspected. + +
+
+Host list patterns that match by IP address + + +host list +matching IP addresses + +If an IPv4 host calls an IPv6 host and the call is accepted on an IPv6 socket, +the incoming address actually appears in the IPv6 host as +::ffff:<v4address>. When such an address is tested against a host +list, it is converted into a traditional IPv4 address first. (Not all operating +systems accept IPv4 calls on IPv6 sockets, as there have been some security +concerns.) + + +The following types of pattern in a host list check the remote host by +inspecting its IP address: + + + + +If the pattern is a plain domain name (not a regular expression, not starting +with *, not a lookup of any kind), Exim calls the operating system function +to find the associated IP address(es). Exim uses the newer +getipnodebyname() function when available, otherwise gethostbyname(). +This typically causes a forward DNS lookup of the name. The result is compared +with the IP address of the subject host. + + +If there is a temporary problem (such as a DNS timeout) with the host name +lookup, a temporary error occurs. For example, if the list is being used in an +ACL condition, the ACL gives a defer response, usually leading to a +temporary SMTP error code. If no IP address can be found for the host name, +what happens is described in section below. + + + + + +@ in a host list + +If the pattern is @, the primary host name is substituted and used as a +domain name, as just described. + + + + +If the pattern is an IP address, it is matched against the IP address of the +subject host. IPv4 addresses are given in the normal dotted-quad notation. +IPv6 addresses can be given in colon-separated format, but the colons have to +be doubled so as not to be taken as item separators when the default list +separator is used. IPv6 addresses are recognized even when Exim is compiled +without IPv6 support. This means that if they appear in a host list on an +IPv4-only host, Exim will not treat them as host names. They are just addresses +that can never match a client host. + + + + + +@[] in a host list + +If the pattern is @[], it matches the IP address of any IP interface on +the local host. For example, if the local host is an IPv4 host with one +interface address 10.45.23.56, these two ACL statements have the same effect: + + +accept hosts = 127.0.0.1 : 10.45.23.56 +accept hosts = @[] + + + + + +CIDR notation + +If the pattern is an IP address followed by a slash and a mask length (for +example 10.11.42.0/24), it is matched against the IP address of the subject +host under the given mask. This allows, an entire network of hosts to be +included (or excluded) by a single item. The mask uses CIDR notation; it +specifies the number of address bits that must match, starting from the most +significant end of the address. + + +Note: The mask is not a count of addresses, nor is it the high number +of a range of addresses. It is the number of bits in the network portion of the +address. The above example specifies a 24-bit netmask, so it matches all 256 +addresses in the 10.11.42.0 network. An item such as + + +192.168.23.236/31 + + +matches just two addresses, 192.168.23.236 and 192.168.23.237. A mask value of +32 for an IPv4 address is the same as no mask at all; just a single address +matches. + + +Here is another example which shows an IPv4 and an IPv6 network: + + +recipient_unqualified_hosts = 192.168.0.0/16: \ + 3ffe::ffff::836f::::/48 + + +The doubling of list separator characters applies only when these items +appear inline in a host list. It is not required when indirecting via a file. +For example: + + +recipient_unqualified_hosts = /opt/exim/unqualnets + + +could make use of a file containing + + +172.16.0.0/12 +3ffe:ffff:836f::/48 + + +to have exactly the same effect as the previous example. When listing IPv6 +addresses inline, it is usually more convenient to use the facility for +changing separator characters. This list contains the same two networks: + + +recipient_unqualified_hosts = <; 172.16.0.0/12; \ + 3ffe:ffff:836f::/48 + + +The separator is changed to semicolon by the leading <; at the start of the +list. + + + +
+
+Host list patterns for single-key lookups by host address + + +host list +lookup of IP address + +When a host is to be identified by a single-key lookup of its complete IP +address, the pattern takes this form: + + +net-<single-key-search-type>;<search-data> + + +For example: + + +hosts_lookup = net-cdb;/hosts-by-ip.db + + +The text form of the IP address of the subject host is used as the lookup key. +IPv6 addresses are converted to an unabbreviated form, using lower case +letters, with dots as separators because colon is the key terminator in +lsearch files. [Colons can in fact be used in keys in lsearch files by +quoting the keys, but this is a facility that was added later.] The data +returned by the lookup is not used. + + + +IP address +masking + + +host list +masked IP address + +Single-key lookups can also be performed using masked IP addresses, using +patterns of this form: + + +net<number>-<single-key-search-type>;<search-data> + + +For example: + + +net24-dbm;/networks.db + + +The IP address of the subject host is masked using <number> as the mask +length. A textual string is constructed from the masked value, followed by the +mask, and this is used as the lookup key. For example, if the host’s IP address +is 192.168.34.6, the key that is looked up for the above example is +192.168.34.0/24. + + +When an IPv6 address is converted to a string, dots are normally used instead +of colons, so that keys in lsearch files need not contain colons (which +terminate lsearch keys). This was implemented some time before the ability +to quote keys was made available in lsearch files. However, the more +recently implemented iplsearch files do require colons in IPv6 keys +(notated using the quoting facility) so as to distinguish them from IPv4 keys. +For this reason, when the lookup type is iplsearch, IPv6 addresses are +converted using colons and not dots. In all cases, full, unabbreviated IPv6 +addresses are always used. + + +Ideally, it would be nice to tidy up this anomalous situation by changing to +colons in all cases, given that quoting is now available for lsearch. +However, this would be an incompatible change that might break some existing +configurations. + + +Warning: Specifying (for an IPv4 address) or (for an +IPv6 address) is not the same as specifying just without a number. In +the former case the key strings include the mask value, whereas in the latter +case the IP address is used on its own. + +
+
+Host list patterns that match by host name + + +host +lookup failures + + +unknown host name + + +host list +matching host name + +There are several types of pattern that require Exim to know the name of the +remote host. These are either wildcard patterns or lookups by name. (If a +complete hostname is given without any wildcarding, it is used to find an IP +address to match against, as described in section +above.) + + +If the remote host name is not already known when Exim encounters one of these +patterns, it has to be found from the IP address. +Although many sites on the Internet are conscientious about maintaining reverse +DNS data for their hosts, there are also many that do not do this. +Consequently, a name cannot always be found, and this may lead to unwanted +effects. Take care when configuring host lists with wildcarded name patterns. +Consider what will happen if a name cannot be found. + + +Because of the problems of determining host names from IP addresses, matching +against host names is not as common as matching against IP addresses. + + +By default, in order to find a host name, Exim first does a reverse DNS lookup; +if no name is found in the DNS, the system function (gethostbyaddr() or +getipnodebyaddr() if available) is tried. The order in which these lookups +are done can be changed by setting the option. For +security, once Exim has found one or more names, it looks up the IP addresses +for these names and compares them with the IP address that it started with. +Only those names whose IP addresses match are accepted. Any other names are +discarded. If no names are left, Exim behaves as if the host name cannot be +found. In the most common case there is only one name and one IP address. + + +There are some options that control what happens if a host name cannot be +found. These are described in section below. + + + +host +alias for + + +alias for host + +As a result of aliasing, hosts may have more than one name. When processing any +of the following types of pattern, all the host’s names are checked: + + + + + +asterisk +in host list + +If a pattern starts with * the remainder of the item must match the end of +the host name. For example, *.b.c matches all hosts whose names end in +.b.c. This special simple form is provided because this is a very common +requirement. Other kinds of wildcarding require the use of a regular +expression. + + + + + +regular expressions +in host list + + +host list +regular expression in + +If the item starts with ^ it is taken to be a regular expression which is +matched against the host name. Host names are case-independent, so this regular +expression match is by default case-independent, but you can make it +case-dependent by starting it with (?-i). References to descriptions of the +syntax of regular expressions are given in chapter . For +example, + + +^(a|b)\.c\.d$ + + +is a regular expression that matches either of the two hosts a.c.d or +b.c.d. When a regular expression is used in a host list, you must take care +that backslash and dollar characters are not misinterpreted as part of the +string expansion. The simplest way to do this is to use \N to mark that +part of the string as non-expandable. For example: + + +sender_unqualified_hosts = \N^(a|b)\.c\.d$\N : .... + + +Warning: If you want to match a complete host name, you must include the +$ terminating metacharacter in the regular expression, as in the above +example. Without it, a match at the start of the host name is all that is +required. + + + +
+
+Behaviour when an IP address or name cannot be found + + +host +lookup failures, permanent + +While processing a host list, Exim may need to look up an IP address from a +name (see section ), or it may need to look up a host name +from an IP address (see section ). In either case, the +behaviour when it fails to find the information it is seeking is the same. + + +Note: This section applies to permanent lookup failures. It does not +apply to temporary DNS errors, whose handling is described in the next section. + + + ++include_unknown + + ++ignore_unknown + +Exim parses a host list from left to right. If it encounters a permanent +lookup failure in any item in the host list before it has found a match, +Exim treats it as a failure and the default behavior is as if the host +does not match the list. This may not always be what you want to happen. +To change Exim’s behaviour, the special items +include_unknown or ++ignore_unknown may appear in the list (at top level – they are +not recognized in an indirected file). + + + + +If any item that follows +include_unknown requires information that +cannot found, Exim behaves as if the host does match the list. For example, + + +host_reject_connection = +include_unknown:*.enemy.ex + + +rejects connections from any host whose name matches *.enemy.ex, and also +any hosts whose name it cannot find. + + + + +If any item that follows +ignore_unknown requires information that cannot +be found, Exim ignores that item and proceeds to the rest of the list. For +example: + + +accept hosts = +ignore_unknown : friend.example : \ + 192.168.4.5 + + +accepts from any host whose name is friend.example and from 192.168.4.5, +whether or not its host name can be found. Without +ignore_unknown, if no +name can be found for 192.168.4.5, it is rejected. + + + + +Both +include_unknown and +ignore_unknown may appear in the same +list. The effect of each one lasts until the next, or until the end of the +list. + +
+
+Mixing wildcarded host names and addresses in host lists + + +host list +mixing names and addresses in + + + +This section explains the host/ip processing logic with the same concepts +as the previous section, but specifically addresses what happens when a +wildcarded hostname is one of the items in the hostlist. + + + + +If you have name lookups or wildcarded host names and +IP addresses in the same host list, you should normally put the IP +addresses first. For example, in an ACL you could have: + + +accept hosts = 10.9.8.7 : *.friend.example + + +The reason you normally would order it this way lies in the +left-to-right way that Exim processes lists. It can test IP addresses +without doing any DNS lookups, but when it reaches an item that requires +a host name, it fails if it cannot find a host name to compare with the +pattern. If the above list is given in the opposite order, the + statement fails for a host whose name cannot be found, even +if its IP address is 10.9.8.7. + + + + +If you really do want to do the name check first, and still recognize the IP +address, you can rewrite the ACL like this: + + +accept hosts = *.friend.example +accept hosts = 10.9.8.7 + + +If the first fails, Exim goes on to try the second one. See chapter + for details of ACLs. Alternatively, you can use ++ignore_unknown, which was discussed in depth in the first example in +this section. + + + +
+
+Temporary DNS errors when looking up host information + + +host +lookup failures, temporary + + ++include_defer + + ++ignore_defer + +A temporary DNS lookup failure normally causes a defer action (except when + converts it into a permanent error). However, +host lists can include +ignore_defer and +include_defer, analogous to ++ignore_unknown and +include_unknown, as described in the previous +section. These options should be used with care, probably only in non-critical +host lists such as whitelists. + +
+
+Host list patterns for single-key lookups by host name + + +unknown host name + + +host list +matching host name + +If a pattern is of the form + + +<single-key-search-type>;<search-data> + + +for example + + +dbm;/host/accept/list + + +a single-key lookup is performed, using the host name as its key. If the +lookup succeeds, the host matches the item. The actual data that is looked up +is not used. + + +Reminder: With this kind of pattern, you must have host names as +keys in the file, not IP addresses. If you want to do lookups based on IP +addresses, you must precede the search type with net- (see section +). There is, however, no reason why you could not use +two items in the same list, one doing an address lookup and one doing a name +lookup, both using the same file. + +
+
+Host list patterns for query-style lookups + +If a pattern is of the form + + +<query-style-search-type>;<query> + + +the query is obeyed, and if it succeeds, the host matches the item. The actual +data that is looked up is not used. The variables $sender_host_address and +$sender_host_name can be used in the query. For example: + + +hosts_lookup = pgsql;\ + select ip from hostlist where ip='$sender_host_address' + + +The value of $sender_host_address for an IPv6 address contains colons. You +can use the expansion item to change this if you need to. If you want to +use masked IP addresses in database queries, you can use the expansion +operator. + + +If the query contains a reference to $sender_host_name, Exim automatically +looks up the host name if it has not already done so. (See section + for comments on finding host names.) + + +Historical note: prior to release 4.30, Exim would always attempt to find a +host name before running the query, unless the search type was preceded by +net-. This is no longer the case. For backwards compatibility, net- is +still recognized for query-style lookups, but its presence or absence has no +effect. (Of course, for single-key lookups, net- is important. +See section .) + +
+
+Address lists + + +list +address list + + +address list +empty item + + +address list +patterns + +Address lists contain patterns that are matched against mail addresses. There +is one special case to be considered: the sender address of a bounce message is +always empty. You can test for this by providing an empty item in an address +list. For example, you can set up a router to process bounce messages by +using this option setting: + + +senders = : + + +The presence of the colon creates an empty item. If you do not provide any +data, the list is empty and matches nothing. The empty sender can also be +detected by a regular expression that matches an empty string, +and by a query-style lookup that succeeds when $sender_address is empty. + + +Non-empty items in an address list can be straightforward email addresses. For +example: + + +senders = jbc@askone.example : hs@anacreon.example + + +A certain amount of wildcarding is permitted. If a pattern contains an @ +character, but is not a regular expression and does not begin with a +semicolon-terminated lookup type (described below), the local part of the +subject address is compared with the local part of the pattern, which may start +with an asterisk. If the local parts match, the domain is checked in exactly +the same way as for a pattern in a domain list. For example, the domain can be +wildcarded, refer to a named list, or be a lookup: + + +deny senders = *@*.spamming.site:\ + *@+hostile_domains:\ + bozo@partial-lsearch;/list/of/dodgy/sites:\ + *@dbm;/bad/domains.db + + + +local part +starting with ! + + +address list +local part starting with ! + +If a local part that begins with an exclamation mark is required, it has to be +specified using a regular expression, because otherwise the exclamation mark is +treated as a sign of negation, as is standard in lists. + + +If a non-empty pattern that is not a regular expression or a lookup does not +contain an @ character, it is matched against the domain part of the subject +address. The only two formats that are recognized this way are a literal +domain, or a domain pattern that starts with *. In both these cases, the effect +is the same as if *@ preceded the pattern. For example: + + +deny senders = enemy.domain : *.enemy.domain + + +The following kinds of more complicated address list pattern can match any +address, including the empty address that is characteristic of bounce message +senders: + + + + + +regular expressions +in address list + + +address list +regular expression in + +If (after expansion) a pattern starts with ^, a regular expression match is +done against the complete address, with the pattern as the regular expression. +You must take care that backslash and dollar characters are not misinterpreted +as part of the string expansion. The simplest way to do this is to use \N +to mark that part of the string as non-expandable. For example: + + +deny senders = \N^.*this.*@example\.com$\N : \ + \N^\d{8}.+@spamhaus.example$\N : ... + + +The \N sequences are removed by the expansion, so these items do indeed +start with ^ by the time they are being interpreted as address patterns. + + + + + +address list +lookup for complete address + +Complete addresses can be looked up by using a pattern that starts with a +lookup type terminated by a semicolon, followed by the data for the lookup. For +example: + + +deny senders = cdb;/etc/blocked.senders : \ + mysql;select address from blocked where \ + address='${quote_mysql:$sender_address}' + + +Both query-style and single-key lookup types can be used. For a single-key +lookup type, Exim uses the complete address as the key. However, empty keys are +not supported for single-key lookups, so a match against the empty address +always fails. This restriction does not apply to query-style lookups. + + +Partial matching for single-key lookups (section ) +cannot be used, and is ignored if specified, with an entry being written to the +panic log. + +*@ with single-key lookup + +However, you can configure lookup defaults, as described in section +, but this is useful only for the *@ type of +default. For example, with this lookup: + + +accept senders = lsearch*@;/some/file + + +the file could contains lines like this: + + +user1@domain1.example +*@domain2.example + + +and for the sender address nimrod@jaeger.example, the sequence of keys +that are tried is: + + +nimrod@jaeger.example +*@jaeger.example +* + + +Warning 1: Do not include a line keyed by * in the file, because that +would mean that every address matches, thus rendering the test useless. + + +Warning 2: Do not confuse these two kinds of item: + + +deny recipients = dbm*@;/some/file +deny recipients = *@dbm;/some/file + + +The first does a whole address lookup, with defaulting, as just described, +because it starts with a lookup type. The second matches the local part and +domain independently, as described in a bullet point below. + + + + +The following kinds of address list pattern can match only non-empty addresses. +If the subject address is empty, a match against any of these pattern types +always fails. + + + + + +@@ with single-key lookup + + +address list +@@ lookup type + + +address list +split local part and domain + +If a pattern starts with @@ followed by a single-key lookup item +(for example, @@lsearch;/some/file), the address that is being checked is +split into a local part and a domain. The domain is looked up in the file. If +it is not found, there is no match. If it is found, the data that is looked up +from the file is treated as a colon-separated list of local part patterns, each +of which is matched against the subject local part in turn. + + + +asterisk +in address list + +The lookup may be a partial one, and/or one involving a search for a default +keyed by * (see section ). The local part +patterns that are looked up can be regular expressions or begin with *, or +even be further lookups. They may also be independently negated. For example, +with + + +deny senders = @@dbm;/etc/reject-by-domain + + +the data from which the DBM file is built could contain lines like + + +baddomain.com: !postmaster : * + + +to reject all senders except from that domain. + + + +local part +starting with ! + +If a local part that actually begins with an exclamation mark is required, it +has to be specified using a regular expression. In lsearch files, an entry +may be split over several lines by indenting the second and subsequent lines, +but the separating colon must still be included at line breaks. White space +surrounding the colons is ignored. For example: + + +aol.com: spammer1 : spammer2 : ^[0-9]+$ : + spammer3 : spammer4 + + +As in all colon-separated lists in Exim, a colon can be included in an item by +doubling. + + +If the last item in the list starts with a right angle-bracket, the remainder +of the item is taken as a new key to look up in order to obtain a continuation +list of local parts. The new key can be any sequence of characters. Thus one +might have entries like + + +aol.com: spammer1 : spammer 2 : >* +xyz.com: spammer3 : >* +*: ^\d{8}$ + + +in a file that was searched with , to specify a match for 8-digit +local parts for all domains, in addition to the specific local parts listed for +each domain. Of course, using this feature costs another lookup each time a +chain is followed, but the effort needed to maintain the data is reduced. + + + +loop +in lookups + +It is possible to construct loops using this facility, and in order to catch +them, the chains may be no more than fifty items long. + + + + +The @@<lookup> style of item can also be used with a query-style +lookup, but in this case, the chaining facility is not available. The lookup +can only return a single list of local parts. + + + + +Warning: There is an important difference between the address list items +in these two examples: + + +senders = +my_list +senders = *@+my_list + + +In the first one, my_list is a named address list, whereas in the second +example it is a named domain list. + +
+
+Case of letters in address lists + + +case of local parts + + +address list +case forcing + + +case forcing in address lists + +Domains in email addresses are always handled caselessly, but for local parts +case may be significant on some systems (see for how +Exim deals with this when routing addresses). However, RFC 2505 (Anti-Spam +Recommendations for SMTP MTAs) suggests that matching of addresses to +blocking lists should be done in a case-independent manner. Since most address +lists in Exim are used for this kind of control, Exim attempts to do this by +default. + + +The domain portion of an address is always lowercased before matching it to an +address list. The local part is lowercased by default, and any string +comparisons that take place are done caselessly. This means that the data in +the address list itself, in files included as plain filenames, and in any file +that is looked up using the @@ mechanism, can be in any case. However, the +keys in files that are looked up by a search type other than lsearch (which +works caselessly) must be in lower case, because these lookups are not +case-independent. + + + ++caseful + +To allow for the possibility of caseful address list matching, if an item in +an address list is the string +caseful, the original case of the local +part is restored for any comparisons that follow, and string comparisons are no +longer case-independent. This does not affect the domain, which remains in +lower case. However, although independent matches on the domain alone are still +performed caselessly, regular expressions that match against an entire address +become case-sensitive after +caseful has been seen. + +
+
+Local part lists + + +list +local part list + + +local part +list + +Case-sensitivity in local part lists is handled in the same way as for address +lists, as just described. The +caseful item can be used if required. In a +setting of the option in a router with +set false, the subject is lowercased and the matching is initially +case-insensitive. In this case, +caseful will restore case-sensitive +matching in the local part list, but not elsewhere in the router. If + is set true in a router, matching in the +option is case-sensitive from the start. + + +If a local part list is indirected to a file (see section ), +comments are handled in the same way as address lists – they are recognized +only if the # is preceded by white space or the start of the line. +Otherwise, local part lists are matched in the same way as domain lists, except +that the special items that refer to the local host (@, @[], +@mx_any, @mx_primary, and @mx_secondary) are not recognized. +Refer to section for details of the other available item +types. + + +
+ + + +String expansions + + +expansion +of strings + +Many strings in Exim’s runtime configuration are expanded before use. Some of +them are expanded every time they are used; others are expanded only once. + + +When a string is being expanded it is copied verbatim from left to right except +when a dollar or backslash character is encountered. A dollar specifies the +start of a portion of the string that is interpreted and replaced as described +below in section onwards. Backslash is used as an +escape character, as described in the following section. + + +Whether a string is expanded depends upon the context. Usually this is solely +dependent upon the option for which a value is sought; in this documentation, +options for which string expansion is performed are marked with † after +the data type. ACL rules always expand strings. A couple of expansion +conditions do not expand some of the brace-delimited branches, for security +reasons. + +
+Literal text in expanded strings + + +expansion +including literal text + +An uninterpreted dollar can be included in an expanded string by putting a +backslash in front of it. A backslash can be used to prevent any special +character being treated specially in an expansion, including backslash itself. +If the string appears in quotes in the configuration file, two backslashes are +required because the quotes themselves cause interpretation of backslashes when +the string is read in (see section ). + + + +expansion +non-expandable substrings + +A portion of the string can specified as non-expandable by placing it between +two occurrences of \N. This is particularly useful for protecting regular +expressions, which often contain backslashes and dollar signs. For example: + + +deny senders = \N^\d{8}[a-z]@some\.site\.example$\N + + +On encountering the first \N, the expander copies subsequent characters +without interpretation until it reaches the next \N or the end of the +string. + +
+
+Character escape sequences in expanded strings + + +expansion +escape sequences + +A backslash followed by one of the letters n, r, or t in an +expanded string is recognized as an escape sequence for the character newline, +carriage return, or tab, respectively. A backslash followed by up to three +octal digits is recognized as an octal encoding for a single character, and a +backslash followed by x and up to two hexadecimal digits is a hexadecimal +encoding. + + +These escape sequences are also recognized in quoted strings when they are read +in. Their interpretation in expansions as well is useful for unquoted strings, +and for other cases such as looked-up strings that are then expanded. + +
+
+Testing string expansions + + +expansion +testing + + +testing +string expansion + + + + +Many expansions can be tested by calling Exim with the option. This +takes the command arguments, or lines from the standard input if there are no +arguments, runs them through the string expansion code, and writes the results +to the standard output. Variables based on configuration values are set up, but +since no message is being processed, variables such as $local_part have no +value. Nevertheless the option can be useful for checking out file and +database lookups, and the use of expansion operators such as , +and . + + +Exim gives up its root privilege when it is called with the option, and +instead runs under the uid and gid it was called with, to prevent users from +using for reading files to which they do not have access. + + + + + +If you want to test expansions that include variables whose values are taken +from a message, there are two other options that can be used. The +option is like except that it is followed by a filename. The file is +read as a message before doing the test expansions. For example: + + +exim -bem /tmp/test.message '$h_subject:' + + +The option is used in conjunction with and is followed by an +Exim message identifier. For example: + + +exim -be -Mset 1GrA8W-0004WS-LQ '$recipients' + + +This loads the message from Exim’s spool before doing the test expansions, and +is therefore restricted to admin users. + +
+
+Forced expansion failure + + +expansion +forced failure + +A number of expansions that are described in the following section have +alternative true and false substrings, enclosed in brace characters +(which are sometimes called curly brackets). Which of the two strings is +used depends on some condition that is evaluated as part of the expansion. If, +instead of a false substring, the word fail is used (not in braces), +the entire string expansion fails in a way that can be detected by the code +that requested the expansion. This is called forced expansion failure, and +its consequences depend on the circumstances. In some cases it is no different +from any other expansion failure, but in others a different action may be +taken. Such variations are mentioned in the documentation of the option that is +being expanded. + +
+
+Expansion items + +The following items are recognized in expanded strings. White space may be used +between sub-items that are keywords or substrings enclosed in braces inside an +outer set of braces, to improve readability. Warning: Within braces, +white space is significant. + + + +$<variable name> or ${<variable name>} + + + +expansion +variables + +Substitute the contents of the named variable, for example: + + +$local_part +${domain} + + +The second form can be used to separate the name from subsequent alphanumeric +characters. This form (using braces) is available only for variables; it does +not apply to message headers. The names of the variables are given in +section below. If the name of a non-existent variable is +given, the expansion fails. + + + +${<op>:<string>} + + + +expansion +operators + +The string is first itself expanded, and then the operation specified by +<op> is applied to it. For example: + + +${lc:$local_part} + + +The string starts with the first character after the colon, which may be +leading white space. A list of operators is given in section +below. The operator notation is used for simple expansion items that have just +one argument, because it reduces the number of braces and therefore makes the +string easier to understand. + + + +$bheader_<header name>: or $bh_<header name>: + + +This item inserts basic header lines. It is described with the +expansion item below. + + + +${acl{<name>}{<arg>}...} + + + +expansion +calling an acl + + + +call from expansion + +The name and zero to nine argument strings are first expanded separately. The expanded +arguments are assigned to the variables $acl_arg1 to $acl_arg9 in order. +Any unused are made empty. The variable $acl_narg is set to the number of +arguments. The named ACL (see chapter ) is called +and may use the variables; if another acl expansion is used the values +are restored after it returns. If the ACL sets +a value using a "message =" modifier and returns accept or deny, the value becomes +the result of the expansion. +If no message is set and the ACL returns accept or deny +the expansion result is an empty string. +If the ACL returns defer the result is a forced-fail. Otherwise the expansion fails. + + + +${authresults{<authserv-id>}} + + + +authentication +results header + + +headers +authentication-results: + + +authentication +expansion item + +This item returns a string suitable for insertion as an +Authentication-Results" +header line. +The given <authserv-id> is included in the result; typically this +will be a domain name identifying the system performing the authentications. +Methods that might be present in the result include: + + +none +iprev +auth +spf +dkim + + +Example use (as an ACL modifier): + + + add_header = :at_start:${authresults {$primary_hostname}} + + +This is safe even if no authentication results are available. + + + +${certextract{<field>}{<certificate>}{<string2>}{<string3>}} + + + +expansion +extracting certificate fields + + + +certificate fields + + +certificate +extracting fields + +The <certificate> must be a variable of type certificate. +The field name is expanded and used to retrieve the relevant field from +the certificate. Supported fields are: + + +version +serial_number +subject RFC4514 DN +issuer RFC4514 DN +notbefore time +notafter time +sig_algorithm +signature +subj_altname tagged list +ocsp_uri list +crl_uri list + + +If the field is found, +<string2> is expanded, and replaces the whole item; +otherwise <string3> is used. During the expansion of <string2> the +variable $value contains the value that has been extracted. Afterwards, it +is restored to any previous value it might have had. + + +If {<string3>} is omitted, the item is replaced by an empty string if the +key is not found. If {<string2>} is also omitted, the value that was +extracted is used. + + +Some field names take optional modifiers, appended and separated by commas. + + +The field selectors marked as "RFC4514" above +output a Distinguished Name string which is +not quite +parseable by Exim as a comma-separated tagged list +(the exceptions being elements containing commas). +RDN elements of a single type may be selected by +a modifier of the type label; if so the expansion +result is a list (newline-separated by default). +The separator may be changed by another modifier of +a right angle-bracket followed immediately by the new separator. +Recognised RDN type labels include "CN", "O", "OU" and "DC". + + +The field selectors marked as "time" above +take an optional modifier of "int" +for which the result is the number of seconds since epoch. +Otherwise the result is a human-readable string +in the timezone selected by the main "timezone" option. + + +The field selectors marked as "list" above return a list, +newline-separated by default, +(embedded separator characters in elements are doubled). +The separator may be changed by a modifier of +a right angle-bracket followed immediately by the new separator. + + +The field selectors marked as "tagged" above +prefix each list element with a type string and an equals sign. +Elements of only one type may be selected by a modifier +which is one of "dns", "uri" or "mail"; +if so the element tags are omitted. + + +If not otherwise noted field values are presented in human-readable form. + + + +${dlfunc{<file>}{<function>}{<arg>}{<arg>}...} + + + + + +This expansion dynamically loads and then calls a locally-written C function. +This functionality is available only if Exim is compiled with + + +EXPAND_DLFUNC=yes + + +set in Local/Makefile. Once loaded, Exim remembers the dynamically loaded +object so that it doesn’t reload the same object file in the same Exim process +(but of course Exim does start new processes frequently). + + +There may be from zero to eight arguments to the function. When compiling +a local function that is to be called in this way, local_scan.h should be +included. The Exim variables and functions that are defined by that API +are also available for dynamically loaded functions. The function itself +must have the following type: + + +int dlfunction(uschar **yield, int argc, uschar *argv[]) + + +Where uschar is a typedef for unsigned char in local_scan.h. The +function should return one of the following values: + + +OK: Success. The string that is placed in the variable yield is put +into the expanded string that is being built. + + +FAIL: A non-forced expansion failure occurs, with the error message taken +from yield, if it is set. + + +FAIL_FORCED: A forced expansion failure occurs, with the error message +taken from yield if it is set. + + +ERROR: Same as FAIL, except that a panic log entry is written. + + +When compiling a function that is to be used in this way with gcc, +you need to add to the gcc command. Also, in the Exim build-time +configuration, you must add to EXTRALIBS. + + + +${env{<key>}{<string1>}{<string2>}} + + + +expansion +extracting value from environment + + +environment +values from + +The key is first expanded separately, and leading and trailing white space +removed. +This is then searched for as a name in the environment. +If a variable is found then its value is placed in $value +and <string1> is expanded, otherwise <string2> is expanded. + + +Instead of {<string2>} the word fail (not in curly brackets) can +appear, for example: + + +${env{USER}{$value} fail } + + +This forces an expansion failure (see section ); +{<string1>} must be present for fail to be recognized. + + +If {<string2>} is omitted an empty string is substituted on +search failure. +If {<string1>} is omitted the search result is substituted on +search success. + + +The environment is adjusted by the and + main section options. + + + +${extract{<key>}{<string1>}{<string2>}{<string3>}} + + + +expansion +extracting substrings by key + + + +substrings by key + +The key and <string1> are first expanded separately. Leading and trailing +white space is removed from the key (but not from any of the strings). The key +must not be empty and must not consist entirely of digits. +The expanded <string1> must be of the form: + + +<key1> = <value1> <key2> = <value2> ... + + + +$value + +where the equals signs and spaces (but not both) are optional. If any of the +values contain white space, they must be enclosed in double quotes, and any +values that are enclosed in double quotes are subject to escape processing as +described in section . The expanded <string1> is searched +for the value that corresponds to the key. The search is case-insensitive. If +the key is found, <string2> is expanded, and replaces the whole item; +otherwise <string3> is used. During the expansion of <string2> the +variable $value contains the value that has been extracted. Afterwards, it +is restored to any previous value it might have had. + + +If {<string3>} is omitted, the item is replaced by an empty string if the +key is not found. If {<string2>} is also omitted, the value that was +extracted is used. Thus, for example, these two expansions are identical, and +yield 2001: + + +${extract{gid}{uid=1984 gid=2001}} +${extract{gid}{uid=1984 gid=2001}{$value}} + + +Instead of {<string3>} the word fail (not in curly brackets) can +appear, for example: + + +${extract{Z}{A=... B=...}{$value} fail } + + +This forces an expansion failure (see section ); +{<string2>} must be present for fail to be recognized. + + + +${extract json{<key>}{<string1>}{<string2>}{<string3>}} + + + +expansion +extracting from JSON object + + +JSON +expansions + +The key and <string1> are first expanded separately. Leading and trailing +white space is removed from the key (but not from any of the strings). The key +must not be empty and must not consist entirely of digits. +The expanded <string1> must be of the form: + + +{ <"key1"> : <value1> , <"key2"> , <value2> ... } + + + +$value + +The braces, commas and colons, and the quoting of the member name are required; +the spaces are optional. +Matching of the key against the member names is done case-sensitively. + + +The results of matching are handled as above. + + + +${extract{<number>}{<separators>}{<string1>}{<string2>}{<string3>}} + + + +expansion +extracting substrings by number + + + +substrings by number + +The <number> argument must consist entirely of decimal digits, +apart from leading and trailing white space, which is ignored. +This is what distinguishes this form of from the previous kind. It +behaves in the same way, except that, instead of extracting a named field, it +extracts from <string1> the field whose number is given as the first +argument. You can use $value in <string2> or fail instead of +<string3> as before. + + +The fields in the string are separated by any one of the characters in the +separator string. These may include space or tab characters. +The first field is numbered one. If the number is negative, the fields are +counted from the end of the string, with the rightmost one numbered -1. If the +number given is zero, the entire string is returned. If the modulus of the +number is greater than the number of fields in the string, the result is the +expansion of <string3>, or the empty string if <string3> is not +provided. For example: + + +${extract{2}{:}{x:42:99:& Mailer::/bin/bash}} + + +yields 42, and + + +${extract{-4}{:}{x:42:99:& Mailer::/bin/bash}} + + +yields 99. Two successive separators mean that the field between them is +empty (for example, the fifth field above). + + + +${extract json{<number>}}{<string1>}{<string2>}{<string3>}} + + + +expansion +extracting from JSON array + + +JSON +expansions + +The <number> argument must consist entirely of decimal digits, +apart from leading and trailing white space, which is ignored. + + +Field selection and result handling is as above; +there is no choice of field separator. + + + +${filter{<string>}{<condition>}} + + + +list +selecting by condition + + +expansion +selecting from list by condition + + +$item + +After expansion, <string> is interpreted as a list, colon-separated by +default, but the separator can be changed in the usual way (). +For each item +in this list, its value is place in $item, and then the condition is +evaluated. If the condition is true, $item is added to the output as an +item in a new list; if the condition is false, the item is discarded. The +separator used for the output list is the same as the one used for the +input, but a separator setting is not included in the output. For example: + + +${filter{a:b:c}{!eq{$item}{b}}} + + +yields a:c. At the end of the expansion, the value of $item is restored +to what it was before. See also the map and reduce expansion items. + + + +${hash{<string1>}{<string2>}{<string3>}} + + + +hash function +textual + + +expansion +textual hash + +This is a textual hashing function, and was the first to be implemented in +early versions of Exim. In current releases, there are other hashing functions +(numeric, MD5, and SHA-1), which are described below. + + +The first two strings, after expansion, must be numbers. Call them <m> and +<n>. If you are using fixed values for these numbers, that is, if +<string1> and <string2> do not change when they are expanded, you can +use the simpler operator notation that avoids some of the braces: + + +${hash_<n>_<m>:<string>} + + +The second number is optional (in both notations). If <n> is greater than +or equal to the length of the string, the expansion item returns the string. +Otherwise it computes a new string of length <n> by applying a hashing +function to the string. The new string consists of characters taken from the +first <m> characters of the string + + +abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQWRSTUVWXYZ0123456789 + + +If <m> is not present the value 26 is used, so that only lower case +letters appear. For example: + + +$hash{3}{monty}} yields jmg +$hash{5}{monty}} yields monty +$hash{4}{62}{monty python}} yields fbWx + + + +$header_<header name>: or $h_<header name>: +$bheader_<header name>: or $bh_<header name>: +$lheader_<header name>: or $lh_<header name>: + + + "$rheader_<header name>: or $rh_<header name>:" + +expansion +header insertion + + +$header_ + + +$bheader_ + + +$lheader_ + + +$rheader_ + + +header lines +in expansion strings + + +header lines +character sets + + +header lines +decoding + +Substitute the contents of the named message header line, for example + + +$header_reply-to: + + +The newline that terminates a header line is not included in the expansion, but +internal newlines (caused by splitting the header line over several physical +lines) may be present. + + +The difference between the four pairs of expansions is in the way +the data in the header line is interpreted. + + + + + +white space +in header lines + + gives the original raw content of the header line, with no +processing at all, and without the removal of leading and trailing white space. + + + + + +list +of header lines + + gives a colon-separated list, one element per header when there +are multiple headers with a given name. +Any embedded colon characters within an element are doubled, so normal Exim +list-processing facilities can be used. +The terminating newline of each element is removed; in other respects +the content is raw. + + + + + +base64 encoding +in header lines + + removes leading and trailing white space, and then decodes base64 +or quoted-printable MIME words within the header text, but does no +character set translation. If decoding of what looks superficially like a MIME +word fails, the raw string is returned. If decoding + +binary zero +in header line + +produces a binary zero character, it is replaced by a question mark – this is +what Exim does for binary zeros that are actually received in header lines. + + + + + tries to translate the string as decoded by to a +standard character set. This is an attempt to produce the same string as would +be displayed on a user’s MUA. If translation fails, the string is +returned. Translation is attempted only on operating systems that support the +iconv() function. This is indicated by the compile-time macro HAVE_ICONV in +a system Makefile or in Local/Makefile. + + + + +In a filter file, the target character set for can be specified by a +command of the following form: + + +headers charset "UTF-8" + + +This command affects all references to $h_ (or $header_) expansions in +subsequently obeyed filter commands. In the absence of this command, the target +character set in a filter is taken from the setting of the +option in the runtime configuration. The value of this option defaults to the +value of HEADERS_CHARSET in Local/Makefile. The ultimate default is +ISO-8859-1. + + +Header names follow the syntax of RFC 2822, which states that they may contain +any printing characters except space and colon. Consequently, curly brackets +do not terminate header names, and should not be used to enclose them as +if they were variables. Attempting to do so causes a syntax error. + + +Only header lines that are common to all copies of a message are visible to +this mechanism. These are the original header lines that are received with the +message, and any that are added by an ACL statement or by a system +filter. Header lines that are added to a particular copy of a message by a +router or transport are not accessible. + + +For incoming SMTP messages, no header lines are visible in +ACLs that are obeyed before the data phase completes, +because the header structure is not set up until the message is received. +They are visible in DKIM, PRDR and DATA ACLs. +Header lines that are added in a RCPT ACL (for example) +are saved until the message’s incoming header lines are available, at which +point they are added. +When any of the above ACLs ar +running, however, header lines added by earlier ACLs are visible. + + +Upper case and lower case letters are synonymous in header names. If the +following character is white space, the terminating colon may be omitted, but +this is not recommended, because you may then forget it when it is needed. When +white space terminates the header name, this white space is included in the +expanded string. If the message does not contain the given header, the +expansion item is replaced by an empty string. (See the condition in +section for a means of testing for the existence of a +header.) + + +If there is more than one header with the same name, they are all concatenated +to form the substitution string, up to a maximum length of 64K. Unless + is being used, leading and trailing white space is removed from +each header before concatenation, and a completely empty header is ignored. A +newline character is then inserted between non-empty headers, but there is no +newline at the very end. For the and expansion, for +those headers that contain lists of addresses, a comma is also inserted at the +junctions between headers. This does not happen for the expansion. + + + +${hmac{<hashname>}{<secret>}{<string>}} + + + +expansion +hmac hashing + + + + +This function uses cryptographic hashing (either MD5 or SHA-1) to convert a +shared secret and some text into a message authentication code, as specified in +RFC 2104. This differs from ${md5:secret_text...} or +${sha1:secret_text...} in that the hmac step adds a signature to the +cryptographic hash, allowing for authentication that is not possible with MD5 +or SHA-1 alone. The hash name must expand to either md5 or sha1 at +present. For example: + + +${hmac{md5}{somesecret}{$primary_hostname $tod_log}} + + +For the hostname mail.example.com and time 2002-10-17 11:30:59, this +produces: + + +dd97e3ba5d1a61b5006108f8c8252953 + + +As an example of how this might be used, you might put in the main part of +an Exim configuration: + + +SPAMSCAN_SECRET=cohgheeLei2thahw + + +In a router or a transport you could then have: + + +headers_add = \ + X-Spam-Scanned: ${primary_hostname} ${message_exim_id} \ + ${hmac{md5}{SPAMSCAN_SECRET}\ + {${primary_hostname},${message_exim_id},$h_message-id:}} + + +Then given a message, you can check where it was scanned by looking at the +X-Spam-Scanned: header line. If you know the secret, you can check that +this header line is authentic by recomputing the authentication code from the +host name, message ID and the Message-id: header line. This can be done +using Exim’s option, or by other means, for example, by using the +hmac_md5_hex() function in Perl. + + + +${if <condition> {<string1>}{<string2>}} + + + +expansion +conditional + + +, expansion item + +If <condition> is true, <string1> is expanded and replaces the whole +item; otherwise <string2> is used. The available conditions are described +in section below. For example: + + +${if eq {$local_part}{postmaster} {yes}{no} } + + +The second string need not be present; if it is not and the condition is not +true, the item is replaced with nothing. Alternatively, the word fail may +be present instead of the second string (without any curly brackets). In this +case, the expansion is forced to fail if the condition is not true (see section +). + + +If both strings are omitted, the result is the string true if the condition +is true, and the empty string if the condition is false. This makes it less +cumbersome to write custom ACL and router conditions. For example, instead of + + +condition = ${if >{$acl_m4}{3}{true}{false}} + + +you can use + + +condition = ${if >{$acl_m4}{3}} + + + +${imapfolder{<foldername>}} + + + +expansion +imap folder + + + expansion item + +This item converts a (possibly multilevel, or with non-ASCII characters) +folder specification to a Maildir name for filesystem use. +For information on internationalisation support see . + + + +${length{<string1>}{<string2>}} + + + +expansion +string truncation + + + expansion item + +The item is used to extract the initial portion of a string. Both +strings are expanded, and the first one must yield a number, <n>, say. If +you are using a fixed value for the number, that is, if <string1> does not +change when expanded, you can use the simpler operator notation that avoids +some of the braces: + + +${length_<n>:<string>} + + +The result of this item is either the first <n> bytes or the whole +of <string2>, whichever is the shorter. Do not confuse with +, which gives the length of a string. +All measurement is done in bytes and is not UTF-8 aware. + + + +${listextract{<number>}{<string1>}{<string2>}{<string3>}} + + + +expansion +extracting list elements by number + + + +extract list elements by number + + +list +extracting elements by number + +The <number> argument must consist entirely of decimal digits, +apart from an optional leading minus, +and leading and trailing white space (which is ignored). + + +After expansion, <string1> is interpreted as a list, colon-separated by +default, but the separator can be changed in the usual way (). + + +The first field of the list is numbered one. +If the number is negative, the fields are +counted from the end of the list, with the rightmost one numbered -1. +The numbered element of the list is extracted and placed in $value, +then <string2> is expanded as the result. + + +If the modulus of the +number is zero or greater than the number of fields in the string, +the result is the expansion of <string3>. + + +For example: + + +${listextract{2}{x:42:99}} + + +yields 42, and + + +${listextract{-3}{<, x,42,99,& Mailer,,/bin/bash}{result: $value}} + + +yields result: 42. + + +If {<string3>} is omitted, an empty string is used for string3. +If {<string2>} is also omitted, the value that was +extracted is used. +You can use fail instead of {<string3>} as in a string extract. + + + +${lookup{<key>} <search type> {<file>} {<string1>} {<string2>}} + + +This is the first of one of two different types of lookup item, which are both +described in the next item. + + + +${lookup <search type> {<query>} {<string1>} {<string2>}} + + + +expansion +lookup in + + +file +lookups + + +lookup +in expanded string + +The two forms of lookup item specify data lookups in files and databases, as +discussed in chapter . The first form is used for single-key +lookups, and the second is used for query-style lookups. The <key>, +<file>, and <query> strings are expanded before use. + + +If there is any white space in a lookup item which is part of a filter command, +a retry or rewrite rule, a routing rule for the manualroute router, or any +other place where white space is significant, the lookup item must be enclosed +in double quotes. The use of data lookups in users’ filter files may be locked +out by the system administrator. + + + +$value + +If the lookup succeeds, <string1> is expanded and replaces the entire item. +During its expansion, the variable $value contains the data returned by the +lookup. Afterwards it reverts to the value it had previously (at the outer +level it is empty). If the lookup fails, <string2> is expanded and replaces +the entire item. If {<string2>} is omitted, the replacement is the empty +string on failure. If <string2> is provided, it can itself be a nested +lookup, thus providing a mechanism for looking up a default value when the +original lookup fails. + + +If a nested lookup is used as part of <string1>, $value contains the +data for the outer lookup while the parameters of the second lookup are +expanded, and also while <string2> of the second lookup is expanded, should +the second lookup fail. Instead of {<string2>} the word fail can +appear, and in this case, if the lookup fails, the entire expansion is forced +to fail (see section ). If both {<string1>} and +{<string2>} are omitted, the result is the looked up value in the case of a +successful lookup, and nothing in the case of failure. + + +For single-key lookups, the string partial is permitted to precede the +search type in order to do partial matching, and * or *@ may follow a search +type to request default lookups if the key does not match (see sections + and for details). + + + +numerical variables ($1 $2 etc) +in lookup expansion + +If a partial search is used, the variables $1 and $2 contain the wild +and non-wild parts of the key during the expansion of the replacement text. +They return to their previous values at the end of the lookup item. + + +This example looks up the postmaster alias in the conventional alias file: + + +${lookup {postmaster} lsearch {/etc/aliases} {$value}} + + +This example uses NIS+ to look up the full name of the user corresponding to +the local part of an address, forcing the expansion to fail if it is not found: + + +${lookup nisplus {[name=$local_part],passwd.org_dir:gcos} \ + {$value}fail} + + + +${map{<string1>}{<string2>}} + + + +expansion +list creation + + +$item + +After expansion, <string1> is interpreted as a list, colon-separated by +default, but the separator can be changed in the usual way (). +For each item +in this list, its value is place in $item, and then <string2> is +expanded and added to the output as an item in a new list. The separator used +for the output list is the same as the one used for the input, but a separator +setting is not included in the output. For example: + + +${map{a:b:c}{[$item]}} ${map{<- x-y-z}{($item)}} + + +expands to [a]:[b]:[c] (x)-(y)-(z). At the end of the expansion, the +value of $item is restored to what it was before. See also the filter +and reduce expansion items. + + + +${nhash{<string1>}{<string2>}{<string3>}} + + + +expansion +numeric hash + + +hash function +numeric + +The three strings are expanded; the first two must yield numbers. Call them +<n> and <m>. If you are using fixed values for these numbers, that is, +if <string1> and <string2> do not change when they are expanded, you +can use the simpler operator notation that avoids some of the braces: + + +${nhash_<n>_<m>:<string>} + + +The second number is optional (in both notations). If there is only one number, +the result is a number in the range 0–<n>-1. Otherwise, the string is +processed by a div/mod hash function that returns two numbers, separated by a +slash, in the ranges 0 to <n>-1 and 0 to <m>-1, respectively. For +example, + + +${nhash{8}{64}{supercalifragilisticexpialidocious}} + + +returns the string 6/33. + + + +${perl{<subroutine>}{<arg>}{<arg>}...} + + + +Perl +use in expanded string + + +expansion +calling Perl from + +This item is available only if Exim has been built to include an embedded Perl +interpreter. The subroutine name and the arguments are first separately +expanded, and then the Perl subroutine is called with those arguments. No +additional arguments need be given; the maximum number permitted, including the +name of the subroutine, is nine. + + +The return value of the subroutine is inserted into the expanded string, unless +the return value is . In that case, the expansion fails in the same +way as an explicit fail on a lookup item. The return value is a scalar. +Whatever you return is evaluated in a scalar context. For example, if you +return the name of a Perl vector, the return value is the size of the vector, +not its contents. + + +If the subroutine exits by calling Perl’s function, the expansion fails +with the error message that was passed to . More details of the embedded +Perl facility are given in chapter . + + +The redirect router has an option called which locks +out the use of this expansion item in filter files. + + + +${prvs{<address>}{<secret>}{<keynumber>}} + + + + expansion item + +The first argument is a complete email address and the second is secret +keystring. The third argument, specifying a key number, is optional. If absent, +it defaults to 0. The result of the expansion is a prvs-signed email address, +to be typically used with the option on an smtp transport +as part of a bounce address tag validation (BATV) scheme. For more discussion +and an example, see section . + + + +${prvscheck{<address>}{<secret>}{<string>}} + + + + expansion item + +This expansion item is the complement of the item. It is used for +checking prvs-signed addresses. If the expansion of the first argument does not +yield a syntactically valid prvs-signed address, the whole item expands to the +empty string. When the first argument does expand to a syntactically valid +prvs-signed address, the second argument is expanded, with the prvs-decoded +version of the address and the key number extracted from the address in the +variables $prvscheck_address and $prvscheck_keynum, respectively. + + +These two variables can be used in the expansion of the second argument to +retrieve the secret. The validity of the prvs-signed address is then checked +against the secret. The result is stored in the variable $prvscheck_result, +which is empty for failure or 1 for success. + + +The third argument is optional; if it is missing, it defaults to an empty +string. This argument is now expanded. If the result is an empty string, the +result of the expansion is the decoded version of the address. This is the case +whether or not the signature was valid. Otherwise, the result of the expansion +is the expansion of the third argument. + + +All three variables can be used in the expansion of the third argument. +However, once the expansion is complete, only $prvscheck_result remains set. +For more discussion and an example, see section . + + + +${readfile{<file name>}{<eol string>}} + + + +expansion +inserting an entire file + + +file +inserting into expansion + + + expansion item + +The filename and end-of-line string are first expanded separately. The file is +then read, and its contents replace the entire item. All newline characters in +the file are replaced by the end-of-line string if it is present. Otherwise, +newlines are left in the string. +String expansion is not applied to the contents of the file. If you want this, +you must wrap the item in an operator. If the file cannot be read, +the string expansion fails. + + +The redirect router has an option called which +locks out the use of this expansion item in filter files. + + + +${readsocket{<name>}{<request>}{<options>}{<eol string>}{<fail string>}} + + + +expansion +inserting from a socket + + +socket, use of in expansion + + + expansion item + +This item inserts data from a Unix domain or TCP socket into the expanded +string. The minimal way of using it uses just two arguments, as in these +examples: + + +${readsocket{/socket/name}{request string}} +${readsocket{inet:some.host:1234}{request string}} + + +For a Unix domain socket, the first substring must be the path to the socket. +For an Internet socket, the first substring must contain inet: followed by +a host name or IP address, followed by a colon and a port, which can be a +number or the name of a TCP port in /etc/services. An IP address may +optionally be enclosed in square brackets. This is best for IPv6 addresses. For +example: + + +${readsocket{inet:[::1]:1234}{request string}} + + +Only a single host name may be given, but if looking it up yields more than +one IP address, they are each tried in turn until a connection is made. For +both kinds of socket, Exim makes a connection, writes the request string +unless it is an empty string; and no terminating NUL is ever sent) +and reads from the socket until an end-of-file +is read. A timeout of 5 seconds is applied. Additional, optional arguments +extend what can be done. Firstly, you can vary the timeout. For example: + + +${readsocket{/socket/name}{request string}{3s}} + + +The third argument is a list of options, of which the first element is the timeout +and must be present if the argument is given. +Further elements are options of form name=value. +Two option types is currently recognised: shutdown and tls. +The first defines whether (the default) +or not a shutdown is done on the connection after sending the request. +Example, to not do so (preferred, eg. by some webservers): + + +${readsocket{/socket/name}{request string}{3s:shutdown=no}} + + +The second, tls, controls the use of TLS on the connection. Example: + + +${readsocket{/socket/name}{request string}{3s:tls=yes}} + + +The default is to not use TLS. +If it is enabled, a shutdown as descripbed above is never done. + + +A fourth argument allows you to change any newlines that are in the data +that is read, in the same way as for (see above). This example +turns them into spaces: + + +${readsocket{inet:127.0.0.1:3294}{request string}{3s}{ }} + + +As with all expansions, the substrings are expanded before the processing +happens. Errors in these sub-expansions cause the expansion to fail. In +addition, the following errors can occur: + + + + +Failure to create a socket file descriptor; + + + + +Failure to connect the socket; + + + + +Failure to write the request string; + + + + +Timeout on reading from the socket. + + + + +By default, any of these errors causes the expansion to fail. However, if +you supply a fifth substring, it is expanded and used when any of the above +errors occurs. For example: + + +${readsocket{/socket/name}{request string}{3s}{\n}\ + {socket failure}} + + +You can test for the existence of a Unix domain socket by wrapping this +expansion in ${if exists, but there is a race condition between that test +and the actual opening of the socket, so it is safer to use the fifth argument +if you want to be absolutely sure of avoiding an expansion error for a +non-existent Unix domain socket, or a failure to connect to an Internet socket. + + +The redirect router has an option called which +locks out the use of this expansion item in filter files. + + + +${reduce{<string1>}{<string2>}{<string3>}} + + + +expansion +reducing a list to a scalar + + +list +reducing to a scalar + + +$value + + +$item + +This operation reduces a list to a single, scalar string. After expansion, +<string1> is interpreted as a list, colon-separated by default, but the +separator can be changed in the usual way (). +Then <string2> is expanded and +assigned to the $value variable. After this, each item in the <string1> +list is assigned to $item, in turn, and <string3> is expanded for each of +them. The result of that expansion is assigned to $value before the next +iteration. When the end of the list is reached, the final value of $value is +added to the expansion output. The reduce expansion item can be used in a +number of ways. For example, to add up a list of numbers: + + +${reduce {<, 1,2,3}{0}{${eval:$value+$item}}} + + +The result of that expansion would be 6. The maximum of a list of numbers +can be found: + + +${reduce {3:0:9:4:6}{0}{${if >{$item}{$value}{$item}{$value}}}} + + +At the end of a reduce expansion, the values of $item and $value are +restored to what they were before. See also the filter and map +expansion items. + + + +$rheader_<header name>: or $rh_<header name>: + + +This item inserts raw header lines. It is described with the +expansion item in section above. + + + +${run{<command> <args>}{<string1>}{<string2>}} + + + +expansion +running a command + + + expansion item + +The command and its arguments are first expanded as one string. The string is +split apart into individual arguments by spaces, and then the command is run +in a separate process, but under the same uid and gid. As in other command +executions from Exim, a shell is not used by default. If the command requires +a shell, you must explicitly code it. + + +Since the arguments are split by spaces, when there is a variable expansion +which has an empty result, it will cause the situation that the argument will +simply be omitted when the program is actually executed by Exim. If the +script/program requires a specific number of arguments and the expanded +variable could possibly result in this empty expansion, the variable must be +quoted. This is more difficult if the expanded variable itself could result +in a string containing quotes, because it would interfere with the quotes +around the command arguments. A possible guard against this is to wrap the +variable in the operator to change any quote marks to some other +character. + + +The standard input for the command exists, but is empty. The standard output +and standard error are set to the same file descriptor. + +return code +from expansion + + +$value + +If the command succeeds (gives a zero return code) <string1> is expanded +and replaces the entire item; during this expansion, the standard output/error +from the command is in the variable $value. If the command fails, +<string2>, if present, is expanded and used. Once again, during the +expansion, the standard output/error from the command is in the variable +$value. + + +If <string2> is absent, the result is empty. Alternatively, <string2> +can be the word fail (not in braces) to force expansion failure if the +command does not succeed. If both strings are omitted, the result is contents +of the standard output/error on success, and nothing on failure. + + + +$run_in_acl + +The standard output/error of the command is put in the variable $value. +In this ACL example, the output of a command is logged for the admin to +troubleshoot: + + +warn condition = ${run{/usr/bin/id}{yes}{no}} + log_message = Output of id: $value + + +If the command requires shell idioms, such as the > redirect operator, the +shell must be invoked directly, such as with: + + +${run{/bin/bash -c "/usr/bin/id >/tmp/id"}{yes}{yes}} + + + +$runrc + +The return code from the command is put in the variable $runrc, and this +remains set afterwards, so in a filter file you can do things like this: + + +if "${run{x y z}{}}$runrc" is 1 then ... + elif $runrc is 2 then ... + ... +endif + + +If execution of the command fails (for example, the command does not exist), +the return code is 127 – the same code that shells use for non-existent +commands. + + +Warning: In a router or transport, you cannot assume the order in which +option values are expanded, except for those preconditions whose order of +testing is documented. Therefore, you cannot reliably expect to set $runrc +by the expansion of one option, and use it in another. + + +The redirect router has an option called which locks +out the use of this expansion item in filter files. + + + +${sg{<subject>}{<regex>}{<replacement>}} + + + +expansion +string substitution + + + expansion item + +This item works like Perl’s substitution operator (s) with the global (/g) +option; hence its name. However, unlike the Perl equivalent, Exim does not +modify the subject string; instead it returns the modified string for insertion +into the overall expansion. The item takes three arguments: the subject string, +a regular expression, and a substitution string. For example: + + +${sg{abcdefabcdef}{abc}{xyz}} + + +yields xyzdefxyzdef. Because all three arguments are expanded before use, +if any $, } or \ characters are required in the regular expression or in the +substitution string, they have to be escaped. For example: + + +${sg{abcdef}{^(...)(...)\$}{\$2\$1}} + + +yields defabc, and + + +${sg{1=A 4=D 3=C}{\N(\d+)=\N}{K\$1=}} + + +yields K1=A K4=D K3=C. Note the use of \N to protect the contents of +the regular expression from string expansion. + + +The regular expression is compiled in 8-bit mode, working against bytes +rather than any Unicode-aware character handling. + + + +${sort{<string>}{<comparator>}{<extractor>}} + + + +sorting +a list + + +list +sorting + + +expansion +list sorting + +After expansion, <string> is interpreted as a list, colon-separated by +default, but the separator can be changed in the usual way (). +The <comparator> argument is interpreted as the operator +of a two-argument expansion condition. +The numeric operators plus ge, gt, le, lt (and ~i variants) are supported. +The comparison should return true when applied to two values +if the first value should sort before the second value. +The <extractor> expansion is applied repeatedly to elements of the list, +the element being placed in $item, +to give values for comparison. + + +The item result is a sorted list, +with the original list separator, +of the list elements (in full) of the original. + + +Examples: + + +${sort{3:2:1:4}{<}{$item}} + + +sorts a list of numbers, and + + +${sort {${lookup dnsdb{>:,,mx=example.com}}} {<} {${listextract{1}{<,$item}}}} + + +will sort an MX lookup into priority order. + + + +${substr{<string1>}{<string2>}{<string3>}} + + + + expansion item + + +substring extraction + + +expansion +substring extraction + +The three strings are expanded; the first two must yield numbers. Call them +<n> and <m>. If you are using fixed values for these numbers, that is, +if <string1> and <string2> do not change when they are expanded, you +can use the simpler operator notation that avoids some of the braces: + + +${substr_<n>_<m>:<string>} + + +The second number is optional (in both notations). +If it is absent in the simpler format, the preceding underscore must also be +omitted. + + +The item can be used to extract more general substrings than +. The first number, <n>, is a starting offset, and <m> is the +length required. For example + + +${substr{3}{2}{$local_part}} + + +If the starting offset is greater than the string length the result is the +null string; if the length plus starting offset is greater than the string +length, the result is the right-hand part of the string, starting from the +given offset. The first byte (character) in the string has offset zero. + + +The expansion item can take negative offset values to count +from the right-hand end of its operand. The last byte (character) is offset -1, +the second-last is offset -2, and so on. Thus, for example, + + +${substr{-5}{2}{1234567}} + + +yields 34. If the absolute value of a negative offset is greater than the +length of the string, the substring starts at the beginning of the string, and +the length is reduced by the amount of overshoot. Thus, for example, + + +${substr{-5}{2}{12}} + + +yields an empty string, but + + +${substr{-3}{2}{12}} + + +yields 1. + + +When the second number is omitted from , the remainder of the string +is taken if the offset is positive. If it is negative, all bytes (characters) in the +string preceding the offset point are taken. For example, an offset of -1 and +no length, as in these semantically identical examples: + + +${substr_-1:abcde} +${substr{-1}{abcde}} + + +yields all but the last character of the string, that is, abcd. + + +All measurement is done in bytes and is not UTF-8 aware. + + + +${tr{<subject>}{<characters>}{<replacements>}} + + + +expansion +character translation + + + expansion item + +This item does single-character (in bytes) translation on its subject string. The second +argument is a list of characters to be translated in the subject string. Each +matching character is replaced by the corresponding character from the +replacement list. For example + + +${tr{abcdea}{ac}{13}} + + +yields 1b3de1. If there are duplicates in the second character string, the +last occurrence is used. If the third string is shorter than the second, its +last character is replicated. However, if it is empty, no translation takes +place. + + +All character handling is done in bytes and is not UTF-8 aware. + + + +
+
+Expansion operators + + +expansion +operators + +For expansion items that perform transformations on a single argument string, +the operator notation is used because it is simpler and uses fewer braces. +The substring is first expanded before the operation is applied to it. The +following operations can be performed: + + + +${address:<string>} + + + +expansion +RFC 2822 address handling + + + expansion item + +The string is interpreted as an RFC 2822 address, as it might appear in a +header line, and the effective address is extracted from it. If the string does +not parse successfully, the result is empty. + + +The parsing correctly handles SMTPUTF8 Unicode in the string. + + + +${addresses:<string>} + + + +expansion +RFC 2822 address handling + + + expansion item + +The string (after expansion) is interpreted as a list of addresses in RFC +2822 format, such as can be found in a To: or Cc: header line. The +operative address (local-part@domain) is extracted from each item, and the +result of the expansion is a colon-separated list, with appropriate +doubling of colons should any happen to be present in the email addresses. +Syntactically invalid RFC2822 address items are omitted from the output. + + +It is possible to specify a character other than colon for the output +separator by starting the string with > followed by the new separator +character. For example: + + +${addresses:>& Chief <ceo@up.stairs>, sec@base.ment (dogsbody)} + + +expands to ceo@up.stairs&sec@base.ment. The string is expanded +first, so if the expanded string starts with >, it may change the output +separator unintentionally. This can be avoided by setting the output +separator explicitly: + + +${addresses:>:$h_from:} + + +Compare the address (singular) +expansion item, which extracts the working address from a single RFC2822 +address. See the filter, map, and reduce items for ways of +processing lists. + + +To clarify "list of addresses in RFC 2822 format" mentioned above, Exim follows +a strict interpretation of header line formatting. Exim parses the bare, +unquoted portion of an email address and if it finds a comma, treats it as an +email address separator. For the example header line: + + +From: =?iso-8859-2?Q?Last=2C_First?= <user@example.com> + + +The first example below demonstrates that Q-encoded email addresses are parsed +properly if it is given the raw header (in this example, $rheader_from:). +It does not see the comma because it’s still encoded as "=2C". The second +example below is passed the contents of $header_from:, meaning it gets +de-mimed. Exim sees the decoded "," so it treats it as two email addresses. +The third example shows that the presence of a comma is skipped when it is +quoted. The fourth example shows SMTPUTF8 handling. + + +# exim -be '${addresses:From: \ +=?iso-8859-2?Q?Last=2C_First?= <user@example.com>}' +user@example.com +# exim -be '${addresses:From: Last, First <user@example.com>}' +Last:user@example.com +# exim -be '${addresses:From: "Last, First" <user@example.com>}' +user@example.com +# exim -be '${addresses:フィル <フィリップ@example.jp>}' +フィリップ@example.jp + + + +${base32:<digits>} + + + + expansion item + + +expansion +conversion to base 32 + +The string must consist entirely of decimal digits. The number is converted to +base 32 and output as a (empty, for zero) string of characters. +Only lowercase letters are used. + + + +${base32d:<base-32 digits>} + + + + expansion item + + +expansion +conversion to base 32 + +The string must consist entirely of base-32 digits. +The number is converted to decimal and output as a string. + + + +${base62:<digits>} + + + + expansion item + + +expansion +conversion to base 62 + +The string must consist entirely of decimal digits. The number is converted to +base 62 and output as a string of six characters, including leading zeros. In +the few operating environments where Exim uses base 36 instead of base 62 for +its message identifiers (because those systems do not have case-sensitive +filenames), base 36 is used by this operator, despite its name. Note: Just +to be absolutely clear: this is not base64 encoding. + + + +${base62d:<base-62 digits>} + + + + expansion item + + +expansion +conversion to base 62 + +The string must consist entirely of base-62 digits, or, in operating +environments where Exim uses base 36 instead of base 62 for its message +identifiers, base-36 digits. The number is converted to decimal and output as a +string. + + + +${base64:<string>} + + + +expansion +base64 encoding + + +base64 encoding +in string expansion + + + expansion item + + +certificate +base64 of DER + +This operator converts a string into one that is base64 encoded. + + +If the string is a single variable of type certificate, +returns the base64 encoding of the DER form of the certificate. + + + +${base64d:<string>} + + + +expansion +base64 decoding + + +base64 decoding +in string expansion + + + expansion item + +This operator converts a base64-encoded string into the un-coded form. + + + +${domain:<string>} + + + +domain +extraction + + +expansion +domain extraction + +The string is interpreted as an RFC 2822 address and the domain is extracted +from it. If the string does not parse successfully, the result is empty. + + + +${escape:<string>} + + + +expansion +escaping non-printing characters + + + expansion item + +If the string contains any non-printing characters, they are converted to +escape sequences starting with a backslash. Whether characters with the most +significant bit set (so-called 8-bit characters) count as printing or not +is controlled by the option. + + + +${escape8bit:<string>} + + + +expansion +escaping 8-bit characters + + + expansion item + +If the string contains and characters with the most significant bit set, +they are converted to escape sequences starting with a backslash. +Backslashes and DEL characters are also converted. + + + +${eval:<string>} and ${eval10:<string>} + + + +expansion +expression evaluation + + +expansion +arithmetic expression + + + expansion item + +These items supports simple arithmetic and bitwise logical operations in +expansion strings. The string (after expansion) must be a conventional +arithmetic expression, but it is limited to basic arithmetic operators, bitwise +logical operators, and parentheses. All operations are carried out using +integer arithmetic. The operator priorities are as follows (the same as in the +C programming language): + + + + + + + +    highest: +not (~), negate (-) + + +     +multiply (*), divide (/), remainder (%) + + +     +plus (+), minus (-) + + +     +shift-left (<<), shift-right (>>) + + +     +and (&) + + +     +xor (^) + + +    lowest: +or (|) + + + + + +Binary operators with the same priority are evaluated from left to right. White +space is permitted before or after operators. + + +For , numbers may be decimal, octal (starting with 0) or +hexadecimal (starting with 0x). For , all numbers are taken as +decimal, even if they start with a leading zero; hexadecimal numbers are not +permitted. This can be useful when processing numbers extracted from dates or +times, which often do have leading zeros. + + +A number may be followed by K, M or G to multiply it by 1024, 1024*1024 +or 1024*1024*1024, +respectively. Negative numbers are supported. The result of the computation is +a decimal representation of the answer (without K, M or G). For example: + + +${eval:1+1} yields 2 +${eval:1+2*3} yields 7 +${eval:(1+2)*3} yields 9 +${eval:2+42%5} yields 4 +${eval:0xc&5} yields 4 +${eval:0xc|5} yields 13 +${eval:0xc^5} yields 9 +${eval:0xc>>1} yields 6 +${eval:0xc<<1} yields 24 +${eval:~255&0x1234} yields 4608 +${eval:-(~255&0x1234)} yields -4608 + + +As a more realistic example, in an ACL you might have + + +deny message = Too many bad recipients + condition = \ + ${if and { \ + {>{$rcpt_count}{10}} \ + { \ + < \ + {$recipients_count} \ + {${eval:$rcpt_count/2}} \ + } \ + }{yes}{no}} + + +The condition is true if there have been more than 10 RCPT commands and +fewer than half of them have resulted in a valid recipient. + + + +${expand:<string>} + + + +expansion +re-expansion of substring + +The operator causes a string to be expanded for a second time. For +example, + + +${expand:${lookup{$domain}dbm{/some/file}{$value}}} + + +first looks up a string in a file while expanding the operand for , +and then re-expands what it has found. + + + +${from_utf8:<string>} + + + +Unicode + + +UTF-8 +conversion from + + +expansion +UTF-8 conversion + + + expansion item + +The world is slowly moving towards Unicode, although there are no standards for +email yet. However, other applications (including some databases) are starting +to store data in Unicode, using UTF-8 encoding. This operator converts from a +UTF-8 string to an ISO-8859-1 string. UTF-8 code values greater than 255 are +converted to underscores. The input must be a valid UTF-8 string. If it is not, +the result is an undefined sequence of bytes. + + +Unicode code points with values less than 256 are compatible with ASCII and +ISO-8859-1 (also known as Latin-1). +For example, character 169 is the copyright symbol in both cases, though the +way it is encoded is different. In UTF-8, more than one byte is needed for +characters with code values greater than 127, whereas ISO-8859-1 is a +single-byte encoding (but thereby limited to 256 characters). This makes +translation from UTF-8 to ISO-8859-1 straightforward. + + + +${hash_<n>_<m>:<string>} + + + +hash function +textual + + +expansion +textual hash + +The operator is a simpler interface to the hashing function that can +be used when the two parameters are fixed numbers (as opposed to strings that +change when expanded). The effect is the same as + + +${hash{<n>}{<m>}{<string>}} + + +See the description of the general item above for details. The +abbreviation can be used when is used as an operator. + + + +${hex2b64:<hexstring>} + + + +base64 encoding +conversion from hex + + +expansion +hex to base64 + + + expansion item + +This operator converts a hex string into one that is base64 encoded. This can +be useful for processing the output of the various hashing functions. + + + +${hexquote:<string>} + + + +quoting +hex-encoded unprintable characters + + + expansion item + +This operator converts non-printable characters in a string into a hex +escape form. Byte values between 33 (!) and 126 (~) inclusive are left +as is, and other byte values are converted to \xNN, for example, a +byte value 127 is converted to \x7f. + + + +${ipv6denorm:<string>} + + + + expansion item + + +IP address +normalisation + +This expands an IPv6 address to a full eight-element colon-separated set +of hex digits including leading zeroes. +A trailing ipv4-style dotted-decimal set is converted to hex. +Pure IPv4 addresses are converted to IPv4-mapped IPv6. + + + +${ipv6norm:<string>} + + + + expansion item + + +IP address +normalisation + + +IP address +canonical form + +This converts an IPv6 address to canonical form. +Leading zeroes of groups are omitted, and the longest +set of zero-valued groups is replaced with a double colon. +A trailing ipv4-style dotted-decimal set is converted to hex. +Pure IPv4 addresses are converted to IPv4-mapped IPv6. + + + +${lc:<string>} + + + +case forcing in strings + + +string +case forcing + + +lower casing + + +expansion +case forcing + + + expansion item + +This forces the letters in the string into lower-case, for example: + + +${lc:$local_part} + + +Case is defined per the system C locale. + + + +${length_<number>:<string>} + + + +expansion +string truncation + + + expansion item + +The operator is a simpler interface to the function that +can be used when the parameter is a fixed number (as opposed to a string that +changes when expanded). The effect is the same as + + +${length{<number>}{<string>}} + + +See the description of the general item above for details. Note that + is not the same as . The abbreviation can be used +when is used as an operator. +All measurement is done in bytes and is not UTF-8 aware. + + + +${listcount:<string>} + + + +expansion +list item count + + +list +item count + + +list +count of items + + + expansion item + +The string is interpreted as a list and the number of items is returned. + + + +${listnamed:<name>} and ${listnamed_<type>:<name>} + + + +expansion +named list + + + expansion item + +The name is interpreted as a named list and the content of the list is returned, +expanding any referenced lists, re-quoting as needed for colon-separation. +If the optional type is given it must be one of "a", "d", "h" or "l" +and selects address-, domain-, host- or localpart- lists to search among respectively. +Otherwise all types are searched in an undefined order and the first +matching list is returned. + + + +${local_part:<string>} + + + +expansion +local part extraction + + + expansion item + +The string is interpreted as an RFC 2822 address and the local part is +extracted from it. If the string does not parse successfully, the result is +empty. +The parsing correctly handles SMTPUTF8 Unicode in the string. + + + +${mask:<IP address>/<bit count>} + + + +masked IP address + + +IP address +masking + + +CIDR notation + + +expansion +IP address masking + + + expansion item + +If the form of the string to be operated on is not an IP address followed by a +slash and an integer (that is, a network address in CIDR notation), the +expansion fails. Otherwise, this operator converts the IP address to binary, +masks off the least significant bits according to the bit count, and converts +the result back to text, with mask appended. For example, + + +${mask:10.111.131.206/28} + + +returns the string 10.111.131.192/28. Since this operation is expected to +be mostly used for looking up masked addresses in files, the result for an IPv6 +address uses dots to separate components instead of colons, because colon +terminates a key string in lsearch files. So, for example, + + +${mask:3ffe:ffff:836f:0a00:000a:0800:200a:c031/99} + + +returns the string + + +3ffe.ffff.836f.0a00.000a.0800.2000.0000/99 + + +Letters in IPv6 addresses are always output in lower case. + + + +${md5:<string>} + + + +MD5 hash + + +expansion +MD5 hash + + +certificate +fingerprint + + + expansion item + +The operator computes the MD5 hash value of the string, and returns it +as a 32-digit hexadecimal number, in which any letters are in lower case. + + +If the string is a single variable of type certificate, +returns the MD5 hash fingerprint of the certificate. + + + +${nhash_<n>_<m>:<string>} + + + +expansion +numeric hash + + +hash function +numeric + +The operator is a simpler interface to the numeric hashing function +that can be used when the two parameters are fixed numbers (as opposed to +strings that change when expanded). The effect is the same as + + +${nhash{<n>}{<m>}{<string>}} + + +See the description of the general item above for details. + + + +${quote:<string>} + + + +quoting +in string expansions + + +expansion +quoting + + + expansion item + +The operator puts its argument into double quotes if it +is an empty string or +contains anything other than letters, digits, underscores, dots, and hyphens. +Any occurrences of double quotes and backslashes are escaped with a backslash. +Newlines and carriage returns are converted to \n and \r, +respectively For example, + + +${quote:ab"*"cd} + + +becomes + + +"ab\"*\"cd" + + +The place where this is useful is when the argument is a substitution from a +variable or a message header. + + + +${quote_local_part:<string>} + + + + expansion item + +This operator is like , except that it quotes the string only if +required to do so by the rules of RFC 2822 for quoting local parts. For +example, a plus sign would not cause quoting (but it would for ). +If you are creating a new email address from the contents of $local_part +(or any other unknown data), you should always use this operator. + + +This quoting determination is not SMTPUTF8-aware, thus quoting non-ASCII data +will likely use the quoting form. +Thus ${quote_local_part:フィル} will always become "フィル". + + + +${quote_<lookup-type>:<string>} + + + +quoting +lookup-specific + +This operator applies lookup-specific quoting rules to the string. Each +query-style lookup type has its own quoting rules which are described with +the lookups in chapter . For example, + + +${quote_ldap:two * two} + + +returns + + +two%20%5C2A%20two + + +For single-key lookup types, no quoting is ever necessary and this operator +yields an unchanged string. + + + +${randint:<n>} + + + +random number + +This operator returns a somewhat random number which is less than the +supplied number and is at least 0. The quality of this randomness depends +on how Exim was built; the values are not suitable for keying material. +If Exim is linked against OpenSSL then RAND_pseudo_bytes() is used. +If Exim is linked against GnuTLS then gnutls_rnd(GNUTLS_RND_NONCE) is used, +for versions of GnuTLS with that function. +Otherwise, the implementation may be arc4random(), random() seeded by +srandomdev() or srandom(), or a custom implementation even weaker than +random(). + + + +${reverse_ip:<ipaddr>} + + + +expansion +IP address + +This operator reverses an IP address; for IPv4 addresses, the result is in +dotted-quad decimal form, while for IPv6 addresses the result is in +dotted-nibble hexadecimal form. In both cases, this is the "natural" form +for DNS. For example, + + +${reverse_ip:192.0.2.4} +${reverse_ip:2001:0db8:c42:9:1:abcd:192.0.2.127} + + +returns + + +4.2.0.192 +f.7.2.0.0.0.0.c.d.c.b.a.1.0.0.0.9.0.0.0.2.4.c.0.8.b.d.0.1.0.0.2 + + + +${rfc2047:<string>} + + + +expansion +RFC 2047 + + +RFC 2047 +expansion operator + + + expansion item + +This operator encodes text according to the rules of RFC 2047. This is an +encoding that is used in header lines to encode non-ASCII characters. It is +assumed that the input string is in the encoding specified by the + option, which gets its default at build time. If the string +contains only characters in the range 33–126, and no instances of the +characters + + +? = ( ) < > @ , ; : \ " . [ ] _ + + +it is not modified. Otherwise, the result is the RFC 2047 encoding of the +string, using as many encoded words as necessary to encode all the +characters. + + + +${rfc2047d:<string>} + + + +expansion +RFC 2047 + + +RFC 2047 +decoding + + + expansion item + +This operator decodes strings that are encoded as per RFC 2047. Binary zero +bytes are replaced by question marks. Characters are converted into the +character set defined by . Overlong RFC 2047 words are +not recognized unless is set false. + + +Note: If you use _xxx: (or _xxx:) to +access a header line, RFC 2047 decoding is done automatically. You do not need +to use this operator as well. + + + +${rxquote:<string>} + + + +quoting +in regular expressions + + +regular expressions +quoting + + + expansion item + +The operator inserts a backslash before any non-alphanumeric +characters in its argument. This is useful when substituting the values of +variables or headers inside regular expressions. + + + +${sha1:<string>} + + + +SHA-1 hash + + +expansion +SHA-1 hashing + + +certificate +fingerprint + + + expansion item + +The operator computes the SHA-1 hash value of the string, and returns +it as a 40-digit hexadecimal number, in which any letters are in upper case. + + +If the string is a single variable of type certificate, +returns the SHA-1 hash fingerprint of the certificate. + + + +${sha256:<string>} + + + +SHA-256 hash + + +certificate +fingerprint + + +expansion +SHA-256 hashing + + + expansion item + +The operator computes the SHA-256 hash value of the string +and returns +it as a 64-digit hexadecimal number, in which any letters are in upper case. + + +If the string is a single variable of type certificate, +returns the SHA-256 hash fingerprint of the certificate. + + + +${sha3:<string>} +${sha3_<n>:<string>} + + + +SHA3 hash + + +expansion +SHA3 hashing + + + expansion item + +The operator computes the SHA3-256 hash value of the string +and returns +it as a 64-digit hexadecimal number, in which any letters are in upper case. + + +If a number is appended, separated by an underbar, it specifies +the output length. Values of 224, 256, 384 and 512 are accepted; +with 256 being the default. + + +The expansion item is only supported if Exim has been +compiled with GnuTLS 3.5.0 or later, +or OpenSSL 1.1.1 or later. +The macro "_CRYPTO_HASH_SHA3" will be defined if it is supported. + + + +${stat:<string>} + + + +expansion +statting a file + + +file +extracting characteristics + + + expansion item + +The string, after expansion, must be a file path. A call to the stat() +function is made for this path. If stat() fails, an error occurs and the +expansion fails. If it succeeds, the data from the stat replaces the item, as a +series of <name>=<value> pairs, where the values are all numerical, +except for the value of smode. The names are: mode (giving the mode as +a 4-digit octal number), smode (giving the mode in symbolic format as a +10-character string, as for the ls command), inode, device, +links, uid, gid, size, atime, mtime, and ctime. You +can extract individual fields using the expansion item. + + +The use of the expansion in users’ filter files can be locked out by +the system administrator. Warning: The file size may be incorrect on 32-bit +systems for files larger than 2GB. + + + +${str2b64:<string>} + + + + expansion item + +Now deprecated, a synonym for the expansion operator. + + + +${strlen:<string>} + + + +expansion +string length + + +string +length in expansion + + + expansion item + +The item is replace by the length of the expanded string, expressed as a +decimal number. Note: Do not confuse with . +All measurement is done in bytes and is not UTF-8 aware. + + + +${substr_<start>_<length>:<string>} + + + + expansion item + + +substring extraction + + +expansion +substring expansion + +The operator is a simpler interface to the function that +can be used when the two parameters are fixed numbers (as opposed to strings +that change when expanded). The effect is the same as + + +${substr{<start>}{<length>}{<string>}} + + +See the description of the general item above for details. The +abbreviation can be used when is used as an operator. +All measurement is done in bytes and is not UTF-8 aware. + + + +${time_eval:<string>} + + + + expansion item + + +time interval +decoding + +This item converts an Exim time interval such as 2d4h5m into a number of +seconds. + + + +${time_interval:<string>} + + + + expansion item + + +time interval +formatting + +The argument (after sub-expansion) must be a sequence of decimal digits that +represents an interval of time as a number of seconds. It is converted into a +number of larger units and output in Exim’s normal time format, for example, +1w3d4h2m6s. + + + +${uc:<string>} + + + +case forcing in strings + + +string +case forcing + + +upper casing + + +expansion +case forcing + + + expansion item + +This forces the letters in the string into upper-case. +Case is defined per the system C locale. + + + +${utf8clean:<string>} + + + +correction of invalid utf-8 sequences in strings + + +utf-8 +utf-8 sequences + + +incorrect utf-8 + + +expansion +utf-8 forcing + + + expansion item + +This replaces any invalid utf-8 sequence in the string by the character ?. + + +In versions of Exim before 4.92, this did not correctly do so for a truncated +final codepoint’s encoding, and the character would be silently dropped. +If you must handle detection of this scenario across both sets of Exim behavior, +the complexity will depend upon the task. +For instance, to detect if the first character is multibyte and a 1-byte +extraction can be successfully used as a path component (as is common for +dividing up delivery folders), you might use: + + +condition = ${if inlist{${utf8clean:${length_1:$local_part}}}{:?}{yes}{no}} + + +(which will false-positive if the first character of the local part is a +literal question mark). + + + +${utf8_domain_to_alabel:<string>} +${utf8_domain_from_alabel:<string>} +${utf8_localpart_to_alabel:<string>} +${utf8_localpart_from_alabel:<string>} + + + +expansion +UTF-8 + + +UTF-8 +expansion + + +EAI + + +internationalisation + + + expansion item + + + expansion item + + + expansion item + + + expansion item + +These convert EAI mail name components between UTF-8 and a-label forms. +For information on internationalisation support see . + + + +
+
+Expansion conditions + + +expansion +conditions + +The following conditions are available for testing by the construct +while expanding strings: + + + +!<condition> + + + +expansion +negating a condition + + +negation +in expansion condition + +Preceding any condition with an exclamation mark negates the result of the +condition. + + + +<symbolic operator> {<string1>}{<string2>} + + + +numeric comparison + + +expansion +numeric comparison + +There are a number of symbolic operators for doing numeric comparisons. They +are: + + += equal +== equal +> greater +>= greater or equal +< less +<= less or equal + + +For example: + + +${if >{$message_size}{10M} ... + + +Note that the general negation operator provides for inequality testing. The +two strings must take the form of optionally signed decimal integers, +optionally followed by one of the letters K, M or G (in either upper or +lower case), signifying multiplication by 1024, 1024*1024 or 1024*1024*1024, respectively. +As a special case, the numerical value of an empty string is taken as +zero. + + +In all cases, a relative comparator OP is testing if <string1> OP +<string2>; the above example is checking if $message_size is larger than +10M, not if 10M is larger than $message_size. + + + +acl {{<name>}{<arg1>}{<arg2>}...} + + + +expansion +calling an acl + + + +expansion condition + +The name and zero to nine argument strings are first expanded separately. The expanded +arguments are assigned to the variables $acl_arg1 to $acl_arg9 in order. +Any unused are made empty. The variable $acl_narg is set to the number of +arguments. The named ACL (see chapter ) is called +and may use the variables; if another acl expansion is used the values +are restored after it returns. If the ACL sets +a value using a "message =" modifier the variable $value becomes +the result of the expansion, otherwise it is empty. +If the ACL returns accept the condition is true; if deny, false. +If the ACL returns defer the result is a forced-fail. + + + +bool {<string>} + + + +expansion +boolean parsing + + + expansion condition + +This condition turns a string holding a true or false representation into +a boolean state. It parses true, false, yes and no +(case-insensitively); also integer numbers map to true if non-zero, +false if zero. +An empty string is treated as false. +Leading and trailing whitespace is ignored; +thus a string consisting only of whitespace is false. +All other string values will result in expansion failure. + + +When combined with ACL variables, this expansion condition will let you +make decisions in one place and act on those decisions in another place. +For example: + + +${if bool{$acl_m_privileged_sender} ... + + + +bool_lax {<string>} + + + +expansion +boolean parsing + + + expansion condition + +Like , this condition turns a string into a boolean state. But +where accepts a strict set of strings, uses the same +loose definition that the Router option uses. The empty string +and the values false, no and 0 map to false, all others map to +true. Leading and trailing whitespace is ignored. + + +Note that where bool{00} is false, bool_lax{00} is true. + + + +crypteq {<string1>}{<string2>} + + + +expansion +encrypted comparison + + +encrypted strings, comparing + + + expansion condition + +This condition is included in the Exim binary if it is built to support any +authentication mechanisms (see chapter ). Otherwise, it is +necessary to define SUPPORT_CRYPTEQ in Local/Makefile to get +included in the binary. + + +The condition has two arguments. The first is encrypted and +compared against the second, which is already encrypted. The second string may +be in the LDAP form for storing encrypted strings, which starts with the +encryption type in curly brackets, followed by the data. If the second string +does not begin with { it is assumed to be encrypted with crypt() or +crypt16() (see below), since such strings cannot begin with {. +Typically this will be a field from a password file. An example of an encrypted +string in LDAP form is: + + +{md5}CY9rzUYh03PK3k6DJie09g== + + +If such a string appears directly in an expansion, the curly brackets have to +be quoted, because they are part of the expansion syntax. For example: + + +${if crypteq {test}{\{md5\}CY9rzUYh03PK3k6DJie09g==}{yes}{no}} + + +The following encryption types (whose names are matched case-independently) are +supported: + + + + + +MD5 hash + + +base64 encoding +in encrypted password + + computes the MD5 digest of the first string, and expresses this as +printable characters to compare with the remainder of the second string. If the +length of the comparison string is 24, Exim assumes that it is base64 encoded +(as in the above example). If the length is 32, Exim assumes that it is a +hexadecimal encoding of the MD5 digest. If the length not 24 or 32, the +comparison fails. + + + + + +SHA-1 hash + + computes the SHA-1 digest of the first string, and expresses this as +printable characters to compare with the remainder of the second string. If the +length of the comparison string is 28, Exim assumes that it is base64 encoded. +If the length is 40, Exim assumes that it is a hexadecimal encoding of the +SHA-1 digest. If the length is not 28 or 40, the comparison fails. + + + + + +crypt() + + calls the crypt() function, which traditionally used to use +only the first eight characters of the password. However, in modern operating +systems this is no longer true, and in many cases the entire password is used, +whatever its length. + + + + + +crypt16() + + calls the crypt16() function, which was originally created to +use up to 16 characters of the password in some operating systems. Again, in +modern operating systems, more characters may be used. + + + + +Exim has its own version of crypt16(), which is just a double call to +crypt(). For operating systems that have their own version, setting +HAVE_CRYPT16 in Local/Makefile when building Exim causes it to use the +operating system version instead of its own. This option is set by default in +the OS-dependent Makefile for those operating systems that are known to +support crypt16(). + + +Some years after Exim’s crypt16() was implemented, a user discovered that +it was not using the same algorithm as some operating systems’ versions. It +turns out that as well as crypt16() there is a function called +bigcrypt() in some operating systems. This may or may not use the same +algorithm, and both of them may be different to Exim’s built-in crypt16(). + + +However, since there is now a move away from the traditional crypt() +functions towards using SHA1 and other algorithms, tidying up this area of +Exim is seen as very low priority. + + +If you do not put a encryption type (in curly brackets) in a +comparison, the default is usually either {crypt} or {crypt16}, as +determined by the setting of DEFAULT_CRYPT in Local/Makefile. The default +default is {crypt}. Whatever the default, you can always use either +function by specifying it explicitly in curly brackets. + + + +def:<variable name> + + + +expansion +checking for empty variable + + + expansion condition + +The condition must be followed by the name of one of the expansion +variables defined in section . The condition is true if the +variable does not contain the empty string. For example: + + +${if def:sender_ident {from $sender_ident}} + + +Note that the variable name is given without a leading character. If the +variable does not exist, the expansion fails. + + + +def:header_<header name>:  or  def:h_<header name>: + + + +expansion +checking header line existence + +This condition is true if a message is being processed and the named header +exists in the message. For example, + + +${if def:header_reply-to:{$h_reply-to:}{$h_from:}} + + +Note: No appears before or in the condition, and +the header name must be terminated by a colon if white space does not follow. + + + +eq {<string1>}{<string2>} +eqi {<string1>}{<string2>} + + + +string +comparison + + +expansion +string comparison + + + expansion condition + + + expansion condition + +The two substrings are first expanded. The condition is true if the two +resulting strings are identical. For the comparison includes the case of +letters, whereas for the comparison is case-independent, where +case is defined per the system C locale. + + + +exists {<file name>} + + + +expansion +file existence test + + +file +existence test + + +, expansion condition + +The substring is first expanded and then interpreted as an absolute path. The +condition is true if the named file (or directory) exists. The existence test +is done by calling the stat() function. The use of the test in +users’ filter files may be locked out by the system administrator. + + + +first_delivery + + + +delivery +first + + +first delivery + + +expansion +first delivery test + + + expansion condition + +This condition, which has no data, is true during a message’s first delivery +attempt. It is false during any subsequent delivery attempts. + + + +forall{<a list>}{<a condition>} +forany{<a list>}{<a condition>} + + + +list +iterative conditions + + +expansion +forall condition + + +expansion +forany condition + + +$item + +These conditions iterate over a list. The first argument is expanded to form +the list. By default, the list separator is a colon, but it can be changed by +the normal method (). +The second argument is interpreted as a condition that is to +be applied to each item in the list in turn. During the interpretation of the +condition, the current list item is placed in a variable called $item. + + + + +For forany, interpretation stops if the condition is true for any item, and +the result of the whole condition is true. If the condition is false for all +items in the list, the overall condition is false. + + + + +For forall, interpretation stops if the condition is false for any item, +and the result of the whole condition is false. If the condition is true for +all items in the list, the overall condition is true. + + + + +Note that negation of forany means that the condition must be false for all +items for the overall condition to succeed, and negation of forall means +that the condition must be false for at least one item. In this example, the +list separator is changed to a comma: + + +${if forany{<, $recipients}{match{$item}{^user3@}}{yes}{no}} + + +The value of $item is saved and restored while forany or forall is +being processed, to enable these expansion items to be nested. + + +To scan a named list, expand it with the listnamed operator. + + + +ge {<string1>}{<string2>} +gei {<string1>}{<string2>} + + + +string +comparison + + +expansion +string comparison + + + expansion condition + + + expansion condition + +The two substrings are first expanded. The condition is true if the first +string is lexically greater than or equal to the second string. For the +comparison includes the case of letters, whereas for the comparison is +case-independent. +Case and collation order are defined per the system C locale. + + + +gt {<string1>}{<string2>} +gti {<string1>}{<string2>} + + + +string +comparison + + +expansion +string comparison + + + expansion condition + + + expansion condition + +The two substrings are first expanded. The condition is true if the first +string is lexically greater than the second string. For the comparison +includes the case of letters, whereas for the comparison is +case-independent. +Case and collation order are defined per the system C locale. + + + +inlist {<string1>}{<string2>} +inlisti {<string1>}{<string2>} + + + +string +comparison + + +list +iterative conditions + +Both strings are expanded; the second string is treated as a list of simple +strings; if the first string is a member of the second, then the condition +is true. +For the case-independent condition, case is defined per the system C locale. + + +These are simpler to use versions of the more powerful forany condition. +Examples, and the forany equivalents: + + +${if inlist{needle}{foo:needle:bar}} + ${if forany{foo:needle:bar}{eq{$item}{needle}}} +${if inlisti{Needle}{fOo:NeeDLE:bAr}} + ${if forany{fOo:NeeDLE:bAr}{eqi{$item}{Needle}}} + + + +isip {<string>} +isip4 {<string>} +isip6 {<string>} + + + +IP address +testing string format + + +string +testing for IP address + + + expansion condition + + + expansion condition + + + expansion condition + +The substring is first expanded, and then tested to see if it has the form of +an IP address. Both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses are valid for , whereas + and test specifically for IPv4 or IPv6 addresses. + + +For an IPv4 address, the test is for four dot-separated components, each of +which consists of from one to three digits. For an IPv6 address, up to eight +colon-separated components are permitted, each containing from one to four +hexadecimal digits. There may be fewer than eight components if an empty +component (adjacent colons) is present. Only one empty component is permitted. + + +Note: The checks used to be just on the form of the address; actual numerical +values were not considered. Thus, for example, 999.999.999.999 passed the IPv4 +check. +This is no longer the case. + + +The main use of these tests is to distinguish between IP addresses and +host names, or between IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. For example, you could use + + +${if isip4{$sender_host_address}... + + +to test which IP version an incoming SMTP connection is using. + + + +ldapauth {<ldap query>} + + + +LDAP +use for authentication + + +expansion +LDAP authentication test + + + expansion condition + +This condition supports user authentication using LDAP. See section + for details of how to use LDAP in lookups and the syntax of +queries. For this use, the query must contain a user name and password. The +query itself is not used, and can be empty. The condition is true if the +password is not empty, and the user name and password are accepted by the LDAP +server. An empty password is rejected without calling LDAP because LDAP binds +with an empty password are considered anonymous regardless of the username, and +will succeed in most configurations. See chapter for details +of SMTP authentication, and chapter for an example of how +this can be used. + + + +le {<string1>}{<string2>} +lei {<string1>}{<string2>} + + + +string +comparison + + +expansion +string comparison + + + expansion condition + + + expansion condition + +The two substrings are first expanded. The condition is true if the first +string is lexically less than or equal to the second string. For the +comparison includes the case of letters, whereas for the comparison is +case-independent. +Case and collation order are defined per the system C locale. + + + +lt {<string1>}{<string2>} +lti {<string1>}{<string2>} + + + +string +comparison + + +expansion +string comparison + + + expansion condition + + + expansion condition + +The two substrings are first expanded. The condition is true if the first +string is lexically less than the second string. For the comparison +includes the case of letters, whereas for the comparison is +case-independent. +Case and collation order are defined per the system C locale. + + + +match {<string1>}{<string2>} + + + +expansion +regular expression comparison + + +regular expressions +match in expanded string + + + expansion condition + +The two substrings are first expanded. The second is then treated as a regular +expression and applied to the first. Because of the pre-expansion, if the +regular expression contains dollar, or backslash characters, they must be +escaped. Care must also be taken if the regular expression contains braces +(curly brackets). A closing brace must be escaped so that it is not taken as a +premature termination of <string2>. The easiest approach is to use the +\N feature to disable expansion of the regular expression. +For example, + + +${if match {$local_part}{\N^\d{3}\N} ... + + +If the whole expansion string is in double quotes, further escaping of +backslashes is also required. + + +The condition is true if the regular expression match succeeds. +The regular expression is not required to begin with a circumflex +metacharacter, but if there is no circumflex, the expression is not anchored, +and it may match anywhere in the subject, not just at the start. If you want +the pattern to match at the end of the subject, you must include the $ +metacharacter at an appropriate point. +All character handling is done in bytes and is not UTF-8 aware, +but we might change this in a future Exim release. + + + +numerical variables ($1 $2 etc) +in expansion + +At the start of an expansion the values of the numeric variable +substitutions $1 etc. are remembered. Obeying a condition that +succeeds causes them to be reset to the substrings of that condition and they +will have these values during the expansion of the success string. At the end +of the expansion, the previous values are restored. After testing a +combination of conditions using , the subsequent values of the numeric +variables are those of the condition that succeeded. + + + +match_address {<string1>}{<string2>} + + + + expansion condition + +See match_local_part. + + + +match_domain {<string1>}{<string2>} + + + + expansion condition + +See match_local_part. + + + +match_ip {<string1>}{<string2>} + + + + expansion condition + +This condition matches an IP address to a list of IP address patterns. It must +be followed by two argument strings. The first (after expansion) must be an IP +address or an empty string. The second (not expanded) is a restricted host +list that can match only an IP address, not a host name. For example: + + +${if match_ip{$sender_host_address}{1.2.3.4:5.6.7.8}{...}{...}} + + +The specific types of host list item that are permitted in the list are: + + + + +An IP address, optionally with a CIDR mask. + + + + +A single asterisk, which matches any IP address. + + + + +An empty item, which matches only if the IP address is empty. This could be +useful for testing for a locally submitted message or one from specific hosts +in a single test such as + + + ${if match_ip{$sender_host_address}{:4.3.2.1:...}{...}{...}} + + +where the first item in the list is the empty string. + + + + +The item @[] matches any of the local host’s interface addresses. + + + + +Single-key lookups are assumed to be like net- style lookups in host lists, +even if net- is not specified. There is never any attempt to turn the IP +address into a host name. The most common type of linear search for +match_ip is likely to be iplsearch, in which the file can contain CIDR +masks. For example: + + + ${if match_ip{$sender_host_address}{iplsearch;/some/file}... + + +It is of course possible to use other kinds of lookup, and in such a case, you +do need to specify the net- prefix if you want to specify a specific +address mask, for example: + + + ${if match_ip{$sender_host_address}{net24-dbm;/some/file}... + + +However, unless you are combining a condition with others, it is +just as easy to use the fact that a lookup is itself a condition, and write: + + + ${lookup{${mask:$sender_host_address/24}}dbm{/a/file}... + + + + +Note that <string2> is not itself subject to string expansion, unless +Exim was built with the EXPAND_LISTMATCH_RHS option. + + +Consult section for further details of these patterns. + + + +match_local_part {<string1>}{<string2>} + + + +domain list +in expansion condition + + +address list +in expansion condition + + +local part +list, in expansion condition + + + expansion condition + +This condition, together with and , make it +possible to test domain, address, and local part lists within expansions. Each +condition requires two arguments: an item and a list to match. A trivial +example is: + + +${if match_domain{a.b.c}{x.y.z:a.b.c:p.q.r}{yes}{no}} + + +In each case, the second argument may contain any of the allowable items for a +list of the appropriate type. Also, because the second argument +is a standard form of list, it is possible to refer to a named list. +Thus, you can use conditions like this: + + +${if match_domain{$domain}{+local_domains}{... + + + ++caseful + +For address lists, the matching starts off caselessly, but the +caseful +item can be used, as in all address lists, to cause subsequent items to +have their local parts matched casefully. Domains are always matched +caselessly. + + +Note that <string2> is not itself subject to string expansion, unless +Exim was built with the EXPAND_LISTMATCH_RHS option. + + +Note: Host lists are not supported in this way. This is because +hosts have two identities: a name and an IP address, and it is not clear +how to specify cleanly how such a test would work. However, IP addresses can be +matched using . + + + +pam {<string1>:<string2>:...} + + + +PAM authentication + + +AUTH +with PAM + + +Solaris +PAM support + + +expansion +PAM authentication test + + + expansion condition + +Pluggable Authentication Modules +(https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/linux/libs/pam/) are a facility that is +available in the latest releases of Solaris and in some GNU/Linux +distributions. The Exim support, which is intended for use in conjunction with +the SMTP AUTH command, is available only if Exim is compiled with + + +SUPPORT_PAM=yes + + +in Local/Makefile. You probably need to add to EXTRALIBS, and +in some releases of GNU/Linux is also needed. + + +The argument string is first expanded, and the result must be a +colon-separated list of strings. Leading and trailing white space is ignored. +The PAM module is initialized with the service name exim and the user name +taken from the first item in the colon-separated data string (<string1>). +The remaining items in the data string are passed over in response to requests +from the authentication function. In the simple case there will only be one +request, for a password, so the data consists of just two strings. + + +There can be problems if any of the strings are permitted to contain colon +characters. In the usual way, these have to be doubled to avoid being taken as +separators. If the data is being inserted from a variable, the expansion +item can be used to double any existing colons. For example, the configuration +of a LOGIN authenticator might contain this setting: + + +server_condition = ${if pam{$auth1:${sg{$auth2}{:}{::}}}} + + +For a PLAIN authenticator you could use: + + +server_condition = ${if pam{$auth2:${sg{$auth3}{:}{::}}}} + + +In some operating systems, PAM authentication can be done only from a process +running as root. Since Exim is running as the Exim user when receiving +messages, this means that PAM cannot be used directly in those systems. + + + +pwcheck {<string1>:<string2>} + + + +pwcheck daemon + + +Cyrus + + +expansion +pwcheck authentication test + + + expansion condition + +This condition supports user authentication using the Cyrus pwcheck daemon. +This is one way of making it possible for passwords to be checked by a process +that is not running as root. Note: The use of pwcheck is now +deprecated. Its replacement is saslauthd (see below). + + +The pwcheck support is not included in Exim by default. You need to specify +the location of the pwcheck daemon’s socket in Local/Makefile before +building Exim. For example: + + +CYRUS_PWCHECK_SOCKET=/var/pwcheck/pwcheck + + +You do not need to install the full Cyrus software suite in order to use +the pwcheck daemon. You can compile and install just the daemon alone +from the Cyrus SASL library. Ensure that exim is the only user that has +access to the /var/pwcheck directory. + + +The condition takes one argument, which must be the user name and +password, separated by a colon. For example, in a LOGIN authenticator +configuration, you might have this: + + +server_condition = ${if pwcheck{$auth1:$auth2}} + + +Again, for a PLAIN authenticator configuration, this would be: + + +server_condition = ${if pwcheck{$auth2:$auth3}} + + + +queue_running + + + +queue runner +detecting when delivering from + + +expansion +queue runner test + + + expansion condition + +This condition, which has no data, is true during delivery attempts that are +initiated by queue runner processes, and false otherwise. + + + +radius {<authentication string>} + + + +Radius + + +expansion +Radius authentication + + + expansion condition + +Radius authentication (RFC 2865) is supported in a similar way to PAM. You must +set RADIUS_CONFIG_FILE in Local/Makefile to specify the location of +the Radius client configuration file in order to build Exim with Radius +support. + + +With just that one setting, Exim expects to be linked with the +library, using the original API. If you are using release 0.4.0 or later of +this library, you need to set + + +RADIUS_LIB_TYPE=RADIUSCLIENTNEW + + +in Local/Makefile when building Exim. You can also link Exim with the + library that comes with FreeBSD. To do this, set + + +RADIUS_LIB_TYPE=RADLIB + + +in Local/Makefile, in addition to setting RADIUS_CONFIGURE_FILE. +You may also have to supply a suitable setting in EXTRALIBS so that the +Radius library can be found when Exim is linked. + + +The string specified by RADIUS_CONFIG_FILE is expanded and passed to the +Radius client library, which calls the Radius server. The condition is true if +the authentication is successful. For example: + + +server_condition = ${if radius{<arguments>}} + + + +saslauthd {{<user>}{<password>}{<service>}{<realm>}} + + + +saslauthd daemon + + +Cyrus + + +expansion +saslauthd authentication test + + + expansion condition + +This condition supports user authentication using the Cyrus saslauthd +daemon. This replaces the older pwcheck daemon, which is now deprecated. +Using this daemon is one way of making it possible for passwords to be checked +by a process that is not running as root. + + +The saslauthd support is not included in Exim by default. You need to specify +the location of the saslauthd daemon’s socket in Local/Makefile before +building Exim. For example: + + +CYRUS_SASLAUTHD_SOCKET=/var/state/saslauthd/mux + + +You do not need to install the full Cyrus software suite in order to use +the saslauthd daemon. You can compile and install just the daemon alone +from the Cyrus SASL library. + + +Up to four arguments can be supplied to the condition, but only +two are mandatory. For example: + + +server_condition = ${if saslauthd{{$auth1}{$auth2}}} + + +The service and the realm are optional (which is why the arguments are enclosed +in their own set of braces). For details of the meaning of the service and +realm, and how to run the daemon, consult the Cyrus documentation. + + + +
+
+Combining expansion conditions + + +expansion +combining conditions + +Several conditions can be tested at once by combining them using the +and combination conditions. Note that and are complete +conditions on their own, and precede their lists of sub-conditions. Each +sub-condition must be enclosed in braces within the overall braces that contain +the list. No repetition of is used. + + + +or {{<cond1>}{<cond2>}...} + + + +or expansion condition + + +expansion +or of conditions + +The sub-conditions are evaluated from left to right. The condition is true if +any one of the sub-conditions is true. +For example, + + +${if or {{eq{$local_part}{spqr}}{eq{$domain}{testing.com}}}... + + +When a true sub-condition is found, the following ones are parsed but not +evaluated. If there are several match sub-conditions the values of the +numeric variables afterwards are taken from the first one that succeeds. + + + +and {{<cond1>}{<cond2>}...} + + + +and expansion condition + + +expansion +and of conditions + +The sub-conditions are evaluated from left to right. The condition is true if +all of the sub-conditions are true. If there are several match +sub-conditions, the values of the numeric variables afterwards are taken from +the last one. When a false sub-condition is found, the following ones are +parsed but not evaluated. + + + + + + +
+
+Expansion variables + + +expansion +variables, list of + +This section contains an alphabetical list of all the expansion variables. Some +of them are available only when Exim is compiled with specific options such as +support for TLS or the content scanning extension. + + + +$0, $1, etc + + + +numerical variables ($1 $2 etc) + +When a expansion condition succeeds, these variables contain the +captured substrings identified by the regular expression during subsequent +processing of the success string of the containing expansion item. +In the expansion condition case +they do not retain their values afterwards; in fact, their previous +values are restored at the end of processing an item. The numerical +variables may also be set externally by some other matching process which +precedes the expansion of the string. For example, the commands available in +Exim filter files include an command with its own regular expression +matching condition. + + + +$acl_arg1, $acl_arg2, etc + + +Within an acl condition, expansion condition or expansion item +any arguments are copied to these variables, +any unused variables being made empty. + + + +$acl_c... + + +Values can be placed in these variables by the modifier in an ACL. They +can be given any name that starts with $acl_c and is at least six characters +long, but the sixth character must be either a digit or an underscore. For +example: $acl_c5, $acl_c_mycount. The values of the $acl_c... +variables persist throughout the lifetime of an SMTP connection. They can be +used to pass information between ACLs and between different invocations of the +same ACL. When a message is received, the values of these variables are saved +with the message, and can be accessed by filters, routers, and transports +during subsequent delivery. + + + +$acl_m... + + +These variables are like the $acl_c... variables, except that their values +are reset after a message has been received. Thus, if several messages are +received in one SMTP connection, $acl_m... values are not passed on from one +message to the next, as $acl_c... values are. The $acl_m... variables are +also reset by MAIL, RSET, EHLO, HELO, and after starting a TLS session. When a +message is received, the values of these variables are saved with the message, +and can be accessed by filters, routers, and transports during subsequent +delivery. + + + +$acl_narg + + +Within an acl condition, expansion condition or expansion item +this variable has the number of arguments. + + + +$acl_verify_message + + + +$acl_verify_message + +After an address verification has failed, this variable contains the failure +message. It retains its value for use in subsequent modifiers. The message can +be preserved by coding like this: + + +warn !verify = sender + set acl_m0 = $acl_verify_message + + +You can use $acl_verify_message during the expansion of the or + modifiers, to include information about the verification +failure. + + + +$address_data + + + +$address_data + +This variable is set by means of the option in routers. The +value then remains with the address while it is processed by subsequent routers +and eventually a transport. If the transport is handling multiple addresses, +the value from the first address is used. See chapter +for more details. Note: The contents of $address_data are visible in +user filter files. + + +If $address_data is set when the routers are called from an ACL to verify +a recipient address, the final value is still in the variable for subsequent +conditions and modifiers of the ACL statement. If routing the address caused it +to be redirected to just one address, the child address is also routed as part +of the verification, and in this case the final value of $address_data is +from the child’s routing. + + +If $address_data is set when the routers are called from an ACL to verify a +sender address, the final value is also preserved, but this time in +$sender_address_data, to distinguish it from data from a recipient +address. + + +In both cases (recipient and sender verification), the value does not persist +after the end of the current ACL statement. If you want to preserve +these values for longer, you can save them in ACL variables. + + + +$address_file + + + +$address_file + +When, as a result of aliasing, forwarding, or filtering, a message is directed +to a specific file, this variable holds the name of the file when the transport +is running. At other times, the variable is empty. For example, using the +default configuration, if user has a .forward file containing + + +/home/r2d2/savemail + + +then when the address_file transport is running, $address_file +contains the text string /home/r2d2/savemail. + +Sieve filter +value of $address_file + +For Sieve filters, the value may be inbox or a relative folder name. It is +then up to the transport configuration to generate an appropriate absolute path +to the relevant file. + + + +$address_pipe + + + +$address_pipe + +When, as a result of aliasing or forwarding, a message is directed to a pipe, +this variable holds the pipe command when the transport is running. + + + +$auth1 – $auth3 + + + +$auth1, $auth2, etc + +These variables are used in SMTP authenticators (see chapters +–). Elsewhere, they are empty. + + + +$authenticated_id + + + +authentication +id + + +$authenticated_id + +When a server successfully authenticates a client it may be configured to +preserve some of the authentication information in the variable +$authenticated_id (see chapter ). For example, a +user/password authenticator configuration might preserve the user name for use +in the routers. Note that this is not the same information that is saved in +$sender_host_authenticated. + + +When a message is submitted locally (that is, not over a TCP connection) +the value of $authenticated_id is normally the login name of the calling +process. However, a trusted user can override this by means of the +command line option. +This second case also sets up information used by the +$authresults expansion item. + + + +$authenticated_fail_id + + + +authentication +fail + + +$authenticated_fail_id + +When an authentication attempt fails, the variable $authenticated_fail_id +will contain the failed authentication id. If more than one authentication +id is attempted, it will contain only the last one. The variable is +available for processing in the ACL’s, generally the quit or notquit ACL. +A message to a local recipient could still be accepted without requiring +authentication, which means this variable could also be visible in all of +the ACL’s as well. + + + +$authenticated_sender + + + +sender +authenticated + + +authentication +sender + + +AUTH +on MAIL command + + +$authenticated_sender + +When acting as a server, Exim takes note of the AUTH= parameter on an incoming +SMTP MAIL command if it believes the sender is sufficiently trusted, as +described in section . Unless the data is the string +<>, it is set as the authenticated sender of the message, and the value is +available during delivery in the $authenticated_sender variable. If the +sender is not trusted, Exim accepts the syntax of AUTH=, but ignores the data. + + + +$qualify_domain + +When a message is submitted locally (that is, not over a TCP connection), the +value of $authenticated_sender is an address constructed from the login +name of the calling process and $qualify_domain, except that a trusted user +can override this by means of the command line option. + + + +$authentication_failed + + + +authentication +failure + + +$authentication_failed + +This variable is set to 1 in an Exim server if a client issues an AUTH +command that does not succeed. Otherwise it is set to 0. This makes it +possible to distinguish between did not try to authenticate +($sender_host_authenticated is empty and $authentication_failed is set to +0) and tried to authenticate but failed ($sender_host_authenticated +is empty and $authentication_failed is set to 1). Failure includes any +negative response to an AUTH command, including (for example) an attempt to use +an undefined mechanism. + + + +$av_failed + + + +content scanning +AV scanner failure + +This variable is available when Exim is compiled with the content-scanning +extension. It is set to 0 by default, but will be set to 1 if any +problem occurs with the virus scanner (specified by ) during +the ACL malware condition. + + + +$body_linecount + + + +message body +line count + + +body of message +line count + + +$body_linecount + +When a message is being received or delivered, this variable contains the +number of lines in the message’s body. See also $message_linecount. + + + +$body_zerocount + + + +message body +binary zero count + + +body of message +binary zero count + + +binary zero +in message body + + +$body_zerocount + +When a message is being received or delivered, this variable contains the +number of binary zero bytes (ASCII NULs) in the message’s body. + + + +$bounce_recipient + + + +$bounce_recipient + +This is set to the recipient address of a bounce message while Exim is creating +it. It is useful if a customized bounce message text file is in use (see +chapter ). + + + +$bounce_return_size_limit + + + +$bounce_return_size_limit + +This contains the value set in the option, rounded +up to a multiple of 1000. It is useful when a customized error message text +file is in use (see chapter ). + + + +$caller_gid + + + +gid (group id) +caller + + +$caller_gid + +The real group id under which the process that called Exim was running. This is +not the same as the group id of the originator of a message (see +$originator_gid). If Exim re-execs itself, this variable in the new +incarnation normally contains the Exim gid. + + + +$caller_uid + + + +uid (user id) +caller + + +$caller_uid + +The real user id under which the process that called Exim was running. This is +not the same as the user id of the originator of a message (see +$originator_uid). If Exim re-execs itself, this variable in the new +incarnation normally contains the Exim uid. + + + +$callout_address + + + +$callout_address + +After a callout for verification, spamd or malware daemon service, the +address that was connected to. + + + +$compile_number + + + +$compile_number + +The building process for Exim keeps a count of the number +of times it has been compiled. This serves to distinguish different +compilations of the same version of Exim. + + + +$config_dir + + + +$config_dir + +The directory name of the main configuration file. That is, the content of +$config_file with the last component stripped. The value does not +contain the trailing slash. If $config_file does not contain a slash, +$config_dir is ".". + + + +$config_file + + + +$config_file + +The name of the main configuration file Exim is using. + + + +$dkim_verify_status + + +Results of DKIM verification. +For details see section . + + + +$dkim_cur_signer +$dkim_verify_reason +$dkim_domain +$dkim_identity +$dkim_selector +$dkim_algo +$dkim_canon_body +$dkim_canon_headers +$dkim_copiedheaders +$dkim_bodylength +$dkim_created +$dkim_expires +$dkim_headernames +$dkim_key_testing +$dkim_key_nosubdomains +$dkim_key_srvtype +$dkim_key_granularity +$dkim_key_notes +$dkim_key_length + + +These variables are only available within the DKIM ACL. +For details see section . + + + +$dkim_signers + + + +$dkim_signers + +When a message has been received this variable contains +a colon-separated list of signer domains and identities for the message. +For details see section . + + + +$dnslist_domain +$dnslist_matched +$dnslist_text +$dnslist_value + + + +$dnslist_domain + + +$dnslist_matched + + +$dnslist_text + + +$dnslist_value + + +black list (DNS) + +When a DNS (black) list lookup succeeds, these variables are set to contain +the following data from the lookup: the list’s domain name, the key that was +looked up, the contents of any associated TXT record, and the value from the +main A record. See section for more details. + + + +$domain + + + +$domain + +When an address is being routed, or delivered on its own, this variable +contains the domain. Uppercase letters in the domain are converted into lower +case for $domain. + + +Global address rewriting happens when a message is received, so the value of +$domain during routing and delivery is the value after rewriting. $domain +is set during user filtering, but not during system filtering, because a +message may have many recipients and the system filter is called just once. + + +When more than one address is being delivered at once (for example, several +RCPT commands in one SMTP delivery), $domain is set only if they all +have the same domain. Transports can be restricted to handling only one domain +at a time if the value of $domain is required at transport time – this is +the default for local transports. For further details of the environment in +which local transports are run, see chapter . + + + + + +At the end of a delivery, if all deferred addresses have the same domain, it is +set in $domain during the expansion of . + + +The $domain variable is also used in some other circumstances: + + + + +When an ACL is running for a RCPT command, $domain contains the domain of +the recipient address. The domain of the sender address is in +$sender_address_domain at both MAIL time and at RCPT time. $domain is not +normally set during the running of the MAIL ACL. However, if the sender address +is verified with a callout during the MAIL ACL, the sender domain is placed in +$domain during the expansions of , , and in +the smtp transport. + + + + +When a rewrite item is being processed (see chapter ), +$domain contains the domain portion of the address that is being rewritten; +it can be used in the expansion of the replacement address, for example, to +rewrite domains by file lookup. + + + + +With one important exception, whenever a domain list is being scanned, +$domain contains the subject domain. Exception: When a domain list in +a condition in an ACL is being processed, the subject domain +is in $sender_address_domain and not in $domain. It works this way so +that, in a RCPT ACL, the sender domain list can be dependent on the +recipient domain (which is what is in $domain at this time). + + + + + +ETRN +value of $domain + + + + +When the option is being expanded, $domain contains +the complete argument of the ETRN command (see section ). + + + + + +$domain_data + + + +$domain_data + +When the option on a router matches a domain by +means of a lookup, the data read by the lookup is available during the running +of the router as $domain_data. In addition, if the driver routes the +address to a transport, the value is available in that transport. If the +transport is handling multiple addresses, the value from the first address is +used. + + +$domain_data is also set when the condition in an ACL matches a +domain by means of a lookup. The data read by the lookup is available during +the rest of the ACL statement. In all other situations, this variable expands +to nothing. + + + +$exim_gid + + + +$exim_gid + +This variable contains the numerical value of the Exim group id. + + + +$exim_path + + + +$exim_path + +This variable contains the path to the Exim binary. + + + +$exim_uid + + + +$exim_uid + +This variable contains the numerical value of the Exim user id. + + + +$exim_version + + + +$exim_version + +This variable contains the version string of the Exim build. +The first character is a major version number, currently 4. +Then after a dot, the next group of digits is a minor version number. +There may be other characters following the minor version. + + + +$header_<name> + + +This is not strictly an expansion variable. It is expansion syntax for +inserting the message header line with the given name. Note that the name must +be terminated by colon or white space, because it may contain a wide variety of +characters. Note also that braces must not be used. +See the full description in section above. + + + +$headers_added + + + +$headers_added + +Within an ACL this variable contains the headers added so far by +the ACL modifier add_header (section ). +The headers are a newline-separated list. + + + +$home + + + +$home + +When the option is set for a router, the user’s home +directory is placed in $home when the check succeeds. In particular, this +means it is set during the running of users’ filter files. A router may also +explicitly set a home directory for use by a transport; this can be overridden +by a setting on the transport itself. + + +When running a filter test via the option, $home is set to the value +of the environment variable HOME, which is subject to the + and main config options. + + + +$host + + + +$host + +If a router assigns an address to a transport (any transport), and passes a +list of hosts with the address, the value of $host when the transport starts +to run is the name of the first host on the list. Note that this applies both +to local and remote transports. + + + +transport +filter + + +filter +transport filter + +For the smtp transport, if there is more than one host, the value of +$host changes as the transport works its way through the list. In +particular, when the smtp transport is expanding its options for encryption +using TLS, or for specifying a transport filter (see chapter +), $host contains the name of the host to which it +is connected. + + +When used in the client part of an authenticator configuration (see chapter +), $host contains the name of the server to which the +client is connected. + + + +$host_address + + + +$host_address + +This variable is set to the remote host’s IP address whenever $host is set +for a remote connection. It is also set to the IP address that is being checked +when the option is being processed. + + + +$host_data + + + +$host_data + +If a condition in an ACL is satisfied by means of a lookup, the +result of the lookup is made available in the $host_data variable. This +allows you, for example, to do things like this: + + +deny hosts = net-lsearch;/some/file +message = $host_data + + + +$host_lookup_deferred + + + +host name +lookup, failure of + + +$host_lookup_deferred + +This variable normally contains 0, as does $host_lookup_failed. When a +message comes from a remote host and there is an attempt to look up the host’s +name from its IP address, and the attempt is not successful, one of these +variables is set to 1. + + + + +If the lookup receives a definite negative response (for example, a DNS lookup +succeeded, but no records were found), $host_lookup_failed is set to 1. + + + + +If there is any kind of problem during the lookup, such that Exim cannot +tell whether or not the host name is defined (for example, a timeout for a DNS +lookup), $host_lookup_deferred is set to 1. + + + + +Looking up a host’s name from its IP address consists of more than just a +single reverse lookup. Exim checks that a forward lookup of at least one of the +names it receives from a reverse lookup yields the original IP address. If this +is not the case, Exim does not accept the looked up name(s), and +$host_lookup_failed is set to 1. Thus, being able to find a name from an +IP address (for example, the existence of a PTR record in the DNS) is not +sufficient on its own for the success of a host name lookup. If the reverse +lookup succeeds, but there is a lookup problem such as a timeout when checking +the result, the name is not accepted, and $host_lookup_deferred is set to +1. See also $sender_host_name. + + + +authentication +expansion item + +Performing these checks sets up information used by the +$authresults expansion item. + + + +$host_lookup_failed + + + +$host_lookup_failed + +See $host_lookup_deferred. + + + +$host_port + + + +$host_port + +This variable is set to the remote host’s TCP port whenever $host is set +for an outbound connection. + + + +$initial_cwd + + + +$initial_cwd + +This variable contains the full path name of the initial working +directory of the current Exim process. This may differ from the current +working directory, as Exim changes this to "/" during early startup, and +to $spool_directory later. + + + +$inode + + + +$inode + +The only time this variable is set is while expanding the +option in the appendfile transport. The variable contains the inode number +of the temporary file which is about to be renamed. It can be used to construct +a unique name for the file. + + + +$interface_address + + + +$interface_address + +This is an obsolete name for $received_ip_address. + + + +$interface_port + + + +$interface_port + +This is an obsolete name for $received_port. + + + +$item + + + +$item + +This variable is used during the expansion of forall and forany +conditions (see section ), and filter, map, and +reduce items (see section ). In other circumstances, it is +empty. + + + +$ldap_dn + + + +$ldap_dn + +This variable, which is available only when Exim is compiled with LDAP support, +contains the DN from the last entry in the most recently successful LDAP +lookup. + + + +$load_average + + + +$load_average + +This variable contains the system load average, multiplied by 1000 so that it +is an integer. For example, if the load average is 0.21, the value of the +variable is 210. The value is recomputed every time the variable is referenced. + + + +$local_part + + + +$local_part + +When an address is being routed, or delivered on its own, this +variable contains the local part. When a number of addresses are being +delivered together (for example, multiple RCPT commands in an SMTP +session), $local_part is not set. + + +Global address rewriting happens when a message is received, so the value of +$local_part during routing and delivery is the value after rewriting. +$local_part is set during user filtering, but not during system filtering, +because a message may have many recipients and the system filter is called just +once. + + + +$local_part_prefix + + +$local_part_suffix + + +affix +variables + +If a local part prefix or suffix has been recognized, it is not included in the +value of $local_part during routing and subsequent delivery. The values of +any prefix or suffix are in $local_part_prefix and +$local_part_suffix, respectively. + + +When a message is being delivered to a file, pipe, or autoreply transport as a +result of aliasing or forwarding, $local_part is set to the local part of +the parent address, not to the filename or command (see $address_file and +$address_pipe). + + +When an ACL is running for a RCPT command, $local_part contains the +local part of the recipient address. + + +When a rewrite item is being processed (see chapter ), +$local_part contains the local part of the address that is being rewritten; +it can be used in the expansion of the replacement address, for example. + + +In all cases, all quoting is removed from the local part. For example, for both +the addresses + + +"abc:xyz"@test.example +abc\:xyz@test.example + + +the value of $local_part is + + +abc:xyz + + +If you use $local_part to create another address, you should always wrap it +inside a quoting operator. For example, in a redirect router you could +have: + + +data = ${quote_local_part:$local_part}@new.domain.example + + +Note: The value of $local_part is normally lower cased. If you want +to process local parts in a case-dependent manner in a router, you can set the + option (see chapter ). + + + +$local_part_data + + + +$local_part_data + +When the option on a router matches a local part by means of a +lookup, the data read by the lookup is available during the running of the +router as $local_part_data. In addition, if the driver routes the address +to a transport, the value is available in that transport. If the transport is +handling multiple addresses, the value from the first address is used. + + +$local_part_data is also set when the condition in an ACL +matches a local part by means of a lookup. The data read by the lookup is +available during the rest of the ACL statement. In all other situations, this +variable expands to nothing. + + + +$local_part_prefix + + + +$local_part_prefix + + +affix +variables + +When an address is being routed or delivered, and a +specific prefix for the local part was recognized, it is available in this +variable, having been removed from $local_part. + + + +$local_part_suffix + + + +$local_part_suffix + +When an address is being routed or delivered, and a +specific suffix for the local part was recognized, it is available in this +variable, having been removed from $local_part. + + + +$local_scan_data + + + +$local_scan_data + +This variable contains the text returned by the local_scan() function when +a message is received. See chapter for more details. + + + +$local_user_gid + + + +$local_user_gid + +See $local_user_uid. + + + +$local_user_uid + + + +$local_user_uid + +This variable and $local_user_gid are set to the uid and gid after the + router precondition succeeds. This means that their values +are available for the remaining preconditions (, , +and ), for the expansion, and for any +router-specific expansions. At all other times, the values in these variables +are (uid_t)(-1) and (gid_t)(-1), respectively. + + + +$localhost_number + + + +$localhost_number + +This contains the expanded value of the + option. The expansion happens after the main options have +been read. + + + +$log_inodes + + + +$log_inodes + +The number of free inodes in the disk partition where Exim’s +log files are being written. The value is recalculated whenever the variable is +referenced. If the relevant file system does not have the concept of inodes, +the value of is -1. See also the option. + + + +$log_space + + + +$log_space + +The amount of free space (as a number of kilobytes) in the disk +partition where Exim’s log files are being written. The value is recalculated +whenever the variable is referenced. If the operating system does not have the +ability to find the amount of free space (only true for experimental systems), +the space value is -1. See also the option. + + + +$lookup_dnssec_authenticated + + + +$lookup_dnssec_authenticated + +This variable is set after a DNS lookup done by +a dnsdb lookup expansion, dnslookup router or smtp transport. + +DNS +DNSSEC + +It will be empty if DNSSEC was not requested, +no if the result was not labelled as authenticated data +and yes if it was. +Results that are labelled as authoritative answer that match +the configuration variable count also +as authenticated data. + + + +$mailstore_basename + + + +$mailstore_basename + +This variable is set only when doing deliveries in mailstore format in the +appendfile transport. During the expansion of the , +, , and options, it +contains the basename of the files that are being written, that is, the name +without the .tmp, .env, or .msg suffix. At all other times, this +variable is empty. + + + +$malware_name + + + +$malware_name + +This variable is available when Exim is compiled with the +content-scanning extension. It is set to the name of the virus that was found +when the ACL condition is true (see section ). + + + +$max_received_linelength + + + +$max_received_linelength + + +maximum +line length + + +line length +maximum + +This variable contains the number of bytes in the longest line that was +received as part of the message, not counting the line termination +character(s). +It is not valid if the option is used. + + + +$message_age + + + +message +age of + + +$message_age + +This variable is set at the start of a delivery attempt to contain the number +of seconds since the message was received. It does not change during a single +delivery attempt. + + + +$message_body + + + +body of message +expansion variable + + +message body +in expansion + + +binary zero +in message body + + +$message_body + + + + +This variable contains the initial portion of a message’s body while it is +being delivered, and is intended mainly for use in filter files. The maximum +number of characters of the body that are put into the variable is set by the + configuration option; the default is 500. + + + + + +By default, newlines are converted into spaces in $message_body, to make it +easier to search for phrases that might be split over a line break. However, +this can be disabled by setting to be true. Binary +zeros are always converted into spaces. + + + +$message_body_end + + + +body of message +expansion variable + + +message body +in expansion + + +$message_body_end + +This variable contains the final portion of a message’s +body while it is being delivered. The format and maximum size are as for +$message_body. + + + +$message_body_size + + + +body of message +size + + +message body +size + + +$message_body_size + +When a message is being delivered, this variable contains the size of the body +in bytes. The count starts from the character after the blank line that +separates the body from the header. Newlines are included in the count. See +also $message_size, $body_linecount, and $body_zerocount. + + +If the spool file is wireformat +(see the main option) +the CRLF line-terminators are included in the count. + + + +$message_exim_id + + + +$message_exim_id + +When a message is being received or delivered, this variable contains the +unique message id that is generated and used by Exim to identify the message. +An id is not created for a message until after its header has been successfully +received. Note: This is not the contents of the Message-ID: header +line; it is the local id that Exim assigns to the message, for example: +1BXTIK-0001yO-VA. + + + +$message_headers + + + +$message_headers + +This variable contains a concatenation of all the header lines when a message +is being processed, except for lines added by routers or transports. The header +lines are separated by newline characters. Their contents are decoded in the +same way as a header line that is inserted by . + + + +$message_headers_raw + + + +$message_headers_raw + +This variable is like $message_headers except that no processing of the +contents of header lines is done. + + + +$message_id + + +This is an old name for $message_exim_id. It is now deprecated. + + + +$message_linecount + + + +$message_linecount + +This variable contains the total number of lines in the header and body of the +message. Compare $body_linecount, which is the count for the body only. +During the DATA and content-scanning ACLs, $message_linecount contains the +number of lines received. Before delivery happens (that is, before filters, +routers, and transports run) the count is increased to include the +Received: header line that Exim standardly adds, and also any other header +lines that are added by ACLs. The blank line that separates the message header +from the body is not counted. + + +As with the special case of $message_size, during the expansion of the +appendfile transport’s maildir_tag option in maildir format, the value of +$message_linecount is the precise size of the number of newlines in the +file that has been written (minus one for the blank line between the +header and the body). + + +Here is an example of the use of this variable in a DATA ACL: + + +deny message = Too many lines in message header + condition = \ + ${if <{250}{${eval:$message_linecount - $body_linecount}}} + + +In the MAIL and RCPT ACLs, the value is zero because at that stage the +message has not yet been received. + + +This variable is not valid if the option is used. + + + +$message_size + + + +size +of message + + +message +size + + +$message_size + +When a message is being processed, this variable contains its size in bytes. In +most cases, the size includes those headers that were received with the +message, but not those (such as Envelope-to:) that are added to individual +deliveries as they are written. However, there is one special case: during the +expansion of the option in the appendfile transport while +doing a delivery in maildir format, the value of $message_size is the +precise size of the file that has been written. See also +$message_body_size, $body_linecount, and $body_zerocount. + + + +RCPT +value of $message_size + +While running a per message ACL (mail/rcpt/predata), $message_size +contains the size supplied on the MAIL command, or -1 if no size was given. The +value may not, of course, be truthful. + + + +$mime_xxx + + +A number of variables whose names start with $mime are +available when Exim is compiled with the content-scanning extension. For +details, see section . + + + +$n0 – $n9 + + +These variables are counters that can be incremented by means +of the command in filter files. + + + +$original_domain + + + +$domain + + +$original_domain + +When a top-level address is being processed for delivery, this contains the +same value as $domain. However, if a child address (for example, +generated by an alias, forward, or filter file) is being processed, this +variable contains the domain of the original address (lower cased). This +differs from $parent_domain only when there is more than one level of +aliasing or forwarding. When more than one address is being delivered in a +single transport run, $original_domain is not set. + + +If a new address is created by means of a command in a system +filter, it is set up with an artificial parent address. This has the local +part system-filter and the default qualify domain. + + + +$original_local_part + + + +$local_part + + +$original_local_part + +When a top-level address is being processed for delivery, this contains the +same value as $local_part, unless a prefix or suffix was removed from the +local part, because $original_local_part always contains the full local +part. When a child address (for example, generated by an alias, forward, or +filter file) is being processed, this variable contains the full local part of +the original address. + + +If the router that did the redirection processed the local part +case-insensitively, the value in $original_local_part is in lower case. +This variable differs from $parent_local_part only when there is more than +one level of aliasing or forwarding. When more than one address is being +delivered in a single transport run, $original_local_part is not set. + + +If a new address is created by means of a command in a system +filter, it is set up with an artificial parent address. This has the local +part system-filter and the default qualify domain. + + + +$originator_gid + + + +gid (group id) +of originating user + + +sender +gid + + +$caller_gid + + +$originator_gid + +This variable contains the value of $caller_gid that was set when the +message was received. For messages received via the command line, this is the +gid of the sending user. For messages received by SMTP over TCP/IP, this is +normally the gid of the Exim user. + + + +$originator_uid + + + +uid (user id) +of originating user + + +sender +uid + + +$caller_uid + + +$originator_uid + +The value of $caller_uid that was set when the message was received. For +messages received via the command line, this is the uid of the sending user. +For messages received by SMTP over TCP/IP, this is normally the uid of the Exim +user. + + + +$parent_domain + + + +$parent_domain + +This variable is similar to $original_domain (see +above), except that it refers to the immediately preceding parent address. + + + +$parent_local_part + + + +$parent_local_part + +This variable is similar to $original_local_part +(see above), except that it refers to the immediately preceding parent address. + + + +$pid + + + +pid (process id) +of current process + + +$pid + +This variable contains the current process id. + + + +$pipe_addresses + + + +filter +transport filter + + +transport +filter + + +$pipe_addresses + +This is not an expansion variable, but is mentioned here because the string +$pipe_addresses is handled specially in the command specification for the +pipe transport (chapter ) and in transport filters +(described under in chapter ). +It cannot be used in general expansion strings, and provokes an unknown +variable error if encountered. + + + +$primary_hostname + + + +$primary_hostname + +This variable contains the value set by in the +configuration file, or read by the uname() function. If uname() returns +a single-component name, Exim calls gethostbyname() (or +getipnodebyname() where available) in an attempt to acquire a fully +qualified host name. See also $smtp_active_hostname. + + + +$proxy_external_address +$proxy_external_port +$proxy_local_address +$proxy_local_port +$proxy_session + + +These variables are only available when built with Proxy Protocol +or SOCKS5 support. +For details see chapter . + + + +$prdr_requested + + + +PRDR +variable for + +This variable is set to yes if PRDR was requested by the client for the +current message, otherwise no. + + + +$prvscheck_address + + +This variable is used in conjunction with the expansion item, +which is described in sections and +. + + + +$prvscheck_keynum + + +This variable is used in conjunction with the expansion item, +which is described in sections and +. + + + +$prvscheck_result + + +This variable is used in conjunction with the expansion item, +which is described in sections and +. + + + +$qualify_domain + + + +$qualify_domain + +The value set for the option in the configuration file. + + + +$qualify_recipient + + + +$qualify_recipient + +The value set for the option in the configuration file, +or if not set, the value of $qualify_domain. + + + +$queue_name + + + +$queue_name + + +named queues + + +queues +named + +The name of the spool queue in use; empty for the default queue. + + + +$rcpt_count + + + +$rcpt_count + +When a message is being received by SMTP, this variable contains the number of +RCPT commands received for the current message. If this variable is used in a +RCPT ACL, its value includes the current command. + + + +$rcpt_defer_count + + + +$rcpt_defer_count + + +4xx responses +count of + +When a message is being received by SMTP, this variable contains the number of +RCPT commands in the current message that have previously been rejected with a +temporary (4xx) response. + + + +$rcpt_fail_count + + + +$rcpt_fail_count + +When a message is being received by SMTP, this variable contains the number of +RCPT commands in the current message that have previously been rejected with a +permanent (5xx) response. + + + +$received_count + + + +$received_count + +This variable contains the number of Received: header lines in the message, +including the one added by Exim (so its value is always greater than zero). It +is available in the DATA ACL, the non-SMTP ACL, and while routing and +delivering. + + + +$received_for + + + +$received_for + +If there is only a single recipient address in an incoming message, this +variable contains that address when the Received: header line is being +built. The value is copied after recipient rewriting has happened, but before +the local_scan() function is run. + + + +$received_ip_address + + + +$received_ip_address + +As soon as an Exim server starts processing an incoming TCP/IP connection, this +variable is set to the address of the local IP interface, and $received_port +is set to the local port number. (The remote IP address and port are in +$sender_host_address and $sender_host_port.) When testing with , +the port value is -1 unless it has been set using the command line +option. + + +As well as being useful in ACLs (including the connect ACL), these variable +could be used, for example, to make the filename for a TLS certificate depend +on which interface and/or port is being used for the incoming connection. The +values of $received_ip_address and $received_port are saved with any +messages that are received, thus making these variables available at delivery +time. +For outbound connections see $sending_ip_address. + + + +$received_port + + + +$received_port + +See $received_ip_address. + + + +$received_protocol + + + +$received_protocol + +When a message is being processed, this variable contains the name of the +protocol by which it was received. Most of the names used by Exim are defined +by RFCs 821, 2821, and 3848. They start with smtp (the client used HELO) or +esmtp (the client used EHLO). This can be followed by s for secure +(encrypted) and/or a for authenticated. Thus, for example, if the protocol +is set to esmtpsa, the message was received over an encrypted SMTP +connection and the client was successfully authenticated. + + +Exim uses the protocol name smtps for the case when encryption is +automatically set up on connection without the use of STARTTLS (see +), and the client uses HELO to initiate the +encrypted SMTP session. The name smtps is also used for the rare situation +where the client initially uses EHLO, sets up an encrypted connection using +STARTTLS, and then uses HELO afterwards. + + +The option provides a way of specifying a custom protocol name for +messages that are injected locally by trusted callers. This is commonly used to +identify messages that are being re-injected after some kind of scanning. + + + +$received_time + + + +$received_time + +This variable contains the date and time when the current message was received, +as a number of seconds since the start of the Unix epoch. + + + +$recipient_data + + + +$recipient_data + +This variable is set after an indexing lookup success in an ACL +condition. It contains the data from the lookup, and the value remains set +until the next test. Thus, you can do things like this: + + +require recipients = cdb*@;/some/file +deny some further test involving $recipient_data + + +Warning: This variable is set only when a lookup is used as an indexing +method in the address list, using the semicolon syntax as in the example above. +The variable is not set for a lookup that is used as part of the string +expansion that all such lists undergo before being interpreted. + + + +$recipient_verify_failure + + + +$recipient_verify_failure + +In an ACL, when a recipient verification fails, this variable contains +information about the failure. It is set to one of the following words: + + + + +qualify: The address was unqualified (no domain), and the message +was neither local nor came from an exempted host. + + + + +route: Routing failed. + + + + +mail: Routing succeeded, and a callout was attempted; rejection occurred at +or before the MAIL command (that is, on initial connection, HELO, or +MAIL). + + + + +recipient: The RCPT command in a callout was rejected. + + + + +postmaster: The postmaster check in a callout was rejected. + + + + +The main use of this variable is expected to be to distinguish between +rejections of MAIL and rejections of RCPT. + + + +$recipients + + + +$recipients + +This variable contains a list of envelope recipients for a message. A comma and +a space separate the addresses in the replacement text. However, the variable +is not generally available, to prevent exposure of Bcc recipients in +unprivileged users’ filter files. You can use $recipients only in these +cases: + + + + +In a system filter file. + + + + +In the ACLs associated with the DATA command and with non-SMTP messages, that +is, the ACLs defined by , , +, , , and +. + + + + +From within a local_scan() function. + + + + + +$recipients_count + + + +$recipients_count + +When a message is being processed, this variable contains the number of +envelope recipients that came with the message. Duplicates are not excluded +from the count. While a message is being received over SMTP, the number +increases for each accepted recipient. It can be referenced in an ACL. + + + +$regex_match_string + + + +$regex_match_string + +This variable is set to contain the matching regular expression after a + ACL condition has matched (see section ). + + + +$regex1, $regex2, etc + + + +regex submatch variables ($1regex $2regex etc) + +When a or ACL condition succeeds, +these variables contain the +captured substrings identified by the regular expression. + + + +$reply_address + + + +$reply_address + +When a message is being processed, this variable contains the contents of the +Reply-To: header line if one exists and it is not empty, or otherwise the +contents of the From: header line. Apart from the removal of leading +white space, the value is not processed in any way. In particular, no RFC 2047 +decoding or character code translation takes place. + + + +$return_path + + + +$return_path + +When a message is being delivered, this variable contains the return path – +the sender field that will be sent as part of the envelope. It is not enclosed +in <> characters. At the start of routing an address, $return_path has the +same value as $sender_address, but if, for example, an incoming message to a +mailing list has been expanded by a router which specifies a different address +for bounce messages, $return_path subsequently contains the new bounce +address, whereas $sender_address always contains the original sender address +that was received with the message. In other words, $sender_address contains +the incoming envelope sender, and $return_path contains the outgoing +envelope sender. + + + +$return_size_limit + + + +$return_size_limit + +This is an obsolete name for $bounce_return_size_limit. + + + +$router_name + + + +router +name + + +name +of router + + +$router_name + +During the running of a router this variable contains its name. + + + +$runrc + + + +return code +from expansion + + +$runrc + +This variable contains the return code from a command that is run by the + expansion item. Warning: In a router or transport, you cannot +assume the order in which option values are expanded, except for those +preconditions whose order of testing is documented. Therefore, you cannot +reliably expect to set $runrc by the expansion of one option, and use it in +another. + + + +$self_hostname + + + + +value of host name + + +$self_hostname + +When an address is routed to a supposedly remote host that turns out to be the +local host, what happens is controlled by the generic router option. +One of its values causes the address to be passed to another router. When this +happens, $self_hostname is set to the name of the local host that the +original router encountered. In other circumstances its contents are null. + + + +$sender_address + + + +$sender_address + +When a message is being processed, this variable contains the sender’s address +that was received in the message’s envelope. The case of letters in the address +is retained, in both the local part and the domain. For bounce messages, the +value of this variable is the empty string. See also $return_path. + + + +$sender_address_data + + + +$address_data + + +$sender_address_data + +If $address_data is set when the routers are called from an ACL to verify a +sender address, the final value is preserved in $sender_address_data, to +distinguish it from data from a recipient address. The value does not persist +after the end of the current ACL statement. If you want to preserve it for +longer, you can save it in an ACL variable. + + + +$sender_address_domain + + + +$sender_address_domain + +The domain portion of $sender_address. + + + +$sender_address_local_part + + + +$sender_address_local_part + +The local part portion of $sender_address. + + + +$sender_data + + + +$sender_data + +This variable is set after a lookup success in an ACL condition or +in a router option. It contains the data from the lookup, and the +value remains set until the next test. Thus, you can do things like +this: + + +require senders = cdb*@;/some/file +deny some further test involving $sender_data + + +Warning: This variable is set only when a lookup is used as an indexing +method in the address list, using the semicolon syntax as in the example above. +The variable is not set for a lookup that is used as part of the string +expansion that all such lists undergo before being interpreted. + + + +$sender_fullhost + + + +$sender_fullhost + +When a message is received from a remote host, this variable contains the host +name and IP address in a single string. It ends with the IP address in square +brackets, followed by a colon and a port number if the logging of ports is +enabled. The format of the rest of the string depends on whether the host +issued a HELO or EHLO SMTP command, and whether the host name was verified by +looking up its IP address. (Looking up the IP address can be forced by the + option, independent of verification.) A plain host name at the +start of the string is a verified host name; if this is not present, +verification either failed or was not requested. A host name in parentheses is +the argument of a HELO or EHLO command. This is omitted if it is identical to +the verified host name or to the host’s IP address in square brackets. + + + +$sender_helo_dnssec + + + +$sender_helo_dnssec + +This boolean variable is true if a successful HELO verification was + +DNS +DNSSEC + +done using DNS information the resolver library stated was authenticated data. + + + +$sender_helo_name + + + +$sender_helo_name + +When a message is received from a remote host that has issued a HELO or EHLO +command, the argument of that command is placed in this variable. It is also +set if HELO or EHLO is used when a message is received using SMTP locally via +the or options. + + + +$sender_host_address + + + +$sender_host_address + +When a message is received from a remote host using SMTP, +this variable contains that +host’s IP address. For locally non-SMTP submitted messages, it is empty. + + + +$sender_host_authenticated + + + +$sender_host_authenticated + +This variable contains the name (not the public name) of the authenticator +driver that successfully authenticated the client from which the message was +received. It is empty if there was no successful authentication. See also +$authenticated_id. + + + +$sender_host_dnssec + + + +$sender_host_dnssec + +If an attempt to populate $sender_host_name has been made +(by reference, or +otherwise) then this boolean will have been set true if, and only if, the +resolver library states that both +the reverse and forward DNS were authenticated data. At all +other times, this variable is false. + + + +DNS +DNSSEC + +It is likely that you will need to coerce DNSSEC support on in the resolver +library, by setting: + + +dns_dnssec_ok = 1 + + +Exim does not perform DNSSEC validation itself, instead leaving that to a +validating resolver (e.g. unbound, or bind with suitable configuration). + + +If you have changed so that bydns is not the first +mechanism in the list, then this variable will be false. + + +This requires that your system resolver library support EDNS0 (and that +DNSSEC flags exist in the system headers). If the resolver silently drops +all EDNS0 options, then this will have no effect. OpenBSD’s asr resolver +is known to currently ignore EDNS0, documented in CAVEATS of asr_run(3). + + + +$sender_host_name + + + +$sender_host_name + +When a message is received from a remote host, this variable contains the +host’s name as obtained by looking up its IP address. For messages received by +other means, this variable is empty. + + + +$host_lookup_failed + +If the host name has not previously been looked up, a reference to +$sender_host_name triggers a lookup (for messages from remote hosts). +A looked up name is accepted only if it leads back to the original IP address +via a forward lookup. If either the reverse or the forward lookup fails to find +any data, or if the forward lookup does not yield the original IP address, +$sender_host_name remains empty, and $host_lookup_failed is set to 1. + + + +$host_lookup_deferred + +However, if either of the lookups cannot be completed (for example, there is a +DNS timeout), $host_lookup_deferred is set to 1, and +$host_lookup_failed remains set to 0. + + +Once $host_lookup_failed is set to 1, Exim does not try to look up the +host name again if there is a subsequent reference to $sender_host_name +in the same Exim process, but it does try again if $host_lookup_deferred +is set to 1. + + +Exim does not automatically look up every calling host’s name. If you want +maximum efficiency, you should arrange your configuration so that it avoids +these lookups altogether. The lookup happens only if one or more of the +following are true: + + + + +A string containing $sender_host_name is expanded. + + + + +The calling host matches the list in . In the default +configuration, this option is set to *, so it must be changed if lookups are +to be avoided. (In the code, the default for is unset.) + + + + +Exim needs the host name in order to test an item in a host list. The items +that require this are described in sections and +. + + + + +The calling host matches or . +In this case, the host name is required to compare with the name quoted in any +EHLO or HELO commands that the client issues. + + + + +The remote host issues a EHLO or HELO command that quotes one of the +domains in . The default value of this option is + + + helo_lookup_domains = @ : @[] + + +which causes a lookup if a remote host (incorrectly) gives the server’s name or +IP address in an EHLO or HELO command. + + + + + +$sender_host_port + + + +$sender_host_port + +When a message is received from a remote host, this variable contains the port +number that was used on the remote host. + + + +$sender_ident + + + +$sender_ident + +When a message is received from a remote host, this variable contains the +identification received in response to an RFC 1413 request. When a message has +been received locally, this variable contains the login name of the user that +called Exim. + + + +$sender_rate_xxx + + +A number of variables whose names begin $sender_rate_ are set as part of the + ACL condition. Details are given in section +. + + + +$sender_rcvhost + + + +DNS +reverse lookup + + +reverse DNS lookup + + +$sender_rcvhost + +This is provided specifically for use in Received: headers. It starts with +either the verified host name (as obtained from a reverse DNS lookup) or, if +there is no verified host name, the IP address in square brackets. After that +there may be text in parentheses. When the first item is a verified host name, +the first thing in the parentheses is the IP address in square brackets, +followed by a colon and a port number if port logging is enabled. When the +first item is an IP address, the port is recorded as port=xxxx inside +the parentheses. + + +There may also be items of the form helo=xxxx if HELO or EHLO +was used and its argument was not identical to the real host name or IP +address, and ident=xxxx if an RFC 1413 ident string is available. If +all three items are present in the parentheses, a newline and tab are inserted +into the string, to improve the formatting of the Received: header. + + + +$sender_verify_failure + + + +$sender_verify_failure + +In an ACL, when a sender verification fails, this variable contains information +about the failure. The details are the same as for +$recipient_verify_failure. + + + +$sending_ip_address + + + +$sending_ip_address + +This variable is set whenever an outgoing SMTP connection to another host has +been set up. It contains the IP address of the local interface that is being +used. This is useful if a host that has more than one IP address wants to take +on different personalities depending on which one is being used. For incoming +connections, see $received_ip_address. + + + +$sending_port + + + +$sending_port + +This variable is set whenever an outgoing SMTP connection to another host has +been set up. It contains the local port that is being used. For incoming +connections, see $received_port. + + + +$smtp_active_hostname + + + +$smtp_active_hostname + +During an incoming SMTP session, this variable contains the value of the active +host name, as specified by the option. The value of +$smtp_active_hostname is saved with any message that is received, so its +value can be consulted during routing and delivery. + + + +$smtp_command + + + +$smtp_command + +During the processing of an incoming SMTP command, this variable contains the +entire command. This makes it possible to distinguish between HELO and EHLO in +the HELO ACL, and also to distinguish between commands such as these: + + +MAIL FROM:<> +MAIL FROM: <> + + +For a MAIL command, extra parameters such as SIZE can be inspected. For a RCPT +command, the address in $smtp_command is the original address before any +rewriting, whereas the values in $local_part and $domain are taken from +the address after SMTP-time rewriting. + + + +$smtp_command_argument + + + +SMTP +command, argument for + + +$smtp_command_argument + +While an ACL is running to check an SMTP command, this variable contains the +argument, that is, the text that follows the command name, with leading white +space removed. Following the introduction of $smtp_command, this variable is +somewhat redundant, but is retained for backwards compatibility. + + + +$smtp_command_history + + + +SMTP +command history + + +$smtp_command_history + +A comma-separated list (with no whitespace) of the most-recent SMTP commands +received, in time-order left to right. Only a limited number of commands +are remembered. + + + +$smtp_count_at_connection_start + + + +$smtp_count_at_connection_start + +This variable is set greater than zero only in processes spawned by the Exim +daemon for handling incoming SMTP connections. The name is deliberately long, +in order to emphasize what the contents are. When the daemon accepts a new +connection, it increments this variable. A copy of the variable is passed to +the child process that handles the connection, but its value is fixed, and +never changes. It is only an approximation of how many incoming connections +there actually are, because many other connections may come and go while a +single connection is being processed. When a child process terminates, the +daemon decrements its copy of the variable. + + + +$sn0 – $sn9 + + +These variables are copies of the values of the $n0 – $n9 accumulators +that were current at the end of the system filter file. This allows a system +filter file to set values that can be tested in users’ filter files. For +example, a system filter could set a value indicating how likely it is that a +message is junk mail. + + + +$spam_xxx + + +A number of variables whose names start with $spam are available when Exim +is compiled with the content-scanning extension. For details, see section +. + + + +$spf_header_comment +$spf_received +$spf_result +$spf_result_guessed +$spf_smtp_comment + + +These variables are only available if Exim is built with SPF support. +For details see section . + + + +$spool_directory + + + +$spool_directory + +The name of Exim’s spool directory. + + + +$spool_inodes + + + +$spool_inodes + +The number of free inodes in the disk partition where Exim’s spool files are +being written. The value is recalculated whenever the variable is referenced. +If the relevant file system does not have the concept of inodes, the value of +is -1. See also the option. + + + +$spool_space + + + +$spool_space + +The amount of free space (as a number of kilobytes) in the disk partition where +Exim’s spool files are being written. The value is recalculated whenever the +variable is referenced. If the operating system does not have the ability to +find the amount of free space (only true for experimental systems), the space +value is -1. For example, to check in an ACL that there is at least 50 +megabytes free on the spool, you could write: + + +condition = ${if > {$spool_space}{50000}} + + +See also the option. + + + +$thisaddress + + + +$thisaddress + +This variable is set only during the processing of the +command in a filter file. Its use is explained in the description of that +command, which can be found in the separate document entitled Exim’s +interfaces to mail filtering. + + + +$tls_in_bits + + + +$tls_in_bits + +Contains an approximation of the TLS cipher’s bit-strength +on the inbound connection; the meaning of +this depends upon the TLS implementation used. +If TLS has not been negotiated, the value will be 0. +The value of this is automatically fed into the Cyrus SASL authenticator +when acting as a server, to specify the "external SSF" (a SASL term). + + +The deprecated $tls_bits variable refers to the inbound side +except when used in the context of an outbound SMTP delivery, when it refers to +the outbound. + + + +$tls_out_bits + + + +$tls_out_bits + +Contains an approximation of the TLS cipher’s bit-strength +on an outbound SMTP connection; the meaning of +this depends upon the TLS implementation used. +If TLS has not been negotiated, the value will be 0. + + + +$tls_in_ourcert + + + +$tls_in_ourcert + + +certificate +variables + +This variable refers to the certificate presented to the peer of an +inbound connection when the message was received. +It is only useful as the argument of a + expansion item, , or operator, +or a condition. + + +Note: Under versions of OpenSSL preceding 1.1.1, +when a list of more than one +file is used for , this variable is not reliable. + + + +$tls_in_peercert + + + +$tls_in_peercert + +This variable refers to the certificate presented by the peer of an +inbound connection when the message was received. +It is only useful as the argument of a + expansion item, , or operator, +or a condition. +If certificate verification fails it may refer to a failing chain element +which is not the leaf. + + + +$tls_out_ourcert + + + +$tls_out_ourcert + +This variable refers to the certificate presented to the peer of an +outbound connection. It is only useful as the argument of a + expansion item, , or operator, +or a condition. + + + +$tls_out_peercert + + + +$tls_out_peercert + +This variable refers to the certificate presented by the peer of an +outbound connection. It is only useful as the argument of a + expansion item, , or operator, +or a condition. +If certificate verification fails it may refer to a failing chain element +which is not the leaf. + + + +$tls_in_certificate_verified + + + +$tls_in_certificate_verified + +This variable is set to 1 if a TLS certificate was verified when the +message was received, and 0 otherwise. + + +The deprecated $tls_certificate_verified variable refers to the inbound side +except when used in the context of an outbound SMTP delivery, when it refers to +the outbound. + + + +$tls_out_certificate_verified + + + +$tls_out_certificate_verified + +This variable is set to 1 if a TLS certificate was verified when an +outbound SMTP connection was made, +and 0 otherwise. + + + +$tls_in_cipher + + + +$tls_in_cipher + + +$tls_cipher + +When a message is received from a remote host over an encrypted SMTP +connection, this variable is set to the cipher suite that was negotiated, for +example DES-CBC3-SHA. In other circumstances, in particular, for message +received over unencrypted connections, the variable is empty. Testing +$tls_in_cipher for emptiness is one way of distinguishing between encrypted and +non-encrypted connections during ACL processing. + + +The deprecated $tls_cipher variable is the same as $tls_in_cipher during message reception, +but in the context of an outward SMTP delivery taking place via the smtp transport +becomes the same as $tls_out_cipher. + + + +$tls_out_cipher + + + +$tls_out_cipher + +This variable is +cleared before any outgoing SMTP connection is made, +and then set to the outgoing cipher suite if one is negotiated. See chapter + for details of TLS support and chapter for +details of the smtp transport. + + + +$tls_out_dane + + + +$tls_out_dane + +DANE active status. See section . + + + +$tls_in_ocsp + + + +$tls_in_ocsp + +When a message is received from a remote client connection +the result of any OCSP request from the client is encoded in this variable: + + +0 OCSP proof was not requested (default value) +1 No response to request +2 Response not verified +3 Verification failed +4 Verification succeeded + + + +$tls_out_ocsp + + + +$tls_out_ocsp + +When a message is sent to a remote host connection +the result of any OCSP request made is encoded in this variable. +See $tls_in_ocsp for values. + + + +$tls_in_peerdn + + + +$tls_in_peerdn + + +$tls_peerdn + + +certificate +extracting fields + +When a message is received from a remote host over an encrypted SMTP +connection, and Exim is configured to request a certificate from the client, +the value of the Distinguished Name of the certificate is made available in the +$tls_in_peerdn during subsequent processing. +If certificate verification fails it may refer to a failing chain element +which is not the leaf. + + +The deprecated $tls_peerdn variable refers to the inbound side +except when used in the context of an outbound SMTP delivery, when it refers to +the outbound. + + + +$tls_out_peerdn + + + +$tls_out_peerdn + +When a message is being delivered to a remote host over an encrypted SMTP +connection, and Exim is configured to request a certificate from the server, +the value of the Distinguished Name of the certificate is made available in the +$tls_out_peerdn during subsequent processing. +If certificate verification fails it may refer to a failing chain element +which is not the leaf. + + + +$tls_in_sni + + + +$tls_in_sni + + +$tls_sni + + +TLS +Server Name Indication + +When a TLS session is being established, if the client sends the Server +Name Indication extension, the value will be placed in this variable. +If the variable appears in then this option and +some others, described in , +will be re-expanded early in the TLS session, to permit +a different certificate to be presented (and optionally a different key to be +used) to the client, based upon the value of the SNI extension. + + +The deprecated $tls_sni variable refers to the inbound side +except when used in the context of an outbound SMTP delivery, when it refers to +the outbound. + + + +$tls_out_sni + + + +$tls_out_sni + + +TLS +Server Name Indication + +During outbound +SMTP deliveries, this variable reflects the value of the option on +the transport. + + + +$tls_out_tlsa_usage + + + +$tls_out_tlsa_usage + +Bitfield of TLSA record types found. See section . + + + +$tod_bsdinbox + + + +$tod_bsdinbox + +The time of day and the date, in the format required for BSD-style mailbox +files, for example: Thu Oct 17 17:14:09 1995. + + + +$tod_epoch + + + +$tod_epoch + +The time and date as a number of seconds since the start of the Unix epoch. + + + +$tod_epoch_l + + + +$tod_epoch_l + +The time and date as a number of microseconds since the start of the Unix epoch. + + + +$tod_full + + + +$tod_full + +A full version of the time and date, for example: Wed, 16 Oct 1995 09:51:40 ++0100. The timezone is always given as a numerical offset from UTC, with +positive values used for timezones that are ahead (east) of UTC, and negative +values for those that are behind (west). + + + +$tod_log + + + +$tod_log + +The time and date in the format used for writing Exim’s log files, for example: +1995-10-12 15:32:29, but without a timezone. + + + +$tod_logfile + + + +$tod_logfile + +This variable contains the date in the format yyyymmdd. This is the format that +is used for datestamping log files when contains the %D +flag. + + + +$tod_zone + + + +$tod_zone + +This variable contains the numerical value of the local timezone, for example: +-0500. + + + +$tod_zulu + + + +$tod_zulu + +This variable contains the UTC date and time in Zulu format, as specified +by ISO 8601, for example: 20030221154023Z. + + + +$transport_name + + + +transport +name + + +name +of transport + + +$transport_name + +During the running of a transport, this variable contains its name. + + + +$value + + + +$value + +This variable contains the result of an expansion lookup, extraction operation, +or external command, as described above. It is also used during a +reduce expansion. + + + +$verify_mode + + + +$verify_mode + +While a router or transport is being run in verify mode or for cutthrough delivery, +contains "S" for sender-verification or "R" for recipient-verification. +Otherwise, empty. + + + +$version_number + + + +$version_number + +The version number of Exim. + + + +$warn_message_delay + + + +$warn_message_delay + +This variable is set only during the creation of a message warning about a +delivery delay. Details of its use are explained in section . + + + +$warn_message_recipients + + + +$warn_message_recipients + +This variable is set only during the creation of a message warning about a +delivery delay. Details of its use are explained in section . + + + + + + +
+ + + +Embedded Perl + + +Perl +calling from Exim + +Exim can be built to include an embedded Perl interpreter. When this is done, +Perl subroutines can be called as part of the string expansion process. To make +use of the Perl support, you need version 5.004 or later of Perl installed on +your system. To include the embedded interpreter in the Exim binary, include +the line + + +EXIM_PERL = perl.o + + +in your Local/Makefile and then build Exim in the normal way. + +
+Setting up so Perl can be used + + + + +Access to Perl subroutines is via a global configuration option called + and an expansion string operator . If there is +no option in the Exim configuration file then no Perl +interpreter is started and there is almost no overhead for Exim (since none of +the Perl library will be paged in unless used). If there is a +option then the associated value is taken to be Perl code which is executed in +a newly created Perl interpreter. + + +The value of is not expanded in the Exim sense, so you do not +need backslashes before any characters to escape special meanings. The option +should usually be something like + + +perl_startup = do '/etc/exim.pl' + + +where /etc/exim.pl is Perl code which defines any subroutines you want to +use from Exim. Exim can be configured either to start up a Perl interpreter as +soon as it is entered, or to wait until the first time it is needed. Starting +the interpreter at the beginning ensures that it is done while Exim still has +its setuid privilege, but can impose an unnecessary overhead if Perl is not in +fact used in a particular run. Also, note that this does not mean that Exim is +necessarily running as root when Perl is called at a later time. By default, +the interpreter is started only when it is needed, but this can be changed in +two ways: + + + + + + + +Setting (a boolean option) in the configuration requests +a startup when Exim is entered. + + + + +The command line option also requests a startup when Exim is entered, +overriding the setting of . + + + + +There is also a command line option (for delay) which suppresses the +initial startup, even if is set. + + + + + + + + +Perl +taintmode + +To provide more security executing Perl code via the embedded Perl +interpreter, the option can be set. This enables the +taint mode of the Perl interpreter. You are encouraged to set this +option to a true value. To avoid breaking existing installations, it +defaults to false. + + + +
+
+Calling Perl subroutines + +When the configuration file includes a option you can make use +of the string expansion item to call the Perl subroutines that are defined +by the code. The operator is used in any of the following +forms: + + +${perl{foo}} +${perl{foo}{argument}} +${perl{foo}{argument1}{argument2} ... } + + +which calls the subroutine with the given arguments. A maximum of eight +arguments may be passed. Passing more than this results in an expansion failure +with an error message of the form + + +Too many arguments passed to Perl subroutine "foo" (max is 8) + + +The return value of the Perl subroutine is evaluated in a scalar context before +it is passed back to Exim to be inserted into the expanded string. If the +return value is undef, the expansion is forced to fail in the same way as +an explicit fail on an or item. If the subroutine aborts +by obeying Perl’s function, the expansion fails with the error message +that was passed to . + +
+
+Calling Exim functions from Perl + +Within any Perl code called from Exim, the function Exim::expand_string() +is available to call back into Exim’s string expansion function. For example, +the Perl code + + +my $lp = Exim::expand_string('$local_part'); + + +makes the current Exim $local_part available in the Perl variable $lp. +Note those are single quotes and not double quotes to protect against +$local_part being interpolated as a Perl variable. + + +If the string expansion is forced to fail by a fail item, the result of +Exim::expand_string() is . If there is a syntax error in the +expansion string, the Perl call from the original expansion string fails with +an appropriate error message, in the same way as if were used. + + + +debugging +from embedded Perl + + +log +writing from embedded Perl + +Two other Exim functions are available for use from within Perl code. +Exim::debug_write() writes a string to the standard error stream if Exim’s +debugging is enabled. If you want a newline at the end, you must supply it. +Exim::log_write() writes a string to Exim’s main log, adding a leading +timestamp. In this case, you should not supply a terminating newline. + +
+
+Use of standard output and error by Perl + + +Perl +standard output and error + +You should not write to the standard error or output streams from within your +Perl code, as it is not defined how these are set up. In versions of Exim +before 4.50, it is possible for the standard output or error to refer to the +SMTP connection during message reception via the daemon. Writing to this stream +is certain to cause chaos. From Exim 4.50 onwards, the standard output and +error streams are connected to /dev/null in the daemon. The chaos is +avoided, but the output is lost. + + + +Perl +use of + +The Perl statement writes to the standard error stream by default. +Calls to may be embedded in Perl modules that you use, but over which +you have no control. When Exim starts up the Perl interpreter, it arranges for +output from the statement to be written to the Exim main log. You can +change this by including appropriate Perl magic somewhere in your Perl code. +For example, to discard output completely, you need this: + + +$SIG{__WARN__} = sub { }; + + +Whenever a is obeyed, the anonymous subroutine is called. In this +example, the code for the subroutine is empty, so it does nothing, but you can +include any Perl code that you like. The text of the message is passed +as the first subroutine argument. + + +
+ + + +Starting the daemon and the use of network interfaces +Starting the daemon + + +daemon +starting + + +interface +listening + + +network interface + + +interface +network + + +IP address +for listening + + +daemon +listening IP addresses + + +TCP/IP +setting listening interfaces + + +TCP/IP +setting listening ports + +A host that is connected to a TCP/IP network may have one or more physical +hardware network interfaces. Each of these interfaces may be configured as one +or more logical interfaces, which are the entities that a program actually +works with. Each of these logical interfaces is associated with an IP address. +In addition, TCP/IP software supports loopback interfaces (127.0.0.1 in +IPv4 and ::1 in IPv6), which do not use any physical hardware. Exim requires +knowledge about the host’s interfaces for use in three different circumstances: + + + + +When a listening daemon is started, Exim needs to know which interfaces +and ports to listen on. + + + + +When Exim is routing an address, it needs to know which IP addresses +are associated with local interfaces. This is required for the correct +processing of MX lists by removing the local host and others with the +same or higher priority values. Also, Exim needs to detect cases +when an address is routed to an IP address that in fact belongs to the +local host. Unless the router option or the +option of the smtp transport is set (as appropriate), this is treated +as an error situation. + + + + +When Exim connects to a remote host, it may need to know which interface to use +for the outgoing connection. + + + + +Exim’s default behaviour is likely to be appropriate in the vast majority +of cases. If your host has only one interface, and you want all its IP +addresses to be treated in the same way, and you are using only the +standard SMTP port, you should not need to take any special action. The +rest of this chapter does not apply to you. + + +In a more complicated situation you may want to listen only on certain +interfaces, or on different ports, and for this reason there are a number of +options that can be used to influence Exim’s behaviour. The rest of this +chapter describes how they operate. + + +When a message is received over TCP/IP, the interface and port that were +actually used are set in $received_ip_address and $received_port. + +
+Starting a listening daemon + +When a listening daemon is started (by means of the command line +option), the interfaces and ports on which it listens are controlled by the +following options: + + + + + contains a list of default ports +or service names. +(For backward compatibility, this option can also be specified in the singular.) + + + + + contains list of interface IP addresses on which to +listen. Each item may optionally also specify a port. + + + + +The default list separator in both cases is a colon, but this can be changed as +described in section . When IPv6 addresses are involved, +it is usually best to change the separator to avoid having to double all the +colons. For example: + + +local_interfaces = <; 127.0.0.1 ; \ + 192.168.23.65 ; \ + ::1 ; \ + 3ffe:ffff:836f::fe86:a061 + + +There are two different formats for specifying a port along with an IP address +in : + + + + +The port is added onto the address with a dot separator. For example, to listen +on port 1234 on two different IP addresses: + + +local_interfaces = <; 192.168.23.65.1234 ; \ + 3ffe:ffff:836f::fe86:a061.1234 + + + + +The IP address is enclosed in square brackets, and the port is added +with a colon separator, for example: + + +local_interfaces = <; [192.168.23.65]:1234 ; \ + [3ffe:ffff:836f::fe86:a061]:1234 + + + + +When a port is not specified, the value of is used. The +default setting contains just one port: + + +daemon_smtp_ports = smtp + + +If more than one port is listed, each interface that does not have its own port +specified listens on all of them. Ports that are listed in + can be identified either by name (defined in +/etc/services) or by number. However, when ports are given with individual +IP addresses in , only numbers (not names) can be used. + +
+
+Special IP listening addresses + +The addresses 0.0.0.0 and ::0 are treated specially. They are interpreted +as all IPv4 interfaces and all IPv6 interfaces, respectively. In each +case, Exim tells the TCP/IP stack to listen on all IPvx interfaces +instead of setting up separate listening sockets for each interface. The +default value of is + + +local_interfaces = 0.0.0.0 + + +when Exim is built without IPv6 support; otherwise it is: + + +local_interfaces = <; ::0 ; 0.0.0.0 + + +Thus, by default, Exim listens on all available interfaces, on the SMTP port. + +
+
+Overriding local_interfaces and daemon_smtp_ports + +The command line option can be used to override the values of + and/or for a particular daemon +instance. Another way of doing this would be to use macros and the +option. However, can be used by any admin user, whereas modification of +the runtime configuration by is allowed only when the caller is root or +exim. + + +The value of is a list of items. The default colon separator can be +changed in the usual way () if required. +If there are any items that do not +contain dots or colons (that is, are not IP addresses), the value of + is replaced by the list of those items. If there are any +items that do contain dots or colons, the value of is +replaced by those items. Thus, for example, + + +-oX 1225 + + +overrides , but leaves unchanged, +whereas + + +-oX 192.168.34.5.1125 + + +overrides , leaving unchanged. +(However, since now contains no items without ports, the +value of is no longer relevant in this example.) + +
+
+Support for the submissions (aka SSMTP or SMTPS) protocol + + +submissions protocol + + +ssmtp protocol + + +smtps protocol + + +SMTP +ssmtp protocol + + +SMTP +smtps protocol + +Exim supports the use of TLS-on-connect, used by mail clients in the +submissions protocol, historically also known as SMTPS or SSMTP. +For some years, IETF Standards Track documents only blessed the +STARTTLS-based Submission service (port 587) while common practice was to support +the same feature set on port 465, but using TLS-on-connect. +If your installation needs to provide service to mail clients +(Mail User Agents, MUAs) then you should provide service on both the 587 and +the 465 TCP ports. + + +If the option is set to a list of port numbers or +service names, connections to those ports must first establish TLS, before +proceeding to the application layer use of the SMTP protocol. + + +The common use of this option is expected to be + + +tls_on_connect_ports = 465 + + +per RFC 8314. +There is also a command line option , which forces all ports +to behave in this way when a daemon is started. + + +Warning: Setting does not of itself cause the +daemon to listen on those ports. You must still specify them in +, , or the option. (This is +because applies to connections as well as to +connections via the daemon.) + +
+
+IPv6 address scopes + + +IPv6 +address scopes + +IPv6 addresses have scopes, and a host with multiple hardware interfaces +can, in principle, have the same link-local IPv6 address on different +interfaces. Thus, additional information is needed, over and above the IP +address, to distinguish individual interfaces. A convention of using a +percent sign followed by something (often the interface name) has been +adopted in some cases, leading to addresses like this: + + +fe80::202:b3ff:fe03:45c1%eth0 + + +To accommodate this usage, a percent sign followed by an arbitrary string is +allowed at the end of an IPv6 address. By default, Exim calls getaddrinfo() +to convert a textual IPv6 address for actual use. This function recognizes the +percent convention in operating systems that support it, and it processes the +address appropriately. Unfortunately, some older libraries have problems with +getaddrinfo(). If + + +IPV6_USE_INET_PTON=yes + + +is set in Local/Makefile (or an OS-dependent Makefile) when Exim is built, +Exim uses inet_pton() to convert a textual IPv6 address for actual use, +instead of getaddrinfo(). (Before version 4.14, it always used this +function.) Of course, this means that the additional functionality of +getaddrinfo() – recognizing scoped addresses – is lost. + +
+
+Disabling IPv6 + + +IPv6 +disabling + +Sometimes it happens that an Exim binary that was compiled with IPv6 support is +run on a host whose kernel does not support IPv6. The binary will fall back to +using IPv4, but it may waste resources looking up AAAA records, and trying to +connect to IPv6 addresses, causing delays to mail delivery. If you set the + + + + option true, even if the Exim binary has IPv6 support, no IPv6 +activities take place. AAAA records are never looked up, and any IPv6 addresses +that are listed in , data for the manualroute router, +etc. are ignored. If IP literals are enabled, the ipliteral router declines +to handle IPv6 literal addresses. + + +On the other hand, when IPv6 is in use, there may be times when you want to +disable it for certain hosts or domains. You can use the +option to globally suppress the lookup of AAAA records for specified domains, +and you can use the generic router option to ignore +IPv6 addresses in an individual router. + +
+
+Examples of starting a listening daemon + +The default case in an IPv6 environment is + + +daemon_smtp_ports = smtp +local_interfaces = <; ::0 ; 0.0.0.0 + + +This specifies listening on the smtp port on all IPv6 and IPv4 interfaces. +Either one or two sockets may be used, depending on the characteristics of +the TCP/IP stack. (This is complicated and messy; for more information, +read the comments in the daemon.c source file.) + + +To specify listening on ports 25 and 26 on all interfaces: + + +daemon_smtp_ports = 25 : 26 + + +(leaving at the default setting) or, more explicitly: + + +local_interfaces = <; ::0.25 ; ::0.26 \ + 0.0.0.0.25 ; 0.0.0.0.26 + + +To listen on the default port on all IPv4 interfaces, and on port 26 on the +IPv4 loopback address only: + + +local_interfaces = 0.0.0.0 : 127.0.0.1.26 + + +To specify listening on the default port on specific interfaces only: + + +local_interfaces = 10.0.0.67 : 192.168.34.67 + + +Warning: Such a setting excludes listening on the loopback interfaces. + +
+
+Recognizing the local host + +The option is also used when Exim needs to determine +whether or not an IP address refers to the local host. That is, the IP +addresses of all the interfaces on which a daemon is listening are always +treated as local. + + +For this usage, port numbers in are ignored. If either of +the items 0.0.0.0 or ::0 are encountered, Exim gets a complete list of +available interfaces from the operating system, and extracts the relevant +(that is, IPv4 or IPv6) addresses to use for checking. + + +Some systems set up large numbers of virtual interfaces in order to provide +many virtual web servers. In this situation, you may want to listen for +email on only a few of the available interfaces, but nevertheless treat all +interfaces as local when routing. You can do this by setting + to a list of IP addresses, possibly including the +all wildcard values. These addresses are recognized as local, but are not +used for listening. Consider this example: + + +local_interfaces = <; 127.0.0.1 ; ::1 ; \ + 192.168.53.235 ; \ + 3ffe:2101:12:1:a00:20ff:fe86:a061 + +extra_local_interfaces = <; ::0 ; 0.0.0.0 + + +The daemon listens on the loopback interfaces and just one IPv4 and one IPv6 +address, but all available interface addresses are treated as local when +Exim is routing. + + +In some environments the local host name may be in an MX list, but with an IP +address that is not assigned to any local interface. In other cases it may be +desirable to treat other host names as if they referred to the local host. Both +these cases can be handled by setting the option. +This contains host names rather than IP addresses. When a host is referenced +during routing, either via an MX record or directly, it is treated as the local +host if its name matches , or if any of its IP +addresses match or . + +
+
+Delivering to a remote host + +Delivery to a remote host is handled by the smtp transport. By default, it +allows the system’s TCP/IP functions to choose which interface to use (if +there is more than one) when connecting to a remote host. However, the + option can be set to specify which interface is used. See the +description of the smtp transport in chapter for more +details. + +
+ + + +Main configuration + + +configuration file +main section + + +main configuration + +The first part of the runtime configuration file contains three types of item: + + + + +Macro definitions: These lines start with an upper case letter. See section + for details of macro processing. + + + + +Named list definitions: These lines start with one of the words domainlist, +hostlist, addresslist, or localpartlist. Their use is described in +section . + + + + +Main configuration settings: Each setting occupies one line of the file +(with possible continuations). If any setting is preceded by the word +hide, the command line option displays its value to admin users +only. See section for a description of the syntax of these option +settings. + + + + +This chapter specifies all the main configuration options, along with their +types and default values. For ease of finding a particular option, they appear +in alphabetical order in section below. However, because there +are now so many options, they are first listed briefly in functional groups, as +an aid to finding the name of the option you are looking for. Some options are +listed in more than one group. + +
+Miscellaneous + + + + + + + +to run for command line option + + + +do extra internal checks + + + +do no IPv6 processing + + + +for broken files – should not happen + + + +for unique message ids in clusters + + + +retain newlines in $message_body + + + +how much to show in $message_body + + + +run in MUA wrapper mode + + + +top-bit characters are printing + + + +use wire-format spool data files when possible + + + +force time zone + + + + +
+
+Exim parameters + + + + + + + +override compiled-in value + + + +override compiled-in value + + + +override compiled-in value + + + +default from uname() + + + +use multiple directories + + + +override compiled-in value + + + + +
+
+Privilege controls + + + + + + + +groups that are Exim admin users + + + +require admin for various checks + + + +drop root for delivery processes + + + +insert Sender: if necessary + + + +for testing From: for local sender + + + +for testing From: for local sender + + + +keep Sender: from untrusted user + + + +do not run deliveries as these + + + +forced delivery requires admin user + + + +queue listing requires admin user + + + +groups that are trusted + + + +users that are trusted + + + + +
+
+Logging + + + + + + + +custom logging + + + +exemption from connect logging + + + +override compiled-in value + + + +set/unset optional logging + + + +add timezone to log lines + + + +create per-message logs + + + +after message completion + + + +for SIGUSR1 and exiwhat + + + +control logging of slow DNS lookups + + + +controls duplicate log lines on syslog + + + +set syslog facility field + + + +pid in syslog lines + + + +set syslog ident field + + + +timestamp syslog lines + + + +control use of message log + + + + +
+
+Frozen messages + + + + + + + +sets time for retrying frozen messages + + + +send message when freezing + + + +to another directory + + + +keep frozen messages only so long + + + + +
+
+Data lookups + + + + + + + +InterBase servers + + + +dir of CA certs to verify LDAP server’s + + + +file of CA certs to verify LDAP server’s + + + +client cert file for LDAP + + + +client key file for LDAP + + + +TLS negotiation preference control + + + +used if no server in query + + + +action to take without LDAP server cert + + + +require TLS within LDAP + + + +set protocol version + + + +lookup files held open + + + +default MySQL servers + + + +Oracle servers + + + +default PostgreSQL servers + + + +as it says + + + + +
+
+Message ids + + + + + + + +used to build Message-ID: header + + + +ditto + + + + +
+
+Embedded Perl Startup + + + + + + + +always start the interpreter + + + +code to obey when starting Perl + + + +enable taint mode in Perl + + + + +
+
+Daemon + + + + + + + +default ports + + + +number of times to retry + + + +time to sleep between tries + + + +not necessarily listened on + + + +on which to listen, with optional ports + + + +override compiled-in value + + + +maximum simultaneous queue runners + + + + +
+
+Resource control + + + + + + + +before accepting a message + + + +before accepting a message + + + +before accepting a message + + + +before accepting a message + + + +no queue deliveries if load high + + + +queue incoming if load high + + + +don’t re-evaluate load for each message + + + +maximum simultaneous queue runners + + + +parallel SMTP delivery per message + + + +simultaneous incoming connections + + + +non-mail commands + + + +hosts to which the limit applies + + + +messages per connection + + + +connections from one host + + + +queue mail if more connections + + + +queue if more messages per connection + + + +only reserve hosts if more connections + + + +from SIZE on MAIL command + + + +passed to TCP/IP stack + + + +SMTP from reserved hosts if load high + + + +these are the reserve hosts + + + + +
+
+Policy controls + + + + + + + +ACL for non-SMTP messages + + + +ACL for non-SMTP MIME parts + + + +ACL for start of non-SMTP message + + + +ACL for AUTH + + + +ACL for connection + + + +ACL for DATA + + + +ACL for DATA, per-recipient + + + +ACL for DKIM verification + + + +ACL for ETRN + + + +ACL for EXPN + + + +ACL for EHLO or HELO + + + +ACL for MAIL + + + +ACL for AUTH on MAIL command + + + +ACL for MIME parts + + + +ACL for non-QUIT terminations + + + +ACL for start of data + + + +ACL for QUIT + + + +ACL for RCPT + + + +ACL for STARTTLS + + + +ACL for VRFY + + + +specify virus scanner + + + +check length of RFC 2047 encoded words + + + +follow CNAMEs returned by resolver + + + +control CSA parent search depth + + + +en/disable CSA IP reverse search + + + +total size of message header + + + +individual header line limit + + + +allow syntactic junk from these hosts + + + +allow illegal chars in HELO names + + + +lookup hostname for these HELO names + + + +HELO soft-checked for these hosts + + + +HELO hard-checked for these hosts + + + +host name looked up for these hosts + + + +order of DNS and local name lookups + + + +use proxy protocol for these hosts + + + +reject connection from these hosts + + + +useful in some cluster configurations + + + +timeout for local_scan() + + + +for all messages + + + +recognize %-hack for these domains + + + +set interface to SpamAssassin + + + +object to unset ACL variables + + + + +
+
+Callout cache + + + + + + + +timeout for negative domain cache item + + + +timeout for positive domain cache item + + + +timeout for negative address cache item + + + +timeout for positive address cache item + + + +string to use for random testing + + + + +
+
+TLS + + + + + + + +use GnuTLS compatibility mode + + + +allow GnuTLS to autoload PKCS11 modules + + + +adjust OpenSSL compatibility options + + + +advertise TLS to these hosts + + + +location of server certificate + + + +certificate revocation list + + + +clamp D-H bit count suggestion + + + +DH parameters for server + + + +EC curve selection for server + + + +location of server certificate status proof + + + +specify SSMTP (SMTPS) ports + + + +location of server private key + + + +don’t reset after starting TLS + + + +specify acceptable ciphers + + + +try to verify client certificate + + + +expected client certificates + + + +insist on client certificate verify + + + + +
+
+Local user handling + + + + + + + +useful in NIS environments + + + +used when creating Sender: + + + +ditto + + + +for systems that truncate + + + +used when no login name found + + + +ditto + + + +for recognizing From lines + + + +ditto + + + + +
+
+All incoming messages (SMTP and non-SMTP) + + + + + + + +total size of message header + + + +individual header line limit + + + +applies to all messages + + + +recognize %-hack for these domains + + + +expanded to make Received: + + + +for mail loop detection + + + +limit per message + + + +permanently reject excess recipients + + + + +
+
+Non-SMTP incoming messages + + + + + + + +for non-SMTP messages + + + + +
+
+Incoming SMTP messages + +See also the Policy controls section above. + + + + + + + + +DKIM domain for which DKIM ACL is run + + + +host name looked up for these hosts + + + +order of DNS and local name lookups + + + +may send unqualified recipients + + + +make ident calls to these hosts + + + +zero disables ident calls + + + +may send unqualified senders + + + +some TCP/IP magic + + + +simultaneous incoming connections + + + +non-mail commands + + + +hosts to which the limit applies + + + +messages per connection + + + +connections from one host + + + +queue mail if more connections + + + +queue if more messages per connection + + + +only reserve hosts if more connections + + + +host name to use in messages + + + +text for welcome banner + + + +from SIZE on MAIL command + + + +passed to TCP/IP stack + + + +of SMTP command/responses + + + +what to run for ETRN + + + +only one at once + + + +only reserve hosts if this load + + + +before dropping connection + + + +apply ratelimiting to these hosts + + + +ratelimit for MAIL commands + + + +ratelimit for RCPT commands + + + +per command or data line + + + +these are the reserve hosts + + + +give detail on rejections + + + + +
+
+SMTP extensions + + + + + + + +advertise 8BITMIME + + + +advertise AUTH to these hosts + + + +advertise CHUNKING to these hosts + + + +advertise DSN extensions to these hosts + + + +allow From from these hosts + + + +allow From from local SMTP + + + +advertise pipelining to these hosts + + + +advertise PRDR to all hosts + + + +advertise SMTPUTF8 to these hosts + + + +advertise TLS to these hosts + + + + +
+
+Processing messages + + + + + + + +recognize domain literal syntax + + + +allow MX to point to IP address + + + +in addresses + + + +check length of RFC 2047 encoded words + + + +from incoming messages + + + +from incoming messages + + + +affects processing + + + +default for translations + + + +default for senders + + + +default for recipients + + + +from incoming messages + + + +in addresses + + + +at end of addresses + + + +untrusted can set envelope sender + + + + +
+
+System filter + + + + + + + +locate system filter + + + +transport for delivery to a directory + + + +transport for delivery to a file + + + +group for filter running + + + +transport for delivery to a pipe + + + +transport for autoreply delivery + + + +user for filter running + + + + +
+
+Routing and delivery + + + + + + + +do no IPv6 processing + + + +for broken domains + + + +pre-DNS syntax check + + + +parameter for resolver + + + +only v4 lookup for these domains + + + +parameter for resolver + + + +parameter for resolver + + + +DNS zones trusted as authentic + + + +parameter for resolver + + + +hold delivery for these domains + + + +for routing checks + + + +no immediate delivery for these + + + +no immediate delivery at all + + + +no immediate delivery if file exists + + + +no immediate delivery if load is high + + + +don’t re-evaluate load for each message + + + +allow command line to override + + + +order of arrival + + + +of simultaneous queue runners + + + +no immediate SMTP delivery for these + + + +parallel SMTP delivery per message + + + +order of remote deliveries + + + +timeout for retry data + + + +safety net for retry rules + + + + +
+
+Bounce and warning messages + + + + + + + +content of bounce + + + +content of bounce + + + +include body if returning message + + + +limit on returned message line length + + + +include original message in bounce + + + +limit on returned message + + + +send authenticated sender with bounce + + + +set From: contents in bounces + + + +copy bounce messages + + + +Reply-to: in bounces + + + +time schedule + + + +condition for warning messages + + + +discard undeliverable bounces + + + +give detail on rejections + + + +content of warning message + + + + +
+
+Alphabetical list of main options + +Those options that undergo string expansion before use are marked with +†. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +8BITMIME + + +8-bit characters + + +log +selectors + + +log +8BITMIME + +This option causes Exim to send 8BITMIME in its response to an SMTP +EHLO command, and to accept the BODY= parameter on MAIL commands. +However, though Exim is 8-bit clean, it is not a protocol converter, and it +takes no steps to do anything special with messages received by this route. + + +Historically Exim kept this option off by default, but the maintainers +feel that in today’s Internet, this causes more problems than it solves. +It now defaults to true. +A more detailed analysis of the issues is provided by Dan Bernstein: + + +https://cr.yp.to/smtp/8bitmime.html + + +To log received 8BITMIME status use + + +log_selector = +8bitmime + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +access control lists (ACLs) +for non-SMTP messages + + +non-SMTP messages +ACLs for + +This option defines the ACL that is run when a non-SMTP message has been +read and is on the point of being accepted. See chapter for +further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option defines the ACL that is run for individual MIME parts of non-SMTP +messages. It operates in exactly the same way as operates for +SMTP messages. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +access control lists (ACLs) +at start of non-SMTP message + + +non-SMTP messages +ACLs for + +This option defines the ACL that is run before Exim starts reading a +non-SMTP message. See chapter for further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +access control lists (ACLs) +setting up for SMTP commands + + +AUTH +ACL for + +This option defines the ACL that is run when an SMTP AUTH command is +received. See chapter for further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +access control lists (ACLs) +on SMTP connection + +This option defines the ACL that is run when an SMTP connection is received. +See chapter for further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +DATA +ACL for + +This option defines the ACL that is run after an SMTP DATA command has been +processed and the message itself has been received, but before the final +acknowledgment is sent. See chapter for further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: accept + + + + + + +PRDR +ACL for + + +DATA +PRDR ACL for + + +access control lists (ACLs) +PRDR-related + + +access control lists (ACLs) +per-user data processing + +This option defines the ACL that, +if the PRDR feature has been negotiated, +is run for each recipient after an SMTP DATA command has been +processed and the message itself has been received, but before the +acknowledgment is sent. See chapter for further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +DKIM +ACL for + +This option defines the ACL that is run for each DKIM signature +(by default, or as specified in the dkim_verify_signers option) +of a received message. +See section for further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +ETRN +ACL for + +This option defines the ACL that is run when an SMTP ETRN command is +received. See chapter for further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +EXPN +ACL for + +This option defines the ACL that is run when an SMTP EXPN command is +received. See chapter for further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +EHLO +ACL for + + +HELO +ACL for + +This option defines the ACL that is run when an SMTP EHLO or HELO +command is received. See chapter for further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +MAIL +ACL for + +This option defines the ACL that is run when an SMTP MAIL command is +received. See chapter for further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +AUTH +on MAIL command + +This option defines the ACL that is run when there is an AUTH parameter on +a MAIL command. See chapter for details of ACLs, and chapter + for details of authentication. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +MIME content scanning +ACL for + +This option is available when Exim is built with the content-scanning +extension. It defines the ACL that is run for each MIME part in a message. See +section for details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +not-QUIT, ACL for + +This option defines the ACL that is run when an SMTP session +ends without a QUIT command being received. +See chapter for further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option defines the ACL that is run when an SMTP DATA command is +received, before the message itself is received. See chapter for +further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +QUIT, ACL for + +This option defines the ACL that is run when an SMTP QUIT command is +received. See chapter for further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +RCPT +ACL for + +This option defines the ACL that is run when an SMTP RCPT command is +received. See chapter for further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +STARTTLS, ACL for + +This option defines the ACL that is run when an SMTP STARTTLS command is +received. See chapter for further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +VRFY +ACL for + +This option defines the ACL that is run when an SMTP VRFY command is +received. See chapter for further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string list +Default: empty + + + + + + +environment +set values + +This option allows to set individual environment variables that the +currently linked libraries and programs in child processes use. +See for the environment of pipe transports. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +admin user + +This option is expanded just once, at the start of Exim’s processing. If the +current group or any of the supplementary groups of an Exim caller is in this +colon-separated list, the caller has admin privileges. If all your system +programmers are in a specific group, for example, you can give them all Exim +admin privileges by putting that group in . However, this does +not permit them to read Exim’s spool files (whose group owner is the Exim gid). +To permit this, you have to add individuals to the Exim group. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +domain literal + +If this option is set, the RFC 2822 domain literal format is permitted in +email addresses. The option is not set by default, because the domain literal +format is not normally required these days, and few people know about it. It +has, however, been exploited by mail abusers. + + +Unfortunately, it seems that some DNS black list maintainers are using this +format to report black listing to postmasters. If you want to accept messages +addressed to your hosts by IP address, you need to set + true, and also to add @[] to the list of local +domains (defined in the named domain list in the default +configuration). This magic string matches the domain literal form of all +the local host’s IP addresses. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +MX record +pointing to IP address + +It appears that more and more DNS zone administrators are breaking the rules +and putting domain names that look like IP addresses on the right hand side of +MX records. Exim follows the rules and rejects this, giving an error message +that explains the misconfiguration. However, some other MTAs support this +practice, so to avoid Why can’t Exim do this? complaints, + exists, in order to enable this heinous activity. It is not +recommended, except when you have no other choice. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +domain +UTF-8 characters in + + +UTF-8 +in domain name + +Lots of discussion is going on about internationalized domain names. One +camp is strongly in favour of just using UTF-8 characters, and it seems +that at least two other MTAs permit this. This option allows Exim users to +experiment if they wish. + + +If it is set true, Exim’s domain parsing function allows valid +UTF-8 multicharacters to appear in domain name components, in addition to +letters, digits, and hyphens. However, just setting this option is not +enough; if you want to look up these domain names in the DNS, you must also +adjust the value of to match the extended form. A +suitable setting is: + + +dns_check_names_pattern = (?i)^(?>(?(1)\.|())[a-z0-9\xc0-\xff]\ + (?>[-a-z0-9\x80-\xff]*[a-z0-9\x80-\xbf])?)+$ + + +Alternatively, you can just disable this feature by setting + + +dns_check_names_pattern = + + +That is, set the option to an empty string so that no check is done. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: * + + + + + + +authentication +advertising + + +AUTH +advertising + +If any server authentication mechanisms are configured, Exim advertises them in +response to an EHLO command only if the calling host matches this list. +Otherwise, Exim does not advertise AUTH. +Exim does not accept AUTH commands from clients to which it has not +advertised the availability of AUTH. The advertising of individual +authentication mechanisms can be controlled by the use of the + generic authenticator option on the individual +authenticators. See chapter for further details. + + +Certain mail clients (for example, Netscape) require the user to provide a name +and password for authentication if AUTH is advertised, even though it may +not be needed (the host may accept messages from hosts on its local LAN without +authentication, for example). The option can be used +to make these clients more friendly by excluding them from the set of hosts to +which Exim advertises AUTH. + + + +AUTH +advertising when encrypted + +If you want to advertise the availability of AUTH only when the connection +is encrypted using TLS, you can make use of the fact that the value of this +option is expanded, with a setting like this: + + +auth_advertise_hosts = ${if eq{$tls_in_cipher}{}{}{*}} + + + +$tls_in_cipher + +If $tls_in_cipher is empty, the session is not encrypted, and the result of +the expansion is empty, thus matching no hosts. Otherwise, the result of the +expansion is *, which matches all hosts. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: time +Default: 0s + + + + + + +thawing messages + + +unfreezing messages + +If this option is set to a time greater than zero, a queue runner will try a +new delivery attempt on any frozen message, other than a bounce message, if +this much time has passed since it was frozen. This may result in the message +being re-frozen if nothing has changed since the last attempt. It is a way of +saying keep on trying, even though there are big problems. + + +Note: This is an old option, which predates and +. It is retained for compatibility, but it is not +thought to be very useful any more, and its use should probably be avoided. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: see below + + + + + +This option is available if Exim is built with the content-scanning extension. +It specifies which anti-virus scanner to use. The default value is: + + +sophie:/var/run/sophie + + +If the value of starts with a dollar character, it is expanded +before use. See section for further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + + + +This option supplies the name of a command that is run when Exim is called with +the option (see chapter ). The string value is +just the command name, it is not a complete command line. If an argument is +required, it must come from the command line option. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +bounce message +customizing + + +customizing +bounce message + +This option defines a template file containing paragraphs of text to be used +for constructing bounce messages. Details of the file’s contents are given in +chapter . See also . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + +When this option is set, its contents are included in the default bounce +message immediately after This message was created automatically by mail +delivery software. It is not used if is set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +bounce message +including body + +This option controls whether the body of an incoming message is included in a +bounce message when is true. The default setting +causes the entire message, both header and body, to be returned (subject to the +value of ). If this option is false, only the +message header is included. In the case of a non-SMTP message containing an +error that is detected during reception, only those header lines preceding the +point at which the error was detected are returned. + +bounce message +including original + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 998 + + + + + + +size +of bounce lines, limit + + +bounce message +line length limit + + +limit +bounce message line length + +This option sets a limit in bytes on the line length of messages +that are returned to senders due to delivery problems, +when is true. +The default value corresponds to RFC limits. +If the message being returned has lines longer than this value it is +treated as if the (below) restriction was exceeded. + + +The option also applies to bounces returned when an error is detected +during reception of a message. +In this case lines from the original are truncated. + + +The option does not apply to messages generated by an autoreply transport. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + +If this option is set false, none of the original message is included in +bounce messages generated by Exim. See also and +. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 100K + + + + + + +size +of bounce, limit + + +bounce message +size limit + + +limit +bounce message size + +This option sets a limit in bytes on the size of messages that are returned to +senders as part of bounce messages when is true. The +limit should be less than the value of the global and of +any settings on transports, to allow for the bounce text +that Exim generates. If this option is set to zero there is no limit. + + +When the body of any message that is to be included in a bounce message is +greater than the limit, it is truncated, and a comment pointing this out is +added at the top. The actual cutoff may be greater than the value given, owing +to the use of buffering for transferring the message in chunks (typically 8K in +size). The idea is to save bandwidth on those undeliverable 15-megabyte +messages. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +bounce message +sender authentication + + +authentication +bounce message + + +AUTH +on bounce message + +This option provides an authenticated sender address that is sent with any +bounce messages generated by Exim that are sent over an authenticated SMTP +connection. A typical setting might be: + + +bounce_sender_authentication = mailer-daemon@my.domain.example + + +which would cause bounce messages to be sent using the SMTP command: + + +MAIL FROM:<> AUTH=mailer-daemon@my.domain.example + + +The value of must always be a complete email +address. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: time +Default: 3h + + + + + + +caching +callout timeouts + + +callout +caching timeouts + +This option specifies the expiry time for negative callout cache data for a +domain. See section for details of callout verification, and +section for details of the caching. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: time +Default: 7d + + + + + +This option specifies the expiry time for positive callout cache data for a +domain. See section for details of callout verification, and +section for details of the caching. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: time +Default: 2h + + + + + +This option specifies the expiry time for negative callout cache data for an +address. See section for details of callout verification, and +section for details of the caching. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: time +Default: 24h + + + + + +This option specifies the expiry time for positive callout cache data for an +address. See section for details of callout verification, and +section for details of the caching. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: see below + + + + + +This option defines the random local part that can be used as part of +callout verification. The default value is + + +$primary_hostname-$tod_epoch-testing + + +See section for details of how this value is used. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 100 + + + + + +See below. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 10M + + + + + +See below. + + + + + + +RFC 2047 +disabling length check + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + +RFC 2047 defines a way of encoding non-ASCII characters in headers using a +system of encoded words. The RFC specifies a maximum length for an encoded +word; strings to be encoded that exceed this length are supposed to use +multiple encoded words. By default, Exim does not recognize encoded words that +exceed the maximum length. However, it seems that some software, in violation +of the RFC, generates overlong encoded words. If is +set false, Exim recognizes encoded words of any length. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 100 + + + + + +See below. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 10M + + + + + + +checking disk space + + +disk space, checking + + +spool directory +checking space + +The four options allow for checking of disk resources before a +message is accepted. + + + +$log_inodes + + +$log_space + + +$spool_inodes + + +$spool_space + +When any of these options are nonzero, they apply to all incoming messages. If you +want to apply different checks to different kinds of message, you can do so by +testing the variables $log_inodes, $log_space, $spool_inodes, and +$spool_space in an ACL with appropriate additional conditions. + + + and check the spool partition if +either value is greater than zero, for example: + + +check_spool_space = 100M +check_spool_inodes = 100 + + +The spool partition is the one that contains the directory defined by +SPOOL_DIRECTORY in Local/Makefile. It is used for holding messages in +transit. + + + and check the partition in which log +files are written if either is greater than zero. These should be set only if + and refer to different partitions. + + +If there is less space or fewer inodes than requested, Exim refuses to accept +incoming mail. In the case of SMTP input this is done by giving a 452 temporary +error response to the MAIL command. If ESMTP is in use and there was a +SIZE parameter on the MAIL command, its value is added to the + value, and the check is performed even if + is zero, unless is set. + + +The values for and are held as a +number of kilobytes (though specified in bytes). +If a non-multiple of 1024 is specified, it is rounded up. + + +For non-SMTP input and for batched SMTP input, the test is done at start-up; on +failure a message is written to stderr and Exim exits with a non-zero code, as +it obviously cannot send an error message of any kind. + + +There is a slight performance penalty for these checks. +Versions of Exim preceding 4.88 had these disabled by default; +high-rate installations confident they will never run out of resources +may wish to deliberately disable them. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: * + + + + + + +CHUNKING +advertisement + + +RFC 3030 +CHUNKING + +The CHUNKING extension (RFC3030) will be advertised in the EHLO message to +these hosts. +Hosts may use the BDAT command as an alternate to DATA. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +restricting access to features + +This option restricts various basic checking features to require an +administrative user. +This affects most of the options, such as . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +debugging +memory corruption + + +memory +debugging + +This option, when true, enables extra checking in Exim’s internal memory +management. For use when a memory corruption issue is being investigated, +it should normally be left as default. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: smtp + + + + + + +port +for daemon + + +TCP/IP +setting listening ports + +This option specifies one or more default SMTP ports on which the Exim daemon +listens. See chapter for details of how it is used. For +backward compatibility, (singular) is a synonym. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 9 + + + + + + +daemon startup, retrying + +This option, along with , controls the retrying done by +the daemon at startup when it cannot immediately bind a listening socket +(typically because the socket is already in use): +defines the number of retries after the first failure, and + defines the length of time to wait between retries. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: time +Default: 30s + + + + + +See . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: time list +Default: 24h + + + + + + +warning of delay + + +delay warning, specifying + + +queue +delay warning + +When a message is delayed, Exim sends a warning message to the sender at +intervals specified by this option. The data is a colon-separated list of times +after which to send warning messages. If the value of the option is an empty +string or a zero time, no warnings are sent. Up to 10 times may be given. If a +message has been in the queue for longer than the last time, the last interval +between the times is used to compute subsequent warning times. For example, +with + + +delay_warning = 4h:8h:24h + + +the first message is sent after 4 hours, the second after 8 hours, and +the third one after 24 hours. After that, messages are sent every 16 hours, +because that is the interval between the last two times on the list. If you set +just one time, it specifies the repeat interval. For example, with: + + +delay_warning = 6h + + +messages are repeated every six hours. To stop warnings after a given time, set +a very large time at the end of the list. For example: + + +delay_warning = 2h:12h:99d + + +Note that the option is only evaluated at the time a delivery attempt fails, +which depends on retry and queue-runner configuration. +Typically retries will be configured more frequently than warning messages. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: see below + + + + + + +$domain + +The string is expanded at the time a warning message might be sent. If all the +deferred addresses have the same domain, it is set in $domain during the +expansion. Otherwise $domain is empty. If the result of the expansion is a +forced failure, an empty string, or a string matching any of 0, no or +false (the comparison being done caselessly) then the warning message is +not sent. The default is: + + +delay_warning_condition = ${if or {\ + { !eq{$h_list-id:$h_list-post:$h_list-subscribe:}{} }\ + { match{$h_precedence:}{(?i)bulk|list|junk} }\ + { match{$h_auto-submitted:}{(?i)auto-generated|auto-replied} }\ + } {no}{yes}} + + +This suppresses the sending of warnings for messages that contain List-ID:, +List-Post:, or List-Subscribe: headers, or have bulk, list or +junk in a Precedence: header, or have auto-generated or +auto-replied in an Auto-Submitted: header. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +unprivileged delivery + + +delivery +unprivileged + +If this option is set true, Exim drops its root privilege at the start of a +delivery process, and runs as the Exim user throughout. This severely restricts +the kinds of local delivery that are possible, but is viable in certain types +of configuration. There is a discussion about the use of root privilege in +chapter . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: fixed-point +Default: unset + + + + + + +load average + + +queue runner +abandoning + +When this option is set, a queue run is abandoned if the system load average +becomes greater than the value of the option. The option has no effect on +ancient operating systems on which Exim cannot determine the load average. +See also and . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +Delivery-date: header line + +Exim’s transports have an option for adding a Delivery-date: header to a +message when it is delivered, in exactly the same way as Return-path: is +handled. Delivery-date: records the actual time of delivery. Such headers +should not be present in incoming messages, and this option causes them to be +removed at the time the message is received, to avoid any problems that might +occur when a delivered message is subsequently sent on to some other recipient. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +fsync(), disabling + +This option is available only if Exim was built with the compile-time option +ENABLE_DISABLE_FSYNC. When this is not set, a reference to in +a runtime configuration generates an unknown option error. You should not +build Exim with ENABLE_DISABLE_FSYNC or set unless you +really, really, really understand what you are doing. No pre-compiled +distributions of Exim should ever make this option available. + + +When is set true, Exim no longer calls fsync() to force +updated files’ data to be written to disc before continuing. Unexpected events +such as crashes and power outages may cause data to be lost or scrambled. +Here be Dragons. Beware. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +IPv6 +disabling + +If this option is set true, even if the Exim binary has IPv6 support, no IPv6 +activities take place. AAAA records are never looked up, and any IPv6 addresses +that are listed in , data for the router, +etc. are ignored. If IP literals are enabled, the ipliteral router declines +to handle IPv6 literal addresses. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: domain list† +Default: $dkim_signers + + + + + + +DKIM +controlling calls to the ACL + +This option gives a list of DKIM domains for which the DKIM ACL is run. +It is expanded after the message is received; by default it runs +the ACL once for each signature in the message. +See section . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: domain list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +DNS +try again response; overriding + +DNS lookups give a try again response for the DNS errors +non-authoritative host not found and SERVERFAIL. This can cause Exim to +keep trying to deliver a message, or to give repeated temporary errors to +incoming mail. Sometimes the effect is caused by a badly set up name server and +may persist for a long time. If a domain which exhibits this problem matches +anything in , it is treated as if it did not exist. +This option should be used with care. You can make it apply to reverse lookups +by a setting such as this: + + +dns_again_means_nonexist = *.in-addr.arpa + + +This option applies to all DNS lookups that Exim does. It also applies when the +gethostbyname() or getipnodebyname() functions give temporary errors, +since these are most likely to be caused by DNS lookup problems. The +dnslookup router has some options of its own for controlling what happens +when lookups for MX or SRV records give temporary errors. These more specific +options are applied after this global option. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: see below + + + + + + +DNS +pre-check of name syntax + +When this option is set to a non-empty string, it causes Exim to check domain +names for characters that are not allowed in host names before handing them to +the DNS resolver, because some resolvers give temporary errors for names that +contain unusual characters. If a domain name contains any unwanted characters, +a not found result is forced, and the resolver is not called. The check is +done by matching the domain name against a regular expression, which is the +value of this option. The default pattern is + + +dns_check_names_pattern = \ + (?i)^(?>(?(1)\.|())[^\W_](?>[a-z0-9/-]*[^\W_])?)+$ + + +which permits only letters, digits, slashes, and hyphens in components, but +they must start and end with a letter or digit. Slashes are not, in fact, +permitted in host names, but they are found in certain NS records (which can be +accessed in Exim by using a lookup). If you set +, you must modify this pattern, or set the option to an +empty string. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 5 + + + + + +This option controls the depth of parental searching for CSA SRV records in the +DNS, as described in more detail in section . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + +This option controls whether or not an IP address, given as a CSA domain, is +reversed and looked up in the reverse DNS, as described in more detail in +section . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 1 + + + + + + +DNS +CNAME following + +This option controls the following of CNAME chains, needed if the resolver does +not do it internally. +As of 2018 most should, and the default can be left. +If you have an ancient one, a value of 10 is likely needed. + + +The default value of one CNAME-follow is needed +thanks to the observed return for an MX request, +given no MX presence but a CNAME to an A, of the CNAME. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: -1 + + + + + + +DNS +resolver options + + +DNS +DNSSEC + +If this option is set to a non-negative number then Exim will initialise the +DNS resolver library to either use or not use DNSSEC, overriding the system +default. A value of 0 coerces DNSSEC off, a value of 1 coerces DNSSEC on. + + +If the resolver library does not support DNSSEC then this option has no effect. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: domain list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +IPv6 +DNS lookup for AAAA records + + +DNS +IPv6 lookup for AAAA records + + +DNS +IPv6 disabling + +When Exim is compiled with IPv6 support and is not set, it +looks for IPv6 address records (AAAA records) as well as IPv4 address records +(A records) when trying to find IP addresses for hosts, unless the host’s +domain matches this list. + + +This is a fudge to help with name servers that give big delays or otherwise do +not work for the AAAA record type. In due course, when the world’s name +servers have all been upgraded, there should be no need for this option. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: time +Default: 0s + + + + + + +DNS +resolver options + + +timeout +dns lookup + + +DNS +timeout + +The options and can be used to set the +retransmission and retry parameters for DNS lookups. Values of zero (the +defaults) leave the system default settings unchanged. The first value is the +time between retries, and the second is the number of retries. It isn’t +totally clear exactly how these settings affect the total time a DNS lookup may +take. I haven’t found any documentation about timeouts on DNS lookups; these +parameter values are available in the external resolver interface structure, +but nowhere does it seem to describe how they are used or what you might want +to set in them. +See also the option. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 0 + + + + + +See above. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: domain list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +DNS +resolver options + + +DNS +DNSSEC + +If this option is set then lookup results marked with the AA bit +(Authoritative Answer) are trusted the same way as if they were +DNSSEC-verified. The authority section’s name of the answer must +match with this expanded domain list. + + +Use this option only if you talk directly to a resolver that is +authoritative for some zones and does not set the AD (Authentic Data) +bit in the answer. Some DNS servers may have an configuration option to +mark the answers from their own zones as verified (they set the AD bit). +Others do not have this option. It is considered as poor practice using +a resolver that is an authoritative server for some zones. + + +Use this option only if you really have to (e.g. if you want +to use DANE for remote delivery to a server that is listed in the DNS +zones that your resolver is authoritative for). + + +If the DNS answer packet has the AA bit set and contains resource record +in the answer section, the name of the first NS record appearing in the +authority section is compared against the list. If the answer packet is +authoritative but the answer section is empty, the name of the first SOA +record in the authoritative section is used instead. + + + +DNS +resolver options + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: -1 + + + + + + +DNS +resolver options + + +DNS +EDNS0 + + +DNS +OpenBSD + +If this option is set to a non-negative number then Exim will initialise the +DNS resolver library to either use or not use EDNS0 extensions, overriding +the system default. A value of 0 coerces EDNS0 off, a value of 1 coerces EDNS0 +on. + + +If the resolver library does not support EDNS0 then this option has no effect. + + +OpenBSD’s asr resolver routines are known to ignore the EDNS0 option; this +means that DNSSEC will not work with Exim on that platform either, unless Exim +is linked against an alternative DNS client library. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +This is an obsolete option that is now a no-op. It used to affect the way Exim +handled CR and LF characters in incoming messages. What happens now is +described in section . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +bounce messages +success + + +DSN +success + + +Delivery Status Notification +success + +DSN extensions (RFC3461) will be advertised in the EHLO message to, +and accepted from, these hosts. +Hosts may use the NOTIFY and ENVID options on RCPT TO commands, +and RET and ORCPT options on MAIL FROM commands. +A NOTIFY=SUCCESS option requests success-DSN messages. +A NOTIFY= option with no argument requests that no delay or failure DSNs +are sent. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: see below + + + + + + +From: header line +in bounces + + +bounce messages +From: line, specifying + +This option can be used to vary the contents of From: header lines in +bounces and other automatically generated messages (Delivery Status +Notifications – hence the name of the option). The default setting is: + + +dsn_from = Mail Delivery System <Mailer-Daemon@$qualify_domain> + + +The value is expanded every time it is needed. If the expansion fails, a +panic is logged, and the default value is used. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +Envelope-to: header line + +Exim’s transports have an option for adding an Envelope-to: header to a +message when it is delivered, in exactly the same way as Return-path: is +handled. Envelope-to: records the original recipient address from the +message’s envelope that caused the delivery to happen. Such headers should not +be present in incoming messages, and this option causes them to be removed at +the time the message is received, to avoid any problems that might occur when a +delivered message is subsequently sent on to some other recipient. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +bounce message +copy to other address + + +copy of bounce message + +Setting this option causes Exim to send bcc copies of bounce messages that it +generates to other addresses. Note: This does not apply to bounce messages +coming from elsewhere. The value of the option is a colon-separated list of +items. Each item consists of a pattern, terminated by white space, followed by +a comma-separated list of email addresses. If a pattern contains spaces, it +must be enclosed in double quotes. + + +Each pattern is processed in the same way as a single item in an address list +(see section ). When a pattern matches the recipient of +the bounce message, the message is copied to the addresses on the list. The +items are scanned in order, and once a matching one is found, no further items +are examined. For example: + + +errors_copy = spqr@mydomain postmaster@mydomain.example :\ + rqps@mydomain hostmaster@mydomain.example,\ + postmaster@mydomain.example + + + +$domain + + +$local_part + +The address list is expanded before use. The expansion variables $local_part +and $domain are set from the original recipient of the error message, and if +there was any wildcard matching in the pattern, the expansion + +numerical variables ($1 $2 etc) +in + +variables $0, $1, etc. are set in the normal way. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +bounce message +Reply-to: in + +By default, Exim’s bounce and delivery warning messages contain the header line + + +From: Mail Delivery System <Mailer-Daemon@qualify-domain> + + + + + +where qualify-domain is the value of the option. +A warning message that is generated by the option in an +appendfile transport may contain its own From: header line that +overrides the default. + + +Experience shows that people reply to bounce messages. If the + option is set, a Reply-To: header is added to bounce +and warning messages. For example: + + +errors_reply_to = postmaster@my.domain.example + + +The value of the option is not expanded. It must specify a valid RFC 2822 +address. However, if a warning message that is generated by the + option in an appendfile transport contain its +own Reply-To: header line, the value of the option is +not used. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +events + +This option declares a string to be expanded for Exim’s events mechanism. +For details see chapter . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: compile-time configured + + + + + + +gid (group id) +Exim’s own + + +Exim group + +This option changes the gid under which Exim runs when it gives up root +privilege. The default value is compiled into the binary. The value of this +option is used only when is also set. Unless it consists entirely +of digits, the string is looked up using getgrnam(), and failure causes a +configuration error. See chapter for a discussion of +security issues. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: see below + + + + + + +Exim binary, path name + +This option specifies the path name of the Exim binary, which is used when Exim +needs to re-exec itself. The default is set up to point to the file exim in +the directory configured at compile time by the BIN_DIRECTORY setting. It +is necessary to change if, exceptionally, Exim is run from some +other place. +Warning: Do not use a macro to define the value of this option, because +you will break those Exim utilities that scan the configuration file to find +where the binary is. (They then use the option to extract option +settings such as the value of .) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: compile-time configured + + + + + + +uid (user id) +Exim’s own + + +Exim user + +This option changes the uid under which Exim runs when it gives up root +privilege. The default value is compiled into the binary. Ownership of the run +time configuration file and the use of the and command line +options is checked against the values in the binary, not what is set here. + + +Unless it consists entirely of digits, the string is looked up using +getpwnam(), and failure causes a configuration error. If is +not also supplied, the gid is taken from the result of getpwnam() if it is +used. See chapter for a discussion of security issues. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string list +Default: unset + + + + + +This option defines network interfaces that are to be considered local when +routing, but which are not used for listening by the daemon. See section + for details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + + + + +command line +addresses with + + +Sendmail compatibility + option + +According to some Sendmail documentation (Sun, IRIX, HP-UX), if any addresses +are present on the command line when the option is used to build an +envelope from a message’s To:, Cc: and Bcc: headers, the command +line addresses are removed from the recipients list. This is also how Smail +behaves. However, other Sendmail documentation (the O’Reilly book) states that +command line addresses are added to those obtained from the header lines. When + is true (the default), Exim subtracts +argument headers. If it is set false, Exim adds rather than removes argument +addresses. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 0 + + + + + + +NIS, retrying user lookups + +On systems running NIS or other schemes in which user and group information is +distributed from a remote system, there can be times when getpwnam() and +related functions fail, even when given valid data, because things time out. +Unfortunately these failures cannot be distinguished from genuine not found +errors. If is set greater than zero, Exim will try that +many extra times to find a user or a group, waiting for one second between +retries. + + + +/etc/passwd +multiple reading of + +You should not set this option greater than zero if your user information is in +a traditional /etc/passwd file, because it will cause Exim needlessly to +search the file multiple times for non-existent users, and also cause delay. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string list, comma separated +Default: unset + + + + + + +freezing messages +sending a message when freezing + +On encountering certain errors, or when configured to do so in a system filter, +ACL, or special router, Exim freezes a message. This means that no further +delivery attempts take place until an administrator thaws the message, or the +, , or +feature cause it to be processed. If is set, Exim generates a +warning message whenever it freezes something, unless the message it is +freezing is a locally-generated bounce message. (Without this exception there +is the possibility of looping.) The warning message is sent to the addresses +supplied as the comma-separated value of this option. If several of the +message’s addresses cause freezing, only a single message is sent. If the +freezing was automatic, the reason(s) for freezing can be found in the message +log. If you configure freezing in a filter or ACL, you must arrange for any +logging that you require. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +HP-UX + + +gecos field, parsing + +Some operating systems, notably HP-UX, use the gecos field in the system +password file to hold other information in addition to users’ real names. Exim +looks up this field for use when it is creating Sender: or From: +headers. If either or are unset, the contents +of the field are used unchanged, except that, if an ampersand is encountered, +it is replaced by the user’s login name with the first character forced to +upper case, since this is a convention that is observed on many systems. + + +When these options are set, is treated as a regular +expression that is to be applied to the field (again with & replaced by the +login name), and if it matches, is expanded and used as the +user’s name. + + + +numerical variables ($1 $2 etc) +in + +Numeric variables such as $1, $2, etc. can be used in the expansion to +pick up sub-fields that were matched by the pattern. In HP-UX, where the user’s +name terminates at the first comma, the following can be used: + + +gecos_pattern = ([^,]*) +gecos_name = $1 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + +See above. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: unset + + + + + +This option controls whether GnuTLS is used in compatibility mode in an Exim +server. This reduces security slightly, but improves interworking with older +implementations of TLS. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: unset + + + + + +This option will let GnuTLS (2.12.0 or later) autoload PKCS11 modules with +the p11-kit configuration files in /etc/pkcs11/modules/. + + +See +https://www.gnutls.org/manual/gnutls.html#Smart-cards-and-HSMs +for documentation. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: see below + + + + + +This option sets a default character set for translating from encoded MIME +words in header lines, when referenced by an $h_xxx expansion item. The +default is the value of HEADERS_CHARSET in Local/Makefile. The +ultimate default is ISO-8859-1. For more details see the description of header +insertions in section . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: see below + + + + + + +header section +maximum size of + + +limit +size of message header section + +This option controls the overall maximum size of a message’s header +section. The default is the value of HEADER_MAXSIZE in +Local/Makefile; the default for that is 1M. Messages with larger header +sections are rejected. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 0 + + + + + + +header lines +maximum size of + + +limit +size of one header line + +This option limits the length of any individual header line in a message, after +all the continuations have been joined together. Messages with individual +header lines that are longer than the limit are rejected. The default value of +zero means no limit. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +HELO +accepting junk data + + +EHLO +accepting junk data + +Exim checks the syntax of HELO and EHLO commands for incoming SMTP +mail, and gives an error response for invalid data. Unfortunately, there are +some SMTP clients that send syntactic junk. They can be accommodated by setting +this option. Note that this is a syntax check only. See +if you want to do semantic checking. +See also for a way of extending the permitted character +set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +HELO +underscores in + + +EHLO +underscores in + + +underscore in EHLO/HELO + +This option can be set to a string of rogue characters that are permitted in +all EHLO and HELO names in addition to the standard letters, digits, +hyphens, and dots. If you really must allow underscores, you can set + + +helo_allow_chars = _ + + +Note that the value is one string, not a list. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: domain list† +Default: @:@[] + + + + + + +HELO +forcing reverse lookup + + +EHLO +forcing reverse lookup + +If the domain given by a client in a HELO or EHLO command matches this +list, a reverse lookup is done in order to establish the host’s true name. The +default forces a lookup if the client host gives the server’s name or any of +its IP addresses (in brackets), something that broken clients have been seen to +do. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +HELO verifying +optional + + +EHLO +verifying, optional + +By default, Exim just checks the syntax of HELO and EHLO commands (see + and ). However, some sites like +to do more extensive checking of the data supplied by these commands. The ACL +condition verify = helo is provided to make this possible. +Formerly, it was necessary also to set this option () +to force the check to occur. From release 4.53 onwards, this is no longer +necessary. If the check has not been done before verify = helo is +encountered, it is done at that time. Consequently, this option is obsolete. +Its specification is retained here for backwards compatibility. + + +When an EHLO or HELO command is received, if the calling host matches +, Exim checks that the host name given in the HELO or +EHLO command either: + + + + +is an IP literal matching the calling address of the host, or + + + + + +DNS +reverse lookup + + +reverse DNS lookup + +matches the host name that Exim obtains by doing a reverse lookup of the +calling host address, or + + + + +when looked up in DNS yields the calling host address. + + + + +However, the EHLO or HELO command is not rejected if any of the checks +fail. Processing continues, but the result of the check is remembered, and can +be detected later in an ACL by the verify = helo condition. + + +If DNS was used for successful verification, the variable + +DNS +DNSSEC + +$helo_verify_dnssec records the DNSSEC status of the lookups. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +HELO verifying +mandatory + + +EHLO +verifying, mandatory + +Like , this option is obsolete, and retained only for +backwards compatibility. For hosts that match this option, Exim checks the host +name given in the HELO or EHLO in the same way as for +. If the check fails, the HELO or EHLO command is +rejected with a 550 error, and entries are written to the main and reject logs. +If a MAIL command is received before EHLO or HELO, it is rejected with a 503 +error. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: domain list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +domain +delaying delivery + + +delivery +delaying certain domains + +This option allows mail for particular domains to be held in the queue +manually. The option is overridden if a message delivery is forced with the +, , or options, and also while testing or +verifying addresses using or . Otherwise, if a domain matches an +item in , no routing or delivery for that address is done, and +it is deferred every time the message is looked at. + + +This option is intended as a temporary operational measure for delaying the +delivery of mail while some problem is being sorted out, or some new +configuration tested. If you just want to delay the processing of some +domains until a queue run occurs, you should use or +, not . + + +A setting of does not override Exim’s code for removing +messages from the queue if they have been there longer than the longest retry +time in any retry rule. If you want to hold messages for longer than the normal +retry times, insert a dummy retry rule with a long retry time. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +host name +lookup, forcing + +Exim does not look up the name of a calling host from its IP address unless it +is required to compare against some host list, or the host matches + or , or the host matches this +option (which normally contains IP addresses rather than host names). The +default configuration file contains + + +host_lookup = * + + +which causes a lookup to happen for all hosts. If the expense of these lookups +is felt to be too great, the setting can be changed or removed. + + +After a successful reverse lookup, Exim does a forward lookup on the name it +has obtained, to verify that it yields the IP address that it started with. If +this check fails, Exim behaves as if the name lookup failed. + + + +$host_lookup_failed + + +$sender_host_name + +After any kind of failure, the host name (in $sender_host_name) remains +unset, and $host_lookup_failed is set to the string 1. See also +, , and +verify = reverse_host_lookup in ACLs. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string list +Default: bydns:byaddr + + + + + +This option specifies the order of different lookup methods when Exim is trying +to find a host name from an IP address. The default is to do a DNS lookup +first, and then to try a local lookup (using gethostbyaddr() or equivalent) +if that fails. You can change the order of these lookups, or omit one entirely, +if you want. + + +Warning: The byaddr method does not always yield aliases when there are +multiple PTR records in the DNS and the IP address is not listed in +/etc/hosts. Different operating systems give different results in this +case. That is why the default tries a DNS lookup first. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +host +rejecting connections from + +If this option is set, incoming SMTP calls from the hosts listed are rejected +as soon as the connection is made. +This option is obsolete, and retained only for backward compatibility, because +nowadays the ACL specified by can also reject incoming +connections immediately. + + +The ability to give an immediate rejection (either by this option or using an +ACL) is provided for use in unusual cases. Many hosts will just try again, +sometimes without much delay. Normally, it is better to use an ACL to reject +incoming messages at a later stage, such as after RCPT commands. See +chapter . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +host +not logging connections from + +This option defines a list of hosts for which connection logging does not +happen, even though the log selector is set. For example, +you might want not to log SMTP connections from local processes, or from +127.0.0.1, or from your local LAN. This option is consulted in the main loop of +the daemon; you should therefore strive to restrict its value to a short inline +list of IP addresses and networks. To disable logging SMTP connections from +local processes, you must create a host list with an empty item. For example: + + +hosts_connection_nolog = : + + +If the log selector is not set, this option has no effect. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +proxy +proxy protocol + +This option enables use of Proxy Protocol proxies for incoming +connections. For details see section . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: domain list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +local host +domains treated as + + +host +treated as local + +If this option is set, any host names that match the domain list are treated as +if they were the local host when Exim is scanning host lists obtained from MX +records +or other sources. Note that the value of this option is a domain list, not a +host list, because it is always used to check host names, not IP addresses. + + +This option also applies when Exim is matching the special items +@mx_any, @mx_primary, and @mx_secondary in a domain list (see +section ), and when checking the option in the +smtp transport for the local host (see the option in +that transport). See also , , and +chapter , which contains a discussion about local network +interfaces and recognizing the local host. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string list +Default: unset + + + + + + +InterBase +server list + +This option provides a list of InterBase servers and associated connection data, +to be used in conjunction with ibase lookups (see section ). +The option is available only if Exim has been built with InterBase support. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: time +Default: 10w + + + + + + +bounce message +discarding + + +discarding bounce message + +This option affects the processing of bounce messages that cannot be delivered, +that is, those that suffer a permanent delivery failure. (Bounce messages that +suffer temporary delivery failures are of course retried in the usual way.) + + +After a permanent delivery failure, bounce messages are frozen, +because there is no sender to whom they can be returned. When a frozen bounce +message has been in the queue for more than the given time, it is unfrozen at +the next queue run, and a further delivery is attempted. If delivery fails +again, the bounce message is discarded. This makes it possible to keep failed +bounce messages around for a shorter time than the normal maximum retry time +for frozen messages. For example, + + +ignore_bounce_errors_after = 12h + + +retries failed bounce message deliveries after 12 hours, discarding any further +failures. If the value of this option is set to a zero time period, bounce +failures are discarded immediately. Setting a very long time (as in the default +value) has the effect of disabling this option. For ways of automatically +dealing with other kinds of frozen message, see and +. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +From line + + +UUCP +From line + +Some broken SMTP clients insist on sending a UUCP-like From  line before +the headers of a message. By default this is treated as the start of the +message’s body, which means that any following headers are not recognized as +such. Exim can be made to ignore it by setting to +match those hosts that insist on sending it. If the sender is actually a local +process rather than a remote host, and is using to inject the messages, + must be set to achieve this effect. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +See above. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string list +Default: unset + + + + + + +environment +values from + +This option contains a string list of environment variables to keep. +You have to trust these variables or you have to be sure that +these variables do not impose any security risk. Keep in mind that +during the startup phase Exim is running with an effective UID 0 in most +installations. As the default value is an empty list, the default +environment for using libraries, running embedded Perl code, or running +external binaries is empty, and does not not even contain PATH or HOME. + + +Actually the list is interpreted as a list of patterns +(), except that it is not expanded first. + + +WARNING: Macro substitution is still done first, so having a macro +FOO and having FOO_HOME in your option may have +unexpected results. You may work around this using a regular expression +that does not match the macro name: ^[F]OO_HOME$. + + +Current versions of Exim issue a warning during startup if you do not mention + in your runtime configuration file and if your +current environment is not empty. Future versions may not issue that warning +anymore. + + +See the main config option for a way to set +environment variables to a fixed value. The environment for pipe +transports is handled separately, see section for +details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: time +Default: 4d + + + + + +This option specifies the length of time to keep messages whose spool files +have been corrupted in some way. This should, of course, never happen. At the +next attempt to deliver such a message, it gets removed. The incident is +logged. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +LDAP +, + + +certificate +directory for LDAP + +This option indicates which directory contains CA certificates for verifying +a TLS certificate presented by an LDAP server. +While Exim does not provide a default value, your SSL library may. +Analogous to but as a client-side option for LDAP +and constrained to be a directory. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +LDAP +, + + +certificate +file for LDAP + +This option indicates which file contains CA certificates for verifying +a TLS certificate presented by an LDAP server. +While Exim does not provide a default value, your SSL library may. +Analogous to but as a client-side option for LDAP +and constrained to be a file. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +LDAP +TLS client certificate file + + +certificate +file for LDAP + +This option indicates which file contains an TLS client certificate which +Exim should present to the LDAP server during TLS negotiation. +Should be used together with . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +LDAP +TLS client key file + + +certificate +key for LDAP + +This option indicates which file contains the secret/private key to use +to prove identity to the LDAP server during TLS negotiation. +Should be used together with , which contains the +identity to be proven. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +LDAP +TLS cipher suite + +This controls the TLS cipher-suite negotiation during TLS negotiation with +the LDAP server. See for more details of the format of +cipher-suite options with OpenSSL (as used by LDAP client libraries). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string list +Default: unset + + + + + + +LDAP +default servers + +This option provides a list of LDAP servers which are tried in turn when an +LDAP query does not contain a server. See section for +details of LDAP queries. This option is available only when Exim has been built +with LDAP support. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset. + + + + + + +LDAP +policy for LDAP server TLS cert presentation + +This should be one of the values "hard", "demand", "allow", "try" or "never". +A value other than one of these is interpreted as "never". +See the entry "TLS_REQCERT" in your system man page for ldap.conf(5). +Although Exim does not set a default, the LDAP library probably defaults +to hard/demand. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +LDAP +whether or not to negotiate TLS + +If set, Exim will attempt to negotiate TLS with the LDAP server when +connecting on a regular LDAP port. This is the LDAP equivalent of SMTP’s +"STARTTLS". This is distinct from using "ldaps", which is the LDAP form +of SSL-on-connect. +In the event of failure to negotiate TLS, the action taken is controlled +by . +This option is ignored for ldapi connections. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: unset + + + + + + +LDAP +protocol version, forcing + +This option can be used to force Exim to set a specific protocol version for +LDAP. If it option is unset, it is shown by the command line option as +-1. When this is the case, the default is 3 if LDAP_VERSION3 is defined in +the LDAP headers; otherwise it is 2. This option is available only when Exim +has been built with LDAP support. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +Sender: header line +disabling addition of + + +From: header line +disabling checking of + +When a message is submitted locally (that is, not over a TCP/IP connection) by +an untrusted user, Exim removes any existing Sender: header line, and +checks that the From: header line matches the login of the calling user and +the domain specified by . + + +Note: An unqualified address (no domain) in the From: header in a +locally submitted message is automatically qualified by Exim, unless the + command line option is used. + + +You can use and to permit affixes +on the local part. If the From: header line does not match, Exim adds a +Sender: header with an address constructed from the calling user’s login +and the default qualify domain. + + +If is set false, the From: header check is disabled, +and no Sender: header is ever added. If, in addition, you want to retain +Sender: header lines supplied by untrusted users, you must also set + to be true. + + + +envelope sender + +These options affect only the header lines in the message. The envelope sender +is still forced to be the login id at the qualify domain unless + permits the user to supply an envelope sender. + + +For messages received over TCP/IP, an ACL can specify submission mode to +request similar header line checking. See section , which +has more details about Sender: processing. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + +When Exim checks the From: header line of locally submitted messages for +matching the login id (see above), it can be configured to +ignore certain prefixes and suffixes in the local part of the address. This is +done by setting and/or to +appropriate lists, in the same form as the and + router options (see chapter ). For +example, if + + +local_from_prefix = *- + + +is set, a From: line containing + + +From: anything-user@your.domain.example + + +will not cause a Sender: header to be added if user@your.domain.example +matches the actual sender address that is constructed from the login name and +qualify domain. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + +See above. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string list +Default: see below + + + + + +This option controls which network interfaces are used by the daemon for +listening; they are also used to identify the local host when routing. Chapter + contains a full description of this option and the related +options , , +, and . The default value for + is + + +local_interfaces = 0.0.0.0 + + +when Exim is built without IPv6 support; otherwise it is + + +local_interfaces = <; ::0 ; 0.0.0.0 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: time +Default: 5m + + + + + + +timeout +for local_scan() function + + +local_scan() function +timeout + +This timeout applies to the local_scan() function (see chapter +). Zero means no timeout. If the timeout is exceeded, +the incoming message is rejected with a temporary error if it is an SMTP +message. For a non-SMTP message, the message is dropped and Exim ends with a +non-zero code. The incident is logged on the main and reject logs. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +Sender: header line +retaining from local submission + +When a message is submitted locally (that is, not over a TCP/IP connection) by +an untrusted user, Exim removes any existing Sender: header line. If you +do not want this to happen, you must set , and you must +also set to be false (Exim will complain if you do not). +See also the ACL modifier control = suppress_local_fixups. Section + has more details about Sender: processing. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +host +locally unique number for + + +message ids +with multiple hosts + + +$localhost_number + +Exim’s message ids are normally unique only within the local host. If +uniqueness among a set of hosts is required, each host must set a different +value for the option. The string is expanded immediately +after reading the configuration file (so that a number can be computed from the +host name, for example) and the result of the expansion must be a number in the +range 0–16 (or 0–10 on operating systems with case-insensitive file +systems). This is available in subsequent string expansions via the variable +$localhost_number. When , the final two +characters of the message id, instead of just being a fractional part of the +time, are computed from the time and the local host number as described in +section . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string list† +Default: set at compile time + + + + + + +log +file path for + +This option sets the path which is used to determine the names of Exim’s log +files, or indicates that logging is to be to syslog, or both. It is expanded +when Exim is entered, so it can, for example, contain a reference to the host +name. If no specific path is set for the log files at compile or runtime, +or if the option is unset at runtime (i.e. log_file_path = ) +they are written in a sub-directory called log in Exim’s spool directory. +Chapter contains further details about Exim’s logging, and +section describes how the contents of are +used. If this string is fixed at your installation (contains no expansion +variables) it is recommended that you do not set this option in the +configuration file, but instead supply the path using LOG_FILE_PATH in +Local/Makefile so that it is available to Exim for logging errors detected +early on – in particular, failure to read the configuration file. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +log +selectors + +This option can be used to reduce or increase the number of things that Exim +writes to its log files. Its argument is made up of names preceded by plus or +minus characters. For example: + + +log_selector = +arguments -retry_defer + + +A list of possible names and what they control is given in the chapter on +logging, in section . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +log +timezone for entries + + +$tod_log + + +$tod_zone + +By default, the timestamps on log lines are in local time without the +timezone. This means that if your timezone changes twice a year, the timestamps +in log lines are ambiguous for an hour when the clocks go back. One way of +avoiding this problem is to set the timezone to UTC. An alternative is to set + true. This turns on the addition of the timezone offset to +timestamps in log lines. Turning on this option can add quite a lot to the size +of log files because each line is extended by 6 characters. Note that the +$tod_log variable contains the log timestamp without the zone, but there is +another variable called $tod_zone that contains just the timezone offset. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 25 + + + + + + +too many open files + + +open files, too many + + +file +too many open + + +lookup +maximum open files + + +limit +open files for lookups + +This option limits the number of simultaneously open files for single-key +lookups that use regular files (that is, lsearch, dbm, and cdb). +Exim normally keeps these files open during routing, because often the same +file is required several times. If the limit is reached, Exim closes the least +recently used file. Note that if you are using the ndbm library, it +actually opens two files for each logical DBM database, though it still counts +as one for the purposes of . If you are getting too many +open files errors with NDBM, you need to reduce the value of +. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 0 + + + + + + +length of login name + + +user name +maximum length + + +limit +user name length + +Some operating systems are broken in that they truncate long arguments to +getpwnam() to eight characters, instead of returning no such user. If +this option is set greater than zero, any attempt to call getpwnam() with +an argument that is longer behaves as if getpwnam() failed. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: bool +Default: false + + + + + + +message body +newlines in variables + + +newline +in message body variables + + +$message_body + + +$message_body_end + +By default, newlines in the message body are replaced by spaces when setting +the $message_body and $message_body_end expansion variables. If this +option is set true, this no longer happens. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 500 + + + + + + +body of message +visible size + + +message body +visible size + + +$message_body + + +$message_body_end + +This option specifies how much of a message’s body is to be included in the +$message_body and $message_body_end expansion variables. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +Message-ID: header line + +If this option is set, the string is expanded and used as the right hand side +(domain) of the Message-ID: header that Exim creates if a +locally-originated incoming message does not have one. Locally-originated +means not received over TCP/IP. +Otherwise, the primary host name is used. +Only letters, digits, dot and hyphen are accepted; any other characters are +replaced by hyphens. If the expansion is forced to fail, or if the result is an +empty string, the option is ignored. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +If this variable is set, the string is expanded and used to augment the text of +the Message-id: header that Exim creates if a locally-originated incoming +message does not have one. The text of this header is required by RFC 2822 to +take the form of an address. By default, Exim uses its internal message id as +the local part, and the primary host name as the domain. If this option is set, +it is expanded, and provided the expansion is not forced to fail, and does not +yield an empty string, the result is inserted into the header immediately +before the @, separated from the internal message id by a dot. Any characters +that are illegal in an address are automatically converted into hyphens. This +means that variables such as $tod_log can be used, because the spaces and +colons will become hyphens. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +message logs +disabling + + +log +message log; disabling + +If this option is turned off, per-message log files are not created in the +msglog spool sub-directory. This reduces the amount of disk I/O required by +Exim, by reducing the number of files involved in handling a message from a +minimum of four (header spool file, body spool file, delivery journal, and +per-message log) to three. The other major I/O activity is Exim’s main log, +which is not affected by this option. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: 50M + + + + + + +message +size limit + + +limit +message size + + +size +of message, limit + +This option limits the maximum size of message that Exim will process. The +value is expanded for each incoming connection so, for example, it can be made +to depend on the IP address of the remote host for messages arriving via +TCP/IP. After expansion, the value must be a sequence of decimal digits, +optionally followed by K or M. + + +Note: This limit cannot be made to depend on a message’s sender or any +other properties of an individual message, because it has to be advertised in +the server’s response to EHLO. String expansion failure causes a temporary +error. A value of zero means no limit, but its use is not recommended. See also +. + + +Incoming SMTP messages are failed with a 552 error if the limit is +exceeded; locally-generated messages either get a stderr message or a delivery +failure message to the sender, depending on the setting. Rejection of +an oversized message is logged in both the main and the reject logs. See also +the generic transport option , which limits the size of +message that an individual transport can process. + + +If you use a virus-scanner and set this option to to a value larger than the +maximum size that your virus-scanner is configured to support, you may get +failures triggered by large mails. The right size to configure for the +virus-scanner depends upon what data is passed and the options in use but it’s +probably safest to just set it to a little larger than this value. E.g., with a +default Exim message size of 50M and a default ClamAV StreamMaxLength of 10M, +some problems may result. + + +A value of 0 will disable size limit checking; Exim will still advertise the +SIZE extension in an EHLO response, but without a limit, so as to permit +SMTP clients to still indicate the message size along with the MAIL verb. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +frozen messages +moving + +This option, which is available only if Exim has been built with the setting + + +SUPPORT_MOVE_FROZEN_MESSAGES=yes + + +in Local/Makefile, causes frozen messages and their message logs to be +moved from the input and msglog directories on the spool to Finput +and Fmsglog, respectively. There is currently no support in Exim or the +standard utilities for handling such moved messages, and they do not show up in +lists generated by or by the Exim monitor. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +Setting this option true causes Exim to run in a very restrictive mode in which +it passes messages synchronously to a smart host. Chapter +contains a full description of this facility. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string list +Default: unset + + + + + + +MySQL +server list + +This option provides a list of MySQL servers and associated connection data, to +be used in conjunction with mysql lookups (see section ). The +option is available only if Exim has been built with MySQL support. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string list† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option is expanded just once, at the start of Exim’s processing. Local +message deliveries are normally run in processes that are setuid to the +recipient, and remote deliveries are normally run under Exim’s own uid and gid. +It is usually desirable to prevent any deliveries from running as root, as a +safety precaution. + + +When Exim is built, an option called FIXED_NEVER_USERS can be set to a +list of users that must not be used for local deliveries. This list is fixed in +the binary and cannot be overridden by the configuration file. By default, it +contains just the single user name root. The runtime option +can be used to add more users to the fixed list. + + +If a message is to be delivered as one of the users on the fixed list or the + list, an error occurs, and delivery is deferred. A common +example is + + +never_users = root:daemon:bin + + +Including root is redundant if it is also on the fixed list, but it does no +harm. This option overrides the option of the pipe +transport driver. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string list +Default: +no_sslv2 +single_dh_use +no_ticket + + + + + + +OpenSSL +compatibility + +This option allows an administrator to adjust the SSL options applied +by OpenSSL to connections. It is given as a space-separated list of items, +each one to be +added or -subtracted from the current value. + + +This option is only available if Exim is built against OpenSSL. The values +available for this option vary according to the age of your OpenSSL install. +The all value controls a subset of flags which are available, typically +the bug workaround options. The SSL_CTX_set_options man page will +list the values known on your system and Exim should support all the +bug workaround options and many of the modifying options. The Exim +names lose the leading SSL_OP_ and are lower-cased. + + +Note that adjusting the options can have severe impact upon the security of +SSL as used by Exim. It is possible to disable safety checks and shoot +yourself in the foot in various unpleasant ways. This option should not be +adjusted lightly. An unrecognised item will be detected at startup, by +invoking Exim with the flag. + + +The option affects Exim operating both as a server and as a client. + + +Historical note: prior to release 4.80, Exim defaulted this value to +"+dont_insert_empty_fragments", which may still be needed for compatibility +with some clients, but which lowers security by increasing exposure to +some now infamous attacks. + + +Examples: + + +# Make both old MS and old Eudora happy: +openssl_options = -all +microsoft_big_sslv3_buffer \ + +dont_insert_empty_fragments + +# Disable older protocol versions: +openssl_options = +no_sslv2 +no_sslv3 + + +Possible options may include: + + + + +all + + + + +allow_unsafe_legacy_renegotiation + + + + +cipher_server_preference + + + + +dont_insert_empty_fragments + + + + +ephemeral_rsa + + + + +legacy_server_connect + + + + +microsoft_big_sslv3_buffer + + + + +microsoft_sess_id_bug + + + + +msie_sslv2_rsa_padding + + + + +netscape_challenge_bug + + + + +netscape_reuse_cipher_change_bug + + + + +no_compression + + + + +no_session_resumption_on_renegotiation + + + + +no_sslv2 + + + + +no_sslv3 + + + + +no_ticket + + + + +no_tlsv1 + + + + +no_tlsv1_1 + + + + +no_tlsv1_2 + + + + +safari_ecdhe_ecdsa_bug + + + + +single_dh_use + + + + +single_ecdh_use + + + + +ssleay_080_client_dh_bug + + + + +sslref2_reuse_cert_type_bug + + + + +tls_block_padding_bug + + + + +tls_d5_bug + + + + +tls_rollback_bug + + + + +As an aside, the safari_ecdhe_ecdsa_bug item is a misnomer and affects +all clients connecting using the MacOS SecureTransport TLS facility prior +to MacOS 10.8.4, including email clients. If you see old MacOS clients failing +to negotiate TLS then this option value might help, provided that your OpenSSL +release is new enough to contain this work-around. This may be a situation +where you have to upgrade OpenSSL to get buggy clients working. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string list +Default: unset + + + + + + +Oracle +server list + +This option provides a list of Oracle servers and associated connection data, +to be used in conjunction with oracle lookups (see section ). +The option is available only if Exim has been built with Oracle support. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: domain list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +percent hack + + +source routing +in email address + + +address +source-routed + +The percent hack is the convention whereby a local part containing a +percent sign is re-interpreted as a new email address, with the percent +replaced by @. This is sometimes called source routing, though that term is +also applied to RFC 2822 addresses that begin with an @ character. If this +option is set, Exim implements the percent facility for those domains listed, +but no others. This happens before an incoming SMTP address is tested against +an ACL. + + +Warning: The percent hack has often been abused by people who are +trying to get round relaying restrictions. For this reason, it is best avoided +if at all possible. Unfortunately, a number of less security-conscious MTAs +implement it unconditionally. If you are running Exim on a gateway host, and +routing mail through to internal MTAs without processing the local parts, it is +a good idea to reject recipient addresses with percent characters in their +local parts. Exim’s default configuration does this. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +Perl + +This option is available only when Exim is built with an embedded Perl +interpreter. See chapter for details of its use. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +Perl + +This option is available only when Exim is built with an embedded Perl +interpreter. See chapter for details of its use. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +Perl + +This Option enables the taint mode of the embedded Perl interpreter. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string list +Default: unset + + + + + + +PostgreSQL lookup type +server list + +This option provides a list of PostgreSQL servers and associated connection +data, to be used in conjunction with pgsql lookups (see section +). The option is available only if Exim has been built with +PostgreSQL support. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: set at compile time + + + + + + +daemon +pid file path + + +pid file, path for + +This option sets the name of the file to which the Exim daemon writes its +process id. The string is expanded, so it can contain, for example, references +to the host name: + + +pid_file_path = /var/log/$primary_hostname/exim.pid + + +If no path is set, the pid is written to the file exim-daemon.pid in Exim’s +spool directory. +The value set by the option can be overridden by the command line +option. A pid file is not written if a non-standard daemon is run by means +of the option, unless a path is explicitly supplied by . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: * + + + + + + +PIPELINING +suppressing advertising + +This option can be used to suppress the advertisement of the SMTP +PIPELINING extension to specific hosts. See also the no_pipelining +control in section . When PIPELINING is not advertised and + is true, an Exim server enforces strict synchronization +for each SMTP command and response. When PIPELINING is advertised, Exim assumes +that clients will use it; out of order commands that are expected do +not count as protocol errors (see ). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +PRDR +enabling on server + +This option can be used to enable the Per-Recipient Data Response extension +to SMTP, defined by Eric Hall. +If the option is set, PRDR is advertised by Exim when operating as a server. +If the client requests PRDR, and more than one recipient, for a message +an additional ACL is called for each recipient after the message content +is received. See section . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +message logs +preserving + +If this option is set, message log files are not deleted when messages are +completed. Instead, they are moved to a sub-directory of the spool directory +called msglog.OLD, where they remain available for statistical or debugging +purposes. This is a dangerous option to set on systems with any appreciable +volume of mail. Use with care! + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: see below + + + + + + +name +of local host + + +host +name of local + + +local host +name of + + +$primary_hostname + +This specifies the name of the current host. It is used in the default EHLO or +HELO command for outgoing SMTP messages (changeable via the +option in the smtp transport), and as the default for . +The value is also used by default in some SMTP response messages from an Exim +server. This can be changed dynamically by setting . + + +If is not set, Exim calls uname() to find the host +name. If this fails, Exim panics and dies. If the name returned by uname() +contains only one component, Exim passes it to gethostbyname() (or +getipnodebyname() when available) in order to obtain the fully qualified +version. The variable $primary_hostname contains the host name, whether set +explicitly by this option, or defaulted. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +printing characters + + +8-bit characters + +By default, Exim considers only those characters whose codes lie in the range +32–126 to be printing characters. In a number of circumstances (for example, +when writing log entries) non-printing characters are converted into escape +sequences, primarily to avoid messing up the layout. If +is set, code values of 128 and above are also considered to be printing +characters. + + +This option also affects the header syntax checks performed by the +autoreply transport, and whether Exim uses RFC 2047 encoding of +the user’s full name when constructing From: and Sender: addresses (as +described in section ). Setting this option can cause +Exim to generate eight bit message headers that do not conform to the +standards. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +process log path + + +log +process log + + +exiwhat + +This option sets the name of the file to which an Exim process writes its +process log when sent a USR1 signal. This is used by the exiwhat +utility script. If this option is unset, the file called exim-process.info +in Exim’s spool directory is used. The ability to specify the name explicitly +can be useful in environments where two different Exims are running, using +different spool directories. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +restricting access to features + + + + + + + + + + +The , , and command-line options require the caller to be an +admin user unless is set false. See also + and . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: see below + + + + + + +domain +for qualifying addresses + + +address +qualification + +This option specifies the domain name that is added to any envelope sender +addresses that do not have a domain qualification. It also applies to +recipient addresses if is not set. Unqualified addresses +are accepted by default only for locally-generated messages. Qualification is +also applied to addresses in header lines such as From: and To: for +locally-generated messages, unless the command line option is used. + + +Messages from external sources must always contain fully qualified addresses, +unless the sending host matches or + (as appropriate), in which case incoming +addresses are qualified with or as +necessary. Internally, Exim always works with fully qualified envelope +addresses. If is not set, it defaults to the + value. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: see below + + + + + +This option allows you to specify a different domain for qualifying recipient +addresses to the one that is used for senders. See above. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: domain list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +domain +specifying non-immediate delivery + + +queueing incoming messages + + +message +queueing certain domains + +This option lists domains for which immediate delivery is not required. +A delivery process is started whenever a message is received, but only those +domains that do not match are processed. All other deliveries wait until the +next queue run. See also and . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +restricting access to features + + + + +The command-line option, which lists the messages that are on the +queue, requires the caller to be an admin user unless + is set false. +See also and . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +queueing incoming messages + + +message +queueing unconditionally + +If is set, a delivery process is not automatically started +whenever a message is received. Instead, the message waits in the queue for the +next queue run. Even if is false, incoming messages may not get +delivered immediately when certain conditions (such as heavy load) occur. + + +The command line has the same effect as . The +and command line options override unless + is set false. See also , +, and . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +queueing incoming messages + + +message +queueing by file existence + +This option can be set to a colon-separated list of absolute path names, each +one optionally preceded by smtp. When Exim is receiving a message, +it tests for the existence of each listed path using a call to stat(). For +each path that exists, the corresponding queueing option is set. +For paths with no prefix, is set; for paths prefixed by +smtp, is set to match all domains. So, for example, + + +queue_only_file = smtp/some/file + + +causes Exim to behave as if were set to * whenever +/some/file exists. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: fixed-point +Default: unset + + + + + + +load average + + +queueing incoming messages + + +message +queueing by load + +If the system load average is higher than this value, incoming messages from +all sources are queued, and no automatic deliveries are started. If this +happens during local or remote SMTP input, all subsequent messages received on +the same SMTP connection are queued by default, whatever happens to the load in +the meantime, but this can be changed by setting +false. + + +Deliveries will subsequently be performed by queue runner processes. This +option has no effect on ancient operating systems on which Exim cannot +determine the load average. See also and +. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +load average +re-evaluating per message + +When this option is true (the default), once one message has been queued +because the load average is higher than the value set by , +all subsequent messages received on the same SMTP connection are also queued. +This is a deliberate choice; even though the load average may fall below the +threshold, it doesn’t seem right to deliver later messages on the same +connection when not delivering earlier ones. However, there are special +circumstances such as very long-lived connections from scanning appliances +where this is not the best strategy. In such cases, +should be set false. This causes the value of the load average to be +re-evaluated for each message. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +queueing incoming messages + +When this option is true, the x command line options override the +setting of or in the configuration file. If + is set false, the x options cannot be used +to override; they are accepted, but ignored. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +queue runner +processing messages in order + +If this option is set, queue runs happen in order of message arrival instead of +in an arbitrary order. For this to happen, a complete list of the entire queue +must be set up before the deliveries start. When the queue is all held in a +single directory (the default), a single list is created for both the ordered +and the non-ordered cases. However, if is set, a +single list is not created when is false. In this case, +the sub-directories are processed one at a time (in a random order), and this +avoids setting up one huge list for the whole queue. Thus, setting + with may degrade performance +when the queue is large, because of the extra work in setting up the single, +large list. In most situations, should not be set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer† +Default: 5 + + + + + + +queue runner +maximum number of + +This controls the maximum number of queue runner processes that an Exim daemon +can run simultaneously. This does not mean that it starts them all at once, +but rather that if the maximum number are still running when the time comes to +start another one, it refrains from starting another one. This can happen with +very large queues and/or very sluggish deliveries. This option does not, +however, interlock with other processes, so additional queue runners can be +started by other means, or by killing and restarting the daemon. + + +Setting this option to zero does not suppress queue runs; rather, it disables +the limit, allowing any number of simultaneous queue runner processes to be +run. If you do not want queue runs to occur, omit the xx setting on +the daemon’s command line. + + + +queues +named + + +named queues + +To set limits for different named queues use +an expansion depending on the $queue_name variable. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: domain list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +queueing incoming messages + + +message +queueing remote deliveries + +When this option is set, a delivery process is started whenever a message is +received, routing is performed, and local deliveries take place. +However, if any SMTP deliveries are required for domains that match +, they are not immediately delivered, but instead the +message waits in the queue for the next queue run. Since routing of the message +has taken place, Exim knows to which remote hosts it must be delivered, and so +when the queue run happens, multiple messages for the same host are delivered +over a single SMTP connection. The command line option causes all +SMTP deliveries to be queued in this way, and is equivalent to setting + to *. See also and +. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: time +Default: 0s + + + + + + +timeout +for non-SMTP input + +This option sets the timeout for accepting a non-SMTP message, that is, the +maximum time that Exim waits when reading a message on the standard input. If +the value is zero, it will wait forever. This setting is overridden by the + command line option. The timeout for incoming SMTP messages is +controlled by . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: see below + + + + + + +customizing +Received: header + + +Received: header line +customizing + +This string defines the contents of the Received: message header that is +added to each message, except for the timestamp, which is automatically added +on at the end (preceded by a semicolon). The string is expanded each time it is +used. If the expansion yields an empty string, no Received: header line is +added to the message. Otherwise, the string should start with the text +Received: and conform to the RFC 2822 specification for Received: +header lines. The default setting is: + + +received_header_text = Received: \ + ${if def:sender_rcvhost {from $sender_rcvhost\n\t}\ + {${if def:sender_ident \ + {from ${quote_local_part:$sender_ident} }}\ + ${if def:sender_helo_name {(helo=$sender_helo_name)\n\t}}}}\ + by $primary_hostname \ + ${if def:received_protocol {with $received_protocol}} \ + ${if def:tls_in_cipher {($tls_in_cipher)\n\t}}\ + (Exim $version_number)\n\t\ + ${if def:sender_address \ + {(envelope-from <$sender_address>)\n\t}}\ + id $message_exim_id\ + ${if def:received_for {\n\tfor $received_for}} + + +The reference to the TLS cipher is omitted when Exim is built without TLS +support. The use of conditional expansions ensures that this works for both +locally generated messages and messages received from remote hosts, giving +header lines such as the following: + + +Received: from scrooge.carol.example ([192.168.12.25] ident=root) +by marley.carol.example with esmtp (Exim 4.00) +(envelope-from <bob@carol.example>) +id 16IOWa-00019l-00 +for chas@dickens.example; Tue, 25 Dec 2001 14:43:44 +0000 +Received: by scrooge.carol.example with local (Exim 4.00) +id 16IOWW-000083-00; Tue, 25 Dec 2001 14:43:41 +0000 + + +Until the body of the message has been received, the timestamp is the time when +the message started to be received. Once the body has arrived, and all policy +checks have taken place, the timestamp is updated to the time at which the +message was accepted. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 30 + + + + + + +loop +prevention + + +mail loop prevention + + +Received: header line +counting + +When a message is to be delivered, the number of Received: headers is +counted, and if it is greater than this parameter, a mail loop is assumed to +have occurred, the delivery is abandoned, and an error message is generated. +This applies to both local and remote deliveries. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +unqualified addresses + + +host +unqualified addresses from + +This option lists those hosts from which Exim is prepared to accept unqualified +recipient addresses in message envelopes. The addresses are made fully +qualified by the addition of the value. This option also +affects message header lines. Exim does not reject unqualified recipient +addresses in headers, but it qualifies them only if the message came from a +host that matches , +or if the message was submitted locally (not using TCP/IP), and the +option was not set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 0 + + + + + + +limit +number of recipients + + +recipient +maximum number + +If this option is set greater than zero, it specifies the maximum number of +original recipients for any message. Additional recipients that are generated +by aliasing or forwarding do not count. SMTP messages get a 452 response for +all recipients over the limit; earlier recipients are delivered as normal. +Non-SMTP messages with too many recipients are failed, and no deliveries are +done. + + + +RCPT +maximum number of incoming + +Note: The RFCs specify that an SMTP server should accept at least 100 +RCPT commands in a single message. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If this option is set true, Exim rejects SMTP messages containing too many +recipients by giving 552 errors to the surplus RCPT commands, and a 554 +error to the eventual DATA command. Otherwise (the default) it gives a 452 +error to the surplus RCPT commands and accepts the message on behalf of the +initial set of recipients. The remote server should then re-send the message +for the remaining recipients at a later time. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 2 + + + + + + +delivery +parallelism for remote + +This option controls parallel delivery of one message to a number of remote +hosts. If the value is less than 2, parallel delivery is disabled, and Exim +does all the remote deliveries for a message one by one. Otherwise, if a single +message has to be delivered to more than one remote host, or if several copies +have to be sent to the same remote host, up to +deliveries are done simultaneously. If more than +deliveries are required, the maximum number of processes are started, and as +each one finishes, another is begun. The order of starting processes is the +same as if sequential delivery were being done, and can be controlled by the + option. If parallel delivery takes place while running +with debugging turned on, the debugging output from each delivery process is +tagged with its process id. + + +This option controls only the maximum number of parallel deliveries for one +message in one Exim delivery process. Because Exim has no central queue +manager, there is no way of controlling the total number of simultaneous +deliveries if the configuration allows a delivery attempt as soon as a message +is received. + + + +number of deliveries + + +delivery +maximum number of + +If you want to control the total number of deliveries on the system, you +need to set the option. This ensures that all incoming messages +are added to the queue without starting a delivery process. Then set up an Exim +daemon to start queue runner processes at appropriate intervals (probably +fairly often, for example, every minute), and limit the total number of queue +runners by setting the parameter. Because each queue runner +delivers only one message at a time, the maximum number of deliveries that can +then take place at once is multiplied by +. + + +If it is purely remote deliveries you want to control, use + instead of . This has the added benefit of +doing the SMTP routing before queueing, so that several messages for the same +host will eventually get delivered down the same connection. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: domain list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +sorting remote deliveries + + +delivery +sorting remote + +When there are a number of remote deliveries for a message, they are sorted by +domain into the order given by this list. For example, + + +remote_sort_domains = *.cam.ac.uk:*.uk + + +would attempt to deliver to all addresses in the cam.ac.uk domain first, +then to those in the domain, then to any others. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: time +Default: 7d + + + + + + +hints database +data expiry + +This option sets a use before time on retry information in Exim’s hints +database. Any older retry data is ignored. This means that, for example, once a +host has not been tried for 7 days, Exim behaves as if it has no knowledge of +past failures. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: time +Default: 24h + + + + + + +retry +limit on interval + + +limit +on retry interval + +Chapter describes Exim’s mechanisms for controlling the +intervals between delivery attempts for messages that cannot be delivered +straight away. This option sets an overall limit to the length of time between +retries. It cannot be set greater than 24 hours; any attempt to do so forces +the default value. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +Return-path: header line +removing + +RFC 2821, section 4.4, states that an SMTP server must insert a +Return-path: header line into a message when it makes a final delivery. +The Return-path: header preserves the sender address as received in the +MAIL command. This description implies that this header should not be present +in an incoming message. If is true, any existing +Return-path: headers are removed from messages at the time they are +received. Exim’s transports have options for adding Return-path: headers at +the time of delivery. They are normally used only for final local deliveries. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 100K + + + + + +This option is an obsolete synonym for . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: @[] + + + + + + +RFC 1413 + + +host +for RFC 1413 calls + +RFC 1413 identification calls are made to any client host which matches +an item in the list. +The default value specifies just this host, being any local interface +for the system. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: time +Default: 0s + + + + + + +RFC 1413 +query timeout + + +timeout +for RFC 1413 call + +This sets the timeout on RFC 1413 identification calls. If it is set to zero, +no RFC 1413 calls are ever made. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +unqualified addresses + + +host +unqualified addresses from + +This option lists those hosts from which Exim is prepared to accept unqualified +sender addresses. The addresses are made fully qualified by the addition of +. This option also affects message header lines. Exim does +not reject unqualified addresses in headers that contain sender addresses, but +it qualifies them only if the message came from a host that matches +, or if the message was submitted locally (not +using TCP/IP), and the option was not set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string list +Default: empty + + + + + + +environment + +This option allows to set individual environment variables that the +currently linked libraries and programs in child processes use. The +default list is empty, + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 0 + + + + + + +logging +slow lookups + + +dns +logging slow lookups + +This option controls logging of slow lookups. +If the value is nonzero it is taken as a number of milliseconds +and lookups taking longer than this are logged. +Currently this applies only to DNS lookups. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +keepalive +on incoming connection + +This option controls the setting of the SO_KEEPALIVE option on incoming +TCP/IP socket connections. When set, it causes the kernel to probe idle +connections periodically, by sending packets with old sequence numbers. The +other end of the connection should send an acknowledgment if the connection is +still okay or a reset if the connection has been aborted. The reason for doing +this is that it has the beneficial effect of freeing up certain types of +connection that can get stuck when the remote host is disconnected without +tidying up the TCP/IP call properly. The keepalive mechanism takes several +hours to detect unreachable hosts. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 20 + + + + + + +limit +incoming SMTP connections + + +SMTP +incoming connection count + + +inetd + +This option specifies the maximum number of simultaneous incoming SMTP calls +that Exim will accept. It applies only to the listening daemon; there is no +control (in Exim) when incoming SMTP is being handled by inetd. If the +value is set to zero, no limit is applied. However, it is required to be +non-zero if either or is +set. See also and . + + +A new SMTP connection is immediately rejected if the limit +has been reached. If not, Exim first checks . If +that limit has not been reached for the client host, +and are then checked before accepting the connection. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 10 + + + + + + +limit +non-mail SMTP commands + + +SMTP +limiting non-mail commands + +Exim counts the number of non-mail commands in an SMTP session, and drops +the connection if there are too many. This option defines too many. The +check catches some denial-of-service attacks, repeated failing AUTHs, or a mad +client looping sending EHLO, for example. The check is applied only if the +client host matches . + + +When a new message is expected, one occurrence of RSET is not counted. This +allows a client to send one RSET between messages (this is not necessary, +but some clients do it). Exim also allows one uncounted occurrence of HELO +or EHLO, and one occurrence of STARTTLS between messages. After +starting up a TLS session, another EHLO is expected, and so it too is not +counted. The first occurrence of AUTH in a connection, or immediately +following STARTTLS is not counted. Otherwise, all commands other than +MAIL, RCPT, DATA, and QUIT are counted. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: * + + + + + +You can control which hosts are subject to the +check by setting this option. The default value makes it apply to all hosts. By +changing the value, you can exclude any badly-behaved hosts that you have to +live with. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 1000 + + + + + + +SMTP +limiting incoming message count + + +limit +messages per SMTP connection + +The value of this option limits the number of MAIL commands that Exim is +prepared to accept over a single SMTP connection, whether or not each command +results in the transfer of a message. After the limit is reached, a 421 +response is given to subsequent MAIL commands. This limit is a safety +precaution against a client that goes mad (incidents of this type have been +seen). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +limit +SMTP connections from one host + + +host +limiting SMTP connections from + +This option restricts the number of simultaneous IP connections from a single +host (strictly, from a single IP address) to the Exim daemon. The option is +expanded, to enable different limits to be applied to different hosts by +reference to $sender_host_address. Once the limit is reached, additional +connection attempts from the same host are rejected with error code 421. This +is entirely independent of . The option’s default value +of zero imposes no limit. If this option is set greater than zero, it is +required that be non-zero. + + +Warning: When setting this option you should not use any expansion +constructions that take an appreciable amount of time. The expansion and test +happen in the main daemon loop, in order to reject additional connections +without forking additional processes (otherwise a denial-of-service attack +could cause a vast number or processes to be created). While the daemon is +doing this processing, it cannot accept any other incoming connections. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 0 + + + + + + +SMTP +incoming connection count + + +queueing incoming messages + + +message +queueing by SMTP connection count + +If the number of simultaneous incoming SMTP connections being handled via the +listening daemon exceeds this value, messages received by SMTP are just placed +in the queue; no delivery processes are started automatically. The count is +fixed at the start of an SMTP connection. It cannot be updated in the +subprocess that receives messages, and so the queueing or not queueing applies +to all messages received in the same connection. + + +A value of zero implies no limit, and clearly any non-zero value is useful only +if it is less than the value (unless that is zero). See +also , , , and the +various x command line options. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 10 + + + + + + +queueing incoming messages + + +message +queueing by message count + +This option limits the number of delivery processes that Exim starts +automatically when receiving messages via SMTP, whether via the daemon or by +the use of or . If the value of the option is greater than zero, +and the number of messages received in a single SMTP session exceeds this +number, subsequent messages are placed in the queue, but no delivery processes +are started. This helps to limit the number of Exim processes when a server +restarts after downtime and there is a lot of mail waiting for it on other +systems. On large systems, the default should probably be increased, and on +dial-in client systems it should probably be set to zero (that is, disabled). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 0 + + + + + + +SMTP +incoming call count + + +host +reserved + +When is set greater than zero, this option specifies a +number of SMTP connections that are reserved for connections from the hosts +that are specified in . The value set in + includes this reserve pool. The specified hosts are not +restricted to this number of connections; the option specifies a minimum number +of connection slots for them, not a maximum. It is a guarantee that this group +of hosts can always get at least connections. However, +the limit specified by is still applied to each +individual host. + + +For example, if is set to 50 and is +set to 5, once there are 45 active connections (from any hosts), new +connections are accepted only from hosts listed in , +provided the other criteria for acceptance are met. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +host +name in SMTP responses + + +SMTP +host name in responses + + +$primary_hostname + +This option is provided for multi-homed servers that want to masquerade as +several different hosts. At the start of an incoming SMTP connection, its value +is expanded and used instead of the value of $primary_hostname in SMTP +responses. For example, it is used as domain name in the response to an +incoming HELO or EHLO command. + + + +$smtp_active_hostname + +The active hostname is placed in the $smtp_active_hostname variable, which +is saved with any messages that are received. It is therefore available for use +in routers and transports when the message is later delivered. + + +If this option is unset, or if its expansion is forced to fail, or if the +expansion results in an empty string, the value of $primary_hostname is +used. Other expansion failures cause a message to be written to the main and +panic logs, and the SMTP command receives a temporary error. Typically, the +value of depends on the incoming interface address. +For example: + + +smtp_active_hostname = ${if eq{$received_ip_address}{10.0.0.1}\ + {cox.mydomain}{box.mydomain}} + + +Although $smtp_active_hostname is primarily concerned with incoming +messages, it is also used as the default for HELO commands in callout +verification if there is no remote transport from which to obtain a + value. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: see below + + + + + + +SMTP +welcome banner + + +banner for SMTP + + +welcome banner for SMTP + + +customizing +SMTP banner + +This string, which is expanded every time it is used, is output as the initial +positive response to an SMTP connection. The default setting is: + + +smtp_banner = $smtp_active_hostname ESMTP Exim \ + $version_number $tod_full + + +Failure to expand the string causes a panic error. If you want to create a +multiline response to the initial SMTP connection, use \n in the string at +appropriate points, but not at the end. Note that the 220 code is not included +in this string. Exim adds it automatically (several times in the case of a +multiline response). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +checking disk space + + +disk space, checking + + +spool directory +checking space + +When this option is set, if an incoming SMTP session encounters the SIZE +option on a MAIL command, it checks that there is enough space in the +spool directory’s partition to accept a message of that size, while still +leaving free the amount specified by (even if that value +is zero). If there isn’t enough space, a temporary error code is returned. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 20 + + + + + + +connection backlog + + +SMTP +connection backlog + + +backlog of connections + +This option specifies a maximum number of waiting SMTP connections. Exim passes +this value to the TCP/IP system when it sets up its listener. Once this number +of connections are waiting for the daemon’s attention, subsequent connection +attempts are refused at the TCP/IP level. At least, that is what the manuals +say; in some circumstances such connection attempts have been observed to time +out instead. For large systems it is probably a good idea to increase the +value (to 50, say). It also gives some protection against denial-of-service +attacks by SYN flooding. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +SMTP +synchronization checking + + +synchronization checking in SMTP + +The SMTP protocol specification requires the client to wait for a response from +the server at certain points in the dialogue. Without PIPELINING these +synchronization points are after every command; with PIPELINING they are +fewer, but they still exist. + + +Some spamming sites send out a complete set of SMTP commands without waiting +for any response. Exim protects against this by rejecting a message if the +client has sent further input when it should not have. The error response 554 +SMTP synchronization error is sent, and the connection is dropped. Testing +for this error cannot be perfect because of transmission delays (unexpected +input may be on its way but not yet received when Exim checks). However, it +does detect many instances. + + +The check can be globally disabled by setting false. +If you want to disable the check selectively (for example, only for certain +hosts), you can do so by an appropriate use of a modifier in an ACL +(see section ). See also . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +ETRN +command to be run + + +$domain + +If this option is set, the given command is run whenever an SMTP ETRN +command is received from a host that is permitted to issue such commands (see +chapter ). The string is split up into separate arguments which +are independently expanded. The expansion variable $domain is set to the +argument of the ETRN command, and no syntax checking is done on it. For +example: + + +smtp_etrn_command = /etc/etrn_command $domain \ + $sender_host_address + + +A new process is created to run the command, but Exim does not wait for it to +complete. Consequently, its status cannot be checked. If the command cannot be +run, a line is written to the panic log, but the ETRN caller still receives +a 250 success response. Exim is normally running under its own uid when +receiving SMTP, so it is not possible for it to change the uid before running +the command. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +ETRN +serializing + +When this option is set, it prevents the simultaneous execution of more than +one identical command as a result of ETRN in an SMTP connection. See +section for details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: fixed-point +Default: unset + + + + + + +load average + +If the system load average ever gets higher than this, incoming SMTP calls are +accepted only from those hosts that match an entry in . +If is not set, no incoming SMTP calls are accepted when +the load is over the limit. The option has no effect on ancient operating +systems on which Exim cannot determine the load average. See also + and . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 3 + + + + + + +SMTP +limiting syntax and protocol errors + + +limit +SMTP syntax and protocol errors + +Exim rejects SMTP commands that contain syntax or protocol errors. In +particular, a syntactically invalid email address, as in this command: + + +RCPT TO:<abc xyz@a.b.c> + + +causes immediate rejection of the command, before any other tests are done. +(The ACL cannot be run if there is no valid address to set up for it.) An +example of a protocol error is receiving RCPT before MAIL. If there are +too many syntax or protocol errors in one SMTP session, the connection is +dropped. The limit is set by this option. + + + +PIPELINING +expected errors + +When the PIPELINING extension to SMTP is in use, some protocol errors are +expected, for instance, a RCPT command after a rejected MAIL command. +Exim assumes that PIPELINING will be used if it advertises it (see +), and in this situation, expected errors do +not count towards the limit. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 3 + + + + + + +SMTP +limiting unknown commands + + +limit +unknown SMTP commands + +If there are too many unrecognized commands in an incoming SMTP session, an +Exim server drops the connection. This is a defence against some kinds of abuse +that subvert web +clients +into making connections to SMTP ports; in these circumstances, a number of +non-SMTP command lines are sent first. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +SMTP +rate limiting + + +limit +rate of message arrival + + +RCPT +rate limiting + +Some sites find it helpful to be able to limit the rate at which certain hosts +can send them messages, and the rate at which an individual message can specify +recipients. + + +Exim has two rate-limiting facilities. This section describes the older +facility, which can limit rates within a single connection. The newer + ACL condition can limit rates across all connections. See section + for details of the newer facility. + + +When a host matches , the values of + and are used to control the +rate of acceptance of MAIL and RCPT commands in a single SMTP session, +respectively. Each option, if set, must contain a set of four comma-separated +values: + + + + +A threshold, before which there is no rate limiting. + + + + +An initial time delay. Unlike other times in Exim, numbers with decimal +fractional parts are allowed here. + + + + +A factor by which to increase the delay each time. + + + + +A maximum value for the delay. This should normally be less than 5 minutes, +because after that time, the client is liable to timeout the SMTP command. + + + + +For example, these settings have been used successfully at the site which +first suggested this feature, for controlling mail from their customers: + + +smtp_ratelimit_mail = 2,0.5s,1.05,4m +smtp_ratelimit_rcpt = 4,0.25s,1.015,4m + + +The first setting specifies delays that are applied to MAIL commands after +two have been received over a single connection. The initial delay is 0.5 +seconds, increasing by a factor of 1.05 each time. The second setting applies +delays to RCPT commands when more than four occur in a single message. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + +See above. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + +See above. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: time† +Default: 5m + + + + + + +timeout +for SMTP input + + +SMTP +input timeout + +This sets a timeout value for SMTP reception. It applies to all forms of SMTP +input, including batch SMTP. If a line of input (either an SMTP command or a +data line) is not received within this time, the SMTP connection is dropped and +the message is abandoned. +A line is written to the log containing one of the following messages: + + +SMTP command timeout on connection from... +SMTP data timeout on connection from... + + +The former means that Exim was expecting to read an SMTP command; the latter +means that it was in the DATA phase, reading the contents of a message. + + +If the first character of the option is a $ the option is +expanded before use and may depend on +$sender_host_name, $sender_host_address and $sender_host_port. + + + + + +The value set by this option can be overridden by the + command-line option. A setting of zero time disables the timeout, but +this should never be used for SMTP over TCP/IP. (It can be useful in some cases +of local input using or .) For non-SMTP input, the reception +timeout is controlled by and . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option defines hosts for which SMTP connections are reserved; see + and above. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +SMTP +details policy failures + + +policy control +rejection, returning details + +In the default state, Exim uses bland messages such as +Administrative prohibition when it rejects SMTP commands for policy +reasons. Many sysadmins like this because it gives away little information +to spammers. However, some other sysadmins who are applying strict checking +policies want to give out much fuller information about failures. Setting + true causes Exim to be more forthcoming. For +example, instead of Administrative prohibition, it might give: + + +550-Rejected after DATA: '>' missing at end of address: +550 failing address in "From" header is: <user@dom.ain + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: * + + + + + + +SMTPUTF8 +advertising + +When Exim is built with support for internationalised mail names, +the availability thereof is advertised in +response to EHLO only to those client hosts that match this option. See +chapter for details of Exim’s support for internationalisation. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: 127.0.0.1 783 + + + + + +This option is available when Exim is compiled with the content-scanning +extension. It specifies how Exim connects to SpamAssassin’s daemon. +See section for more details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: v=spf1 a/24 mx/24 ptr ?all + + + + + +This option is available when Exim is compiled with SPF support. +See section for more details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +multiple spool directories + + +spool directory +split + + +directories, multiple + +If this option is set, it causes Exim to split its input directory into 62 +subdirectories, each with a single alphanumeric character as its name. The +sixth character of the message id is used to allocate messages to +subdirectories; this is the least significant base-62 digit of the time of +arrival of the message. + + +Splitting up the spool in this way may provide better performance on systems +where there are long mail queues, by reducing the number of files in any one +directory. The msglog directory is also split up in a similar way to the input +directory; however, if is set, all old msglog files +are still placed in the single directory msglog.OLD. + + +It is not necessary to take any special action for existing messages when +changing . Exim notices messages that are in the +wrong place, and continues to process them. If the option is turned off +after a period of being on, the subdirectories will eventually empty and be +automatically deleted. + + +When is set, the behaviour of queue runner processes +changes. Instead of creating a list of all messages in the queue, and then +trying to deliver each one, in turn, it constructs a list of those in one +sub-directory and tries to deliver them, before moving on to the next +sub-directory. The sub-directories are processed in a random order. This +spreads out the scanning of the input directories, and uses less memory. It is +particularly beneficial when there are lots of messages in the queue. However, +if is set, none of this new processing happens. The +entire queue has to be scanned and sorted before any deliveries can start. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: set at compile time + + + + + + +spool directory +path to + +This defines the directory in which Exim keeps its spool, that is, the messages +it is waiting to deliver. The default value is taken from the compile-time +configuration setting, if there is one. If not, this option must be set. The +string is expanded, so it can contain, for example, a reference to +$primary_hostname. + + +If the spool directory name is fixed on your installation, it is recommended +that you set it at build time rather than from this option, particularly if the +log files are being written to the spool directory (see ). +Otherwise log files cannot be used for errors that are detected early on, such +as failures in the configuration file. + + +By using this option to override the compiled-in path, it is possible to run +tests of Exim without using the standard spool. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +spool directory +file formats + +If this option is set, Exim may for some messages use an alternative format +for data-files in the spool which matches the wire format. +Doing this permits more efficient message reception and transmission. +Currently it is only done for messages received using the ESMTP CHUNKING +option. + + +The following variables will not have useful values: + + +$max_received_linelength +$body_linecount +$body_zerocount + + +Users of the local_scan() API (see ), +and any external programs which are passed a reference to a message data file +(except via the regex, malware or spam) ACL conditions) +will need to be aware of the different formats potentially available. + + +Using any of the ACL conditions noted will negate the reception benefit +(as a Unix-mbox-format file is constructed for them). +The transmission benefit is maintained. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: time +Default: 5s + + + + + + +sqlite lookup type +lock timeout + +This option controls the timeout that the sqlite lookup uses when trying to +access an SQLite database. See section for more details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +access control lists (ACLs) +variables, handling unset + +This option controls what happens if a syntactically valid but undefined ACL +variable is referenced. If it is false (the default), an empty string +is substituted; if it is true, an error is generated. See section + for details of ACL variables. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +angle brackets, excess + +If this option is set, redundant pairs of angle brackets round route-addr +items in addresses are stripped. For example, <<xxx@a.b.c.d>> is +treated as <xxx@a.b.c.d>. If this is in the envelope and the message is +passed on to another MTA, the excess angle brackets are not passed on. If this +option is not set, multiple pairs of angle brackets cause a syntax error. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +trailing dot on domain + + +dot +trailing on domain + +If this option is set, a trailing dot at the end of a domain in an address is +ignored. If this is in the envelope and the message is passed on to another +MTA, the dot is not passed on. If this option is not set, a dot at the end of a +domain causes a syntax error. +However, addresses in header lines are checked only when an ACL requests header +syntax checking. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +syslog +duplicate log lines; suppressing + +When Exim is logging to syslog, it writes the log lines for its three +separate logs at different syslog priorities so that they can in principle +be separated on the logging hosts. Some installations do not require this +separation, and in those cases, the duplication of certain log lines is a +nuisance. If is set false, only one copy of any +particular log line is written to syslog. For lines that normally go to +both the main log and the reject log, the reject log version (possibly +containing message header lines) is written, at LOG_NOTICE priority. +Lines that normally go to both the main and the panic log are written at +the LOG_ALERT priority. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +syslog +facility; setting + +This option sets the syslog facility name, used when Exim is logging to +syslog. The value must be one of the strings mail, user, news, +uucp, daemon, or localx where x is a digit between 0 and 7. +If this option is unset, mail is used. See chapter for +details of Exim’s logging. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +syslog +pid + +If is set false, the PID on Exim’s log lines are +omitted when these lines are sent to syslog. (Syslog normally prefixes +the log lines with the PID of the logging process automatically.) You need +to enable the +pid log selector item, if you want Exim to write it’s PID +into the logs.) See chapter for details of Exim’s logging. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: exim + + + + + + +syslog +process name; setting + +This option sets the syslog ident name, used when Exim is logging to +syslog. The value must be no longer than 32 characters. See chapter + for details of Exim’s logging. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +syslog +timestamps + +If is set false, the timestamps on Exim’s log lines are +omitted when these lines are sent to syslog. See chapter for +details of Exim’s logging. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +filter +system filter + + +system filter +specifying + + +Sieve filter +not available for system filter + +This option specifies an Exim filter file that is applied to all messages at +the start of each delivery attempt, before any routing is done. System filters +must be Exim filters; they cannot be Sieve filters. If the system filter +generates any deliveries to files or pipes, or any new mail messages, the +appropriate option(s) must be set, to define +which transports are to be used. Details of this facility are given in chapter +. +A forced expansion failure results in no filter operation. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +$address_file + +This sets the name of the transport driver that is to be used when the + command in a system message filter specifies a path ending in /, +implying delivery of each message into a separate file in some directory. +During the delivery, the variable $address_file contains the path name. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +file +transport for system filter + +This sets the name of the transport driver that is to be used when the +command in a system message filter specifies a path not ending in /. During +the delivery, the variable $address_file contains the path name. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +gid (group id) +system filter + +This option is used only when is also set. It sets the +gid under which the system filter is run, overriding any gid that is associated +with the user. The value may be numerical or symbolic. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +pipe transport +for system filter + + +$address_pipe + +This specifies the transport driver that is to be used when a command +is used in a system filter. During the delivery, the variable $address_pipe +contains the pipe command. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +autoreply transport +for system filter + +This specifies the transport driver that is to be used when a command +is used in a system filter. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +uid (user id) +system filter + +If this option is set to root, the system filter is run in the main Exim +delivery process, as root. Otherwise, the system filter runs in a separate +process, as the given user, defaulting to the Exim run-time user. +Unless the string consists entirely of digits, it +is looked up in the password data. Failure to find the named user causes a +configuration error. The gid is either taken from the password data, or +specified by . When the uid is specified numerically, + is required to be set. + + +If the system filter generates any pipe, file, or reply deliveries, the uid +under which the filter is run is used when transporting them, unless a +transport option overrides. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +daemon +TCP_NODELAY on sockets + + +Nagle algorithm + + +TCP_NODELAY on listening sockets + +If this option is set false, it stops the Exim daemon setting the +TCP_NODELAY option on its listening sockets. Setting TCP_NODELAY +turns off the Nagle algorithm, which is a way of improving network +performance in interactive (character-by-character) situations. Turning it off +should improve Exim’s performance a bit, so that is what happens by default. +However, it appears that some broken clients cannot cope, and time out. Hence +this option. It affects only those sockets that are set up for listening by the +daemon. Sockets created by the smtp transport for delivering mail always set +TCP_NODELAY. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: time +Default: 0s + + + + + + +frozen messages +timing out + + +timeout +frozen messages + +If is set to a time greater than zero, a frozen +message of any kind that has been in the queue for longer than the given time +is automatically cancelled at the next queue run. If the frozen message is a +bounce message, it is just discarded; otherwise, a bounce is sent to the +sender, in a similar manner to cancellation by the command line option. +If you want to timeout frozen bounce messages earlier than other kinds of +frozen message, see . + + +Note: the default value of zero means no timeouts; with this setting, +frozen messages remain in the queue forever (except for any frozen bounce +messages that are released by ). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +timezone, setting + + +environment +values from + +The value of is used to set the environment variable TZ while +running Exim (if it is different on entry). This ensures that all timestamps +created by Exim are in the required timezone. If you want all your timestamps +to be in UTC (aka GMT) you should set + + +timezone = UTC + + +The default value is taken from TIMEZONE_DEFAULT in Local/Makefile, +or, if that is not set, from the value of the TZ environment variable when Exim +is built. If is set to the empty string, either at build or run +time, any existing TZ variable is removed from the environment when Exim +runs. This is appropriate behaviour for obtaining wall-clock time on some, but +unfortunately not all, operating systems. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: * + + + + + + +TLS +advertising + + +encryption +on SMTP connection + + +SMTP +encrypted connection + +When Exim is built with support for TLS encrypted connections, the availability +of the STARTTLS command to set up an encrypted session is advertised in +response to EHLO only to those client hosts that match this option. See +chapter for details of Exim’s support for TLS. +Note that the default value requires that a certificate be supplied +using the option. If TLS support for incoming connections +is not required the option should be set empty. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: list† + + + + + + +TLS +server certificate; location of + + +certificate +server, location of + +The value of this option is expanded, and must then be a list of absolute paths to +files which contains the server’s certificates. Commonly only one file is +needed. +The server’s private key is also +assumed to be in this file if is unset. See chapter + for further details. + + +Note: The certificates defined by this option are used only when Exim is +receiving incoming messages as a server. If you want to supply certificates for +use when sending messages as a client, you must set the +option in the relevant smtp transport. + + +Note: If you use filenames based on IP addresses, change the list +separator in the usual way () >to avoid confusion under IPv6. + + +Note: Under versions of OpenSSL preceding 1.1.1, +when a list of more than one +file is used, the $tls_in_ourcert variable is unreliable. + + +Note: OCSP stapling is not usable under OpenSSL +when a list of more than one file is used. + + +If the option contains $tls_out_sni and Exim is built against OpenSSL, then +if the OpenSSL build supports TLS extensions and the TLS client sends the +Server Name Indication extension, then this option and others documented in + will be re-expanded. + + +If this option is unset or empty a fresh self-signed certificate will be +generated for every connection. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +TLS +server certificate revocation list + + +certificate +revocation list for server + +This option specifies a certificate revocation list. The expanded value must +be the name of a file that contains CRLs in PEM format. + + +Under OpenSSL the option can specify a directory with CRL files. + + +Note: Under OpenSSL the option must, if given, supply a CRL +for each signing element of the certificate chain (i.e. all but the leaf). +For the file variant this can be multiple PEM blocks in the one file. + + +See for discussion of when this option might be re-expanded. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: integer +Default: 2236 + + + + + + +TLS +D-H bit count + +The number of bits used for Diffie-Hellman key-exchange may be suggested by +the chosen TLS library. That value might prove to be too high for +interoperability. This option provides a maximum clamp on the value +suggested, trading off security for interoperability. + + +The value must be at least 1024. + + +The value 2236 was chosen because, at time of adding the option, it was the +hard-coded maximum value supported by the NSS cryptographic library, as used +by Thunderbird, while GnuTLS was suggesting 2432 bits as normal. + + +If you prefer more security and are willing to break some clients, raise this +number. + + +Note that the value passed to GnuTLS for *generating* a new prime may be a +little less than this figure, because GnuTLS is inexact and may produce a +larger prime than requested. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +TLS +D-H parameters for server + +The value of this option is expanded and indicates the source of DH parameters +to be used by Exim. + + +Note: The Exim Maintainers strongly recommend using a filename with site-generated +local DH parameters, which has been supported across all versions of Exim. The +other specific constants available are a fallback so that even when +"unconfigured", Exim can offer Perfect Forward Secrecy in older ciphersuites in TLS. + + +If is a filename starting with a /, +then it names a file from which DH +parameters should be loaded. If the file exists, it should hold a PEM-encoded +PKCS#3 representation of the DH prime. If the file does not exist, for +OpenSSL it is an error. For GnuTLS, Exim will attempt to create the file and +fill it with a generated DH prime. For OpenSSL, if the DH bit-count from +loading the file is greater than then it will be ignored, +and treated as though the were set to "none". + + +If this option expands to the string "none", then no DH parameters will be +loaded by Exim. + + +If this option expands to the string "historic" and Exim is using GnuTLS, then +Exim will attempt to load a file from inside the spool directory. If the file +does not exist, Exim will attempt to create it. +See section for further details. + + +If Exim is using OpenSSL and this option is empty or unset, then Exim will load +a default DH prime; the default is Exim-specific but lacks verifiable provenance. + + +In older versions of Exim the default was the 2048 bit prime described in section +2.2 of RFC 5114, "2048-bit MODP Group with 224-bit Prime Order Subgroup", which +in IKE is assigned number 23. + + +Otherwise, the option must expand to the name used by Exim for any of a number +of DH primes specified in RFC 2409, RFC 3526, RFC 5114, RFC 7919, or from other +sources. As names, Exim uses a standard specified name, else "ike" followed by +the number used by IKE, or "default" which corresponds to +exim.dev.20160529.3. + + +The available standard primes are: +ffdhe2048, ffdhe3072, ffdhe4096, ffdhe6144, ffdhe8192, +ike1, ike2, ike5, +ike14, ike15, ike16, ike17, ike18, +ike22, ike23 and ike24. + + +The available additional primes are: +exim.dev.20160529.1, exim.dev.20160529.2 and exim.dev.20160529.3. + + +Some of these will be too small to be accepted by clients. +Some may be too large to be accepted by clients. +The open cryptographic community has suspicions about the integrity of some +of the later IKE values, which led into RFC7919 providing new fixed constants +(the "ffdhe" identifiers). + + +At this point, all of the "ike" values should be considered obsolete; +they’re still in Exim to avoid breaking unusual configurations, but are +candidates for removal the next time we have backwards-incompatible changes. + + +The TLS protocol does not negotiate an acceptable size for this; clients tend +to hard-drop connections if what is offered by the server is unacceptable, +whether too large or too small, and there’s no provision for the client to +tell the server what these constraints are. Thus, as a server operator, you +need to make an educated guess as to what is most likely to work for your +userbase. + + +Some known size constraints suggest that a bit-size in the range 2048 to 2236 +is most likely to maximise interoperability. The upper bound comes from +applications using the Mozilla Network Security Services (NSS) library, which +used to set its DH_MAX_P_BITS upper-bound to 2236. This affects many +mail user agents (MUAs). The lower bound comes from Debian installs of Exim4 +prior to the 4.80 release, as Debian used to patch Exim to raise the minimum +acceptable bound from 1024 to 2048. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: auto + + + + + + +TLS +EC cryptography + +This option selects a EC curve for use by Exim when used with OpenSSL. +It has no effect when Exim is used with GnuTLS. + + +After expansion it must contain a valid EC curve parameter, such as +prime256v1, secp384r1, or P-512. Consult your OpenSSL manual +for valid selections. + + +For OpenSSL versions before (and not including) 1.0.2, the string +auto selects prime256v1. For more recent OpenSSL versions +auto tells the library to choose. + + +If the option expands to an empty string, no EC curves will be enabled. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +TLS +certificate status + + +TLS +OCSP proof file + +This option +must if set expand to the absolute path to a file which contains a current +status proof for the server’s certificate, as obtained from the +Certificate Authority. + + +Usable for GnuTLS 3.4.4 or 3.3.17 or OpenSSL 1.1.0 (or later). + + +For GnuTLS 3.5.6 or later the expanded value of this option can be a list +of files, to match a list given for the option. +The ordering of the two lists must match. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string list +Default: unset + + + + + + +SSMTP + + +SMTPS + +This option specifies a list of incoming SSMTP (aka SMTPS) ports that should +operate the SSMTP (SMTPS) protocol, where a TLS session is immediately +set up without waiting for the client to issue a STARTTLS command. For +further details, see section . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: list† + + + + + + +TLS +server private key; location of + +The value of this option is expanded, and must then be a list of absolute paths to +files which contains the server’s private keys. +If this option is unset, or if +the expansion is forced to fail, or the result is an empty string, the private +key is assumed to be in the same file as the server’s certificates. See chapter + for further details. + + +See for discussion of when this option might be re-expanded. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +TLS +esmtp state; remembering + + +TLS +broken clients + +If this option is set true, Exim violates the RFCs by remembering that it is in +esmtp state after successfully negotiating a TLS session. This provides +support for broken clients that fail to send a new EHLO after starting a +TLS session. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +TLS +requiring specific ciphers + + +cipher +requiring specific + +This option controls which ciphers can be used for incoming TLS connections. +The smtp transport has an option of the same name for controlling outgoing +connections. This option is expanded for each connection, so can be varied for +different clients if required. The value of this option must be a list of +permitted cipher suites. The OpenSSL and GnuTLS libraries handle cipher control +in somewhat different ways. If GnuTLS is being used, the client controls the +preference order of the available ciphers. Details are given in sections + and . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +TLS +client certificate verification + + +certificate +verification of client + +See below. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: system + + + + + + +TLS +client certificate verification + + +certificate +verification of client + +The value of this option is expanded, and must then be either the +word "system" +or the absolute path to +a file or directory containing permitted certificates for clients that +match or . + + +The "system" value for the option will use a +system default location compiled into the SSL library. +This is not available for GnuTLS versions preceding 3.0.20, +and will be taken as empty; an explicit location +must be specified. + + +The use of a directory for the option value is not available for GnuTLS versions +preceding 3.3.6 and a single file must be used. + + +With OpenSSL the certificates specified +explicitly +either by file or directory +are added to those given by the system default location. + + +These certificates should be for the certificate authorities trusted, rather +than the public cert of individual clients. With both OpenSSL and GnuTLS, if +the value is a file then the certificates are sent by Exim as a server to +connecting clients, defining the list of accepted certificate authorities. +Thus the values defined should be considered public data. To avoid this, +use the explicit directory version. + + +See for discussion of when this option might be re-expanded. + + +A forced expansion failure or setting to an empty string is equivalent to +being unset. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +TLS +client certificate verification + + +certificate +verification of client + +This option, along with , controls the checking of +certificates from clients. The expected certificates are defined by +, which must be set. A configuration error occurs if +either or is set and + is not set. + + +Any client that matches is constrained by +. When the client initiates a TLS session, it must +present one of the listed certificates. If it does not, the connection is +aborted. Warning: Including a host in does not require +the host to use TLS. It can still send SMTP commands through unencrypted +connections. Forcing a client to use TLS has to be done separately using an +ACL to reject inappropriate commands when the connection is not encrypted. + + +A weaker form of checking is provided by . If a client +matches this option (but not ), Exim requests a +certificate and checks it against , but does not +abort the connection if there is no certificate or if it does not match. This +state can be detected in an ACL, which makes it possible to implement policies +such as accept for relay only if a verified certificate has been received, +but accept for local delivery if encrypted, even without a verified +certificate. + + +Client hosts that match neither of these lists are not asked to present +certificates. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +trusted groups + + +groups +trusted + +This option is expanded just once, at the start of Exim’s processing. If this +option is set, any process that is running in one of the listed groups, or +which has one of them as a supplementary group, is trusted. The groups can be +specified numerically or by name. See section for +details of what trusted callers are permitted to do. If neither + nor is set, only root and the Exim user +are trusted. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +trusted users + + +user +trusted + +This option is expanded just once, at the start of Exim’s processing. If this +option is set, any process that is running as one of the listed users is +trusted. The users can be specified numerically or by name. See section + for details of what trusted callers are permitted to do. +If neither nor is set, only root and the +Exim user are trusted. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +uid (user id) +unknown caller + + +$caller_uid + +This is a specialized feature for use in unusual configurations. By default, if +the uid of the caller of Exim cannot be looked up using getpwuid(), Exim +gives up. The option can be used to set a login name to be +used in this circumstance. It is expanded, so values like +can be set. When is used, the value of +is used for the user’s real name (gecos field), unless this has been set by the + option. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + +See . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: address list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +trusted users + + +sender +setting by untrusted user + + +untrusted user setting sender + + +user +untrusted setting sender + + +envelope sender + +When an untrusted user submits a message to Exim using the standard input, Exim +normally creates an envelope sender address from the user’s login and the +default qualification domain. Data from the option (for setting envelope +senders on non-SMTP messages) or the SMTP MAIL command (if or +is used) is ignored. + + +However, untrusted users are permitted to set an empty envelope sender address, +to declare that a message should never generate any bounces. For example: + + +exim -f '<>' user@domain.example + + + +$sender_ident + +The option allows you to permit untrusted users to set +other envelope sender addresses in a controlled way. When it is set, untrusted +users are allowed to set envelope sender addresses that match any of the +patterns in the list. Like all address lists, the string is expanded. The +identity of the user is in $sender_ident, so you can, for example, restrict +users to setting senders that start with their login ids +followed by a hyphen +by a setting like this: + + +untrusted_set_sender = ^$sender_ident- + + +If you want to allow untrusted users to set envelope sender addresses without +restriction, you can use + + +untrusted_set_sender = * + + +The option applies to all forms of local input, but +only to the setting of the envelope sender. It does not permit untrusted users +to use the other options which trusted user can use to override message +parameters. Furthermore, it does not stop Exim from removing an existing +Sender: header in the message, or from adding a Sender: header if +necessary. See and for ways of +overriding these actions. The handling of the Sender: header is also +described in section . + + +The log line for a message’s arrival shows the envelope sender following +<=. For local messages, the user’s login always follows, after U=. In + displays, and in the Exim monitor, if an untrusted user sets an +envelope sender address, the user’s login is shown in parentheses after the +sender address. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: see below + + + + + + +From line + + +UUCP +From line + +Some applications that pass messages to an MTA via a command line interface use +an initial line starting with From  to pass the envelope sender. In +particular, this is used by UUCP software. Exim recognizes such a line by means +of a regular expression that is set in . When the pattern +matches, the sender address is constructed by expanding the contents of +, provided that the caller of Exim is a trusted user. The +default pattern recognizes lines in the following two forms: + + +From ph10 Fri Jan 5 12:35 GMT 1996 +From ph10 Fri, 7 Jan 97 14:00:00 GMT + + +The pattern can be seen by running + + +exim -bP uucp_from_pattern + + +It checks only up to the hours and minutes, and allows for a 2-digit or 4-digit +year in the second case. The first word after From  is matched in the +regular expression by a parenthesized subpattern. The default value for + is $1, which therefore just uses this first word +(ph10 in the example above) as the message’s sender. See also +. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string† +Default: $1 + + + + + +See above. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +warning of delay +customizing the message + + +customizing +warning message + +This option defines a template file containing paragraphs of text to be used +for constructing the warning message which is sent by Exim when a message has +been in the queue for a specified amount of time, as specified by +. Details of the file’s contents are given in chapter +. See also . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: main +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +reject log +disabling + +If this option is set false, Exim no longer writes anything to the reject log. +See chapter for details of what Exim writes to its logs. + + + +
+ + + +Generic options for routers + + +options +generic; for routers + + +generic options +router + +This chapter describes the generic options that apply to all routers. +Those that are preconditions are marked with ‡ in the use field. + + +For a general description of how a router operates, see sections + and . The latter specifies the order in +which the preconditions are tested. The order of expansion of the options that +provide data for a transport is: , , +, . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +router +data attached to address + +The string is expanded just before the router is run, that is, after all the +precondition tests have succeeded. If the expansion is forced to fail, the +router declines, the value of remains unchanged, and the + option controls what happens next. Other expansion failures cause +delivery of the address to be deferred. + + + +$address_data + +When the expansion succeeds, the value is retained with the address, and can be +accessed using the variable $address_data in the current router, subsequent +routers, and the eventual transport. + + +Warning: If the current or any subsequent router is a redirect router +that runs a user’s filter file, the contents of $address_data are accessible +in the filter. This is not normally a problem, because such data is usually +either not confidential or it belongs to the current user, but if you do +put confidential data into $address_data you need to remember this point. + + +Even if the router declines or passes, the value of $address_data remains +with the address, though it can be changed by another setting +on a subsequent router. If a router generates child addresses, the value of +$address_data propagates to them. This also applies to the special kind of +child that is generated by a router with the option. + + +The idea of is that you can use it to look up a lot of data +for the address once, and then pick out parts of the data later. For example, +you could use a single LDAP lookup to return a string of the form + + +uid=1234 gid=5678 mailbox=/mail/xyz forward=/home/xyz/.forward + + +In the transport you could pick out the mailbox by a setting such as + + +file = ${extract{mailbox}{$address_data}} + + +This makes the configuration file less messy, and also reduces the number of +lookups (though Exim does cache lookups). + + + +$sender_address_data + + +$address_data + +The facility is also useful as a means of passing information +from one router to another, and from a router to a transport. In addition, if +$address_data is set by a router when verifying a recipient address from an +ACL, it remains available for use in the rest of the ACL statement. After +verifying a sender, the value is transferred to $sender_address_data. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers‡ +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + + + + +router +skipping when address testing + +If this option is set false, the router is skipped when routing is being tested +by means of the command line option. This can be a convenience when +your first router sends messages to an external scanner, because it saves you +having to set the already scanned indicator when testing real address +routing. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +router +customizing cannot route message + + +customizing +cannot route message + +This option specifies a text message that is used when an address cannot be +routed because Exim has run out of routers. The default message is +Unrouteable address. This option is useful only on routers that have + set false, or on the very last router in a configuration, because the +value that is used is taken from the last router that is considered. This +includes a router that is skipped because its preconditions are not met, as +well as a router that declines. For example, using the default configuration, +you could put: + + +cannot_route_message = Remote domain not found in DNS + + +on the first router, which is a dnslookup router with set false, +and + + +cannot_route_message = Unknown local user + + +on the final router that checks for local users. If string expansion fails for +this option, the default message is used. Unless the expansion failure was +explicitly forced, a message about the failure is written to the main and panic +logs, in addition to the normal message about the routing failure. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +case of local parts + + +router +case of local parts + +By default, routers handle the local parts of addresses in a case-insensitive +manner, though the actual case is preserved for transmission with the message. +If you want the case of letters to be significant in a router, you must set +this option true. For individual router options that contain address or local +part lists (for example, ), case-sensitive matching can be +turned on by +caseful as a list item. See section for +more details. + + + +$local_part + + +$original_local_part + + +$parent_local_part + +The value of the $local_part variable is forced to lower case while a +router is running unless is set. When a router assigns +an address to a transport, the value of $local_part when the transport runs +is the same as it was in the router. Similarly, when a router generates child +addresses by aliasing or forwarding, the values of $original_local_part +and $parent_local_part are those that were used by the redirecting router. + + +This option applies to the processing of an address by a router. When a +recipient address is being processed in an ACL, there is a separate +modifier that can be used to specify case-sensitive processing within the ACL +(see section ). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers‡ +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +local user, checking in router + + +router +checking for local user + + +/etc/passwd + + +$home + +When this option is true, Exim checks that the local part of the recipient +address (with affixes removed if relevant) is the name of an account on the +local system. The check is done by calling the getpwnam() function rather +than trying to read /etc/passwd directly. This means that other methods of +holding password data (such as NIS) are supported. If the local part is a local +user, $home is set from the password data, and can be tested in other +preconditions that are evaluated after this one (the order of evaluation is +given in section ). However, the value of $home can be +overridden by . If the local part is not a local user, +the router is skipped. + + +If you want to check that the local part is either the name of a local user +or matches something else, you cannot combine with a +setting of , because that specifies the logical and of the +two conditions. However, you can use a passwd lookup in a +setting to achieve this. For example: + + +local_parts = passwd;$local_part : lsearch;/etc/other/users + + +Note, however, that the side effects of (such as setting +up a home directory) do not occur when a passwd lookup is used in a + (or any other) precondition. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers‡ +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +router +customized precondition + +This option specifies a general precondition test that has to succeed for the +router to be called. The option is the last precondition to be +evaluated (see section ). The string is expanded, and if the +result is a forced failure, or an empty string, or one of the strings 0 or +no or false (checked without regard to the case of the letters), the +router is skipped, and the address is offered to the next one. + + +If the result is any other value, the router is run (as this is the last +precondition to be evaluated, all the other preconditions must be true). + + +This option is unusual in that multiple options may be present. +All options must succeed. + + +The option provides a means of applying custom conditions to the +running of routers. Note that in the case of a simple conditional expansion, +the default expansion values are exactly what is wanted. For example: + + +condition = ${if >{$message_age}{600}} + + +Because of the default behaviour of the string expansion, this is equivalent to + + +condition = ${if >{$message_age}{600}{true}{}} + + +A multiple condition example, which succeeds: + + +condition = ${if >{$message_age}{600}} +condition = ${if !eq{${lc:$local_part}}{postmaster}} +condition = foobar + + +If the expansion fails (other than forced failure) delivery is deferred. Some +of the other precondition options are common special cases that could in fact +be specified using . + + +Historical note: We have on ACLs and on Routers. Routers +are far older, and use one set of semantics. ACLs are newer and when +they were created, the ACL process was given far stricter +parse semantics. The expansion condition uses the same rules as +ACLs. The expansion condition uses the same rules as +Routers. More pointedly, the was written to match the existing +Router rules processing behavior. + + +This is best illustrated in an example: + + +# If used in an ACL condition will fail with a syntax error, but +# in a router condition any extra characters are treated as a string + +$ exim -be '${if eq {${lc:GOOGLE.com}} {google.com}} {yes} {no}}' +true {yes} {no}} + +$ exim -be '${if eq {${lc:WHOIS.com}} {google.com}} {yes} {no}}' + {yes} {no}} + + +In each example above, the statement actually ends after +{google.com}}. Since no true or false braces were defined, the +default behavior is to return a boolean true or a null answer +(which evaluates to false). The rest of the line is then treated as a +string. So the first example resulted in the boolean answer true +with the string {yes} {no}} appended to it. The second example +resulted in the null output (indicating false) with the string + {yes} {no}} appended to it. + + +In fact you can put excess forward braces in too. In the router +, Exim’s parser only looks for { symbols when they +mean something, like after a $ or when required as part of a +conditional. But otherwise { and } are treated as ordinary +string characters. + + +Thus, in a Router, the above expansion strings will both always evaluate +true, as the result of expansion is a non-empty string which doesn’t +match an explicit false value. This can be tricky to debug. By +contrast, in an ACL either of those strings will always result in an +expansion error because the result doesn’t look sufficiently boolean. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +testing +variables in drivers + +If this option is set and debugging is enabled (see the command line +option) or in address-testing mode (see the command line option), +the string is expanded and included in the debugging output. +If expansion of the string fails, the error message is written to the debugging +output, and Exim carries on processing. +This option is provided to help with checking out the values of variables and +so on when debugging router configurations. For example, if a +option appears not to be working, can be used to output the +variables it references. The output happens after checks for , +, and but before any other preconditions +are tested. A newline is added to the text if it does not end with one. +The variable $router_name contains the name of the router. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If this option is set true, nothing is logged for any routing errors +or for any deliveries caused by this router. You should not set this option +unless you really, really know what you are doing. See also the generic +transport option of the same name. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: domain list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +MX record +security + + +DNSSEC +MX lookup + + +security +MX lookup + + +DNS +DNSSEC + +DNS lookups for domains matching will be done with +the dnssec request bit set. +This applies to all of the SRV, MX, AAAA, A lookup sequence. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: domain list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +MX record +security + + +DNSSEC +MX lookup + + +security +MX lookup + + +DNS +DNSSEC + +DNS lookups for domains matching will be done with +the dnssec request bit set. Any returns not having the Authenticated Data bit +(AD bit) set will be ignored and logged as a host-lookup failure. +This applies to all of the SRV, MX, AAAA, A lookup sequence. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers‡ +Type: domain list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +router +restricting to specific domains + + +$domain_data + +If this option is set, the router is skipped unless the current domain matches +the list. If the match is achieved by means of a file lookup, the data that the +lookup returned for the domain is placed in $domain_data for use in string +expansions of the driver’s private options. See section for +a list of the order in which preconditions are evaluated. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + +This option must always be set. It specifies which of the available routers is +to be used. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +DSN +success + + +Delivery Status Notification +success + +If this option is set true, and extended DSN (RFC3461) processing is in effect, +Exim will not pass on DSN requests to downstream DSN-aware hosts but will +instead send a success DSN as if the next hop does not support DSN. +Not effective on redirect routers. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +envelope sender + + +router +changing address for errors + +If a router successfully handles an address, it may assign the address to a +transport for delivery or it may generate child addresses. In both cases, if +there is a delivery problem during later processing, the resulting bounce +message is sent to the address that results from expanding this string, +provided that the address verifies successfully. The option is +expanded before , , and . + + +The setting associated with an address can be overridden if it +subsequently passes through other routers that have their own +settings, or if the message is delivered by a transport with a +setting. + + +If is unset, or the expansion is forced to fail, or the result of +the expansion fails to verify, the errors address associated with the incoming +address is used. At top level, this is the envelope sender. A non-forced +expansion failure causes delivery to be deferred. + + +If an address for which has been set ends up being delivered over +SMTP, the envelope sender for that delivery is the value, so that +any bounces that are generated by other MTAs on the delivery route are also +sent there. You can set to the empty string by either of these +settings: + + +errors_to = +errors_to = "" + + +An expansion item that yields an empty string has the same effect. If you do +this, a locally detected delivery error for addresses processed by this router +no longer gives rise to a bounce message; the error is discarded. If the +address is delivered to a remote host, the return path is set to <>, unless +overridden by the option on the transport. + + + +$address_data + +If for some reason you want to discard local errors, but use a non-empty +MAIL command for remote delivery, you can preserve the original return +path in $address_data in the router, and reinstate it in the transport by +setting . + + +The most common use of is to direct mailing list bounces to the +manager of the list, as described in section , or to +implement VERP (Variable Envelope Return Paths) (see section ). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers‡ +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +address +testing + + +testing +addresses + + +EXPN +router skipping + + +router +skipping for EXPN + +If this option is turned off, the router is skipped when testing an address +as a result of processing an SMTP EXPN command. You might, for example, +want to turn it off on a router for users’ .forward files, while leaving it +on for the system alias file. +See section for a list of the order in which preconditions +are evaluated. + + +The use of the SMTP EXPN command is controlled by an ACL (see chapter +). When Exim is running an EXPN command, it is similar to testing +an address with . Compare VRFY, whose counterpart is . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +router +forcing verification failure + +Setting this option has the effect of setting both and + to the same value. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If this option is true and an address is accepted by this router when +verifying a recipient, verification fails. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If this option is true and an address is accepted by this router when +verifying a sender, verification fails. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: string list +Default: unset + + + + + + +router +fallback hosts + + +fallback +hosts specified on router + +String expansion is not applied to this option. The argument must be a +colon-separated list of host names or IP addresses. The list separator can be +changed (see section ), and a port can be specified with +each name or address. In fact, the format of each item is exactly the same as +defined for the list of hosts in a manualroute router (see section +). + + +If a router queues an address for a remote transport, this host list is +associated with the address, and used instead of the transport’s fallback host +list. If is set on the transport, the order of the list is +randomized for each use. See the option of the smtp +transport for further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: string† +Default: see below + + + + + + +gid (group id) +local delivery + + +local transports +uid and gid + + +transport +local + + +router +setting group + +When a router queues an address for a transport, and the transport does not +specify a group, the group given here is used when running the delivery +process. +The group may be specified numerically or by name. If expansion fails, the +error is logged and delivery is deferred. +The default is unset, unless is set, when the default +is taken from the password information. See also and +and the discussion in chapter . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +header lines +adding + + +router +adding header lines + +This option specifies a list of text headers, +newline-separated (by default, changeable in the usual way ), +that is associated with any addresses that are accepted by the router. +Each item is separately expanded, at routing time. However, this +option has no effect when an address is just being verified. The way in which +the text is used to add header lines at transport time is described in section +. New header lines are not actually added until the +message is in the process of being transported. This means that references to +header lines in string expansions in the transport’s configuration do not +see the added header lines. + + +The option is expanded after , but before + and . If an item is empty, or if +an item expansion is forced to fail, the item has no effect. Other expansion +failures are treated as configuration errors. + + +Unlike most options, can be specified multiple times +for a router; all listed headers are added. + + +Warning 1: The option cannot be used for a redirect +router that has the option set. + + + +duplicate addresses + + + + +Warning 2: If the option is set on the router, all header +additions are deleted when the address is passed on to subsequent routers. +For a router, if a generated address is the same as the incoming +address, this can lead to duplicate addresses with different header +modifications. Exim does not do duplicate deliveries (except, in certain +circumstances, to pipes -- see section ), but it is undefined +which of the duplicates is discarded, so this ambiguous situation should be +avoided. The option of the router may be of help. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +header lines +removing + + +router +removing header lines + +This option specifies a list of text headers, +colon-separated (by default, changeable in the usual way ), +that is associated with any addresses that are accepted by the router. +Each item is separately expanded, at routing time. However, this +option has no effect when an address is just being verified. The way in which +the text is used to remove header lines at transport time is described in +section . Header lines are not actually removed until +the message is in the process of being transported. This means that references +to header lines in string expansions in the transport’s configuration still +see the original header lines. + + +The option is expanded after and +, but before . If an item expansion is forced to fail, +the item has no effect. Other expansion failures are treated as configuration +errors. + + +Unlike most options, can be specified multiple times +for a router; all listed headers are removed. + + +Warning 1: The option cannot be used for a redirect +router that has the option set. + + +Warning 2: If the option is set on the router, all header +removal requests are deleted when the address is passed on to subsequent +routers, and this can lead to problems with duplicates -- see the similar +warning for above. + + +Warning 3: Because of the separate expansion of the list items, +items that contain a list separator must have it doubled. +To avoid this, change the list separator (). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +IP address +discarding + + +router +discarding IP addresses + +Although this option is a host list, it should normally contain IP address +entries rather than names. If any host that is looked up by the router has an +IP address that matches an item in this list, Exim behaves as if that IP +address did not exist. This option allows you to cope with rogue DNS entries +like + + +remote.domain.example. A 127.0.0.1 + + +by setting + + +ignore_target_hosts = 127.0.0.1 + + +on the relevant router. If all the hosts found by a dnslookup router are +discarded in this way, the router declines. In a conventional configuration, an +attempt to mail to such a domain would normally provoke the unrouteable +domain error, and an attempt to verify an address in the domain would fail. +Similarly, if is set on an ipliteral router, the +router declines if presented with one of the listed addresses. + + +You can use this option to disable the use of IPv4 or IPv6 for mail delivery by +means of the first or the second of the following settings, respectively: + + +ignore_target_hosts = 0.0.0.0/0 +ignore_target_hosts = <; 0::0/0 + + +The pattern in the first line matches all IPv4 addresses, whereas the pattern +in the second line matches all IPv6 addresses. + + +This option may also be useful for ignoring link-local and site-local IPv6 +addresses. Because, like all host lists, the value of +is expanded before use as a list, it is possible to make it dependent on the +domain that is being routed. + + + +$host_address + +During its expansion, $host_address is set to the IP address that is being +checked. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +additional groups + + +groups +additional + + +local transports +uid and gid + + +transport +local + +If the router queues an address for a transport, and this option is true, and +the uid supplied by the router is not overridden by the transport, the +initgroups() function is called when running the transport to ensure that +any additional groups associated with the uid are set up. See also +and and the discussion in chapter . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers‡ +Type: string list +Default: unset + + + + + + +affix +router precondition + + +router +prefix for local part + + +prefix +for local part, used in router + +If this option is set, the router is skipped unless the local part starts with +one of the given strings, or is true. See +section for a list of the order in which preconditions are +evaluated. + + +The list is scanned from left to right, and the first prefix that matches is +used. A limited form of wildcard is available; if the prefix begins with an +asterisk, it matches the longest possible sequence of arbitrary characters at +the start of the local part. An asterisk should therefore always be followed by +some character that does not occur in normal local parts. + +multiple mailboxes + + +mailbox +multiple + +Wildcarding can be used to set up multiple user mailboxes, as described in +section . + + + +$local_part + + +$local_part_prefix + +During the testing of the option, and while the router is +running, the prefix is removed from the local part, and is available in the +expansion variable $local_part_prefix. When a message is being delivered, if +the router accepts the address, this remains true during subsequent delivery by +a transport. In particular, the local part that is transmitted in the RCPT +command for LMTP, SMTP, and BSMTP deliveries has the prefix removed by default. +This behaviour can be overridden by setting true on +the relevant transport. + + +When an address is being verified, affects only the +behaviour of the router. If the callout feature of verification is in use, this +means that the full address, including the prefix, will be used during the +callout. + + +The prefix facility is commonly used to handle local parts of the form +. Another common use is to support local parts of the form + to bypass a user’s .forward file – helpful when trying +to tell a user their forwarding is broken – by placing a router like this one +immediately before the router that handles .forward files: + + +real_localuser: + driver = accept + local_part_prefix = real- + check_local_user + transport = local_delivery + + +For security, it would probably be a good idea to restrict the use of this +router to locally-generated messages, using a condition such as this: + + + condition = ${if match {$sender_host_address}\ + {\N^(|127\.0\.0\.1)$\N}} + + +If both and are set for a router, +both conditions must be met if not optional. Care must be taken if wildcards +are used in both a prefix and a suffix on the same router. Different +separator characters must be used to avoid ambiguity. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +See above. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers‡ +Type: string list +Default: unset + + + + + + +router +suffix for local part + + +suffix for local part +used in router + +This option operates in the same way as , except that the +local part must end (rather than start) with the given string, the + option determines whether the suffix is +mandatory, and the wildcard * character, if present, must be the last +character of the suffix. This option facility is commonly used to handle local +parts of the form and multiple user mailboxes of the form +. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +See above. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers‡ +Type: local part list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +router +restricting to specific local parts + + +local part +checking in router + +The router is run only if the local part of the address matches the list. +See section for a list of the order in which preconditions +are evaluated, and +section for a discussion of local part lists. Because the +string is expanded, it is possible to make it depend on the domain, for +example: + + +local_parts = dbm;/usr/local/specials/$domain + + + +$local_part_data + +If the match is achieved by a lookup, the data that the lookup returned +for the local part is placed in the variable $local_part_data for use in +expansions of the router’s private options. You might use this option, for +example, if you have a large number of local virtual domains, and you want to +send all postmaster mail to the same place without having to set up an alias in +each virtual domain: + + +postmaster: + driver = redirect + local_parts = postmaster + data = postmaster@real.domain.example + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: boolean +Default: see below + + + + + + +log +delivery line + + +delivery +log line format + +Exim has two logging styles for delivery, the idea being to make local +deliveries stand out more visibly from remote ones. In the local style, the +recipient address is given just as the local part, without a domain. The use of +this style is controlled by this option. It defaults to true for the accept +router, and false for all the others. This option applies only when a +router assigns an address to a transport. It has no effect on routers that +redirect addresses. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: boolean† +Default: true + + + + + +The result of string expansion for this option must be a valid boolean value, +that is, one of the strings yes, no, true, or false. Any other +result causes an error, and delivery is deferred. If the expansion is forced to +fail, the default value for the option (true) is used. Other failures cause +delivery to be deferred. + + +If this option is set false, and the router declines to handle the address, no +further routers are tried, routing fails, and the address is bounced. + + + +However, if the router explicitly passes an address to the following router by +means of the setting + + +self = pass + + +or otherwise, the setting of is ignored. Also, the setting of +does not affect the behaviour if one of the precondition tests fails. In that +case, the address is always passed to the next router. + + +Note that is not considered to be a precondition. If its +expansion is forced to fail, the router declines, and the value of +controls what happens next. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +timeout +of router + + +router +timeout + +If a router times out during a host lookup, it normally causes deferral of the +address. If is set, the address is passed on to the next +router, overriding . This may be helpful for systems that are +intermittently connected to the Internet, or those that want to pass to a smart +host any messages that cannot immediately be delivered. + + +There are occasional other temporary errors that can occur while doing DNS +lookups. They are treated in the same way as a timeout, and this option +applies to all of them. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +router +go to after pass + +Routers that recognize the generic option (dnslookup, +ipliteral, and manualroute) are able to return pass, forcing +routing to continue, and overriding a false setting of . When one of +these routers returns pass, the address is normally handed on to the next +router in sequence. This can be changed by setting to the name +of another router. However (unlike ) the named router must +be below the current router, to avoid loops. Note that this option applies only +to the special case of pass. It does not apply when a router returns +decline because it cannot handle an address. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +router +start at after redirection + +Sometimes an administrator knows that it is pointless to reprocess addresses +generated from alias or forward files with the same router again. For +example, if an alias file translates real names into login ids there is no +point searching the alias file a second time, especially if it is a large file. + + +The option can be set to the name of any router instance. +It causes the routing of any generated addresses to start at the named router +instead of at the first router. This option has no effect if the router in +which it is set does not generate new addresses. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers‡ +Type: string list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +file +requiring for router + + +router +requiring file existence + +This option provides a general mechanism for predicating the running of a +router on the existence or non-existence of certain files or directories. +Before running a router, as one of its precondition tests, Exim works its way +through the list, expanding each item separately. + + +Because the list is split before expansion, any colons in expansion items must +be doubled, or the facility for using a different list separator must be used +(). +If any expansion is forced to fail, the item is ignored. Other expansion +failures cause routing of the address to be deferred. + + +If any expanded string is empty, it is ignored. Otherwise, except as described +below, each string must be a fully qualified file path, optionally preceded by +!. The paths are passed to the stat() function to test for the +existence of the files or directories. The router is skipped if any paths not +preceded by ! do not exist, or if any paths preceded by ! do exist. + + + +NFS + +If stat() cannot determine whether a file exists or not, delivery of +the message is deferred. This can happen when NFS-mounted filesystems are +unavailable. + + +This option is checked after the , , and +options, so you cannot use it to check for the existence of a file in which to +look up a domain, local part, or sender. (See section for a +full list of the order in which preconditions are evaluated.) However, as +these options are all expanded, you can use the expansion condition +to make such tests. The option is intended for checking files +that the router may be going to use internally, or which are needed by a +transport (e.g., .procmailrc). + + +During delivery, the stat() function is run as root, but there is a +facility for some checking of the accessibility of a file by another user. +This is not a proper permissions check, but just a rough check that +operates as follows: + + +If an item in a list does not contain any forward slash +characters, it is taken to be the user (and optional group, separated by a +comma) to be checked for subsequent files in the list. If no group is specified +but the user is specified symbolically, the gid associated with the uid is +used. For example: + + +require_files = mail:/some/file +require_files = $local_part:$home/.procmailrc + + +If a user or group name in a list does not exist, the + condition fails. + + +Exim performs the check by scanning along the components of the file path, and +checking the access for the given uid and gid. It checks for x access on +directories, and r access on the final file. Note that this means that file +access control lists, if the operating system has them, are ignored. + + +Warning 1: When the router is being run to verify addresses for an +incoming SMTP message, Exim is not running as root, but under its own uid. This +may affect the result of a check. In particular, stat() +may yield the error EACCES (Permission denied). This means that the Exim +user is not permitted to read one of the directories on the file’s path. + + +Warning 2: Even when Exim is running as root while delivering a message, +stat() can yield EACCES for a file in an NFS directory that is mounted +without root access. In this case, if a check for access by a particular user +is requested, Exim creates a subprocess that runs as that user, and tries the +check again in that process. + + +The default action for handling an unresolved EACCES is to consider it to +be caused by a configuration error, and routing is deferred because the +existence or non-existence of the file cannot be determined. However, in some +circumstances it may be desirable to treat this condition as if the file did +not exist. If the filename (or the exclamation mark that precedes the filename +for non-existence) is preceded by a plus sign, the EACCES error is treated +as if the file did not exist. For example: + + +require_files = +/some/file + + +If the router is not an essential part of verification (for example, it +handles users’ .forward files), another solution is to set the +option false so that the router is skipped when verifying. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: boolean +Default: see below + + + + + + +hints database +retry keys + + +local part +in retry keys + +When a delivery suffers a temporary routing failure, a retry record is created +in Exim’s hints database. For addresses whose routing depends only on the +domain, the key for the retry record should not involve the local part, but for +other addresses, both the domain and the local part should be included. +Usually, remote routing is of the former kind, and local routing is of the +latter kind. + + +This option controls whether the local part is used to form the key for retry +hints for addresses that suffer temporary errors while being handled by this +router. The default value is true for any router that has +set, and false otherwise. Note that this option does not apply to hints keys +for transport delays; they are controlled by a generic transport option of the +same name. + + +The setting of applies only to the router on which it +appears. If the router generates child addresses, they are routed +independently; this setting does not become attached to them. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +router +home directory for + + +home directory +for router + + +$home + +This option sets a home directory for use while the router is running. (Compare +, which sets a home directory for later +transporting.) In particular, if used on a redirect router, this option +sets a value for $home while a filter is running. The value is expanded; +forced expansion failure causes the option to be ignored – other failures +cause the router to defer. + + +Expansion of happens immediately after the + test (if configured), before any further expansions take +place. +(See section for a list of the order in which preconditions +are evaluated.) +While the router is running, overrides the value of +$home that came from . + + +When a router accepts an address and assigns it to a local transport (including +the cases when a redirect router generates a pipe, file, or autoreply +delivery), the home directory setting for the transport is taken from the first +of these values that is set: + + + + +The option on the transport; + + + + +The option on the router; + + + + +The password data if is set on the router; + + + + +The option on the router. + + + + +In other words, overrides the password data for the +router, but not for the transport. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: string +Default: freeze + + + + + + +MX record +pointing to local host + + +local host +MX pointing to + +This option applies to those routers that use a recipient address to find a +list of remote hosts. Currently, these are the dnslookup, ipliteral, +and manualroute routers. +Certain configurations of the queryprogram router can also specify a list +of remote hosts. +Usually such routers are configured to send the message to a remote host via an +smtp transport. The option specifies what happens when the first +host on the list turns out to be the local host. +The way in which Exim checks for the local host is described in section +. + + +Normally this situation indicates either an error in Exim’s configuration (for +example, the router should be configured not to process this domain), or an +error in the DNS (for example, the MX should not point to this host). For this +reason, the default action is to log the incident, defer the address, and +freeze the message. The following alternatives are provided for use in special +cases: + + + + + + +Delivery of the message is tried again later, but the message is not frozen. + + + +: <domain> + + +The domain is changed to the given domain, and the address is passed back to +be reprocessed by the routers. No rewriting of headers takes place. This +behaviour is essentially a redirection. + + + + <domain> + + +The domain is changed to the given domain, and the address is passed back to be +reprocessed by the routers. Any headers that contain the original domain are +rewritten. + + + + + + + + + + +$self_hostname + +The router passes the address to the next router, or to the router named in the + option if it is set. This overrides . During +subsequent routing and delivery, the variable $self_hostname contains the +name of the local host that the router encountered. This can be used to +distinguish between different cases for hosts with multiple names. The +combination + + +self = pass +no_more + + +ensures that only those addresses that routed to the local host are passed on. +Without , addresses that were declined for other reasons would also +be passed to the next router. + + + + + + +Delivery fails and an error report is generated. + + + + + + + +local host +sending to + +The anomaly is ignored and the address is queued for the transport. This +setting should be used with extreme caution. For an smtp transport, it +makes sense only in cases where the program that is listening on the SMTP port +is not this version of Exim. That is, it must be some other MTA, or Exim with a +different configuration file that handles the domain in another way. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers‡ +Type: address list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +router +checking senders + +If this option is set, the router is skipped unless the message’s sender +address matches something on the list. +See section for a list of the order in which preconditions +are evaluated. + + +There are issues concerning verification when the running of routers is +dependent on the sender. When Exim is verifying the address in an +setting, it sets the sender to the null string. When using the option +to check a configuration file, it is necessary also to use the option to +set an appropriate sender. For incoming mail, the sender is unset when +verifying the sender, but is available when verifying any recipients. If the +SMTP VRFY command is enabled, it must be used after MAIL if the sender address +matters. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +IP address +translating + + +packet radio + + +router +IP address translation + +There exist some rare networking situations (for example, packet radio) where +it is helpful to be able to translate IP addresses generated by normal routing +mechanisms into other IP addresses, thus performing a kind of manual IP +routing. This should be done only if the normal IP routing of the TCP/IP stack +is inadequate or broken. Because this is an extremely uncommon requirement, the +code to support this option is not included in the Exim binary unless +SUPPORT_TRANSLATE_IP_ADDRESS=yes is set in Local/Makefile. + + + +$host_address + +The string is expanded for every IP address generated +by the router, with the generated address set in $host_address. If the +expansion is forced to fail, no action is taken. +For any other expansion error, delivery of the message is deferred. +If the result of the expansion is an IP address, that replaces the original +address; otherwise the result is assumed to be a host name – this is looked +up using gethostbyname() (or getipnodebyname() when available) to +produce one or more replacement IP addresses. For example, to subvert all IP +addresses in some specific networks, this could be added to a router: + + +translate_ip_address = \ + ${lookup{${mask:$host_address/26}}lsearch{/some/file}\ + {$value}fail}} + + +The file would contain lines like + + +10.2.3.128/26 some.host +10.8.4.34/26 10.44.8.15 + + +You should not make use of this facility unless you really understand what you +are doing. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option specifies the transport to be used when a router accepts an address +and sets it up for delivery. A transport is never needed if a router is used +only for verification. The value of the option is expanded at routing time, +after the expansion of , , and , +and result must be the name of one of the configured transports. If it is not, +delivery is deferred. + + +The option is not used by the redirect router, but it does +have some private options that set up transports for pipe and file deliveries +(see chapter ). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +current directory for local transport + +This option associates a current directory with any address that is routed +to a local transport. This can happen either because a transport is +explicitly configured for the router, or because it generates a delivery to a +file or a pipe. During the delivery process (that is, at transport time), this +option string is expanded and is set as the current directory, unless +overridden by a setting on the transport. +If the expansion fails for any reason, including forced failure, an error is +logged, and delivery is deferred. +See chapter for details of the local delivery +environment. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: string† +Default: see below + + + + + + +home directory +for local transport + +This option associates a home directory with any address that is routed to a +local transport. This can happen either because a transport is explicitly +configured for the router, or because it generates a delivery to a file or a +pipe. During the delivery process (that is, at transport time), the option +string is expanded and is set as the home directory, unless overridden by a +setting of on the transport. +If the expansion fails for any reason, including forced failure, an error is +logged, and delivery is deferred. + + +If the transport does not specify a home directory, and + is not set for the router, the home directory for +the transport is taken from the password data if is set for +the router. Otherwise it is taken from if that option +is set; if not, no home directory is set for the transport. + + +See chapter for further details of the local delivery +environment. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: boolean† +Default: false + + + + + + +router +carrying on after success + +The result of string expansion for this option must be a valid boolean value, +that is, one of the strings yes, no, true, or false. Any other +result causes an error, and delivery is deferred. If the expansion is forced to +fail, the default value for the option (false) is used. Other failures cause +delivery to be deferred. + + +When this option is set true, routing does not cease if the router accepts the +address. Instead, a copy of the incoming address is passed to the next router, +overriding a false setting of . There is little point in setting + false if is always true, but it may be useful in cases when +the value of contains expansion items (and therefore, presumably, is +sometimes true and sometimes false). + + + +copy of message ( option) + +Setting the option has a similar effect to the command +qualifier in filter files. It can be used to cause copies of messages to be +delivered to some other destination, while also carrying out a normal delivery. +In effect, the current address is made into a parent that has two children +– one that is delivered as specified by this router, and a clone that goes on +to be routed further. For this reason, may not be combined with the + option in a redirect router. + + +Warning: Header lines added to the address (or specified for removal) by +this router or by previous routers affect the unseen copy of the message +only. The clone that continues to be processed by further routers starts with +no added headers and none specified for removal. For a router, if +a generated address is the same as the incoming address, this can lead to +duplicate addresses with different header modifications. Exim does not do +duplicate deliveries (except, in certain circumstances, to pipes -- see section +), but it is undefined which of the duplicates is discarded, +so this ambiguous situation should be avoided. The option of the + router may be of help. + + +Unlike the handling of header modifications, any data that was set by the + option in the current or previous routers is passed on to +subsequent routers. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers +Type: string† +Default: see below + + + + + + +uid (user id) +local delivery + + +local transports +uid and gid + + +transport +local + + +router +user for filter processing + + +filter +user for processing + +When a router queues an address for a transport, and the transport does not +specify a user, the user given here is used when running the delivery process. +The user may be specified numerically or by name. If expansion fails, the +error is logged and delivery is deferred. +This user is also used by the redirect router when running a filter file. +The default is unset, except when is set. In this case, +the default is taken from the password information. If the user is specified as +a name, and is not set, the group associated with the user is used. +See also and and the discussion in chapter +. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers‡ +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + +Setting this option has the effect of setting and + to the same value. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers‡ +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +EXPN +with + + + + + +router +used only when verifying + +If this option is set, the router is used only when verifying an address, +delivering in cutthrough mode or +testing with the option, not when actually doing a delivery, testing +with the option, or running the SMTP EXPN command. It can be further +restricted to verifying only senders or recipients by means of + and . + + +Warning: When the router is being run to verify addresses for an incoming +SMTP message, Exim is not running as root, but under its own uid. If the router +accesses any files, you need to make sure that they are accessible to the Exim +user or group. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers‡ +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + +If this option is false, the router is skipped when verifying recipient +addresses, +delivering in cutthrough mode +or testing recipient verification using . +See section for a list of the order in which preconditions +are evaluated. +See also the $verify_mode variable. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: routers‡ +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + +If this option is false, the router is skipped when verifying sender addresses +or testing sender verification using . +See section for a list of the order in which preconditions +are evaluated. +See also the $verify_mode variable. + + + + + + +The accept router + + +accept router + + +routers +accept + +The accept router has no private options of its own. Unless it is being +used purely for verification (see ) a transport is required to +be defined by the generic option. If the preconditions that are +specified by generic options are met, the router accepts the address and queues +it for the given transport. The most common use of this router is for setting +up deliveries to local mailboxes. For example: + + +localusers: + driver = accept + domains = mydomain.example + check_local_user + transport = local_delivery + + +The condition in this example checks the domain of the address, and + checks that the local part is the login of a local user. +When both preconditions are met, the accept router runs, and queues the +address for the local_delivery transport. + + + + +The dnslookup router + + +dnslookup router + + +routers +dnslookup + +The dnslookup router looks up the hosts that handle mail for the +recipient’s domain in the DNS. A transport must always be set for this router, +unless is set. + + +If SRV support is configured (see below), Exim first searches for +SRV records. If none are found, or if SRV support is not configured, +MX records are looked up. If no MX records exist, address records are sought. +However, can be set to disable the direct use of address +records. + + +MX records of equal priority are sorted by Exim into a random order. Exim then +looks for address records for the host names obtained from MX or SRV records. +When a host has more than one IP address, they are sorted into a random order, +except that IPv6 addresses are sorted before IPv4 addresses. If all the +IP addresses found are discarded by a setting of the +generic option, the router declines. + + +Unless they have the highest priority (lowest MX value), MX records that point +to the local host, or to any host name that matches , +are discarded, together with any other MX records of equal or lower priority. + + + +MX record +pointing to local host + + +local host +MX pointing to + + + +in dnslookup router + +If the host pointed to by the highest priority MX record, or looked up as an +address record, is the local host, or matches , what +happens is controlled by the generic option. + +
+Problems with DNS lookups + +There have been problems with DNS servers when SRV records are looked up. +Some misbehaving servers return a DNS error or timeout when a non-existent +SRV record is sought. Similar problems have in the past been reported for +MX records. The global option can help with this +problem, but it is heavy-handed because it is a global option. + + +For this reason, there are two options, and +, that control what happens when a DNS lookup in a +dnslookup router results in a DNS failure or a try again response. If +an attempt to look up an SRV or MX record causes one of these results, and the +domain matches the relevant list, Exim behaves as if the DNS had responded no +such record. In the case of an SRV lookup, this means that the router +proceeds to look for MX records; in the case of an MX lookup, it proceeds to +look for A or AAAA records, unless the domain matches , in which +case routing fails. + +
+
+Declining addresses by dnslookup + + +dnslookup router +declines + +There are a few cases where a dnslookup router will decline to accept +an address; if such a router is expected to handle "all remaining non-local +domains", then it is important to set . + + +The router will defer rather than decline if the domain +is found in the router option. + + +Reasons for a dnslookup router to decline currently include: + + + + +The domain does not exist in DNS + + + + +The domain exists but the MX record’s host part is just "."; this is a common +convention (borrowed from SRV) used to indicate that there is no such service +for this domain and to not fall back to trying A/AAAA records. + + + + +Ditto, but for SRV records, when is set on this router. + + + + +MX record points to a non-existent host. + + + + +MX record points to an IP address and the main section option + is not set. + + + + +MX records exist and point to valid hosts, but all hosts resolve only to +addresses blocked by the generic option on this router. + + + + +The domain is not syntactically valid (see also and + for handling one variant of this) + + + + + is set on this router but the local host can +not be found in the MX records (see below) + + + +
+
+Private options for dnslookup + + +options +dnslookup router + +The private options for the dnslookup router are as follows: + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: dnslookup +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +MX record +checking for secondary + +If this option is set, the router declines unless the local host is found in +(and removed from) the list of hosts obtained by MX lookup. This can be used to +process domains for which the local host is a secondary mail exchanger +differently to other domains. The way in which Exim decides whether a host is +the local host is described in section . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: dnslookup +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +SRV record +enabling use of + +The dnslookup router supports the use of SRV records (see RFC 2782) in +addition to MX and address records. The support is disabled by default. To +enable SRV support, set the option to the name of the service +required. For example, + + +check_srv = smtp + + +looks for SRV records that refer to the normal smtp service. The option is +expanded, so the service name can vary from message to message or address +to address. This might be helpful if SRV records are being used for a +submission service. If the expansion is forced to fail, the +option is ignored, and the router proceeds to look for MX records in the +normal way. + + +When the expansion succeeds, the router searches first for SRV records for +the given service (it assumes TCP protocol). A single SRV record with a +host name that consists of just a single dot indicates no such service for +this domain; if this is encountered, the router declines. If other kinds of +SRV record are found, they are used to construct a host list for delivery +according to the rules of RFC 2782. MX records are not sought in this case. + + +When no SRV records are found, MX records (and address records) are sought in +the traditional way. In other words, SRV records take precedence over MX +records, just as MX records take precedence over address records. Note that +this behaviour is not sanctioned by RFC 2782, though a previous draft RFC +defined it. It is apparently believed that MX records are sufficient for email +and that SRV records should not be used for this purpose. However, SRV records +have an additional weight feature which some people might find useful when +trying to split an SMTP load between hosts of different power. + + +See section above for a discussion of Exim’s behaviour +when there is a DNS lookup error. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: dnslookup +Type: domain list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +MX record +not found + +DNS lookups for domains matching +which find no matching record will cause the router to defer +rather than the default behaviour of decline. +This maybe be useful for queueing messages for a newly created +domain while the DNS configuration is not ready. +However, it will result in any message with mistyped domains +also being queued. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: string† +Type: unset +Default: + + + + + + +IPv6 +disabling + + +DNS +IPv6 disabling + +The string is expanded, and if the result is anything but a forced failure, +or an empty string, or one of the strings “0” or “no” or “false” +(checked without regard to the case of the letters), +only A records are used. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: string† +Type: unset +Default: + + + + + + +IPv4 +preference + + +DNS +IPv4 preference + +The string is expanded, and if the result is anything but a forced failure, +or an empty string, or one of the strings “0” or “no” or “false” +(checked without regard to the case of the letters), +A records are sorted before AAAA records (inverting the default). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: dnslookup +Type: domain list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +MX record +required to exist + + +SRV record +required to exist + +A domain that matches is required to have either an MX or an SRV +record in order to be recognized. (The name of this option could be improved.) +For example, if all the mail hosts in fict.example are known to have MX +records, except for those in discworld.fict.example, you could use this +setting: + + +mx_domains = ! *.discworld.fict.example : *.fict.example + + +This specifies that messages addressed to a domain that matches the list but +has no MX record should be bounced immediately instead of being routed using +the address record. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: dnslookup +Type: domain list† +Default: unset + + + + + +If the DNS lookup for MX records for one of the domains in this list causes a +DNS lookup error, Exim behaves as if no MX records were found. See section + for more discussion. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: dnslookup +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +DNS +resolver options + + +DNS +qualifying single-component names + +When this option is true, the resolver option RES_DEFNAMES is set for DNS +lookups. Typically, but not standardly, this causes the resolver to qualify +single-component names with the default domain. For example, on a machine +called dictionary.ref.example, the domain thesaurus would be changed to +thesaurus.ref.example inside the resolver. For details of what your +resolver actually does, consult your man pages for resolver and +resolv.conf. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: dnslookup +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +rewriting +header lines + + +header lines +rewriting + +If the domain name in the address that is being processed is not fully +qualified, it may be expanded to its full form by a DNS lookup. For example, if +an address is specified as dormouse@teaparty, the domain might be +expanded to teaparty.wonderland.fict.example. Domain expansion can also +occur as a result of setting the option. If + is true, all occurrences of the abbreviated domain name in +any Bcc:, Cc:, From:, Reply-to:, Sender:, and To: +header lines of the message are rewritten with the full domain name. + + +This option should be turned off only when it is known that no message is +ever going to be sent outside an environment where the abbreviation makes +sense. + + +When an MX record is looked up in the DNS and matches a wildcard record, name +servers normally return a record containing the name that has been looked up, +making it impossible to detect whether a wildcard was present or not. However, +some name servers have recently been seen to return the wildcard entry. If the +name returned by a DNS lookup begins with an asterisk, it is not used for +header rewriting. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: dnslookup +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +address +copying routing + +Addresses with the same domain are normally routed by the dnslookup router +to the same list of hosts. However, this cannot be presumed, because the router +options and preconditions may refer to the local part of the address. By +default, therefore, Exim routes each address in a message independently. DNS +servers run caches, so repeated DNS lookups are not normally expensive, and in +any case, personal messages rarely have more than a few recipients. + + +If you are running mailing lists with large numbers of subscribers at the same +domain, and you are using a dnslookup router which is independent of the +local part, you can set to bypass repeated DNS +lookups for identical domains in one message. In this case, when dnslookup +routes an address to a remote transport, any other unrouted addresses in the +message that have the same domain are automatically given the same routing +without processing them independently, +provided the following conditions are met: + + + + +No router that processed the address specified or +. + + + + +The router did not change the address in any way, for example, by widening +the domain. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: dnslookup +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +DNS +resolver options + +When this option is true, the resolver option RES_DNSRCH is set for DNS +lookups. This is different from the option in that it +applies to domains containing dots. Typically, but not standardly, it causes +the resolver to search for the name in the current domain and in parent +domains. For example, on a machine in the fict.example domain, if looking +up teaparty.wonderland failed, the resolver would try +teaparty.wonderland.fict.example. For details of what your resolver +actually does, consult your man pages for resolver and resolv.conf. + + +Setting this option true can cause problems in domains that have a wildcard MX +record, because any domain that does not have its own MX record matches the +local wildcard. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: dnslookup +Type: domain list† +Default: unset + + + + + +If the DNS lookup for SRV records for one of the domains in this list causes a +DNS lookup error, Exim behaves as if no SRV records were found. See section + for more discussion. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: dnslookup +Type: string list +Default: unset + + + + + + +domain +partial; widening + +If a DNS lookup fails and this option is set, each of its strings in turn is +added onto the end of the domain, and the lookup is tried again. For example, +if + + +widen_domains = fict.example:ref.example + + +is set and a lookup of klingon.dictionary fails, +klingon.dictionary.fict.example is looked up, and if this fails, +klingon.dictionary.ref.example is tried. Note that the +and options can cause some widening to be undertaken inside +the DNS resolver. is not applied to sender addresses +when verifying, unless is false (not the default). + +
+
+Effect of qualify_single and search_parents + +When a domain from an envelope recipient is changed by the resolver as a result +of the or options, Exim rewrites the +corresponding address in the message’s header lines unless +is set false. Exim then re-routes the address, using the full domain. + + +These two options affect only the DNS lookup that takes place inside the router +for the domain of the address that is being routed. They do not affect lookups +such as that implied by + + +domains = @mx_any + + +that may happen while processing a router precondition before the router is +entered. No widening ever takes place for these lookups. + + + +
+ + + +The ipliteral router + + +ipliteral router + + +domain literal +routing + + +routers +ipliteral + +This router has no private options. Unless it is being used purely for +verification (see ) a transport is required to be defined by the +generic option. The router accepts the address if its domain part +takes the form of an RFC 2822 domain literal. For example, the ipliteral +router handles the address + + +root@[192.168.1.1] + + +by setting up delivery to the host with that IP address. IPv4 domain literals +consist of an IPv4 address enclosed in square brackets. IPv6 domain literals +are similar, but the address is preceded by ipv6:. For example: + + +postmaster@[ipv6:fe80::a00:20ff:fe86:a061.5678] + + +Exim allows ipv4: before IPv4 addresses, for consistency, and on the +grounds that sooner or later somebody will try it. + + + + +in ipliteral router + +If the IP address matches something in , the router +declines. If an IP literal turns out to refer to the local host, the generic + option determines what happens. + + +The RFCs require support for domain literals; however, their use is +controversial in today’s Internet. If you want to use this router, you must +also set the main configuration option . Otherwise, +Exim will not recognize the domain literal syntax in addresses. + + + + +The iplookup router + + +iplookup router + + +routers +iplookup + +The iplookup router was written to fulfil a specific requirement in +Cambridge University (which in fact no longer exists). For this reason, it is +not included in the binary of Exim by default. If you want to include it, you +must set + + +ROUTER_IPLOOKUP=yes + + +in your Local/Makefile configuration file. + + +The iplookup router routes an address by sending it over a TCP or UDP +connection to one or more specific hosts. The host can then return the same or +a different address – in effect rewriting the recipient address in the +message’s envelope. The new address is then passed on to subsequent routers. If +this process fails, the address can be passed on to other routers, or delivery +can be deferred. Since iplookup is just a rewriting router, a transport +must not be specified for it. + + + +options +iplookup router + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: iplookup +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + +This option must be supplied. Its value is a colon-separated list of host +names. The hosts are looked up using gethostbyname() +(or getipnodebyname() when available) +and are tried in order until one responds to the query. If none respond, what +happens is controlled by . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: iplookup +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If is true, if no response is obtained from any host, the address +is passed to the next router, overriding . If is false, +delivery to the address is deferred. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: iplookup +Type: integer +Default: 0 + + + + + + +port +iplookup router + +This option must be supplied. It specifies the port number for the TCP or UDP +call. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: iplookup +Type: string +Default: udp + + + + + +This option can be set to udp or tcp to specify which of the two +protocols is to be used. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: iplookup +Type: string† +Default: see below + + + + + +This defines the content of the query that is sent to the remote hosts. The +default value is: + + +$local_part@$domain $local_part@$domain + + +The repetition serves as a way of checking that a response is to the correct +query in the default case (see below). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: iplookup +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +If this option is not set, the rerouted address is precisely the byte string +returned by the remote host, up to the first white space, if any. If set, the +string is expanded to form the rerouted address. It can include parts matched +in the response by by means of numeric variables such as +$1, $2, etc. The variable $0 refers to the entire input string, +whether or not a pattern is in use. In all cases, the rerouted address must end +up in the form local_part@domain. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: iplookup +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + +This option can be set to a regular expression that is applied to the string +returned from the remote host. If the pattern does not match the response, the +router declines. If is not set, no checking of the +response is done, unless the query was defaulted, in which case there is a +check that the text returned after the first white space is the original +address. This checks that the answer that has been received is in response to +the correct question. For example, if the response is just a new domain, the +following could be used: + + +response_pattern = ^([^@]+)$ +reroute = $local_part@$1 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: iplookup +Type: time +Default: 5s + + + + + +This specifies the amount of time to wait for a response from the remote +machine. The same timeout is used for the connect() function for a TCP +call. It does not apply to UDP. + + + + +The manualroute router + + +manualroute router + + +routers +manualroute + + +domain +manually routing + +The manualroute router is so-called because it provides a way of manually +routing an address according to its domain. It is mainly used when you want to +route addresses to remote hosts according to your own rules, bypassing the +normal DNS routing that looks up MX records. However, manualroute can also +route to local transports, a facility that may be useful if you want to save +messages for dial-in hosts in local files. + + +The manualroute router compares a list of domain patterns with the domain +it is trying to route. If there is no match, the router declines. Each pattern +has associated with it a list of hosts and some other optional data, which may +include a transport. The combination of a pattern and its data is called a +routing rule. For patterns that do not have an associated transport, the +generic option must specify a transport, unless the router is +being used purely for verification (see ). + + + +$host + +In the case of verification, matching the domain pattern is sufficient for the +router to accept the address. When actually routing an address for delivery, +an address that matches a domain pattern is queued for the associated +transport. If the transport is not a local one, a host list must be associated +with the pattern; IP addresses are looked up for the hosts, and these are +passed to the transport along with the mail address. For local transports, a +host list is optional. If it is present, it is passed in $host as a single +text string. + + +The list of routing rules can be provided as an inline string in +, or the data can be obtained by looking up the domain in a file +or database by setting . Only one of these settings may appear in +any one instance of manualroute. The format of routing rules is described +below, following the list of private options. + +
+Private options for manualroute + + +options +manualroute router + +The private options for the manualroute router are as follows: + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: manualroute +Type: string +Default: defer + + + + + +See . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: manualroute +Type: string +Default: freeze + + + + + +This option controls what happens when manualroute tries to find an IP +address for a host, and the host does not exist. The option can be set to one +of the following values: + + +decline +defer +fail +freeze +ignore +pass + + +The default (freeze) assumes that this state is a serious configuration +error. The difference between pass and decline is that the former +forces the address to be passed to the next router (or the router defined by +), + + + +overriding , whereas the latter passes the address to the next +router only if is true. + + +The value ignore causes Exim to completely ignore a host whose IP address +cannot be found. If all the hosts in the list are ignored, the behaviour is +controlled by the option. This takes the same values +as , except that it cannot be set to ignore. + + +The option applies only to a definite does not exist +state; if a host lookup gets a temporary error, delivery is deferred unless the +generic option is set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: manualroute +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +randomized host list + + +host +list of; randomized + +If this option is set, the order of the items in a host list in a routing rule +is randomized each time the list is used, unless an option in the routing rule +overrides (see below). Randomizing the order of a host list can be used to do +crude load sharing. However, if more than one mail address is routed by the +same router to the same host list, the host lists are considered to be the same +(even though they may be randomized into different orders) for the purpose of +deciding whether to batch the deliveries into a single SMTP transaction. + + +When is true, a host list may be split +into groups whose order is separately randomized. This makes it possible to +set up MX-like behaviour. The boundaries between groups are indicated by an +item that is just + in the host list. For example: + + +route_list = * host1:host2:host3:+:host4:host5 + + +The order of the first three hosts and the order of the last two hosts is +randomized for each use, but the first three always end up before the last two. +If is not set, a + item in the list is ignored. If a +randomized host list is passed to an smtp transport that also has +, the list is not re-randomized. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: manualroute +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +If this option is set, it must expand to yield the data part of a routing rule. +Typically, the expansion string includes a lookup based on the domain. For +example: + + +route_data = ${lookup{$domain}dbm{/etc/routes}} + + +If the expansion is forced to fail, or the result is an empty string, the +router declines. Other kinds of expansion failure cause delivery to be +deferred. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: manualroute +Type: string list +Default: unset + + + + + +This string is a list of routing rules, in the form defined below. Note that, +unlike most string lists, the items are separated by semicolons. This is so +that they may contain colon-separated host lists. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: manualroute +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +address +copying routing + +Addresses with the same domain are normally routed by the manualroute +router to the same list of hosts. However, this cannot be presumed, because the +router options and preconditions may refer to the local part of the address. By +default, therefore, Exim routes each address in a message independently. DNS +servers run caches, so repeated DNS lookups are not normally expensive, and in +any case, personal messages rarely have more than a few recipients. + + +If you are running mailing lists with large numbers of subscribers at the same +domain, and you are using a manualroute router which is independent of the +local part, you can set to bypass repeated DNS +lookups for identical domains in one message. In this case, when +manualroute routes an address to a remote transport, any other unrouted +addresses in the message that have the same domain are automatically given the +same routing without processing them independently. However, this is only done +if and are unset. + +
+
+Routing rules in route_list + +The value of is a string consisting of a sequence of routing +rules, separated by semicolons. If a semicolon is needed in a rule, it can be +entered as two semicolons. Alternatively, the list separator can be changed as +described (for colon-separated lists) in section . +Empty rules are ignored. The format of each rule is + + +<domain pattern> <list of hosts> <options> + + +The following example contains two rules, each with a simple domain pattern and +no options: + + +route_list = \ + dict.ref.example mail-1.ref.example:mail-2.ref.example ; \ + thes.ref.example mail-3.ref.example:mail-4.ref.example + + +The three parts of a rule are separated by white space. The pattern and the +list of hosts can be enclosed in quotes if necessary, and if they are, the +usual quoting rules apply. Each rule in a must start with a +single domain pattern, which is the only mandatory item in the rule. The +pattern is in the same format as one item in a domain list (see section +), +except that it may not be the name of an interpolated file. +That is, it may be wildcarded, or a regular expression, or a file or database +lookup (with semicolons doubled, because of the use of semicolon as a separator +in a ). + + +The rules in are searched in order until one of the patterns +matches the domain that is being routed. The list of hosts and then options are +then used as described below. If there is no match, the router declines. When + is set, must not be set. + +
+
+Routing rules in route_data + +The use of is convenient when there are only a small number of +routing rules. For larger numbers, it is easier to use a file or database to +hold the routing information, and use the option instead. +The value of is a list of hosts, followed by (optional) options. +Most commonly, is set as a string that contains an +expansion lookup. For example, suppose we place two routing rules in a file +like this: + + +dict.ref.example: mail-1.ref.example:mail-2.ref.example +thes.ref.example: mail-3.ref.example:mail-4.ref.example + + +This data can be accessed by setting + + +route_data = ${lookup{$domain}lsearch{/the/file/name}} + + +Failure of the lookup results in an empty string, causing the router to +decline. However, you do not have to use a lookup in . The only +requirement is that the result of expanding the string is a list of hosts, +possibly followed by options, separated by white space. The list of hosts must +be enclosed in quotes if it contains white space. + +
+
+Format of the list of hosts + +A list of hosts, whether obtained via or , is +always separately expanded before use. If the expansion fails, the router +declines. The result of the expansion must be a colon-separated list of names +and/or IP addresses, optionally also including ports. +If the list is written with spaces, it must be protected with quotes. +The format of each item +in the list is described in the next section. The list separator can be changed +as described in section . + + +If the list of hosts was obtained from a item, the following +variables are set during its expansion: + + + + + +numerical variables ($1 $2 etc) +in manualroute router + +If the domain was matched against a regular expression, the numeric variables +$1, $2, etc. may be set. For example: + + +route_list = ^domain(\d+) host-$1.text.example + + + + +$0 is always set to the entire domain. + + + + +$1 is also set when partial matching is done in a file lookup. + + + + + +$value + +If the pattern that matched the domain was a lookup item, the data that was +looked up is available in the expansion variable $value. For example: + + +route_list = lsearch;;/some/file.routes $value + + + + +Note the doubling of the semicolon in the pattern that is necessary because +semicolon is the default route list separator. + +
+
+Format of one host item + +Each item in the list of hosts is either a host name or an IP address, +optionally with an attached port number. When no port is given, an IP address +is not enclosed in brackets. When a port is specified, it overrides the port +specification on the transport. The port is separated from the name or address +by a colon. This leads to some complications: + + + + +Because colon is the default separator for the list of hosts, either +the colon that specifies a port must be doubled, or the list separator must +be changed. The following two examples have the same effect: + + +route_list = * "host1.tld::1225 : host2.tld::1226" +route_list = * "<+ host1.tld:1225 + host2.tld:1226" + + + + +When IPv6 addresses are involved, it gets worse, because they contain +colons of their own. To make this case easier, it is permitted to +enclose an IP address (either v4 or v6) in square brackets if a port +number follows. For example: + + +route_list = * "</ [10.1.1.1]:1225 / [::1]:1226" + + + +
+
+How the list of hosts is used + +When an address is routed to an smtp transport by manualroute, each of +the hosts is tried, in the order specified, when carrying out the SMTP +delivery. However, the order can be changed by setting the +option, either on the router (see section above), or on the +transport. + + +Hosts may be listed by name or by IP address. An unadorned name in the list of +hosts is interpreted as a host name. A name that is followed by /MX is +interpreted as an indirection to a sublist of hosts obtained by looking up MX +records in the DNS. For example: + + +route_list = * x.y.z:p.q.r/MX:e.f.g + + +If this feature is used with a port specifier, the port must come last. For +example: + + +route_list = * dom1.tld/mx::1225 + + +If the option is set, the order of the items in the list is +randomized before any lookups are done. Exim then scans the list; for any name +that is not followed by /MX it looks up an IP address. If this turns out to +be an interface on the local host and the item is not the first in the list, +Exim discards it and any subsequent items. If it is the first item, what +happens is controlled by the + + +in manualroute router + + option of the router. + + +A name on the list that is followed by /MX is replaced with the list of +hosts obtained by looking up MX records for the name. This is always a DNS +lookup; the and options (see section +below) are not relevant here. The order of these hosts is determined by the +preference values in the MX records, according to the usual rules. Because +randomizing happens before the MX lookup, it does not affect the order that is +defined by MX preferences. + + +If the local host is present in the sublist obtained from MX records, but is +not the most preferred host in that list, it and any equally or less +preferred hosts are removed before the sublist is inserted into the main list. + + +If the local host is the most preferred host in the MX list, what happens +depends on where in the original list of hosts the /MX item appears. If it +is not the first item (that is, there are previous hosts in the main list), +Exim discards this name and any subsequent items in the main list. + + +If the MX item is first in the list of hosts, and the local host is the +most preferred host, what happens is controlled by the option of the +router. + + +DNS failures when lookup up the MX records are treated in the same way as DNS +failures when looking up IP addresses: and + are used when relevant. + + +The generic option applies to all hosts in the list, +whether obtained from an MX lookup or not. + +
+
+How the options are used + +The options are a sequence of words, space-separated. +One of the words can be the name of a transport; this overrides the + option on the router for this particular routing rule only. The +other words (if present) control randomization of the list of hosts on a +per-rule basis, and how the IP addresses of the hosts are to be found when +routing to a remote transport. These options are as follows: + + + + +: randomize the order of the hosts in this list, overriding the +setting of for this routing rule only. + + + + +: do not randomize the order of the hosts in this list, +overriding the setting of for this routing rule only. + + + + +: use getipnodebyname() (gethostbyname() on older systems) to +find IP addresses. This function may ultimately cause a DNS lookup, but it may +also look in /etc/hosts or other sources of information. + + + + +: look up address records for the hosts directly in the DNS; fail if +no address records are found. If there is a temporary DNS error (such as a +timeout), delivery is deferred. + + + + +: in direct DNS lookups, look up only A records. + + + + +: in direct DNS lookups, sort A records before AAAA records. + + + + +For example: + + +route_list = domain1 host1:host2:host3 randomize bydns;\ + domain2 host4:host5 + + +If neither nor is given, Exim behaves as follows: First, a +DNS lookup is done. If this yields anything other than HOST_NOT_FOUND, that +result is used. Otherwise, Exim goes on to try a call to getipnodebyname() +or gethostbyname(), and the result of the lookup is the result of that +call. + + +Warning: It has been discovered that on some systems, if a DNS lookup +called via getipnodebyname() times out, HOST_NOT_FOUND is returned +instead of TRY_AGAIN. That is why the default action is to try a DNS +lookup first. Only if that gives a definite no such host is the local +function called. + + +Compatibility: From Exim 4.85 until fixed for 4.90, there was an +inadvertent constraint that a transport name as an option had to be the last +option specified. + + +If no IP address for a host can be found, what happens is controlled by the + option. + + + +$host + +When an address is routed to a local transport, IP addresses are not looked up. +The host list is passed to the transport in the $host variable. + +
+
+Manualroute examples + +In some of the examples that follow, the presence of the +transport, as defined in the default configuration file, is assumed: + + + + + +smart host +example router + +The manualroute router can be used to forward all external mail to a +smart host. If you have set up, in the main part of the configuration, a +named domain list that contains your local domains, for example: + + +domainlist local_domains = my.domain.example + + +You can arrange for all other domains to be routed to a smart host by making +your first router something like this: + + +smart_route: + driver = manualroute + domains = !+local_domains + transport = remote_smtp + route_list = * smarthost.ref.example + + +This causes all non-local addresses to be sent to the single host +smarthost.ref.example. If a colon-separated list of smart hosts is given, +they are tried in order +(but you can use to vary the order each time). +Another way of configuring the same thing is this: + + +smart_route: + driver = manualroute + transport = remote_smtp + route_list = !+local_domains smarthost.ref.example + + +There is no difference in behaviour between these two routers as they stand. +However, they behave differently if is added to them. In the first +example, the router is skipped if the domain does not match the +precondition; the following router is always tried. If the router runs, it +always matches the domain and so can never decline. Therefore, +would have no effect. In the second case, the router is never skipped; it +always runs. However, if it doesn’t match the domain, it declines. In this case + would prevent subsequent routers from running. + + + + + +mail hub example + +A mail hub is a host which receives mail for a number of domains via MX +records in the DNS and delivers it via its own private routing mechanism. Often +the final destinations are behind a firewall, with the mail hub being the one +machine that can connect to machines both inside and outside the firewall. The +manualroute router is usually used on a mail hub to route incoming messages +to the correct hosts. For a small number of domains, the routing can be inline, +using the option, but for a larger number a file or database +lookup is easier to manage. + + +If the domain names are in fact the names of the machines to which the mail is +to be sent by the mail hub, the configuration can be quite simple. For +example: + + +hub_route: + driver = manualroute + transport = remote_smtp + route_list = *.rhodes.tvs.example $domain + + +This configuration routes domains that match *.rhodes.tvs.example to hosts +whose names are the same as the mail domains. A similar approach can be taken +if the host name can be obtained from the domain name by a string manipulation +that the expansion facilities can handle. Otherwise, a lookup based on the +domain can be used to find the host: + + +through_firewall: + driver = manualroute + transport = remote_smtp + route_data = ${lookup {$domain} cdb {/internal/host/routes}} + + +The result of the lookup must be the name or IP address of the host (or +hosts) to which the address is to be routed. If the lookup fails, the route +data is empty, causing the router to decline. The address then passes to the +next router. + + + + + +batched SMTP output example + + +SMTP +batched outgoing; example + +You can use manualroute to deliver messages to pipes or files in batched +SMTP format for onward transportation by some other means. This is one way of +storing mail for a dial-up host when it is not connected. The route list entry +can be as simple as a single domain name in a configuration like this: + + +save_in_file: + driver = manualroute + transport = batchsmtp_appendfile + route_list = saved.domain.example + + +though often a pattern is used to pick up more than one domain. If there are +several domains or groups of domains with different transport requirements, +different transports can be listed in the routing information: + + +save_in_file: + driver = manualroute + route_list = \ + *.saved.domain1.example $domain batch_appendfile; \ + *.saved.domain2.example \ + ${lookup{$domain}dbm{/domain2/hosts}{$value}fail} \ + batch_pipe + + + +$domain + + +$host + +The first of these just passes the domain in the $host variable, which +doesn’t achieve much (since it is also in $domain), but the second does a +file lookup to find a value to pass, causing the router to decline to handle +the address if the lookup fails. + + + + + +UUCP +example of router for + +Routing mail directly to UUCP software is a specific case of the use of +manualroute in a gateway to another mail environment. This is an example of +one way it can be done: + + +# Transport +uucp: + driver = pipe + user = nobody + command = /usr/local/bin/uux -r - \ + ${substr_-5:$host}!rmail ${local_part} + return_fail_output = true + +# Router +uucphost: + transport = uucp + driver = manualroute + route_data = \ + ${lookup{$domain}lsearch{/usr/local/exim/uucphosts}} + + +The file /usr/local/exim/uucphosts contains entries like + + +darksite.ethereal.example: darksite.UUCP + + +It can be set up more simply without adding and removing .UUCP but this way +makes clear the distinction between the domain name +darksite.ethereal.example and the UUCP host name darksite. + + + + + + + +
+ + + +The queryprogram router + + +queryprogram router + + +routers +queryprogram + + +routing +by external program + +The queryprogram router routes an address by running an external command +and acting on its output. This is an expensive way to route, and is intended +mainly for use in lightly-loaded systems, or for performing experiments. +However, if it is possible to use the precondition options (, +, etc) to skip this router for most addresses, it could sensibly +be used in special cases, even on a busy host. There are the following private +options: + +options +queryprogram router + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: queryprogram +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option must be set. It specifies the command that is to be run. The +command is split up into a command name and arguments, and then each is +expanded separately (exactly as for a pipe transport, described in chapter +). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: queryprogram +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +gid (group id) +in queryprogram router + +This option specifies a gid to be set when running the command while routing an +address for deliver. It must be set if specifies a numerical +uid. If it begins with a digit, it is interpreted as the numerical value of the +gid. Otherwise it is looked up using getgrnam(). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: queryprogram +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +uid (user id) +for queryprogram + +This option must be set. It specifies the uid which is set when running the +command while routing an address for delivery. If the value begins with a digit, +it is interpreted as the numerical value of the uid. Otherwise, it is looked up +using getpwnam() to obtain a value for the uid and, if is +not set, a value for the gid also. + + +Warning: Changing uid and gid is possible only when Exim is running as +root, which it does during a normal delivery in a conventional configuration. +However, when an address is being verified during message reception, Exim is +usually running as the Exim user, not as root. If the queryprogram router +is called from a non-root process, Exim cannot change uid or gid before running +the command. In this circumstance the command runs under the current uid and +gid. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: queryprogram +Type: string +Default: / + + + + + +This option specifies an absolute path which is made the current directory +before running the command. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: queryprogram +Type: time +Default: 1h + + + + + +If the command does not complete within the timeout period, its process group +is killed and the message is frozen. A value of zero time specifies no +timeout. + + +The standard output of the command is connected to a pipe, which is read when +the command terminates. It should consist of a single line of output, +containing up to five fields, separated by white space. The maximum length of +the line is 1023 characters. Longer lines are silently truncated. The first +field is one of the following words (case-insensitive): + + + + +Accept: routing succeeded; the remaining fields specify what to do (see +below). + + + + +Decline: the router declines; pass the address to the next router, unless + is set. + + + + +Fail: routing failed; do not pass the address to any more routers. Any +subsequent text on the line is an error message. If the router is run as part +of address verification during an incoming SMTP message, the message is +included in the SMTP response. + + + + +Defer: routing could not be completed at this time; try again later. Any +subsequent text on the line is an error message which is logged. It is not +included in any SMTP response. + + + + +Freeze: the same as defer, except that the message is frozen. + + + + +Pass: pass the address to the next router (or the router specified by +), overriding . + + + + +Redirect: the message is redirected. The remainder of the line is a list of +new addresses, which are routed independently, starting with the first router, +or the router specified by , if set. + + + + +When the first word is accept, the remainder of the line consists of a +number of keyed data values, as follows (split into two lines here, to fit on +the page): + + +ACCEPT TRANSPORT=<transport> HOSTS=<list of hosts> +LOOKUP=byname|bydns DATA=<text> + + +The data items can be given in any order, and all are optional. If no transport +is included, the transport specified by the generic option is +used. The list of hosts and the lookup type are needed only if the transport is +an smtp transport that does not itself supply a list of hosts. + + +The format of the list of hosts is the same as for the manualroute router. +As well as host names and IP addresses with optional port numbers, as described +in section , it may contain names followed by +/MX to specify sublists of hosts that are obtained by looking up MX records +(see section ). + + +If the lookup type is not specified, Exim behaves as follows when trying to +find an IP address for each host: First, a DNS lookup is done. If this yields +anything other than HOST_NOT_FOUND, that result is used. Otherwise, Exim +goes on to try a call to getipnodebyname() or gethostbyname(), and the +result of the lookup is the result of that call. + + + +$address_data + +If the DATA field is set, its value is placed in the $address_data +variable. For example, this return line + + +accept hosts=x1.y.example:x2.y.example data="rule1" + + +routes the address to the default transport, passing a list of two hosts. When +the transport runs, the string rule1 is in $address_data. + + + + + + +The redirect router + + +redirect router + + +routers +redirect + + +alias file +in a redirect router + + +address redirection +redirect router + +The redirect router handles several kinds of address redirection. Its most +common uses are for resolving local part aliases from a central alias file +(usually called /etc/aliases) and for handling users’ personal .forward +files, but it has many other potential uses. The incoming address can be +redirected in several different ways: + + + + +It can be replaced by one or more new addresses which are themselves routed +independently. + + + + +It can be routed to be delivered to a given file or directory. + + + + +It can be routed to be delivered to a specified pipe command. + + + + +It can cause an automatic reply to be generated. + + + + +It can be forced to fail, optionally with a custom error message. + + + + +It can be temporarily deferred, optionally with a custom message. + + + + +It can be discarded. + + + + +The generic option must not be set for redirect routers. +However, there are some private options which define transports for delivery to +files and pipes, and for generating autoreplies. See the , + and descriptions below. + + +If success DSNs have been requested + +DSN +success + + +Delivery Status Notification +success + +redirection triggers one and the DSN options are not passed any further. + +
+Redirection data + +The router operates by interpreting a text string which it obtains either by +expanding the contents of the option, or by reading the entire +contents of a file whose name is given in the option. These two +options are mutually exclusive. The first is commonly used for handling system +aliases, in a configuration like this: + + +system_aliases: + driver = redirect + data = ${lookup{$local_part}lsearch{/etc/aliases}} + + +If the lookup fails, the expanded string in this example is empty. When the +expansion of results in an empty string, the router declines. A forced +expansion failure also causes the router to decline; other expansion failures +cause delivery to be deferred. + + +A configuration using is commonly used for handling users’ +.forward files, like this: + + +userforward: + driver = redirect + check_local_user + file = $home/.forward + no_verify + + +If the file does not exist, or causes no action to be taken (for example, it is +empty or consists only of comments), the router declines. Warning: This +is not the case when the file contains syntactically valid items that happen to +yield empty addresses, for example, items containing only RFC 2822 address +comments. + +
+
+Forward files and address verification + + +address redirection +while verifying + +It is usual to set on redirect routers which handle users’ +.forward files, as in the example above. There are two reasons for this: + + + + +When Exim is receiving an incoming SMTP message from a remote host, it is +running under the Exim uid, not as root. Exim is unable to change uid to read +the file as the user, and it may not be able to read it as the Exim user. So in +practice the router may not be able to operate. + + + + +However, even when the router can operate, the existence of a .forward file +is unimportant when verifying an address. What should be checked is whether the +local part is a valid user name or not. Cutting out the redirection processing +saves some resources. + + + +
+
+Interpreting redirection data + + +Sieve filter +specifying in redirection data + + +filter +specifying in redirection data + +The contents of the data string, whether obtained from or , +can be interpreted in two different ways: + + + + +If the option is set true, and the data begins with the text +#Exim filter or #Sieve filter, it is interpreted as a list of +filtering instructions in the form of an Exim or Sieve filter file, +respectively. Details of the syntax and semantics of filter files are described +in a separate document entitled Exim’s interfaces to mail filtering; this +document is intended for use by end users. + + + + +Otherwise, the data must be a comma-separated list of redirection items, as +described in the next section. + + + + +When a message is redirected to a file (a mail folder), the filename given +in a non-filter redirection list must always be an absolute path. A filter may +generate a relative path – how this is handled depends on the transport’s +configuration. See section for a discussion of this issue +for the appendfile transport. + +
+
+Items in a non-filter redirection list + + +address redirection +non-filter list items + +When the redirection data is not an Exim or Sieve filter, for example, if it +comes from a conventional alias or forward file, it consists of a list of +addresses, filenames, pipe commands, or certain special items (see section + below). The special items can be individually enabled or +disabled by means of options whose names begin with or , +depending on their default values. The items in the list are separated by +commas or newlines. +If a comma is required in an item, the entire item must be enclosed in double +quotes. + + +Lines starting with a # character are comments, and are ignored, and # may +also appear following a comma, in which case everything between the # and the +next newline character is ignored. + + +If an item is entirely enclosed in double quotes, these are removed. Otherwise +double quotes are retained because some forms of mail address require their use +(but never to enclose the entire address). In the following description, +item refers to what remains after any surrounding double quotes have been +removed. + + + +$local_part + +Warning: If you use an Exim expansion to construct a redirection address, +and the expansion contains a reference to $local_part, you should make use +of the expansion operator, in case the local part contains +special characters. For example, to redirect all mail for the domain +obsolete.example, retaining the existing local part, you could use this +setting: + + +data = ${quote_local_part:$local_part}@newdomain.example + +
+
+Redirecting to a local mailbox + + +routing +loops in + + +loop +while routing, avoidance of + + +address redirection +to local mailbox + +A redirection item may safely be the same as the address currently under +consideration. This does not cause a routing loop, because a router is +automatically skipped if any ancestor of the address that is being processed +is the same as the current address and was processed by the current router. +Such an address is therefore passed to the following routers, so it is handled +as if there were no redirection. When making this loop-avoidance test, the +complete local part, including any prefix or suffix, is used. + + + +address redirection +local part without domain + +Specifying the same local part without a domain is a common usage in personal +filter files when the user wants to have messages delivered to the local +mailbox and also forwarded elsewhere. For example, the user whose login is +cleo might have a .forward file containing this: + + +cleo, cleopatra@egypt.example + + + +backslash in alias file + + +alias file +backslash in + +For compatibility with other MTAs, such unqualified local parts may be +preceded by \, but this is not a requirement for loop prevention. However, +it does make a difference if more than one domain is being handled +synonymously. + + +If an item begins with \ and the rest of the item parses as a valid RFC +2822 address that does not include a domain, the item is qualified using the +domain of the incoming address. In the absence of a leading \, unqualified +addresses are qualified using the value in , but you can +force the incoming domain to be used by setting . + + +Care must be taken if there are alias names for local users. +Consider an MTA handling a single local domain where the system alias file +contains: + + +Sam.Reman: spqr + + +Now suppose that Sam (whose login id is spqr) wants to save copies of +messages in the local mailbox, and also forward copies elsewhere. He creates +this forward file: + + +Sam.Reman, spqr@reme.elsewhere.example + + +With these settings, an incoming message addressed to Sam.Reman fails. The +redirect router for system aliases does not process Sam.Reman the +second time round, because it has previously routed it, +and the following routers presumably cannot handle the alias. The forward file +should really contain + + +spqr, spqr@reme.elsewhere.example + + +but because this is such a common error, the option (see +below) exists to provide a way to get round it. This is normally set on a +redirect router that is handling users’ .forward files. + +
+
+Special items in redirection lists + +In addition to addresses, the following types of item may appear in redirection +lists (that is, in non-filter redirection data): + + + + + +pipe +in redirection list + + +address redirection +to pipe + +An item is treated as a pipe command if it begins with | and does not parse +as a valid RFC 2822 address that includes a domain. A transport for running the +command must be specified by the option. +Normally, either the router or the transport specifies a user and a group under +which to run the delivery. The default is to use the Exim user and group. + + +Single or double quotes can be used for enclosing the individual arguments of +the pipe command; no interpretation of escapes is done for single quotes. If +the command contains a comma character, it is necessary to put the whole item +in double quotes, for example: + + +"|/some/command ready,steady,go" + + +since items in redirection lists are terminated by commas. Do not, however, +quote just the command. An item such as + + +|"/some/command ready,steady,go" + + +is interpreted as a pipe with a rather strange command name, and no arguments. + + +Note that the above example assumes that the text comes from a lookup source +of some sort, so that the quotes are part of the data. If composing a +redirect router with a option directly specifying this command, the +quotes will be used by the configuration parser to define the extent of one +string, but will not be passed down into the redirect router itself. There +are two main approaches to get around this: escape quotes to be part of the +data itself, or avoid using this mechanism and instead create a custom +transport with the option set and reference that transport from +an router. + + + + + +file +in redirection list + + +address redirection +to file + +An item is interpreted as a path name if it begins with / and does not +parse as a valid RFC 2822 address that includes a domain. For example, + + +/home/world/minbari + + +is treated as a filename, but + + +/s=molari/o=babylon/@x400gate.way + + +is treated as an address. For a filename, a transport must be specified using +the option. However, if the generated path name ends with a +forward slash character, it is interpreted as a directory name rather than a +filename, and is used instead. + + +Normally, either the router or the transport specifies a user and a group under +which to run the delivery. The default is to use the Exim user and group. + + + +/dev/null + +However, if a redirection item is the path /dev/null, delivery to it is +bypassed at a high level, and the log entry shows **bypassed** +instead of a transport name. In this case the user and group are not used. + + + + + +included address list + + +address redirection +included external list + +If an item is of the form + + +:include:<path name> + + +a list of further items is taken from the given file and included at that +point. Note: Such a file can not be a filter file; it is just an +out-of-line addition to the list. The items in the included list are separated +by commas or newlines and are not subject to expansion. If this is the first +item in an alias list in an lsearch file, a colon must be used to terminate +the alias name. This example is incorrect: + + +list1 :include:/opt/lists/list1 + + +It must be given as + + +list1: :include:/opt/lists/list1 + + + + + +address redirection +to black hole + + +delivery +discard + + +delivery +blackhole + + +black hole + + +abandoning mail + +Sometimes you want to throw away mail to a particular local part. Making the + option expand to an empty string does not work, because that causes +the router to decline. Instead, the alias item + + +:blackhole: + + +can be used. It does what its name implies. No delivery is +done, and no error message is generated. This has the same effect as specifying +/dev/null as a destination, but it can be independently disabled. + + +Warning: If :blackhole: appears anywhere in a redirection list, no +delivery is done for the original local part, even if other redirection items +are present. If you are generating a multi-item list (for example, by reading a +database) and need the ability to provide a no-op item, you must use +/dev/null. + + + + + +delivery +forcing failure + + +delivery +forcing deferral + + +failing delivery +forcing + + +deferred delivery, forcing + + +customizing +failure message + +An attempt to deliver a particular address can be deferred or forced to fail by +redirection items of the form + + +:defer: +:fail: + + +respectively. When a redirection list contains such an item, it applies +to the entire redirection; any other items in the list are ignored. Any +text following :fail: or :defer: is placed in the error text +associated with the failure. For example, an alias file might contain: + + +X.Employee: :fail: Gone away, no forwarding address + + +In the case of an address that is being verified from an ACL or as the subject +of a + +VRFY +error text, display of + +VRFY command, the text is included in the SMTP error response by +default. + +EXPN +error text, display of + +The text is not included in the response to an EXPN command. In non-SMTP cases +the text is included in the error message that Exim generates. + + + +SMTP +error codes + +By default, Exim sends a 451 SMTP code for a :defer:, and 550 for +:fail:. However, if the message starts with three digits followed by a +space, optionally followed by an extended code of the form n.n.n, also +followed by a space, and the very first digit is the same as the default error +code, the code from the message is used instead. If the very first digit is +incorrect, a panic error is logged, and the default code is used. You can +suppress the use of the supplied code in a redirect router by setting the + option true. In this case, any SMTP code is quietly +ignored. + + + +$acl_verify_message + +In an ACL, an explicitly provided message overrides the default, but the +default message is available in the variable $acl_verify_message and can +therefore be included in a custom message if this is desired. + + +Normally the error text is the rest of the redirection list – a comma does +not terminate it – but a newline does act as a terminator. Newlines are not +normally present in alias expansions. In lsearch lookups they are removed +as part of the continuation process, but they may exist in other kinds of +lookup and in :include: files. + + +During routing for message delivery (as opposed to verification), a redirection +containing :fail: causes an immediate failure of the incoming address, +whereas :defer: causes the message to remain in the queue so that a +subsequent delivery attempt can happen at a later time. If an address is +deferred for too long, it will ultimately fail, because the normal retry +rules still apply. + + + + + +alias file +exception to default + +Sometimes it is useful to use a single-key search type with a default (see +chapter ) to look up aliases. However, there may be a need +for exceptions to the default. These can be handled by aliasing them to +:unknown:. This differs from :fail: in that it causes the redirect +router to decline, whereas :fail: forces routing to fail. A lookup which +results in an empty redirection list has the same effect. + + + +
+
+Duplicate addresses + + +duplicate addresses + + +address duplicate, discarding + + +pipe +duplicated + +Exim removes duplicate addresses from the list to which it is delivering, so as +to deliver just one copy to each address. This does not apply to deliveries +routed to pipes by different immediate parent addresses, but an indirect +aliasing scheme of the type + + +pipe: |/some/command $local_part +localpart1: pipe +localpart2: pipe + + +does not work with a message that is addressed to both local parts, because +when the second is aliased to the intermediate local part pipe it gets +discarded as being the same as a previously handled address. However, a scheme +such as + + +localpart1: |/some/command $local_part +localpart2: |/some/command $local_part + + +does result in two different pipe deliveries, because the immediate parents of +the pipes are distinct. + +
+
+Repeated redirection expansion + + +repeated redirection expansion + + +address redirection +repeated for each delivery attempt + +When a message cannot be delivered to all of its recipients immediately, +leading to two or more delivery attempts, redirection expansion is carried out +afresh each time for those addresses whose children were not all previously +delivered. If redirection is being used as a mailing list, this can lead to new +members of the list receiving copies of old messages. The option +can be used to avoid this. + +
+
+Errors in redirection lists + + +address redirection +errors + +If is set, a malformed address that causes a parsing +error is skipped, and an entry is written to the main log. This may be useful +for mailing lists that are automatically managed. Otherwise, if an error is +detected while generating the list of new addresses, the original address is +deferred. See also . + +
+
+Private options for the redirect router + + +options +redirect router + +The private options for the redirect router are as follows: + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +Setting this option allows the use of :defer: in non-filter redirection +data, or the command in an Exim filter file. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +failing delivery +from filter + +If this option is true, the :fail: item can be used in a redirection list, +and the command may be used in an Exim filter file. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +filter +enabling use of + + +Sieve filter +enabling use of + +Setting this option allows Exim to interpret redirection data that starts with +#Exim filter or #Sieve filter as a set of filtering instructions. There +are some features of Exim filter files that some administrators may wish to +lock out; see the xxx options below. + + +It is also possible to lock out Exim filters or Sieve filters while allowing +the other type; see and . + + +The filter is run using the uid and gid set by the generic and + options. These take their defaults from the password data if + is set, so in the normal case of users’ personal filter +files, the filter is run as the relevant user. When is set +true, Exim insists that either or is set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +freezing messages +allowing in filter + +Setting this option allows the use of the command in an Exim filter. +This command is more normally encountered in system filters, and is disabled by +default for redirection filters because it isn’t something you usually want to +let ordinary users do. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +This option is concerned with handling generated addresses that are the same +as some address in the list of redirection ancestors of the current address. +Although it is turned off by default in the code, it is set in the default +configuration file for handling users’ .forward files. It is recommended +for this use of the redirect router. + + +When is set, if a generated address (including the domain) +is the same as any ancestor of the current address, it is replaced by a copy of +the current address. This helps in the case where local part A is aliased to B, +and B has a .forward file pointing back to A. For example, within a single +domain, the local part Joe.Bloggs is aliased to jb and + jb/.forward contains: + + +\Joe.Bloggs, <other item(s)> + + +Without the setting, either local part (jb or +joe.bloggs) gets processed once by each router and so ends up as it was +originally. If jb is the real mailbox name, mail to jb gets delivered +(having been turned into joe.bloggs by the .forward file and back to +jb by the alias), but mail to joe.bloggs fails. Setting + on the redirect router that handles the .forward +file prevents it from turning jb back into joe.bloggs when that was the +original address. See also the option below. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: see below + + + + + +When the option is used, the group owner of the file is checked only +when this option is set. The permitted groups are those listed in the + option, together with the user’s default group if + is set. If the file has the wrong group, routing is +deferred. The default setting for this option is true if +is set and the option permits the group write bit, or if the + option is set. Otherwise it is false, and no group check occurs. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: see below + + + + + +When the option is used, the owner of the file is checked only when +this option is set. If is set, the local user is +permitted; otherwise the owner must be one of those listed in the +option. The default value for this option is true if or + is set. Otherwise the default is false, and no owner check occurs. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option is mutually exclusive with . One or other of them must be +set, but not both. The contents of are expanded, and then used as the +list of forwarding items, or as a set of filtering instructions. If the +expansion is forced to fail, or the result is an empty string or a string that +has no effect (consists entirely of comments), the router declines. + + +When filtering instructions are used, the string must begin with #Exim +filter, and all comments in the string, including this initial one, must be +terminated with newline characters. For example: + + +data = #Exim filter\n\ + if $h_to: contains Exim then save $home/mail/exim endif + + +If you are reading the data from a database where newlines cannot be included, +you can use the ${sg} expansion item to turn the escape string of your +choice into a newline. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +A redirect router sets up a direct delivery to a directory when a path name +ending with a slash is specified as a new address. The transport used is +specified by this option, which, after expansion, must be the name of a +configured transport. This should normally be an appendfile transport. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option specifies the name of a file that contains the redirection data. It +is mutually exclusive with the option. The string is expanded before +use; if the expansion is forced to fail, the router declines. Other expansion +failures cause delivery to be deferred. The result of a successful expansion +must be an absolute path. The entire file is read and used as the redirection +data. If the data is an empty string or a string that has no effect (consists +entirely of comments), the router declines. + + + +NFS +checking for file existence + +If the attempt to open the file fails with a does not exist error, Exim +runs a check on the containing directory, +unless is true (see below). +If the directory does not appear to exist, delivery is deferred. This can +happen when users’ .forward files are in NFS-mounted directories, and there +is a mount problem. If the containing directory does exist, but the file does +not, the router declines. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +$address_file + +A redirect router sets up a direct delivery to a file when a path name not +ending in a slash is specified as a new address. The transport used is +specified by this option, which, after expansion, must be the name of a +configured transport. This should normally be an appendfile transport. When +it is running, the filename is in $address_file. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + +When this option is true, if a save command in an Exim filter specifies a +relative path, and $home is defined, it is automatically prepended to the +relative path. If this option is set false, this action does not happen. The +relative path is then passed to the transport unmodified. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +restricting access to features + + +filter +locking out certain features + +If this option is true, the :blackhole: item may not appear in a +redirection list. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +restricting access to features + + +filter +locking out certain features + +If this option is set true, only Sieve filters are permitted when + is true. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +restricting access to features + + +delivery +to file; forbidding + + +filter +locking out certain features + + +Sieve filter +forbidding delivery to a file + + +Sieve filter +keep facility; disabling + +If this option is true, this router may not generate a new address that +specifies delivery to a local file or directory, either from a filter or from a +conventional forward file. This option is forced to be true if is +set. It applies to Sieve filters as well as to Exim filters, but if true, it +locks out the Sieve’s keep facility. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +restricting access to features + + +filter +locking out certain features + +If this option is true, string expansions in Exim filters are not allowed to +make use of the expansion facility to run dynamically loaded +functions. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +restricting access to features + + +filter +locking out certain features + + +expansion +statting a file + +If this option is true, string expansions in Exim filters are not allowed to +make use of the condition or the expansion item. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +restricting access to features + + +filter +locking out certain features + +If this option is true, use of the logging facility in Exim filters is not +permitted. Logging is in any case available only if the filter is being run +under some unprivileged uid (which is normally the case for ordinary users’ +.forward files). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +restricting access to features + + +filter +locking out certain features + +If this option is true, string expansions in Exim filter files are not allowed +to make use of items. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +restricting access to features + + +filter +locking out certain features + +This option has an effect only if Exim is built with embedded Perl support. If +it is true, string expansions in Exim filter files are not allowed to make use +of the embedded Perl support. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +restricting access to features + + +filter +locking out certain features + +If this option is true, string expansions in Exim filter files are not allowed +to make use of items. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +restricting access to features + + +filter +locking out certain features + +If this option is true, string expansions in Exim filter files are not allowed +to make use of items. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +restricting access to features + + +filter +locking out certain features + +If this option is true, this router may not generate an automatic reply +message. Automatic replies can be generated only from Exim or Sieve filter +files, not from traditional forward files. This option is forced to be true if + is set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +restricting access to features + + +filter +locking out certain features + +If this option is true, string expansions in Exim filter files are not allowed +to make use of items. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +restricting access to features + + +filter +locking out certain features + +If this option is true, items of the form + + +:include:<path name> + + +are not permitted in non-filter redirection lists. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +restricting access to features + + +filter +locking out certain features + + +delivery +to pipe; forbidding + +If this option is true, this router may not generate a new address which +specifies delivery to a pipe, either from an Exim filter or from a conventional +forward file. This option is forced to be true if is set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +restricting access to features + + +filter +locking out certain features + +If this option is set true, only Exim filters are permitted when + is true. + + + +SMTP +error codes + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If this option is set true, any SMTP error codes that are present at the start +of messages specified for :defer: or :fail: are quietly ignored, and +the default codes (451 and 550, respectively) are always used. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +bounce message +redirection details; suppressing + +If this option is true, it prevents Exim from quoting a child address if it +generates a bounce or delay message for it. Instead it says an address +generated from <the top level address>. Of course, this applies only to +bounces generated locally. If a message is forwarded to another host, its +bounce may well quote the generated address. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +EACCES + +If this option is set and an attempt to open a redirection file yields the +EACCES error (permission denied), the redirect router behaves as if the +file did not exist. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +ENOTDIR + +If this option is set and an attempt to open a redirection file yields the +ENOTDIR error (something on the path is not a directory), the redirect +router behaves as if the file did not exist. + + +Setting has another effect as well: When a redirect +router that has the option set discovers that the file does not exist +(the ENOENT error), it tries to stat() the parent directory, as a check +against unmounted NFS directories. If the parent can not be statted, delivery +is deferred. However, it seems wrong to do this check when +is set, because that option tells Exim to ignore something on the path is not +a directory (the ENOTDIR error). This is a confusing area, because it seems +that some operating systems give ENOENT where others give ENOTDIR. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + +If this option is set, the path names of any :include: items in a +redirection list must start with this directory. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: octal integer +Default: 022 + + + + + +This specifies mode bits which must not be set for a file specified by the + option. If any of the forbidden bits are set, delivery is deferred. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +one-time aliasing/forwarding expansion + + +alias file +one-time expansion + + +forward file +one-time expansion + + +mailing lists +one-time expansion + + +address redirection +one-time expansion + +Sometimes the fact that Exim re-evaluates aliases and reprocesses redirection +files each time it tries to deliver a message causes a problem when one or more +of the generated addresses fails be delivered at the first attempt. The problem +is not one of duplicate delivery – Exim is clever enough to handle that – +but of what happens when the redirection list changes during the time that the +message is on Exim’s queue. This is particularly true in the case of mailing +lists, where new subscribers might receive copies of messages that were posted +before they subscribed. + + +If is set and any addresses generated by the router fail to +deliver at the first attempt, the failing addresses are added to the message as +top level addresses, and the parent address that generated them is marked +delivered. Thus, redirection does not happen again at the next delivery +attempt. + + +Warning 1: Any header line addition or removal that is specified by this +router would be lost if delivery did not succeed at the first attempt. For this +reason, the and generic options are not +permitted when is set. + + +Warning 2: To ensure that the router generates only addresses (as opposed +to pipe or file deliveries or auto-replies) , , +and are forced to be true when is set. + + +Warning 3: The generic router option may not be set with +. + + +The original top-level address is remembered with each of the generated +addresses, and is output in any log messages. However, any intermediate parent +addresses are not recorded. This makes a difference to the log only if + log selector is set. It is expected that will +typically be used for mailing lists, where there is normally just one level of +expansion. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: string list +Default: unset + + + + + + +ownership +alias file + + +ownership +forward file + + +alias file +ownership + + +forward file +ownership + +This specifies a list of permitted owners for the file specified by . +This list is in addition to the local user when is set. +See above. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: string list +Default: unset + + + + + +This specifies a list of permitted groups for the file specified by . +The list is in addition to the local user’s primary group when + is set. See above. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +$address_pipe + +A redirect router sets up a direct delivery to a pipe when a string +starting with a vertical bar character is specified as a new address. The +transport used is specified by this option, which, after expansion, must be the +name of a configured transport. This should normally be a pipe transport. +When the transport is run, the pipe command is in $address_pipe. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +$qualify_recipient + +If this option is set, and an unqualified address (one without a domain) is +generated, and that address would normally be qualified by the global setting +in , it is instead qualified with the domain specified by +expanding this string. If the expansion fails, the router declines. If you want +to revert to the default, you can have the expansion generate +$qualify_recipient. + + +This option applies to all unqualified addresses generated by Exim filters, +but for traditional .forward files, it applies only to addresses that are +not preceded by a backslash. Sieve filters cannot generate unqualified +addresses. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +domain +in redirection; preserving + + +preserving domain in redirection + + +address redirection +domain; preserving + +If this option is set, the router’s local option must not be +set (a configuration error occurs if it is). If an unqualified address (one +without a domain) is generated, it is qualified with the domain of the parent +address (the immediately preceding ancestor) instead of the global + value. In the case of a traditional .forward file, +this applies whether or not the address is preceded by a backslash. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + +If this option is set false, the router is skipped for a child address that has +any ancestor that was routed by this router. This test happens before any of +the other preconditions are tested. Exim’s default anti-looping rules skip +only when the ancestor is the same as the current address. See also + above and the generic option. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +A redirect router sets up an automatic reply when a or + command is used in a filter file. The transport used is specified +by this option, which, after expansion, must be the name of a configured +transport. This should normally be an autoreply transport. Other transports +are unlikely to do anything sensible or useful. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +address redirection +disabling rewriting + +If this option is set false, addresses generated by the router are not +subject to address rewriting. Otherwise, they are treated like new addresses +and are rewritten according to the global rewriting rules. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +The value of this option is passed to a Sieve filter to specify the +:subaddress part of an address. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +The value of this option is passed to a Sieve filter to specify the :user part +of an address. However, if it is unset, the entire original local part +(including any prefix or suffix) is used for :user. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +Sieve filter +vacation directory + +To enable the vacation extension for Sieve filters, you must set + to the directory where vacation databases are held +(do not put anything else in that directory), and ensure that the + option refers to an autoreply transport. Each user +needs their own directory; Exim will create it if necessary. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +forward file +broken + + +address redirection +broken files + + +alias file +broken + + +broken alias or forward files + + +ignoring faulty addresses + + +skipping faulty addresses + + +error +skipping bad syntax + +If is set, syntactically malformed addresses in +non-filter redirection data are skipped, and each failing address is logged. If + is set, a message is sent to the address it defines, +giving details of the failures. If is set, its contents +are expanded and placed at the head of the error message generated by +. Usually it is appropriate to set to +be the same address as the generic option. The + option is often used when handling mailing lists. + + +If all the addresses in a redirection list are skipped because of syntax +errors, the router declines to handle the original address, and it is passed to +the following routers. + + +If is set when an Exim filter is interpreted, any syntax +error in the filter causes filtering to be abandoned without any action being +taken. The incident is logged, and the router declines to handle the address, +so it is passed to the following routers. + + + +Sieve filter +syntax errors in + +Syntax errors in a Sieve filter file cause the keep action to occur. This +action is specified by RFC 3028. The values of , +, and are not used. + + + can be used to specify that errors in users’ forward +lists or filter files should not prevent delivery. The +option, used with an address that does not get redirected, can be used to +notify users of these errors, by means of a router like this: + + +userforward: + driver = redirect + allow_filter + check_local_user + file = $home/.forward + file_transport = address_file + pipe_transport = address_pipe + reply_transport = address_reply + no_verify + skip_syntax_errors + syntax_errors_to = real-$local_part@$domain + syntax_errors_text = \ + This is an automatically generated message. An error has\n\ + been found in your .forward file. Details of the error are\n\ + reported below. While this error persists, you will receive\n\ + a copy of this message for every message that is addressed\n\ + to you. If your .forward file is a filter file, or if it is\n\ + a non-filter file containing no valid forwarding addresses,\n\ + a copy of each incoming message will be put in your normal\n\ + mailbox. If a non-filter file contains at least one valid\n\ + forwarding address, forwarding to the valid addresses will\n\ + happen, and those will be the only deliveries that occur. + + +You also need a router to ensure that local addresses that are prefixed by +real- are recognized, but not forwarded or filtered. For example, you could +put this immediately before the userforward router: + + +real_localuser: + driver = accept + check_local_user + local_part_prefix = real- + transport = local_delivery + + +For security, it would probably be a good idea to restrict the use of this +router to locally-generated messages, using a condition such as this: + + + condition = ${if match {$sender_host_address}\ + {\N^(|127\.0\.0\.1)$\N}} + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +See above. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: redirect +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + +See above. + + + +
+ + + +Environment for running local transports +Environment for local transports + + +local transports +environment for + + +environment +local transports + + +transport +local; environment for + +Local transports handle deliveries to files and pipes. (The autoreply +transport can be thought of as similar to a pipe.) Exim always runs transports +in subprocesses, under specified uids and gids. Typical deliveries to local +mailboxes run under the uid and gid of the local user. + + +Exim also sets a specific current directory while running the transport; for +some transports a home directory setting is also relevant. The pipe +transport is the only one that sets up environment variables; see section + for details. + + +The values used for the uid, gid, and the directories may come from several +different places. In many cases, the router that handles the address associates +settings with that address as a result of its , , +or options. However, values may also be given in the transport’s own +configuration, and these override anything that comes from the router. + +
+Concurrent deliveries + + +concurrent deliveries + + +simultaneous deliveries + +If two different messages for the same local recipient arrive more or less +simultaneously, the two delivery processes are likely to run concurrently. When +the appendfile transport is used to write to a file, Exim applies locking +rules to stop concurrent processes from writing to the same file at the same +time. + + +However, when you use a pipe transport, it is up to you to arrange any +locking that is needed. Here is a silly example: + + +my_transport: + driver = pipe + command = /bin/sh -c 'cat >>/some/file' + + +This is supposed to write the message at the end of the file. However, if two +messages arrive at the same time, the file will be scrambled. You can use the + utility program (see section ) to lock a +file using the same algorithm that Exim itself uses. + +
+
+Uids and gids + + +local transports +uid and gid + + +transport +local; uid and gid + +All transports have the options and . If is set, it +overrides any group that the router set in the address, even if is not +set for the transport. This makes it possible, for example, to run local mail +delivery under the uid of the recipient (set by the router), but in a special +group (set by the transport). For example: + + +# Routers ... +# User/group are set by check_local_user in this router +local_users: + driver = accept + check_local_user + transport = group_delivery + +# Transports ... +# This transport overrides the group +group_delivery: + driver = appendfile + file = /var/spool/mail/$local_part + group = mail + + +If is set for a transport, its value overrides what is set in the +address by the router. If is non-numeric and is not set, the +gid associated with the user is used. If is numeric, must be +set. + + + + + +When the uid is taken from the transport’s configuration, the initgroups() +function is called for the groups associated with that uid if the + option is set for the transport. When the uid is not specified +by the transport, but is associated with the address by a router, the option +for calling initgroups() is taken from the router configuration. + + + +pipe transport +uid for + +The pipe transport contains the special option . If this +is set and is not set, the uid of the process that called Exim to +receive the message is used, and if is not set, the corresponding +original gid is also used. + + +This is the detailed preference order for obtaining a gid; the first of the +following that is set is used: + + + + +A setting of the transport; + + + + +A setting of the router; + + + + +A gid associated with a user setting of the router, either as a result of + or an explicit non-numeric setting; + + + + +The group associated with a non-numeric setting of the transport; + + + + +In a pipe transport, the creator’s gid if is set and +the uid is the creator’s uid; + + + + +The Exim gid if the Exim uid is being used as a default. + + + + +If, for example, the user is specified numerically on the router and there are +no group settings, no gid is available. In this situation, an error occurs. +This is different for the uid, for which there always is an ultimate default. +The first of the following that is set is used: + + + + +A setting of the transport; + + + + +In a pipe transport, the creator’s uid if is set; + + + + +A setting of the router; + + + + +A setting of the router; + + + + +The Exim uid. + + + + +Of course, an error will still occur if the uid that is chosen is on the + list. + +
+
+Current and home directories + + +current directory for local transport + + +home directory +for local transport + + +transport +local; home directory for + + +transport +local; current directory for + +Routers may set current and home directories for local transports by means of +the and options. +However, if the transport’s or options +are set, they override the router’s values. In detail, the home directory +for a local transport is taken from the first of these values that is set: + + + + +The option on the transport; + + + + +The option on the router; + + + + +The password data if is set on the router; + + + + +The option on the router. + + + + +The current directory is taken from the first of these values that is set: + + + + +The option on the transport; + + + + +The option on the router. + + + + +If neither the router nor the transport sets a current directory, Exim uses the +value of the home directory, if it is set. Otherwise it sets the current +directory to / before running a local transport. + +
+
+Expansion variables derived from the address + + +$domain + + +$local_part + + +$original_domain + +Normally a local delivery is handling a single address, and in that case the +variables such as $domain and $local_part are set during local +deliveries. However, in some circumstances more than one address may be handled +at once (for example, while writing batch SMTP for onward transmission by some +other means). In this case, the variables associated with the local part are +never set, $domain is set only if all the addresses have the same domain, +and $original_domain is never set. + + + + +
+ + + +Generic options for transports + + +generic options +transport + + +options +generic; for transports + + +transport +generic options for + +The following generic options apply to all transports: + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +transport +body only + + +message +transporting body only + + +body of message +transporting + +If this option is set, the message’s headers are not transported. It is +mutually exclusive with . If it is used with the appendfile +or pipe transports, the settings of and + should be checked, because this option does not +automatically suppress them. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +transport +current directory for + +This specifies the current directory that is to be set while running the +transport, overriding any value that may have been set by the router. +If the expansion fails for any reason, including forced failure, an error is +logged, and delivery is deferred. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If this option is set true, nothing is logged for any +deliveries by the transport or for any +transport errors. You should not set this option unless you really, really know +what you are doing. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +testing +variables in drivers + +If this option is set and debugging is enabled (see the command line +option), the string is expanded and included in the debugging output when the +transport is run. +If expansion of the string fails, the error message is written to the debugging +output, and Exim carries on processing. +This facility is provided to help with checking out the values of variables and +so on when debugging driver configurations. For example, if a +option is not working properly, could be used to output the +variables it references. A newline is added to the text if it does not end with +one. +The variables $transport_name and $router_name contain the name of the +transport and the router that called it. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +Delivery-date: header line + +If this option is true, a Delivery-date: header is added to the message. +This gives the actual time the delivery was made. As this is not a standard +header, Exim has a configuration option () which +requests its removal from incoming messages, so that delivered messages can +safely be resent to other recipients. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + +This specifies which of the available transport drivers is to be used. +There is no default, and this option must be set for every transport. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +Envelope-to: header line + +If this option is true, an Envelope-to: header is added to the message. +This gives the original address(es) in the incoming envelope that caused this +delivery to happen. More than one address may be present if the transport is +configured to handle several addresses at once, or if more than one original +address was redirected to the same final address. As this is not a standard +header, Exim has a configuration option () which requests +its removal from incoming messages, so that delivered messages can safely be +resent to other recipients. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +events + +This option declares a string to be expanded for Exim’s events mechanism. +For details see chapter . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: string† +Default: Exim group + + + + + + +transport +group; specifying + +This option specifies a gid for running the transport process, overriding any +value that the router supplies, and also overriding any value associated with + (see below). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +header lines +adding in transport + + +transport +header lines; adding + +This option specifies a list of text headers, +newline-separated (by default, changeable in the usual way ), +which are (separately) expanded and added to the header +portion of a message as it is transported, as described in section +. Additional header lines can also be specified by +routers. If the result of the expansion is an empty string, or if the expansion +is forced to fail, no action is taken. Other expansion failures are treated as +errors and cause the delivery to be deferred. + + +Unlike most options, can be specified multiple times +for a transport; all listed headers are added. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +transport +header lines only + + +message +transporting headers only + + +header lines +transporting + +If this option is set, the message’s body is not transported. It is mutually +exclusive with . If it is used with the appendfile or pipe +transports, the settings of and should be +checked, since this option does not automatically suppress them. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +header lines +removing + + +transport +header lines; removing + +This option specifies a list of header names, +colon-separated (by default, changeable in the usual way ); +these headers are omitted from the message as it is transported, as described +in section . Header removal can also be specified by +routers. +Each list item is separately expanded. +If the result of the expansion is an empty string, or if the expansion +is forced to fail, no action is taken. Other expansion failures are treated as +errors and cause the delivery to be deferred. + + +Unlike most options, can be specified multiple times +for a transport; all listed headers are removed. + + +Warning: Because of the separate expansion of the list items, +items that contain a list separator must have it doubled. +To avoid this, change the list separator (). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +transport +header lines; rewriting + + +rewriting +at transport time + +This option allows addresses in header lines to be rewritten at transport time, +that is, as the message is being copied to its destination. The contents of the +option are a colon-separated list of rewriting rules. Each rule is in exactly +the same form as one of the general rewriting rules that are applied when a +message is received. These are described in chapter . For +example, + + +headers_rewrite = a@b c@d f : \ + x@y w@z + + +changes a@b into c@d in From: header lines, and x@y into +w@z in all address-bearing header lines. The rules are applied to the +header lines just before they are written out at transport time, so they affect +only those copies of the message that pass through the transport. However, only +the message’s original header lines, and any that were added by a system +filter, are rewritten. If a router or transport adds header lines, they are not +affected by this option. These rewriting rules are not applied to the +envelope. You can change the return path using , but you cannot +change envelope recipients at this time. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +transport +home directory for + + +$home + +This option specifies a home directory setting for a local transport, +overriding any value that may be set by the router. The home directory is +placed in $home while expanding the transport’s private options. It is also +used as the current directory if no current directory is set by the + option on the transport or the + option on the router. If the expansion fails +for any reason, including forced failure, an error is logged, and delivery is +deferred. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +additional groups + + +groups +additional + + +transport +group; additional + +If this option is true and the uid for the delivery process is provided by the +transport, the initgroups() function is called when running the transport +to ensure that any additional groups associated with the uid are set up. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: integer† +Default: unset + + + + + + +limit +transport parallelism + + +transport +parallel processes + + +transport +concurrency limit + + +delivery +parallelism for transport + +If this option is set and expands to an integer greater than zero +it limits the number of concurrent runs of the transport. +The control does not apply to shadow transports. + + + +hints database +transport concurrency control + +Exim implements this control by means of a hints database in which a record is +incremented whenever a transport process is being created. The record +is decremented and possibly removed when the process terminates. +Obviously there is scope for +records to get left lying around if there is a system or program crash. To +guard against this, Exim ignores any records that are more than six hours old. + + +If you use this option, you should also arrange to delete the +relevant hints database whenever your system reboots. The names of the files +start with misc and they are kept in the spool/db directory. There +may be one or two files, depending on the type of DBM in use. The same files +are used for ETRN and smtp transport serialization. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: string† +Default: 0 + + + + + + +limit +message size per transport + + +size +of message, limit + + +transport +message size; limiting + +This option controls the size of messages passed through the transport. It is +expanded before use; the result of the expansion must be a sequence of decimal +digits, optionally followed by K or M. If the expansion fails for any reason, +including forced failure, or if the result is not of the required form, +delivery is deferred. If the value is greater than zero and the size of a +message exceeds this limit, the address is failed. If there is any chance that +the resulting bounce message could be routed to the same transport, you should +ensure that is less than the transport’s +, as otherwise the bounce message will fail to get +delivered. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +prefix +for local part, including in envelope + + +suffix for local part +including in envelope + + +local part +prefix + + +local part +suffix + +When this option is false (the default), and an address that has had any +affixes (prefixes or suffixes) removed from the local part is delivered by any +form of SMTP or LMTP, the affixes are not included. For example, if a router +that contains + + +local_part_prefix = *- + + +routes the address abc-xyz@some.domain to an SMTP transport, the envelope +is delivered with + + +RCPT TO:<xyz@some.domain> + + +This is also the case when an ACL-time callout is being used to verify a +recipient address. However, if is set true, the +whole local part is included in the RCPT command. This option applies to BSMTP +deliveries by the appendfile and pipe transports as well as to the +lmtp and smtp transports. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: boolean +Default: see below + + + + + + +hints database +retry keys + +When a delivery suffers a temporary failure, a retry record is created +in Exim’s hints database. For remote deliveries, the key for the retry record +is based on the name and/or IP address of the failing remote host. For local +deliveries, the key is normally the entire address, including both the local +part and the domain. This is suitable for most common cases of local delivery +temporary failure – for example, exceeding a mailbox quota should delay only +deliveries to that mailbox, not to the whole domain. + + +However, in some special cases you may want to treat a temporary local delivery +as a failure associated with the domain, and not with a particular local part. +(For example, if you are storing all mail for some domain in files.) You can do +this by setting false. + + +For all the local transports, its default value is true. For remote transports, +the default value is false for tidiness, but changing the value has no effect +on a remote transport in the current implementation. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +envelope sender + + +transport +return path; changing + + +return path +changing in transport + +If this option is set, the string is expanded at transport time and replaces +the existing return path (envelope sender) value in the copy of the message +that is being delivered. An empty return path is permitted. This feature is +designed for remote deliveries, where the value of this option is used in the +SMTP MAIL command. If you set for a local transport, the +only effect is to change the address that is placed in the Return-path: +header line, if one is added to the message (see the next option). + + +Note: A changed return path is not logged unless you add + to the log selector. + + + +$return_path + +The expansion can refer to the existing value via $return_path. This is +either the message’s envelope sender, or an address set by the + option on a router. If the expansion is forced to fail, no +replacement occurs; if it fails for another reason, delivery is deferred. This +option can be used to support VERP (Variable Envelope Return Paths) – see +section . + + +Note: If a delivery error is detected locally, including the case when a +remote server rejects a message at SMTP time, the bounce message is not sent to +the value of this option. It is sent to the previously set errors address. +This defaults to the incoming sender address, but can be changed by setting + in a router. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +Return-path: header line + +If this option is true, a Return-path: header is added to the message. +Although the return path is normally available in the prefix line of BSD +mailboxes, this is commonly not displayed by MUAs, and so the user does not +have easy access to it. + + +RFC 2821 states that the Return-path: header is added to a message when +the delivery SMTP server makes the final delivery. This implies that this +header should not be present in incoming messages. Exim has a configuration +option, , which requests removal of this header from +incoming messages, so that delivered messages can safely be resent to other +recipients. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +See below. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +shadow transport + + +transport +shadow + +A local transport may set the option to the name of +another local transport. Shadow remote transports are not supported. + + +Whenever a delivery to the main transport succeeds, and either + is unset, or its expansion does not result in the empty +string or one of the strings 0 or no or false, the message is also +passed to the shadow transport, with the same delivery address or addresses. If +expansion fails, no action is taken except that non-forced expansion failures +cause a log line to be written. + + +The result of the shadow transport is discarded and does not affect the +subsequent processing of the message. Only a single level of shadowing is +provided; the option is ignored on any transport when it +is running as a shadow. Options concerned with output from pipes are also +ignored. The log line for the successful delivery has an item added on the end, +of the form + + +ST=<shadow transport name> + + +If the shadow transport did not succeed, the error message is put in +parentheses afterwards. Shadow transports can be used for a number of different +purposes, including keeping more detailed log information than Exim normally +provides, and implementing automatic acknowledgment policies based on message +headers that some sites insist on. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +transport +filter + + +filter +transport filter + +This option sets up a filtering (in the Unix shell sense) process for messages +at transport time. It should not be confused with mail filtering as set up by +individual users or via a system filter. +If unset, or expanding to an empty string, no filtering is done. + + +When the message is about to be written out, the command specified by + is started up in a separate, parallel process, and +the entire message, including the header lines, is passed to it on its standard +input (this in fact is done from a third process, to avoid deadlock). The +command must be specified as an absolute path. + + +The lines of the message that are written to the transport filter are +terminated by newline (\n). The message is passed to the filter before any +SMTP-specific processing, such as turning \n into \r\n and escaping +lines beginning with a dot, and also before any processing implied by the +settings of and in the appendfile or +pipe transports. + + +The standard error for the filter process is set to the same destination as its +standard output; this is read and written to the message’s ultimate +destination. The process that writes the message to the filter, the +filter itself, and the original process that reads the result and delivers it +are all run in parallel, like a shell pipeline. + + +The filter can perform any transformations it likes, but of course should take +care not to break RFC 2822 syntax. Exim does not check the result, except to +test for a final newline when SMTP is in use. All messages transmitted over +SMTP must end with a newline, so Exim supplies one if it is missing. + + + +content scanning +per user + +A transport filter can be used to provide content-scanning on a per-user basis +at delivery time if the only required effect of the scan is to modify the +message. For example, a content scan could insert a new header line containing +a spam score. This could be interpreted by a filter in the user’s MUA. It is +not possible to discard a message at this stage. + + + +SMTP +SIZE + +A problem might arise if the filter increases the size of a message that is +being sent down an SMTP connection. If the receiving SMTP server has indicated +support for the SIZE parameter, Exim will have sent the size of the message +at the start of the SMTP session. If what is actually sent is substantially +more, the server might reject the message. This can be worked round by setting +the option on the smtp transport, either to allow for +additions to the message, or to disable the use of SIZE altogether. + + + +$pipe_addresses + +The value of the option is the command string for starting +the filter, which is run directly from Exim, not under a shell. The string is +parsed by Exim in the same way as a command string for the pipe transport: +Exim breaks it up into arguments and then expands each argument separately (see +section ). Any kind of expansion failure causes delivery +to be deferred. The special argument $pipe_addresses is replaced by a number +of arguments, one for each address that applies to this delivery. (This isn’t +an ideal name for this feature here, but as it was already implemented for the +pipe transport, it seemed sensible not to change it.) + + + +$host + + +$host_address + +The expansion variables $host and $host_address are available when the +transport is a remote one. They contain the name and IP address of the host to +which the message is being sent. For example: + + +transport_filter = /some/directory/transport-filter.pl \ + $host $host_address $sender_address $pipe_addresses + + +Two problems arise if you want to use more complicated expansion items to +generate transport filter commands, both of which due to the fact that the +command is split up before expansion. + + + + +If an expansion item contains white space, you must quote it, so that it is all +part of the same command item. If the entire option setting is one such +expansion item, you have to take care what kind of quoting you use. For +example: + + +transport_filter = '/bin/cmd${if eq{$host}{a.b.c}{1}{2}}' + + +This runs the command /bin/cmd1 if the host name is a.b.c, and +/bin/cmd2 otherwise. If double quotes had been used, they would have been +stripped by Exim when it read the option’s value. When the value is used, if +the single quotes were missing, the line would be split into two items, +/bin/cmd${if and eq{$host}{a.b.c}{1}{2}, and an error would occur when +Exim tried to expand the first one. + + + + +Except for the special case of $pipe_addresses that is mentioned above, an +expansion cannot generate multiple arguments, or a command name followed by +arguments. Consider this example: + + +transport_filter = ${lookup{$host}lsearch{/a/file}\ + {$value}{/bin/cat}} + + +The result of the lookup is interpreted as the name of the command, even +if it contains white space. The simplest way round this is to use a shell: + + +transport_filter = /bin/sh -c ${lookup{$host}lsearch{/a/file}\ + {$value}{/bin/cat}} + + + + +The filter process is run under the same uid and gid as the normal delivery. +For remote deliveries this is the Exim uid/gid by default. The command should +normally yield a zero return code. Transport filters are not supposed to fail. +A non-zero code is taken to mean that the transport filter encountered some +serious problem. Delivery of the message is deferred; the message remains on +the queue and is tried again later. It is not possible to cause a message to be +bounced from a transport filter. + + +If a transport filter is set on an autoreply transport, the original message is +passed through the filter as it is being copied into the newly generated +message, which happens if the option is set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: time +Default: 5m + + + + + + +transport +filter, timeout + +When Exim is reading the output of a transport filter, it applies a timeout +that can be set by this option. Exceeding the timeout is normally treated as a +temporary delivery failure. However, if a transport filter is used with a +pipe transport, a timeout in the transport filter is treated in the same +way as a timeout in the pipe command itself. By default, a timeout is a hard +error, but if the pipe transport’s option is set true, it +becomes a temporary error. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: transports +Type: string† +Default: Exim user + + + + + + +uid (user id) +local delivery + + +transport +user, specifying + +This option specifies the user under whose uid the delivery process is to be +run, overriding any uid that may have been set by the router. If the user is +given as a name, the uid is looked up from the password data, and the +associated group is taken as the value of the gid to be used if the +option is not set. + + +For deliveries that use local transports, a user and group are normally +specified explicitly or implicitly (for example, as a result of +) by the router or transport. + + + +hints database +access by remote transport + +For remote transports, you should leave this option unset unless you really are +sure you know what you are doing. When a remote transport is running, it needs +to be able to access Exim’s hints databases, because each host may have its own +retry data. + + + + + + + +Address batching in local transports +Address batching + + +transport +local; address batching in + +The only remote transport (smtp) is normally configured to handle more than +one address at a time, so that when several addresses are routed to the same +remote host, just one copy of the message is sent. Local transports, however, +normally handle one address at a time. That is, a separate instance of the +transport is run for each address that is routed to the transport. A separate +copy of the message is delivered each time. + + + +batched local delivery + + + + + + + +In special cases, it may be desirable to handle several addresses at once in a +local transport, for example: + + + + +In an appendfile transport, when storing messages in files for later +delivery by some other means, a single copy of the message with multiple +recipients saves space. + + + + +In an lmtp transport, when delivering over local SMTP to some process, +a single copy saves time, and is the normal way LMTP is expected to work. + + + + +In a pipe transport, when passing the message +to a scanner program or +to some other delivery mechanism such as UUCP, multiple recipients may be +acceptable. + + + + +These three local transports all have the same options for controlling multiple +(batched) deliveries, namely and . To save +repeating the information for each transport, these options are described here. + + +The option specifies the maximum number of addresses that can be +delivered together in a single run of the transport. Its default value is one +(no batching). When more than one address is routed to a transport that has a + value greater than one, the addresses are delivered in a batch +(that is, in a single run of the transport with multiple recipients), subject +to certain conditions: + + + + + +$local_part + +If any of the transport’s options contain a reference to $local_part, no +batching is possible. + + + + + +$domain + +If any of the transport’s options contain a reference to $domain, only +addresses with the same domain are batched. + + + + + +customizing +batching condition + +If is set, it is expanded for each address, and only those +addresses with the same expanded value are batched. This allows you to specify +customized batching conditions. Failure of the expansion for any reason, +including forced failure, disables batching, but it does not stop the delivery +from taking place. + + + + +Batched addresses must also have the same errors address (where to send +delivery errors), the same header additions and removals, the same user and +group for the transport, and if a host list is present, the first host must +be the same. + + + + +In the case of the appendfile and pipe transports, batching applies +both when the file or pipe command is specified in the transport, and when it +is specified by a redirect router, but all the batched addresses must of +course be routed to the same file or pipe command. These two transports have an +option called , which causes them to deliver the message in +batched SMTP format, with the envelope represented as SMTP commands. The + and options are forced to the values + + +check_string = "." +escape_string = ".." + + +when batched SMTP is in use. A full description of the batch SMTP mechanism is +given in section . The lmtp transport does not have a + option, because it always delivers using the SMTP protocol. + + + +Envelope-to: header line + +If the generic option is set for a batching transport, the +Envelope-to: header that is added to the message contains all the addresses +that are being processed together. If you are using a batching appendfile +transport without , the only way to preserve the recipient +addresses is to set the option. + + + +pipe transport +with multiple addresses + + +$pipe_addresses + +If you are using a pipe transport without BSMTP, and setting the +transport’s option, you can include $pipe_addresses as part of +the command. This is not a true variable; it is a bit of magic that causes each +of the recipient addresses to be inserted into the command as a separate +argument. This provides a way of accessing all the addresses that are being +delivered in the batch. Note: This is not possible for pipe commands that +are specified by a redirect router. + + + + +The appendfile transport + + +appendfile transport + + +transports +appendfile + + +directory creation + + +creating directories + +The appendfile transport delivers a message by appending it to an existing +file, or by creating an entirely new file in a specified directory. Single +files to which messages are appended can be in the traditional Unix mailbox +format, or optionally in the MBX format supported by the Pine MUA and +University of Washington IMAP daemon, inter alia. When each message is +being delivered as a separate file, maildir format can optionally be used +to give added protection against failures that happen part-way through the +delivery. A third form of separate-file delivery known as mailstore is also +supported. For all file formats, Exim attempts to create as many levels of +directory as necessary, provided that is set. + + +The code for the optional formats is not included in the Exim binary by +default. It is necessary to set SUPPORT_MBX, SUPPORT_MAILDIR and/or +SUPPORT_MAILSTORE in Local/Makefile to have the appropriate code +included. + + + +quota +system + +Exim recognizes system quota errors, and generates an appropriate message. Exim +also supports its own quota control within the transport, for use when the +system facility is unavailable or cannot be used for some reason. + + +If there is an error while appending to a file (for example, quota exceeded or +partition filled), Exim attempts to reset the file’s length and last +modification time back to what they were before. If there is an error while +creating an entirely new file, the new file is removed. + + +Before appending to a file, a number of security checks are made, and the +file is locked. A detailed description is given below, after the list of +private options. + + +The appendfile transport is most commonly used for local deliveries to +users’ mailboxes. However, it can also be used as a pseudo-remote transport for +putting messages into files for remote delivery by some means other than Exim. +Batch SMTP format is often used in this case (see the +option). + +
+The file and directory options + +The option specifies a single file, to which the message is appended; +the option specifies a directory, in which a new file containing +the message is created. Only one of these two options can be set, and for +normal deliveries to mailboxes, one of them must be set. + + + +$address_file + + +$local_part + +However, appendfile is also used for delivering messages to files or +directories whose names (or parts of names) are obtained from alias, +forwarding, or filtering operations (for example, a command in a +user’s Exim filter). When such a transport is running, $local_part contains +the local part that was aliased or forwarded, and $address_file contains the +name (or partial name) of the file or directory generated by the redirection +operation. There are two cases: + + + + +If neither nor is set, the redirection operation +must specify an absolute path (one that begins with /). This is the most +common case when users with local accounts use filtering to sort mail into +different folders. See for example, the address_file transport in the +default configuration. If the path ends with a slash, it is assumed to be the +name of a directory. A delivery to a directory can also be forced by setting + or . + + + + +If or is set for a delivery from a redirection, it is +used to determine the file or directory name for the delivery. Normally, the +contents of $address_file are used in some way in the string expansion. + + + + + +Sieve filter +configuring appendfile + + +Sieve filter +relative mailbox path handling + +As an example of the second case, consider an environment where users do not +have home directories. They may be permitted to use Exim filter commands of the +form: + + +save folder23 + + +or Sieve filter commands of the form: + + +require "fileinto"; +fileinto "folder23"; + + +In this situation, the expansion of or in the transport +must transform the relative path into an appropriate absolute filename. In the +case of Sieve filters, the name inbox must be handled. It is the name that +is used as a result of a keep action in the filter. This example shows one +way of handling this requirement: + + +file = ${if eq{$address_file}{inbox} \ + {/var/mail/$local_part} \ + {${if eq{${substr_0_1:$address_file}}{/} \ + {$address_file} \ + {$home/mail/$address_file} \ + }} \ + } + + +With this setting of , inbox refers to the standard mailbox +location, absolute paths are used without change, and other folders are in the +mail directory within the home directory. + + +Note 1: While processing an Exim filter, a relative path such as +folder23 is turned into an absolute path if a home directory is known to +the router. In particular, this is the case if is set. If +you want to prevent this happening at routing time, you can set + empty. This forces the router to pass the relative +path to the transport. + + +Note 2: An absolute path in $address_file is not treated specially; +the or option is still used if it is set. + +
+
+Private options for appendfile + + +options +appendfile transport + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +fifo (named pipe) + + +named pipe (fifo) + + +pipe +named (fifo) + +Setting this option permits delivery to named pipes (FIFOs) as well as to +regular files. If no process is reading the named pipe at delivery time, the +delivery is deferred. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +symbolic link +to mailbox + + +mailbox +symbolic link + +By default, appendfile will not deliver if the path name for the file is +that of a symbolic link. Setting this option relaxes that constraint, but there +are security issues involved in the use of symbolic links. Be sure you know +what you are doing if you set this. Details of exactly what this option affects +are included in the discussion which follows this list of options. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +See the description of local delivery batching in chapter . +However, batching is automatically disabled for appendfile deliveries that +happen as a result of forwarding or aliasing or other redirection directly to a +file. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: integer +Default: 1 + + + + + +See the description of local delivery batching in chapter . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +When this option is set, the group owner of the file defined by the +option is checked to see that it is the same as the group under which the +delivery process is running. The default setting is false because the default +file mode is 0600, which means that the group is irrelevant. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + +When this option is set, the owner of the file defined by the option +is checked to ensure that it is the same as the user under which the delivery +process is running. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string +Default: see below + + + + + + +From line + +As appendfile writes the message, the start of each line is tested for +matching , and if it does, the initial matching characters are +replaced by the contents of . The value of is +a literal string, not a regular expression, and the case of any letters it +contains is significant. + + +If is set the values of and +are forced to . and .. respectively, and any settings in the +configuration are ignored. Otherwise, they default to From  and +>From  when the option is set, and unset when any of the +, , or options are set. + + +The default settings, along with and , are +suitable for traditional BSD mailboxes, where a line beginning with +From  indicates the start of a new message. All four options need changing +if another format is used. For example, to deliver to mailboxes in MMDF format: + +MMDF format mailbox + + +mailbox +MMDF format + + + +check_string = "\1\1\1\1\n" +escape_string = "\1\1\1\1 \n" +message_prefix = "\1\1\1\1\n" +message_suffix = "\1\1\1\1\n" + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +directory creation + +When this option is true, Exim attempts to create any missing superior +directories for the file that it is about to write. A created directory’s mode +is given by the option. + + +The group ownership of a newly created directory is highly dependent on the +operating system (and possibly the file system) that is being used. For +example, in Solaris, if the parent directory has the setgid bit set, its group +is propagated to the child; if not, the currently set group is used. However, +in FreeBSD, the parent’s group is always used. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string +Default: anywhere + + + + + +This option constrains the location of files and directories that are created +by this transport. It applies to files defined by the option and +directories defined by the option. In the case of maildir +delivery, it applies to the top level directory, not the maildir directories +beneath. + + +The option must be set to one of the words anywhere, inhome, or +belowhome. In the second and third cases, a home directory must have been +set for the transport. This option is not useful when an explicit filename is +given for normal mailbox deliveries. It is intended for the case when filenames +are generated from users’ .forward files. These are usually handled +by an appendfile transport called . See also +. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option is mutually exclusive with the option, but one of +or must be set, unless the delivery is the direct result of a +redirection (see section ). + + +When is set, the string is expanded, and the message is delivered +into a new file or files in or below the given directory, instead of being +appended to a single mailbox file. A number of different formats are provided +(see and ), and see section + for further details of this form of delivery. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string† +Default: see below + + + + + + +base62 + + +$inode + +When is set, but neither nor + is set, appendfile delivers each message into a file +whose name is obtained by expanding this string. The default value is: + + +q${base62:$tod_epoch}-$inode + + +This generates a unique name from the current time, in base 62 form, and the +inode of the file. The variable $inode is available only when expanding this +option. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: octal integer +Default: 0700 + + + + + +If appendfile creates any directories as a result of the + option, their mode is specified by this option. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string +Default: see description + + + + + +See above. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option is mutually exclusive with the option, but one of + or must be set, unless the delivery is the direct result +of a redirection (see section ). The option +specifies a single file, to which the message is appended. One or more of +, , or must be set with +. + + + +NFS +lock file + + +locking files + + +lock files + +If you are using more than one host to deliver over NFS into the same +mailboxes, you should always use lock files. + + +The string value is expanded for each delivery, and must yield an absolute +path. The most common settings of this option are variations on one of these +examples: + + +file = /var/spool/mail/$local_part +file = /home/$local_part/inbox +file = $home/inbox + + + +sticky bit + +In the first example, all deliveries are done into the same directory. If Exim +is configured to use lock files (see below) it must be able to +create a file in the directory, so the sticky bit must be turned on for +deliveries to be possible, or alternatively the option can be used to +run the delivery under a group id which has write access to the directory. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +file +mailbox; checking existing format + +This option requests the transport to check the format of an existing file +before adding to it. The check consists of matching a specific string at the +start of the file. The value of the option consists of an even number of +colon-separated strings. The first of each pair is the test string, and the +second is the name of a transport. If the transport associated with a matched +string is not the current transport, control is passed over to the other +transport. For example, suppose the standard local_delivery transport has +this added to it: + + +file_format = "From : local_delivery :\ + \1\1\1\1\n : local_mmdf_delivery" + + +Mailboxes that begin with From are still handled by this transport, but if +a mailbox begins with four binary ones followed by a newline, control is passed +to a transport called , which presumably is configured +to do the delivery in MMDF format. If a mailbox does not exist or is empty, it +is assumed to match the current transport. If the start of a mailbox doesn’t +match any string, or if the transport named for a given string is not defined, +delivery is deferred. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If this option is true, the file specified by the option must exist. +A temporary error occurs if it does not, causing delivery to be deferred. +If this option is false, the file is created if it does not exist. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: time +Default: 0s + + + + + + +timeout +mailbox locking + + +mailbox +locking, blocking and non-blocking + + +locking files + +By default, the appendfile transport uses non-blocking calls to fcntl() +when locking an open mailbox file. If the call fails, the delivery process +sleeps for and tries again, up to times. +Non-blocking calls are used so that the file is not kept open during the wait +for the lock; the reason for this is to make it as safe as possible for +deliveries over NFS in the case when processes might be accessing an NFS +mailbox without using a lock file. This should not be done, but +misunderstandings and hence misconfigurations are not unknown. + + +On a busy system, however, the performance of a non-blocking lock approach is +not as good as using a blocking lock with a timeout. In this case, the waiting +is done inside the system call, and Exim’s delivery process acquires the lock +and can proceed as soon as the previous lock holder releases it. + + +If is set to a non-zero time, blocking locks, with that +timeout, are used. There may still be some retrying: the maximum number of +retries is + + +(lock_retries * lock_interval) / lock_fcntl_timeout + + +rounded up to the next whole number. In other words, the total time during +which appendfile is trying to get a lock is roughly the same, unless + is set very large. + + +You should consider setting this option if you are getting a lot of delayed +local deliveries because of errors of the form + + +failed to lock mailbox /some/file (fcntl) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: time +Default: 0s + + + + + +This timeout applies to file locking when using flock() (see +); the timeout operates in a similar manner to +. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: time +Default: 3s + + + + + +This specifies the time to wait between attempts to lock the file. See below +for details of locking. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: integer +Default: 10 + + + + + +This specifies the maximum number of attempts to lock the file. A value of zero +is treated as 1. See below for details of locking. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: octal integer +Default: 0600 + + + + + +This specifies the mode of the created lock file, when a lock file is being +used (see and ). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: time +Default: 30m + + + + + + +timeout +mailbox locking + +When a lock file is being used (see ), if a lock file already +exists and is older than this value, it is assumed to have been left behind by +accident, and Exim attempts to remove it. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +mailbox +specifying size of + + +size +of mailbox + +If this option is set, it is expanded, and the result is taken as the current +number of files in the mailbox. It must be a decimal number, optionally +followed by K or M. This provides a way of obtaining this information from an +external source that maintains the data. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +mailbox +specifying size of + + +size +of mailbox + +If this option is set, it is expanded, and the result is taken as the current +size the mailbox. It must be a decimal number, optionally followed by K or M. +This provides a way of obtaining this information from an external source that +maintains the data. This is likely to be helpful for maildir deliveries where +it is computationally expensive to compute the size of a mailbox. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +maildir format +specifying + +If this option is set with the option, the delivery is into a new +file, in the maildir format that is used by other mail software. When the +transport is activated directly from a redirect router (for example, the +address_file transport in the default configuration), setting + causes the path received from the router to be treated as a +directory, whether or not it ends with /. This option is available only if +SUPPORT_MAILDIR is present in Local/Makefile. See section + below for further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string +Default: See below + + + + + + +maildir format +quota; directories included in + + +quota +maildir; directories included in + +This option is relevant only when is set. It defines +a regular expression for specifying directories, relative to the quota +directory (see ), that should be included in the quota +calculation. The default value is: + + +maildir_quota_directory_regex = ^(?:cur|new|\..*)$ + + +This includes the cur and new directories, and any maildir++ folders +(directories whose names begin with a dot). If you want to exclude the +Trash +folder from the count (as some sites do), you need to change this setting to + + +maildir_quota_directory_regex = ^(?:cur|new|\.(?!Trash).*)$ + + +This uses a negative lookahead in the regular expression to exclude the +directory whose name is .Trash. When a directory is excluded from quota +calculations, quota processing is bypassed for any messages that are delivered +directly into that directory. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: integer +Default: 10 + + + + + +This option specifies the number of times to retry when writing a file in +maildir format. See section below. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option applies only to deliveries in maildir format, and is described in +section below. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile† +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +maildir format +maildirsize file + +The result of string expansion for this option must be a valid boolean value. +If it is true, it enables support for maildirsize files. Exim +creates a maildirsize file in a maildir if one does not exist, taking the +quota from the option of the transport. If is unset, the +value is zero. See above and section + below for further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + + +maildir format +maildirfolder file + + +maildirfolder, creating + +The value of this option is a regular expression. If it is unset, it has no +effect. Otherwise, before a maildir delivery takes place, the pattern is +matched against the name of the maildir directory, that is, the directory +containing the new and tmp subdirectories that will be used for the +delivery. If there is a match, Exim checks for the existence of a file called +maildirfolder in the directory, and creates it if it does not exist. +See section for more details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +mailstore format +specifying + +If this option is set with the option, the delivery is into two +new files in mailstore format. The option is available only if +SUPPORT_MAILSTORE is present in Local/Makefile. See section +below for further details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option applies only to deliveries in mailstore format, and is described in +section below. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option applies only to deliveries in mailstore format, and is described in +section below. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +locking files + + +file +locking + + +file +MBX format + + +MBX format, specifying + +This option is available only if Exim has been compiled with SUPPORT_MBX +set in Local/Makefile. If is set with the option, +the message is appended to the mailbox file in MBX format instead of +traditional Unix format. This format is supported by Pine4 and its associated +IMAP and POP daemons, by means of the c-client library that they all use. + + +Note: The and options are not +automatically changed by the use of . They should normally be set +empty when using MBX format, so this option almost always appears in this +combination: + + +mbx_format = true +message_prefix = +message_suffix = + + +If none of the locking options are mentioned in the configuration, + is assumed and the other locking options default to false. It +is possible to specify the other kinds of locking with , but + and are mutually exclusive. MBX locking +interworks with c-client, providing for shared access to the mailbox. It +should not be used if any program that does not use this form of locking is +going to access the mailbox, nor should it be used if the mailbox file is NFS +mounted, because it works only when the mailbox is accessed from a single host. + + +If you set with an MBX-format mailbox, you cannot use +the standard version of c-client, because as long as it has a mailbox open +(this means for the whole of a Pine or IMAP session), Exim will not be able to +append messages to it. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string† +Default: see below + + + + + + +From line + +The string specified here is expanded and output at the start of every message. +The default is unset unless is specified and is not set, +in which case it is: + + +message_prefix = "From ${if def:return_path{$return_path}\ + {MAILER-DAEMON}} $tod_bsdinbox\n" + + +Note: If you set true, you must change any occurrences of +\n to \r\n in . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string† +Default: see below + + + + + +The string specified here is expanded and output at the end of every message. +The default is unset unless is specified and is not set, +in which case it is a single newline character. The suffix can be suppressed by +setting + + +message_suffix = + + +Note: If you set true, you must change any occurrences of +\n to \r\n in . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: octal integer +Default: 0600 + + + + + +If the output file is created, it is given this mode. If it already exists and +has wider permissions, they are reduced to this mode. If it has narrower +permissions, an error occurs unless is false. However, +if the delivery is the result of a command in a filter file specifying +a particular mode, the mode of the output file is always forced to take that +value, and this option is ignored. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + +This option applies in the case when an existing mailbox file has a narrower +mode than that specified by the option. If is +true, the delivery is deferred (mailbox has the wrong mode); otherwise Exim +continues with the delivery attempt, using the existing mode of the file. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If this option is true, the comsat daemon is notified after every +successful delivery to a user mailbox. This is the daemon that notifies logged +on users about incoming mail. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +quota +imposed by Exim + +This option imposes a limit on the size of the file to which Exim is appending, +or to the total space used in the directory tree when the option +is set. In the latter case, computation of the space used is expensive, because +all the files in the directory (and any sub-directories) have to be +individually inspected and their sizes summed. (See and + for ways to avoid this in environments where users +have no shell access to their mailboxes). + + +As there is no interlock against two simultaneous deliveries into a +multi-file mailbox, it is possible for the quota to be overrun in this case. +For single-file mailboxes, of course, an interlock is a necessity. + + +A file’s size is taken as its used value. Because of blocking effects, this +may be a lot less than the actual amount of disk space allocated to the file. +If the sizes of a number of files are being added up, the rounding effect can +become quite noticeable, especially on systems that have large block sizes. +Nevertheless, it seems best to stick to the used figure, because this is +the obvious value which users understand most easily. + + +The value of the option is expanded, and must then be a numerical value +(decimal point allowed), optionally followed by one of the letters K, M, or G, +for kilobytes, megabytes, or gigabytes, optionally followed by a slash +and further option modifiers. If Exim is running on a system with +large file support (Linux and FreeBSD have this), mailboxes larger than 2G can +be handled. + + +The option modifier can be used to force delivery even if the over +quota condition is met. The quota gets updated as usual. + + +Note: A value of zero is interpreted as no quota. + + +The expansion happens while Exim is running as root, before it changes uid for +the delivery. This means that files that are inaccessible to the end user can +be used to hold quota values that are looked up in the expansion. When delivery +fails because this quota is exceeded, the handling of the error is as for +system quota failures. + + +By default, Exim’s quota checking mimics system quotas, and restricts the +mailbox to the specified maximum size, though the value is not accurate to the +last byte, owing to separator lines and additional headers that may get added +during message delivery. When a mailbox is nearly full, large messages may get +refused even though small ones are accepted, because the size of the current +message is added to the quota when the check is made. This behaviour can be +changed by setting false. When this is done, the check +for exceeding the quota does not include the current message. Thus, deliveries +continue until the quota has been exceeded; thereafter, no further messages are +delivered. See also . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option defines the directory to check for quota purposes when delivering +into individual files. The default is the delivery directory, or, if a file +called maildirfolder exists in a maildir directory, the parent of the +delivery directory. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string† +Default: 0 + + + + + +This option applies when the option is set. It limits the total +number of files in the directory (compare the inode limit in system quotas). It +can only be used if is also set. The value is expanded; an expansion +failure causes delivery to be deferred. A value of zero is interpreted as +no quota. + + +The option modifier can be used to force delivery even if the over +quota condition is met. The quota gets updated as usual. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + +See above. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + +This option applies when one of the delivery modes that writes a separate file +for each message is being used. When Exim wants to find the size of one of +these files in order to test the quota, it first checks . +If this is set to a regular expression that matches the filename, and it +captures one string, that string is interpreted as a representation of the +file’s size. The value of is not expanded. + + +This feature is useful only when users have no shell access to their mailboxes +– otherwise they could defeat the quota simply by renaming the files. This +facility can be used with maildir deliveries, by setting to add +the file length to the filename. For example: + + +maildir_tag = ,S=$message_size +quota_size_regex = ,S=(\d+) + + +An alternative to $message_size is $message_linecount, which contains the +number of lines in the message. + + +The regular expression should not assume that the length is at the end of the +filename (even though puts it there) because maildir MUAs +sometimes add other information onto the ends of message filenames. + + +Section contains further information. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string† +Default: see below + + + + + +See below for the use of this option. If it is not set when + is set, it defaults to + + +quota_warn_message = "\ + To: $local_part@$domain\n\ + Subject: Your mailbox\n\n\ + This message is automatically created \ + by mail delivery software.\n\n\ + The size of your mailbox has exceeded \ + a warning threshold that is\n\ + set by the system administrator.\n" + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: string† +Default: 0 + + + + + + +quota +warning threshold + + +mailbox +size warning + + +size +of mailbox + +This option is expanded in the same way as (see above). If the +resulting value is greater than zero, and delivery of the message causes the +size of the file or total space in the directory tree to cross the given +threshold, a warning message is sent. If is also set, the threshold +may be specified as a percentage of it by following the value with a percent +sign. For example: + + +quota = 10M +quota_warn_threshold = 75% + + +If is not set, a setting of that ends with a +percent sign is ignored. + + +The warning message itself is specified by the option, +and it must start with a To: header line containing the recipient(s) of the +warning message. These do not necessarily have to include the recipient(s) of +the original message. A Subject: line should also normally be supplied. You +can include any other header lines that you want. If you do not include a +From: line, the default is: + + +From: Mail Delivery System <mailer-daemon@$qualify_domain_sender> + + + + + +If you supply a Reply-To: line, it overrides the global +option. + + +The option does not have to be set in order to use this option; they +are independent of one another except when the threshold is specified as a +percentage. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +envelope sender + +If this option is set true, appendfile writes messages in batch SMTP +format, with the envelope sender and recipient(s) included as SMTP commands. If +you want to include a leading HELO command with such messages, you can do +so by setting the option. See section +for details of batch SMTP. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +carriage return + + +linefeed + +This option causes lines to be terminated with the two-character CRLF sequence +(carriage return, linefeed) instead of just a linefeed character. In the case +of batched SMTP, the byte sequence written to the file is then an exact image +of what would be sent down a real SMTP connection. + + +Note: The contents of the and options +(which are used to supply the traditional From  and blank line separators +in Berkeley-style mailboxes) are written verbatim, so must contain their own +carriage return characters if these are needed. In cases where these options +have non-empty defaults, the values end with a single linefeed, so they must be +changed to end with \r\n if is set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: boolean +Default: see below + + + + + +This option controls the use of the fcntl() function to lock a file for +exclusive use when a message is being appended. It is set by default unless + is set. Otherwise, it should be turned off only if you know +that all your MUAs use lock file locking. When both and + are unset, must be set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +This option is provided to support the use of flock() for file locking, for +the few situations where it is needed. Most modern operating systems support +fcntl() and lockf() locking, and these two functions interwork with +each other. Exim uses fcntl() locking by default. + + +This option is required only if you are using an operating system where +flock() is used by programs that access mailboxes (typically MUAs), and +where flock() does not correctly interwork with fcntl(). You can use +both fcntl() and flock() locking simultaneously if you want. + + + +Solaris +flock() support + +Not all operating systems provide flock(). Some versions of Solaris do not +have it (and some, I think, provide a not quite right version built on top of +lockf()). If the OS does not have flock(), Exim will be built without +the ability to use it, and any attempt to do so will cause a configuration +error. + + +Warning: flock() locks do not work on NFS files (unless flock() +is just being mapped onto fcntl() by the OS). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: boolean +Default: see below + + + + + +If this option is turned off, Exim does not attempt to create a lock file when +appending to a mailbox file. In this situation, the only locking is by +fcntl(). You should only turn off if you are absolutely +sure that every MUA that is ever going to look at your users’ mailboxes uses +fcntl() rather than a lock file, and even then only when you are not +delivering over NFS from more than one host. + + + +NFS +lock file + +In order to append to an NFS file safely from more than one host, it is +necessary to take out a lock before opening the file, and the lock file +achieves this. Otherwise, even with fcntl() locking, there is a risk of +file corruption. + + +The option is set by default unless is set. +It is not possible to turn both and off, +except when is set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: appendfile +Type: boolean +Default: see below + + + + + +This option is available only if Exim has been compiled with SUPPORT_MBX +set in Local/Makefile. Setting the option specifies that special MBX +locking rules be used. It is set by default if is set and none +of the locking options are mentioned in the configuration. The locking rules +are the same as are used by the c-client library that underlies Pine and +the IMAP4 and POP daemons that come with it (see the discussion below). The +rules allow for shared access to the mailbox. However, this kind of locking +does not work when the mailbox is NFS mounted. + + +You can set with either (or both) of and + to control what kind of locking is used in implementing the +MBX locking rules. The default is to use fcntl() if is set +without or . + +
+
+Operational details for appending + + +appending to a file + + +file +appending + +Before appending to a file, the following preparations are made: + + + + +If the name of the file is /dev/null, no action is taken, and a success +return is given. + + + + + +directory creation + +If any directories on the file’s path are missing, Exim creates them if the + option is set. A created directory’s mode is given by the + option. + + + + +If is set, the format of an existing file is checked. If this +indicates that a different transport should be used, control is passed to that +transport. + + + + + +file +locking + + +locking files + + +NFS +lock file + +If is set, a lock file is built in a way that will work +reliably over NFS, as follows: + + + + +Create a hitching post file whose name is that of the lock file with the +current time, primary host name, and process id added, by opening for writing +as a new file. If this fails with an access error, delivery is deferred. + + + + +Close the hitching post file, and hard link it to the lock filename. + + + + +If the call to link() succeeds, creation of the lock file has succeeded. +Unlink the hitching post name. + + + + +Otherwise, use stat() to get information about the hitching post file, and +then unlink hitching post name. If the number of links is exactly two, creation +of the lock file succeeded but something (for example, an NFS server crash and +restart) caused this fact not to be communicated to the link() call. + + + + +If creation of the lock file failed, wait for and try again, +up to times. However, since any program that writes to a +mailbox should complete its task very quickly, it is reasonable to time out old +lock files that are normally the result of user agent and system crashes. If an +existing lock file is older than Exim attempts to unlink +it before trying again. + + + + + + +A call is made to lstat() to discover whether the main file exists, and if +so, what its characteristics are. If lstat() fails for any reason other +than non-existence, delivery is deferred. + + + + + +symbolic link +to mailbox + + +mailbox +symbolic link + +If the file does exist and is a symbolic link, delivery is deferred, unless the + option is set, in which case the ownership of the link is +checked, and then stat() is called to find out about the real file, which +is then subjected to the checks below. The check on the top-level link +ownership prevents one user creating a link for another’s mailbox in a sticky +directory, though allowing symbolic links in this case is definitely not a good +idea. If there is a chain of symbolic links, the intermediate ones are not +checked. + + + + +If the file already exists but is not a regular file, or if the file’s owner +and group (if the group is being checked – see above) are +different from the user and group under which the delivery is running, +delivery is deferred. + + + + +If the file’s permissions are more generous than specified, they are reduced. +If they are insufficient, delivery is deferred, unless +is set false, in which case the delivery is tried using the existing +permissions. + + + + +The file’s inode number is saved, and the file is then opened for appending. +If this fails because the file has vanished, appendfile behaves as if it +hadn’t existed (see below). For any other failures, delivery is deferred. + + + + +If the file is opened successfully, check that the inode number hasn’t +changed, that it is still a regular file, and that the owner and permissions +have not changed. If anything is wrong, defer delivery and freeze the message. + + + + +If the file did not exist originally, defer delivery if the +option is set. Otherwise, check that the file is being created in a permitted +directory if the option is set (deferring on failure), and then +open for writing as a new file, with the O_EXCL and O_CREAT options, +except when dealing with a symbolic link (the option must be +set). In this case, which can happen if the link points to a non-existent file, +the file is opened for writing using O_CREAT but not O_EXCL, because +that prevents link following. + + + + + +loop +while file testing + +If opening fails because the file exists, obey the tests given above for +existing files. However, to avoid looping in a situation where the file is +being continuously created and destroyed, the exists/not-exists loop is broken +after 10 repetitions, and the message is then frozen. + + + + +If opening fails with any other error, defer delivery. + + + + + +file +locking + + +locking files + +Once the file is open, unless both and +are false, it is locked using fcntl() or flock() or both. If + is false, an exclusive lock is requested in each case. +However, if is true, Exim takes out a shared lock on the open +file, and an exclusive lock on the file whose name is + + +/tmp/.<device-number>.<inode-number> + + +using the device and inode numbers of the open mailbox file, in accordance with +the MBX locking rules. This file is created with a mode that is specified by +the option. + + +If Exim fails to lock the file, there are two possible courses of action, +depending on the value of the locking timeout. This is obtained from + or , as appropriate. + + +If the timeout value is zero, the file is closed, Exim waits for +, and then goes back and re-opens the file as above and tries +to lock it again. This happens up to times, after which the +delivery is deferred. + + +If the timeout has a value greater than zero, blocking calls to fcntl() or +flock() are used (with the given timeout), so there has already been some +waiting involved by the time locking fails. Nevertheless, Exim does not give up +immediately. It retries up to + + +(lock_retries * lock_interval) / <timeout> + + +times (rounded up). + + + + +At the end of delivery, Exim closes the file (which releases the fcntl() +and/or flock() locks) and then deletes the lock file if one was created. + +
+
+Operational details for delivery to a new file + + +delivery +to single file + + +From line + +When the option is set instead of , each message is +delivered into a newly-created file or set of files. When appendfile is +activated directly from a redirect router, neither nor + is normally set, because the path for delivery is supplied by the +router. (See for example, the address_file transport in the default +configuration.) In this case, delivery is to a new file if either the path name +ends in /, or the or option is set. + + +No locking is required while writing the message to a new file, so the various +locking options of the transport are ignored. The From line that by default +separates messages in a single file is not normally needed, nor is the escaping +of message lines that start with From, and there is no need to ensure a +newline at the end of each message. Consequently, the default values for +, , and are all unset when +any of , , or is set. + + +If Exim is required to check a setting, it adds up the sizes of all +the files in the delivery directory by default. However, you can specify a +different directory by setting . Also, for maildir +deliveries (see below) the maildirfolder convention is honoured. + + + +maildir format + + +mailstore format + +There are three different ways in which delivery to individual files can be +done, controlled by the settings of the and + options. Note that code to support maildir or mailstore +formats is not included in the binary unless SUPPORT_MAILDIR or +SUPPORT_MAILSTORE, respectively, is set in Local/Makefile. + + + +directory creation + +In all three cases an attempt is made to create the directory and any necessary +sub-directories if they do not exist, provided that the +option is set (the default). The location of a created directory can be +constrained by setting . A created directory’s mode is given by +the option. If creation fails, or if the + option is not set when creation is required, delivery is +deferred. + +
+
+Maildir delivery + + +maildir format +description of + +If the option is true, Exim delivers each message by writing +it to a file whose name is tmp/<stime>.H<mtime>P<pid>.<host> in the +directory that is defined by the option (the delivery +directory). If the delivery is successful, the file is renamed into the +new subdirectory. + + +In the filename, <stime> is the current time of day in seconds, and +<mtime> is the microsecond fraction of the time. After a maildir delivery, +Exim checks that the time-of-day clock has moved on by at least one microsecond +before terminating the delivery process. This guarantees uniqueness for the +filename. However, as a precaution, Exim calls stat() for the file before +opening it. If any response other than ENOENT (does not exist) is given, +Exim waits 2 seconds and tries again, up to times. + + +Before Exim carries out a maildir delivery, it ensures that subdirectories +called new, cur, and tmp exist in the delivery directory. If they +do not exist, Exim tries to create them and any superior directories in their +path, subject to the and options. If the + option is set, and the regular expression it +contains matches the delivery directory, Exim also ensures that a file called +maildirfolder exists in the delivery directory. If a missing directory or +maildirfolder file cannot be created, delivery is deferred. + + +These features make it possible to use Exim to create all the necessary files +and directories in a maildir mailbox, including subdirectories for maildir++ +folders. Consider this example: + + +maildir_format = true +directory = /var/mail/$local_part\ + ${if eq{$local_part_suffix}{}{}\ + {/.${substr_1:$local_part_suffix}}} +maildirfolder_create_regex = /\.[^/]+$ + + +If $local_part_suffix is empty (there was no suffix for the local part), +delivery is into a toplevel maildir with a name like /var/mail/pimbo (for +the user called pimbo). The pattern in does +not match this name, so Exim will not look for or create the file +/var/mail/pimbo/maildirfolder, though it will create +/var/mail/pimbo/{cur,new,tmp} if necessary. + + +However, if $local_part_suffix contains -eximusers (for example), +delivery is into the maildir++ folder /var/mail/pimbo/.eximusers, which +does match . In this case, Exim will create +/var/mail/pimbo/.eximusers/maildirfolder as well as the three maildir +directories /var/mail/pimbo/.eximusers/{cur,new,tmp}. + + +Warning: Take care when setting that it does +not inadvertently match the toplevel maildir directory, because a +maildirfolder file at top level would completely break quota calculations. + + + +quota +in maildir delivery + + +maildir++ + +If Exim is required to check a setting before a maildir delivery, and + is not set, it looks for a file called maildirfolder in +the maildir directory (alongside new, cur, tmp). If this exists, +Exim assumes the directory is a maildir++ folder directory, which is one level +down from the user’s top level mailbox directory. This causes it to start at +the parent directory instead of the current directory when calculating the +amount of space used. + + +One problem with delivering into a multi-file mailbox is that it is +computationally expensive to compute the size of the mailbox for quota +checking. Various approaches have been taken to reduce the amount of work +needed. The next two sections describe two of them. A third alternative is to +use some external process for maintaining the size data, and use the expansion +of the option as a way of importing it into Exim. + +
+
+Using tags to record message sizes + +If is set, the string is expanded for each delivery. +When the maildir file is renamed into the new sub-directory, the +tag is added to its name. However, if adding the tag takes the length of the +name to the point where the test stat() call fails with ENAMETOOLONG, +the tag is dropped and the maildir file is created with no tag. + + + +$message_size + +Tags can be used to encode the size of files in their names; see + above for an example. The expansion of +happens after the message has been written. The value of the $message_size +variable is set to the number of bytes actually written. If the expansion is +forced to fail, the tag is ignored, but a non-forced failure causes delivery to +be deferred. The expanded tag may contain any printing characters except /. +Non-printing characters in the string are ignored; if the resulting string is +empty, it is ignored. If it starts with an alphanumeric character, a leading +colon is inserted; this default has not proven to be the path that popular +maildir implementations have chosen (but changing it in Exim would break +backwards compatibility). + + +For one common implementation, you might set: + + +maildir_tag = ,S=${message_size} + + +but you should check the documentation of the other software to be sure. + + +It is advisable to also set when setting +as this allows Exim to extract the size from your tag, instead of having to +stat() each message file. + +
+
+Using a maildirsize file + + +quota +in maildir delivery + + +maildir format +maildirsize file + +If is true, Exim implements the maildir++ rules for +storing quota and message size information in a file called maildirsize +within the toplevel maildir directory. If this file does not exist, Exim +creates it, setting the quota from the option of the transport. If +the maildir directory itself does not exist, it is created before any attempt +to write a maildirsize file. + + +The maildirsize file is used to hold information about the sizes of +messages in the maildir, thus speeding up quota calculations. The quota value +in the file is just a cache; if the quota is changed in the transport, the new +value overrides the cached value when the next message is delivered. The cache +is maintained for the benefit of other programs that access the maildir and +need to know the quota. + + +If the option in the transport is unset or zero, the maildirsize +file is maintained (with a zero quota setting), but no quota is imposed. + + +A regular expression is available for controlling which directories in the +maildir participate in quota calculations when a maildirsizefile is in use. +See the description of the option above for +details. + +
+
+Mailstore delivery + + +mailstore format +description of + +If the option is true, each message is written as two +files in the given directory. A unique base name is constructed from the +message id and the current delivery process, and the files that are written use +this base name plus the suffixes .env and .msg. The .env file +contains the message’s envelope, and the .msg file contains the message +itself. The base name is placed in the variable $mailstore_basename. + + +During delivery, the envelope is first written to a file with the suffix +.tmp. The .msg file is then written, and when it is complete, the +.tmp file is renamed as the .env file. Programs that access messages in +mailstore format should wait for the presence of both a .msg and a .env +file before accessing either of them. An alternative approach is to wait for +the absence of a .tmp file. + + +The envelope file starts with any text defined by the +option, expanded and terminated by a newline if there isn’t one. Then follows +the sender address on one line, then all the recipient addresses, one per line. +There can be more than one recipient only if the option is set +greater than one. Finally, is expanded and the result +appended to the file, followed by a newline if it does not end with one. + + +If expansion of or ends with a forced +failure, it is ignored. Other expansion errors are treated as serious +configuration errors, and delivery is deferred. The variable +$mailstore_basename is available for use during these expansions. + +
+
+Non-special new file delivery + +If neither nor is set, a single new +file is created directly in the named directory. For example, when delivering +messages into files in batched SMTP format for later delivery to some host (see +section ), a setting such as + + +directory = /var/bsmtp/$host + + +might be used. A message is written to a file with a temporary name, which is +then renamed when the delivery is complete. The final name is obtained by +expanding the contents of the option. + + + +
+ + + +The autoreply transport + + +transports +autoreply + + +autoreply transport + +The autoreply transport is not a true transport in that it does not cause +the message to be transmitted. Instead, it generates a new mail message as an +automatic reply to the incoming message. References: and +Auto-Submitted: header lines are included. These are constructed according +to the rules in RFCs 2822 and 3834, respectively. + + +If the router that passes the message to this transport does not have the + option set, the original message (for the current recipient) is not +delivered anywhere. However, when the option is set on the router +that passes the message to this transport, routing of the address continues, so +another router can set up a normal message delivery. + + +The autoreply transport is usually run as the result of mail filtering, a +vacation message being the standard example. However, it can also be run +directly from a router like any other transport. To reduce the possibility of +message cascades, messages created by the autoreply transport always have +empty envelope sender addresses, like bounce messages. + + +The parameters of the message to be sent can be specified in the configuration +by options described below. However, these are used only when the address +passed to the transport does not contain its own reply information. When the +transport is run as a consequence of a + +or command in a filter file, the parameters of the message are +supplied by the filter, and passed with the address. The transport’s options +that define the message are then ignored (so they are not usually set in this +case). The message is specified entirely by the filter or by the transport; it +is never built from a mixture of options. However, the , +, and options apply in all cases. + + +Autoreply is implemented as a local transport. When used as a result of a +command in a user’s filter file, autoreply normally runs under the uid and +gid of the user, and with appropriate current and home directories (see chapter +). + + +There is a subtle difference between routing a message to a pipe transport +that generates some text to be returned to the sender, and routing it to an +autoreply transport. This difference is noticeable only if more than one +address from the same message is so handled. In the case of a pipe, the +separate outputs from the different addresses are gathered up and returned to +the sender in a single message, whereas if autoreply is used, a separate +message is generated for each address that is passed to it. + + +Non-printing characters are not permitted in the header lines generated for the +message that autoreply creates, with the exception of newlines that are +immediately followed by white space. If any non-printing characters are found, +the transport defers. +Whether characters with the top bit set count as printing characters or not is +controlled by the global option. + + +If any of the generic options for manipulating headers (for example, +) are set on an autoreply transport, they apply to the copy +of the original message that is included in the generated message when + is set. They do not apply to the generated message itself. + + + +$sender_address + +If the autoreply transport receives return code 2 from Exim when it submits +the message, indicating that there were no recipients, it does not treat this +as an error. This means that autoreplies sent to $sender_address when this +is empty (because the incoming message is a bounce message) do not cause +problems. They are just discarded. + +
+Private options for autoreply + + +options +autoreply transport + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: autoreply +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This specifies the addresses that are to receive blind carbon copies of the +message when the message is specified by the transport. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: autoreply +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This specifies recipients of the message and the contents of the Cc: header +when the message is specified by the transport. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: autoreply +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +The contents of the file are sent as the body of the message when the message +is specified by the transport. If both and are set, the text +string comes first. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: autoreply +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If this is set, the contents of the file named by the option are +subjected to string expansion as they are added to the message. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: autoreply +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If this option is true, no error is generated if the file named by the +option or passed with the address does not exist or cannot be read. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: autoreply +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This specifies the contents of the From: header when the message is +specified by the transport. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: autoreply +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This specifies additional RFC 2822 headers that are to be added to the message +when the message is specified by the transport. Several can be given by using +\n to separate them. There is no check on the format. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: autoreply +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option names a file in which a record of every message sent is logged when +the message is specified by the transport. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: autoreply +Type: octal integer +Default: 0600 + + + + + +If either the log file or the once file has to be created, this mode is +used. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: autoreply +Type: address list† +Default: unset + + + + + +If any run of the transport creates a message with a recipient that matches any +item in the list, that recipient is quietly discarded. If all recipients are +discarded, no message is created. This applies both when the recipients are +generated by a filter and when they are specified in the transport. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: autoreply +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option names a file or DBM database in which a record of each To: +recipient is kept when the message is specified by the transport. Note: +This does not apply to Cc: or Bcc: recipients. + + +If is unset, or is set to an empty string, the message is always sent. +By default, if is set to a non-empty filename, the message +is not sent if a potential recipient is already listed in the database. +However, if the option specifies a time greater than zero, the +message is sent if that much time has elapsed since a message was last sent to +this recipient. A setting of zero time for (the default) +prevents a message from being sent a second time – in this case, zero means +infinity. + + +If is zero, a DBM database is used to remember recipients, +and it is allowed to grow as large as necessary. If is set +greater than zero, it changes the way Exim implements the option. +Instead of using a DBM file to record every recipient it sends to, it uses a +regular file, whose size will never get larger than the given value. + + +In the file, Exim keeps a linear list of recipient addresses and the times at +which they were sent messages. If the file is full when a new address needs to +be added, the oldest address is dropped. If is not set, this +means that a given recipient may receive multiple messages, but at +unpredictable intervals that depend on the rate of turnover of addresses in the +file. If is set, it specifies a maximum time between repeats. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: autoreply +Type: integer +Default: 0 + + + + + +See above. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: autoreply +Type: time† +Default: 0s + + + + + +See above. +After expansion, the value of this option must be a valid time value. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: autoreply +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This specifies the contents of the Reply-To: header when the message is +specified by the transport. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: autoreply +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If this is set, a copy of the original message is returned with the new +message, subject to the maximum size set in the global +configuration option. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: autoreply +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This specifies the contents of the Subject: header when the message is +specified by the transport. It is tempting to quote the original subject in +automatic responses. For example: + + +subject = Re: $h_subject: + + +There is a danger in doing this, however. It may allow a third party to +subscribe your users to an opt-in mailing list, provided that the list accepts +bounce messages as subscription confirmations. Well-managed lists require a +non-bounce message to confirm a subscription, so the danger is relatively +small. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: autoreply +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This specifies a single string to be used as the body of the message when the +message is specified by the transport. If both and are set, +the text comes first. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: autoreply +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This specifies recipients of the message and the contents of the To: header +when the message is specified by the transport. + + + +
+ + + +The lmtp transport + + +transports +lmtp + + +lmtp transport + + +LMTP +over a pipe + + +LMTP +over a socket + +The lmtp transport runs the LMTP protocol (RFC 2033) over a pipe to a +specified command +or by interacting with a Unix domain socket. +This transport is something of a cross between the pipe and smtp +transports. Exim also has support for using LMTP over TCP/IP; this is +implemented as an option for the smtp transport. Because LMTP is expected +to be of minority interest, the default build-time configure in src/EDITME +has it commented out. You need to ensure that + + +TRANSPORT_LMTP=yes + + + +options +lmtp transport + +is present in your Local/Makefile in order to have the lmtp transport +included in the Exim binary. The private options of the lmtp transport are +as follows: + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: lmtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +See the description of local delivery batching in chapter . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: lmtp +Type: integer +Default: 1 + + + + + +This limits the number of addresses that can be handled in a single delivery. +Most LMTP servers can handle several addresses at once, so it is normally a +good idea to increase this value. See the description of local delivery +batching in chapter . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: lmtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option must be set if is not set. The string is a command which +is run in a separate process. It is split up into a command name and list of +arguments, each of which is separately expanded (so expansion cannot change the +number of arguments). The command is run directly, not via a shell. The message +is passed to the new process using the standard input and output to operate the +LMTP protocol. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: lmtp +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +LMTP +ignoring quota errors + +If this option is set true, the string IGNOREQUOTA is added to RCPT +commands, provided that the LMTP server has advertised support for IGNOREQUOTA +in its response to the LHLO command. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: lmtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option must be set if is not set. The result of expansion must +be the name of a Unix domain socket. The transport connects to the socket and +delivers the message to it using the LMTP protocol. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: lmtp +Type: time +Default: 5m + + + + + +The transport is aborted if the created process or Unix domain socket does not +respond to LMTP commands or message input within this timeout. Delivery +is deferred, and will be tried again later. Here is an example of a typical +LMTP transport: + + +lmtp: + driver = lmtp + command = /some/local/lmtp/delivery/program + batch_max = 20 + user = exim + + +This delivers up to 20 addresses at a time, in a mixture of domains if +necessary, running as the user exim. + + + + +The pipe transport + + +transports +pipe + + +pipe transport + +The pipe transport is used to deliver messages via a pipe to a command +running in another process. One example is the use of pipe as a +pseudo-remote transport for passing messages to some other delivery mechanism +(such as UUCP). Another is the use by individual users to automatically process +their incoming messages. The pipe transport can be used in one of the +following ways: + + + + + +$local_part + +A router routes one address to a transport in the normal way, and the +transport is configured as a pipe transport. In this case, $local_part +contains the local part of the address (as usual), and the command that is run +is specified by the option on the transport. + + + + + +$pipe_addresses + +If the option is set greater than 1 (the default is 1), the +transport can handle more than one address in a single run. In this case, when +more than one address is routed to the transport, $local_part is not set +(because it is not unique). However, the pseudo-variable $pipe_addresses +(described in section below) contains all the addresses +that are routed to the transport. + + + + + +$address_pipe + +A router redirects an address directly to a pipe command (for example, from an +alias or forward file). In this case, $address_pipe contains the text of the +pipe command, and the option on the transport is ignored unless + is set. If only one address is being transported +( is not greater than one, or only one address was redirected to +this pipe command), $local_part contains the local part that was redirected. + + + + +The pipe transport is a non-interactive delivery method. Exim can also +deliver messages over pipes using the LMTP interactive protocol. This is +implemented by the lmtp transport. + + +In the case when pipe is run as a consequence of an entry in a local user’s +.forward file, the command runs under the uid and gid of that user. In +other cases, the uid and gid have to be specified explicitly, either on the +transport or on the router that handles the address. Current and home +directories are also controllable. See chapter for +details of the local delivery environment and chapter +for a discussion of local delivery batching. + +
+Concurrent delivery + +If two messages arrive at almost the same time, and both are routed to a pipe +delivery, the two pipe transports may be run concurrently. You must ensure that +any pipe commands you set up are robust against this happening. If the commands +write to a file, the utility might be of use. +Alternatively the option could be used with a value +of "1" to enforce serialization. + +
+
+Returned status and data + + +pipe transport +returned data + +If the command exits with a non-zero return code, the delivery is deemed to +have failed, unless either the option is set (in which case +the return code is treated as zero), or the return code is one of those listed +in the option, which are interpreted as meaning try again +later. In this case, delivery is deferred. Details of a permanent failure are +logged, but are not included in the bounce message, which merely contains +local delivery failed. + + +If the command exits on a signal and the option is set then +the message will be frozen in the queue. If that option is not set, a bounce +will be sent as normal. + + +If the return code is greater than 128 and the command being run is a shell +script, it normally means that the script was terminated by a signal whose +value is the return code minus 128. The option does not +apply in this case. + + +If Exim is unable to run the command (that is, if execve() fails), the +return code is set to 127. This is the value that a shell returns if it is +asked to run a non-existent command. The wording for the log line suggests that +a non-existent command may be the problem. + + +The option can affect the result of a pipe delivery. If it is +set and the command produces any output on its standard output or standard +error streams, the command is considered to have failed, even if it gave a zero +return code or if is set. The output from the command is +included as part of the bounce message. The option is +similar, except that output is returned only when the command exits with a +failure return code, that is, a value other than zero or a code that matches +. + +
+
+How the command is run + + +pipe transport +path for command + +The command line is (by default) broken down into a command name and arguments +by the pipe transport itself. The and + options can be used to restrict the commands that may be +run. + + + +quoting +in pipe command + +Unquoted arguments are delimited by white space. If an argument appears in +double quotes, backslash is interpreted as an escape character in the usual +way. If an argument appears in single quotes, no escaping is done. + + +String expansion is applied to the command line except when it comes from a +traditional .forward file (commands from a filter file are expanded). The +expansion is applied to each argument in turn rather than to the whole line. +For this reason, any string expansion item that contains white space must be +quoted so as to be contained within a single argument. A setting such as + + +command = /some/path ${if eq{$local_part}{postmaster}{xx}{yy}} + + +will not work, because the expansion item gets split between several +arguments. You have to write + + +command = /some/path "${if eq{$local_part}{postmaster}{xx}{yy}}" + + +to ensure that it is all in one argument. The expansion is done in this way, +argument by argument, so that the number of arguments cannot be changed as a +result of expansion, and quotes or backslashes in inserted variables do not +interact with external quoting. However, this leads to problems if you want to +generate multiple arguments (or the command name plus arguments) from a single +expansion. In this situation, the simplest solution is to use a shell. For +example: + + +command = /bin/sh -c ${lookup{$local_part}lsearch{/some/file}} + + + +transport +filter + + +filter +transport filter + + +$pipe_addresses + +Special handling takes place when an argument consists of precisely the text +$pipe_addresses (no quotes). +This is not a general expansion variable; the only +place this string is recognized is when it appears as an argument for a pipe or +transport filter command. It causes each address that is being handled to be +inserted in the argument list at that point as a separate argument. This +avoids any problems with spaces or shell metacharacters, and is of use when a +pipe transport is handling groups of addresses in a batch. + + +If is enabled on the transport, Special handling takes place +for an argument that consists of precisely the text $address_pipe. It +is handled similarly to $pipe_addresses above. It is expanded and each +argument is inserted in the argument list at that point +as a separate argument. The $address_pipe item does not need to be +the only item in the argument; in fact, if it were then +should behave as a no-op. Rather, it should be used to adjust the command +run while preserving the argument vector separation. + + +After splitting up into arguments and expansion, the resulting command is run +in a subprocess directly from the transport, not under a shell. The +message that is being delivered is supplied on the standard input, and the +standard output and standard error are both connected to a single pipe that is +read by Exim. The option controls how much output the command +may produce, and the and options +control what is done with it. + + +Not running the command under a shell (by default) lessens the security risks +in cases when a command from a user’s filter file is built out of data that was +taken from an incoming message. If a shell is required, it can of course be +explicitly specified as the command to be run. However, there are circumstances +where existing commands (for example, in .forward files) expect to be run +under a shell and cannot easily be modified. To allow for these cases, there is +an option called , which changes the way the pipe transport +works. Instead of breaking up the command line as just described, it expands it +as a single string and passes the result to /bin/sh. The + option and the $pipe_addresses facility cannot be used +with , and the whole mechanism is inherently less secure. + +
+
+Environment variables + + +pipe transport +environment for command + + +environment +pipe transport + +The environment variables listed below are set up when the command is invoked. +This list is a compromise for maximum compatibility with other MTAs. Note that +the option can be used to add additional variables to this +environment. The environment for the pipe transport is not subject +to the and main config options. + + +DOMAIN the domain of the address +HOME the home directory, if set +HOST the host name when called from a router (see below) +LOCAL_PART see below +LOCAL_PART_PREFIX see below +LOCAL_PART_SUFFIX see below +LOGNAME see below +MESSAGE_ID Exim’s local ID for the message +PATH as specified by the option below +QUALIFY_DOMAIN the sender qualification domain +RECIPIENT the complete recipient address +SENDER the sender of the message (empty if a bounce) +SHELL /bin/sh +TZ the value of the option, if set +USER see below + + +When a pipe transport is called directly from (for example) an accept +router, LOCAL_PART is set to the local part of the address. When it is +called as a result of a forward or alias expansion, LOCAL_PART is set to +the local part of the address that was expanded. In both cases, any affixes are +removed from the local part, and made available in LOCAL_PART_PREFIX and +LOCAL_PART_SUFFIX, respectively. LOGNAME and USER are set to the +same value as LOCAL_PART for compatibility with other MTAs. + + + +HOST + +HOST is set only when a pipe transport is called from a router that +associates hosts with an address, typically when using pipe as a +pseudo-remote transport. HOST is set to the first host name specified by +the router. + + + +HOME + +If the transport’s generic option is set, its value is used +for the HOME environment variable. Otherwise, a home directory may be set +by the router’s option, which defaults to the +user’s home directory if is set. + +
+
+Private options for pipe + + +options +pipe transport + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: string list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +pipe transport +permitted commands + +The string is expanded, and is then interpreted as a colon-separated list of +permitted commands. If is not set, the only commands +permitted are those in the list. They need not be absolute +paths; the option is still used for relative paths. If + is set with , the command must either be +in the list, or a name without any slashes that is found on +the path. In other words, if neither nor + is set, there is no restriction on the command, but +otherwise only commands that are permitted by one or the other are allowed. For +example, if + + +allow_commands = /usr/bin/vacation + + +and is not set, the only permitted command is +/usr/bin/vacation. The option may not be set if + is set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +See the description of local delivery batching in chapter . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: integer +Default: 1 + + + + + +This limits the number of addresses that can be handled in a single delivery. +See the description of local delivery batching in chapter . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + +As pipe writes the message, the start of each line is tested for matching +, and if it does, the initial matching characters are replaced +by the contents of , provided both are set. The value of + is a literal string, not a regular expression, and the case of +any letters it contains is significant. When is set, the contents +of and are forced to values that implement +the SMTP escaping protocol. Any settings made in the configuration file are +ignored. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option need not be set when pipe is being used to deliver to pipes +obtained directly from address redirections. In other cases, the option must be +set, to provide a command to be run. It need not yield an absolute path (see +the option below). The command is split up into separate arguments by +Exim, and each argument is separately expanded, as described in section + above. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +pipe transport +environment for command + + +environment +pipe transport + +This option is used to add additional variables to the environment in which the +command runs (see section for the default list). Its value is +a string which is expanded, and then interpreted as a colon-separated list of +environment settings of the form <name>=<value>. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + +See above. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +exec failure + + +failure of exec + + +pipe transport +failure of exec + +Failure to exec the command in a pipe transport is by default treated like +any other failure while running the command. However, if +is set, failure to exec is treated specially, and causes the message to be +frozen, whatever the setting of . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +signal exit + + +pipe transport +, + +Normally if the process run by a command in a pipe transport exits on a signal, +a bounce message is sent. If is set, the message will be +frozen in Exim’s queue instead. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +force command + + +pipe transport +, + +Normally when a router redirects an address directly to a pipe command +the option on the transport is ignored. If +is set, the option will used. This is especially +useful for forcing a wrapper or additional argument to be added to the +command. For example: + + +command = /usr/bin/remote_exec myhost -- $address_pipe +force_command + + +Note that $address_pipe is handled specially in when + is set, expanding out to the original argument vector as +separate items, similarly to a Unix shell "$@" construct. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If this option is true, the status returned by the subprocess that is set up to +run the command is ignored, and Exim behaves as if zero had been returned. +Otherwise, a non-zero status or termination by signal causes an error return +from the transport unless the status value is one of those listed in +; these cause the delivery to be deferred and tried again later. + + +Note: This option does not apply to timeouts, which do not return a status. +See the option for how timeouts are handled. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +pipe transport +logging output + +If this option is set, and the status returned by the command is +one of the codes listed in (that is, delivery was deferred), +and any output was produced on stdout or stderr, the first line of it is +written to the main log. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If this option is set, and the command returns any output on stdout or +stderr, and also ends with a return code that is neither zero nor one of +the return codes listed in (that is, the delivery +failed), the first line of output is written to the main log. This +option and are mutually exclusive. Only one of them may +be set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If this option is set and the command returns any output on stdout or +stderr, the first line of output is written to the main log, whatever +the return code. This option and are mutually +exclusive. Only one of them may be set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: integer +Default: 20K + + + + + +This specifies the maximum amount of output that the command may produce on its +standard output and standard error file combined. If the limit is exceeded, the +process running the command is killed. This is intended as a safety measure to +catch runaway processes. The limit is applied independently of the settings of +the options that control what is done with such output (for example, +). Because of buffering effects, the amount of output may +exceed the limit by a small amount before Exim notices. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: string† +Default: see below + + + + + +The string specified here is expanded and output at the start of every message. +The default is unset if is set. Otherwise it is + + +message_prefix = \ + From ${if def:return_path{$return_path}{MAILER-DAEMON}}\ + ${tod_bsdinbox}\n + + + +Cyrus + + + + + +From line + +This is required by the commonly used /usr/bin/vacation program. +However, it must not be present if delivery is to the Cyrus IMAP server, +or to the local delivery agent. The prefix can be suppressed by +setting + + +message_prefix = + + +Note: If you set true, you must change any occurrences of +\n to \r\n in . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: string† +Default: see below + + + + + +The string specified here is expanded and output at the end of every message. +The default is unset if is set. Otherwise it is a single newline. +The suffix can be suppressed by setting + + +message_suffix = + + +Note: If you set true, you must change any occurrences of +\n to \r\n in . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: string† +Default: /bin:/usr/bin + + + + + +This option is expanded and +specifies the string that is set up in the PATH environment +variable of the subprocess. +If the option does not yield an absolute path name, the command is +sought in the PATH directories, in the usual way. Warning: This does not +apply to a command specified as a transport filter. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +Normally Exim inhibits core-dumps during delivery. If you have a need to get +a core-dump of a pipe command, enable this command. This enables core-dumps +during delivery and affects both the Exim binary and the pipe command run. +It is recommended that this option remain off unless and until you have a need +for it and that this only be enabled when needed, as the risk of excessive +resource consumption can be quite high. Note also that Exim is typically +installed as a setuid binary and most operating systems will inhibit coredumps +of these by default, so further OS-specific action may be required. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +uid (user id) +local delivery + +If the generic option is not set and this option is true, the delivery +process is run under the uid that was in force when Exim was originally called +to accept the message. If the group id is not otherwise set (via the generic + option), the gid that was in force when Exim was originally called to +accept the message is used. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +When this option is set, any command name not listed in must +contain no slashes. The command is searched for only in the directories listed +in the option. This option is intended for use in the case when a pipe +command has been generated from a user’s .forward file. This is usually +handled by a pipe transport called . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If this option is true, and the command produced any output and ended with a +return code other than zero or one of the codes listed in (that +is, the delivery failed), the output is returned in the bounce message. +However, if the message has a null sender (that is, it is itself a bounce +message), output from the command is discarded. This option and + are mutually exclusive. Only one of them may be set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If this option is true, and the command produced any output, the delivery is +deemed to have failed whatever the return code from the command, and the output +is returned in the bounce message. Otherwise, the output is just discarded. +However, if the message has a null sender (that is, it is a bounce message), +output from the command is always discarded, whatever the setting of this +option. This option and are mutually exclusive. Only one +of them may be set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: string list +Default: see below + + + + + + +pipe transport +temporary failure + +This option contains either a colon-separated list of numbers, or a single +asterisk. If is false +and is not set, +and the command exits with a non-zero return code, the failure is treated as +temporary and the delivery is deferred if the return code matches one of the +numbers, or if the setting is a single asterisk. Otherwise, non-zero return +codes are treated as permanent errors. The default setting contains the codes +defined by EX_TEMPFAIL and EX_CANTCREAT in sysexits.h. If Exim is +compiled on a system that does not define these macros, it assumes values of 75 +and 73, respectively. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: time +Default: 1h + + + + + +If the command fails to complete within this time, it is killed. This normally +causes the delivery to fail (but see ). A zero time interval +specifies no timeout. In order to ensure that any subprocesses created by the +command are also killed, Exim makes the initial process a process group leader, +and kills the whole process group on a timeout. However, this can be defeated +if one of the processes starts a new process group. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +A timeout in a pipe transport, either in the command that the transport +runs, or in a transport filter that is associated with it, is by default +treated as a hard error, and the delivery fails. However, if +is set true, both kinds of timeout become temporary errors, causing the +delivery to be deferred. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: octal integer +Default: 022 + + + + + +This specifies the umask setting for the subprocess that runs the command. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +envelope sender + +If this option is set true, the pipe transport writes messages in batch +SMTP format, with the envelope sender and recipient(s) included as SMTP +commands. If you want to include a leading HELO command with such messages, +you can do so by setting the option. See section + for details of batch SMTP. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +class resources (BSD) + +This option is available only when Exim is running on FreeBSD, NetBSD, or +BSD/OS. If it is set true, the setclassresources() function is used to set +resource limits when a pipe transport is run to perform a delivery. The +limits for the uid under which the pipe is to run are obtained from the login +class database. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +carriage return + + +linefeed + +This option causes lines to be terminated with the two-character CRLF sequence +(carriage return, linefeed) instead of just a linefeed character. In the case +of batched SMTP, the byte sequence written to the pipe is then an exact image +of what would be sent down a real SMTP connection. + + +The contents of the and options are +written verbatim, so must contain their own carriage return characters if these +are needed. When is not set, the default values for both + and end with a single linefeed, so their +values must be changed to end with \r\n if is set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: pipe +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +$pipe_addresses + +If this option is set, it causes the command to be passed to /bin/sh +instead of being run directly from the transport, as described in section +. This is less secure, but is needed in some situations +where the command is expected to be run under a shell and cannot easily be +modified. The and options, and the +$pipe_addresses facility are incompatible with . The +command is expanded as a single string, and handed to /bin/sh as data for +its option. + +
+
+Using an external local delivery agent + + +local delivery +using an external agent + + +procmail + + +external local delivery + + +delivery +procmail + + +delivery +by external agent + +The pipe transport can be used to pass all messages that require local +delivery to a separate local delivery agent such as . When doing +this, care must be taken to ensure that the pipe is run under an appropriate +uid and gid. In some configurations one wants this to be a uid that is trusted +by the delivery agent to supply the correct sender of the message. It may be +necessary to recompile or reconfigure the delivery agent so that it trusts an +appropriate user. The following is an example transport and router +configuration for : + + +# transport +procmail_pipe: + driver = pipe + command = /usr/local/bin/procmail -d $local_part + return_path_add + delivery_date_add + envelope_to_add + check_string = "From " + escape_string = ">From " + umask = 077 + user = $local_part + group = mail + +# router +procmail: + driver = accept + check_local_user + transport = procmail_pipe + + +In this example, the pipe is run as the local user, but with the group set to +mail. An alternative is to run the pipe as a specific user such as mail +or exim, but in this case you must arrange for to trust that +user to supply a correct sender address. If you do not specify either a + or a option, the pipe command is run as the local user. The +home directory is the user’s home directory by default. + + +Note: The command that the pipe transport runs does not begin with + + +IFS=" " + + +as shown in some documentation, because Exim does not by default +use a shell to run pipe commands. + + + +Cyrus + +The next example shows a transport and a router for a system where local +deliveries are handled by the Cyrus IMAP server. + + +# transport +local_delivery_cyrus: + driver = pipe + command = /usr/cyrus/bin/deliver \ + -m ${substr_1:$local_part_suffix} -- $local_part + user = cyrus + group = mail + return_output + log_output + message_prefix = + message_suffix = + +# router +local_user_cyrus: + driver = accept + check_local_user + local_part_suffix = .* + transport = local_delivery_cyrus + + +Note the unsetting of and , and the use of + to cause any text written by Cyrus to be returned to the +sender. + + + +
+ + + +The smtp transport + + +transports +smtp + + +smtp transport + +The smtp transport delivers messages over TCP/IP connections using the SMTP +or LMTP protocol. The list of hosts to try can either be taken from the address +that is being processed (having been set up by the router), or specified +explicitly for the transport. Timeout and retry processing (see chapter +) is applied to each IP address independently. + +
+Multiple messages on a single connection + +The sending of multiple messages over a single TCP/IP connection can arise in +two ways: + + + + +If a message contains more than (see below) addresses that are +routed to the same host, more than one copy of the message has to be sent to +that host. In this situation, multiple copies may be sent in a single run of +the smtp transport over a single TCP/IP connection. (What Exim actually +does when it has too many addresses to send in one message also depends on the +value of the global option. Details are given in +section .) + + + + + +hints database +remembering routing + +When a message has been successfully delivered over a TCP/IP connection, Exim +looks in its hints database to see if there are any other messages awaiting a +connection to the same host. If there are, a new delivery process is started +for one of them, and the current TCP/IP connection is passed on to it. The new +process may in turn send multiple copies and possibly create yet another +process. + + + + +For each copy sent over the same TCP/IP connection, a sequence counter is +incremented, and if it ever gets to the value of , +no further messages are sent over that connection. + +
+
+Use of the $host and $host_address variables + + +$host + + +$host_address + +At the start of a run of the smtp transport, the values of $host and +$host_address are the name and IP address of the first host on the host list +passed by the router. However, when the transport is about to connect to a +specific host, and while it is connected to that host, $host and +$host_address are set to the values for that host. These are the values +that are in force when the , , , +, and the various TLS options are expanded. + +
+
+Use of $tls_cipher and $tls_peerdn + + +$tls_bits + + +$tls_cipher + + +$tls_peerdn + + +$tls_sni + +At the start of a run of the smtp transport, the values of $tls_bits, +$tls_cipher, $tls_peerdn and $tls_sni +are the values that were set when the message was received. +These are the values that are used for options that are expanded before any +SMTP connections are made. Just before each connection is made, these four +variables are emptied. If TLS is subsequently started, they are set to the +appropriate values for the outgoing connection, and these are the values that +are in force when any authenticators are run and when the + option is expanded. + + +These variables are deprecated in favour of $tls_in_cipher et. al. +and will be removed in a future release. + +
+
+Private options for smtp + + +options +smtp transport + +The private options of the smtp transport are as follows: + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +4xx responses +retrying after + +When an address is delayed because of a 4xx response to a RCPT command, it +is the combination of sender and recipient that is delayed in subsequent queue +runs until the retry time is reached. You can delay the recipient without +reference to the sender (which is what earlier versions of Exim did), by +setting false. However, this can lead to +problems with servers that regularly issue 4xx responses to RCPT commands. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +local host +sending to + + +fallback +hosts specified on transport + +When a host specified in or (see below) turns out +to be the local host, or is listed in , delivery is +deferred by default. However, if is set, Exim goes on to do +the delivery anyway. This should be used only in special cases when the +configuration ensures that no looping will result (for example, a differently +configured Exim is listening on the port to which the message is sent). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +Cyrus + +When Exim has authenticated as a client, or if +is true, this option sets a value for the AUTH= item on outgoing MAIL commands, +overriding any existing authenticated sender value. If the string expansion is +forced to fail, the option is ignored. Other expansion failures cause delivery +to be deferred. If the result of expansion is an empty string, that is also +ignored. + + +The expansion happens after the outgoing connection has been made and TLS +started, if required. This means that the $host, $host_address, +$tls_out_cipher, and $tls_out_peerdn variables are set according to the +particular connection. + + +If the SMTP session is not authenticated, the expansion of + still happens (and can cause the delivery to be +deferred if it fails), but no AUTH= item is added to MAIL commands +unless is true. + + +This option allows you to use the smtp transport in LMTP mode to +deliver mail to Cyrus IMAP and provide the proper local part as the +authenticated sender, via a setting such as: + + +authenticated_sender = $local_part + + +This removes the need for IMAP subfolders to be assigned special ACLs to +allow direct delivery to those subfolders. + + +Because of expected uses such as that just described for Cyrus (when no +domain is involved), there is no checking on the syntax of the provided +value. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If this option is set true, the option’s value +is used for the AUTH= item on outgoing MAIL commands, even if Exim has not +authenticated as a client. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: time +Default: 5m + + + + + +This sets a timeout for receiving a response to an SMTP command that has been +sent out. It is also used when waiting for the initial banner line from the +remote host. Its value must not be zero. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: time +Default: 5m + + + + + +This sets a timeout for the connect() function, which sets up a TCP/IP call +to a remote host. A setting of zero allows the system timeout (typically +several minutes) to act. To have any effect, the value of this option must be +less than the system timeout. However, it has been observed that on some +systems there is no system timeout, which is why the default value for this +option is 5 minutes, a value recommended by RFC 1123. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: integer +Default: 500 + + + + + + +SMTP +passed connection + + +SMTP +multiple deliveries + + +multiple SMTP deliveries + +This controls the maximum number of separate message deliveries that are sent +over a single TCP/IP connection. If the value is zero, there is no limit. +For testing purposes, this value can be overridden by the command line +option. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +TLS +requiring specific ciphers for DANE + + +cipher +requiring specific + + +DANE +TLS ciphers + +This option may be used to override for connections +where DANE has been determined to be in effect. +If not set, then will be used. +Normal SMTP delivery is not able to make strong demands of TLS cipher +configuration, because delivery will fall back to plaintext. Once DANE has +been determined to be in effect, there is no plaintext fallback and making the +TLS cipherlist configuration stronger will increase security, rather than +counter-intuitively decreasing it. +If the option expands to be empty or is forced to fail, then it will +be treated as unset and will be used instead. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: time +Default: 5m + + + + + +This sets a timeout for the transmission of each block in the data portion of +the message. As a result, the overall timeout for a message depends on the size +of the message. Its value must not be zero. See also . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string +Default: list† + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: sha256 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: per RFC + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +DKIM signing options. For details see section . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +final cutoff +retries, controlling + + +retry +final cutoff + +This option controls what happens when all remote IP addresses for a given +domain have been inaccessible for so long that they have passed their retry +cutoff times. + + +In the default state, if the next retry time has not been reached for any of +them, the address is bounced without trying any deliveries. In other words, +Exim delays retrying an IP address after the final cutoff time until a new +retry time is reached, and can therefore bounce an address without ever trying +a delivery, when machines have been down for a long time. Some people are +unhappy at this prospect, so... + + +If is set false, Exim behaves differently. If all IP +addresses are past their final cutoff time, Exim tries to deliver to those +IP addresses that have not been tried since the message arrived. If there are +none, of if they all fail, the address is bounced. In other words, it does not +delay when a new message arrives, but immediately tries those expired IP +addresses that haven’t been tried since the message arrived. If there is a +continuous stream of messages for the dead hosts, unsetting + means that there will be many more attempts to deliver +to them. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + +If the or option is being used, +and the option is false, +the RES_DEFNAMES resolver option is set. See the option +in chapter for more details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If the or option is being used, and the + option is false, the RES_DNSRCH resolver option is set. +See the option in chapter for more +details. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: domain list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +MX record +security + + +DNSSEC +MX lookup + + +security +MX lookup + + +DNS +DNSSEC + +DNS lookups for domains matching will be done with +the dnssec request bit set. +This applies to all of the SRV, MX, AAAA, A lookup sequence. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: domain list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +MX record +security + + +DNSSEC +MX lookup + + +security +MX lookup + + +DNS +DNSSEC + +DNS lookups for domains matching will be done with +the dnssec request bit set. Any returns not having the Authenticated Data bit +(AD bit) set will be ignored and logged as a host-lookup failure. +This applies to all of the SRV, MX, AAAA, A lookup sequence. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +DCSP +outbound + +This option causes the DSCP value associated with a socket to be set to one +of a number of fixed strings or to numeric value. +The option may be used to ask Exim which names it knows of. +Common values include throughput, mincost, and on newer systems +ef, af41, etc. Numeric values may be in the range 0 to 0x3F. + + +The outbound packets from Exim will be marked with this value in the header +(for IPv4, the TOS field; for IPv6, the TCLASS field); there is no guarantee +that these values will have any effect, not be stripped by networking +equipment, or do much of anything without cooperation with your Network +Engineer and those of all network operators between the source and destination. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string list +Default: unset + + + + + + +fallback +hosts specified on transport + +String expansion is not applied to this option. The argument must be a +colon-separated list of host names or IP addresses, optionally also including +port numbers, though the separator can be changed, as described in section +. Each individual item in the list is the same as an +item in a setting for the manualroute router, as described +in section . + + +Fallback hosts can also be specified on routers, which associate them with the +addresses they process. As for the option without , + specified on the transport is used only if the address does +not have its own associated fallback host list. Unlike , a setting of + on an address is not overridden by . +However, does apply to fallback host lists. + + +If Exim is unable to deliver to any of the hosts for a particular address, and +the errors are not permanent rejections, the address is put on a separate +transport queue with its host list replaced by the fallback hosts, unless the +address was routed via MX records and the current host was in the original MX +list. In that situation, the fallback host list is not used. + + +Once normal deliveries are complete, the fallback queue is delivered by +re-running the same transports with the new host lists. If several failing +addresses have the same fallback hosts (and permits it), a single +copy of the message is sent. + + +The resolution of the host names on the fallback list is controlled by the + option, as for the option. Fallback hosts apply +both to cases when the host list comes with the address and when it is taken +from . This option provides a use a smart host only if delivery +fails facility. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: time +Default: 10m + + + + + +This is the timeout that applies while waiting for the response to the final +line containing just . that terminates a message. Its value must not be +zero. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If this option is true when the and/or options are +being used, names are looked up using gethostbyname() +(or getipnodebyname() when available) +instead of using the DNS. Of course, that function may in fact use the DNS, but +it may also consult other sources of information such as /etc/hosts. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: boolean +Default: unset + + + + + +This option controls whether GnuTLS is used in compatibility mode in an Exim +server. This reduces security slightly, but improves interworking with older +implementations of TLS. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: see below + + + + + + +HELO +argument, setting + + +EHLO +argument, setting + + +LHLO argument setting + +The value of this option is expanded after a connection to a another host has +been set up. The result is used as the argument for the EHLO, HELO, or LHLO +command that starts the outgoing SMTP or LMTP session. The default value of the +option is: + + +$primary_hostname + + +During the expansion, the variables $host and $host_address are set to +the identity of the remote host, and the variables $sending_ip_address and +$sending_port are set to the local IP address and port number that are being +used. These variables can be used to generate different values for different +servers or different local IP addresses. For example, if you want the string +that is used for to be obtained by a DNS lookup of the outgoing +interface address, you could use this: + + +helo_data = ${lookup dnsdb{ptr=$sending_ip_address}{$value}\ + {$primary_hostname}} + + +The use of applies both to sending messages and when doing +callouts. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string list† +Default: unset + + + + + +Hosts are associated with an address by a router such as dnslookup, which +finds the hosts by looking up the address domain in the DNS, or by +manualroute, which has lists of hosts in its configuration. However, +email addresses can be passed to the smtp transport by any router, and not +all of them can provide an associated list of hosts. + + +The option specifies a list of hosts to be used if the address being +processed does not have any hosts associated with it. The hosts specified by + are also used, whether or not the address has its own hosts, if + is set. + + +The string is first expanded, before being interpreted as a colon-separated +list of host names or IP addresses, possibly including port numbers. The +separator may be changed to something other than colon, as described in section +. Each individual item in the list is the same as an +item in a setting for the manualroute router, as described +in section . However, note that the /MX facility +of the manualroute router is not available here. + + +If the expansion fails, delivery is deferred. Unless the failure was caused by +the inability to complete a lookup, the error is logged to the panic log as +well as the main log. Host names are looked up either by searching directly for +address records in the DNS or by calling gethostbyname() (or +getipnodebyname() when available), depending on the setting of the + option. When Exim is compiled with IPv6 support, if a host +that is looked up in the DNS has both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, both types of +address are used. + + +During delivery, the hosts are tried in order, subject to their retry status, +unless is set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +ESMTP, avoiding use of + + +HELO +forcing use of + + +EHLO +avoiding use of + + +PIPELINING +avoiding the use of + +This option is for use with broken hosts that announce ESMTP facilities (for +example, PIPELINING) and then fail to implement them properly. When a host +matches , Exim sends HELO rather than EHLO at the +start of the SMTP session. This means that it cannot use any of the ESMTP +facilities such as AUTH, PIPELINING, SIZE, and STARTTLS. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +PIPELINING +avoiding the use of + +Exim will not use the SMTP PIPELINING extension when delivering to any host +that matches this list, even if the server host advertises PIPELINING support. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +TLS +avoiding for certain hosts + +Exim will not try to start a TLS session when delivering to any host that +matches this list. See chapter for details of TLS. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +TLS +avoiding for certain hosts + +Exim will not try to start a TLS session for a verify callout, +or when delivering in cutthrough mode, +to any host that matches this list. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: integer +Default: 5 + + + + + + +host +maximum number to try + + +limit +number of hosts tried + + +limit +number of MX tried + + +MX record +maximum tried + +This option limits the number of IP addresses that are tried for any one +delivery in cases where there are temporary delivery errors. Section + describes in detail how the value of this option is used. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: integer +Default: 50 + + + + + +This is an additional check on the maximum number of IP addresses that Exim +tries for any one delivery. Section describes its use and +why it exists. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +TLS +passing connection + + +multiple SMTP deliveries + + +TLS +multiple message deliveries + +For any host that matches this list, a connection on which a TLS session has +been started will not be passed to a new delivery process for sending another +message on the same connection. See section for an +explanation of when this might be needed. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: host list† +Default: * + + + + + + +TLS +passing connection + + +multiple SMTP deliveries + + +TLS +multiple message deliveries + +For any host that matches this list, a TLS session which has +been started will not be passed to a new delivery process for sending another +message on the same session. + + +The traditional implementation closes down TLS and re-starts it in the new +process, on the same open TCP connection, for each successive message +sent. If permitted by this option a pipe to to the new process is set up +instead, and the original process maintains the TLS connection and proxies +the SMTP connection from and to the new process and any subsequents. +The new process has no access to TLS information, so cannot include it in +logging. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If this option is set and the option is also set, any hosts that are +attached to the address are ignored, and instead the hosts specified by the + option are always used. This option does not apply to +. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +randomized host list + + +host +list of; randomized + + +fallback +randomized hosts + +If this option is set, and either the list of hosts is taken from the + or the option, or the hosts supplied by the router +were not obtained from MX records (this includes fallback hosts from the +router), and were not randomized by the router, the order of trying the hosts +is randomized each time the transport runs. Randomizing the order of a host +list can be used to do crude load sharing. + + +When is true, a host list may be split into groups whose +order is separately randomized. This makes it possible to set up MX-like +behaviour. The boundaries between groups are indicated by an item that is just ++ in the host list. For example: + + +hosts = host1:host2:host3:+:host4:host5 + + +The order of the first three hosts and the order of the last two hosts is +randomized for each use, but the first three always end up before the last two. +If is not set, a + item in the list is ignored. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +authentication +required by client + +This option provides a list of servers for which authentication must succeed +before Exim will try to transfer a message. If authentication fails for +servers which are not in this list, Exim tries to send unauthenticated. If +authentication fails for one of these servers, delivery is deferred. This +temporary error is detectable in the retry rules, so it can be turned into a +hard failure if required. See also , and chapter + for details of authentication. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: host list† +Default: * + + + + + + +TLS +requiring for certain servers + +Exim will request a Certificate Status on a +TLS session for any host that matches this list. + should also be set for the transport. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +DANE +transport options + + +DANE +requiring for certain servers + +If built with DANE support, Exim will require that a DNSSEC-validated +TLSA record is present for any host matching the list, +and that a DANE-verified TLS connection is made. +There will be no fallback to in-clear communication. +See section . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +TLS +requiring for certain servers + +Exim will request, and check for a valid Certificate Status being given, on a +TLS session for any host that matches this list. + should also be set for the transport. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +TLS +requiring for certain servers + +Exim will insist on using a TLS session when delivering to any host that +matches this list. See chapter for details of TLS. +Note: This option affects outgoing mail only. To insist on TLS for +incoming messages, use an appropriate ACL. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +authentication +optional in client + +This option provides a list of servers to which, provided they announce +authentication support, Exim will attempt to authenticate as a client when it +connects. If authentication fails, Exim will try to transfer the message +unauthenticated. See also , and chapter + for details of authentication. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: host list† +Default: * + + + + + + +CHUNKING +enabling, in client + + +BDAT +SMTP command + + +RFC 3030 +CHUNKING + +This option provides a list of servers to which, provided they announce +CHUNKING support, Exim will attempt to use BDAT commands rather than DATA. +BDAT will not be used in conjunction with a transport filter. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +DANE +transport options + + +DANE +attempting for certain servers + +If built with DANE support, Exim will lookup a +TLSA record for any host matching the list. +If found and verified by DNSSEC, +a DANE-verified TLS connection is made to that host; +there will be no fallback to in-clear communication. +See section . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +fast open, TCP +enabling, in client + + +TCP Fast Open +enabling, in client + + +RFC 7413 +TCP Fast Open + +This option provides a list of servers to which, provided +the facility is supported by this system, Exim will attempt to +perform a TCP Fast Open. +No data is sent on the SYN segment but, if the remote server also +supports the facility, it can send its SMTP banner immediately after +the SYN,ACK segment. This can save up to one round-trip time. + + +The facility is only active for previously-contacted servers, +as the initiator must present a cookie in the SYN segment. + + +On (at least some) current Linux distributions the facility must be enabled +in the kernel by the sysadmin before the support is usable. +There is no option for control of the server side; if the system supports +it it is always enabled. Note that lengthy operations in the connect ACL, +such as DNSBL lookups, will still delay the emission of the SMTP banner. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: host list† +Default: * + + + + + + +PRDR +enabling, optional in client + +This option provides a list of servers to which, provided they announce +PRDR support, Exim will attempt to negotiate PRDR +for multi-recipient messages. +The option can usually be left as default. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +bind IP address + + +IP address +binding + + +$host + + +$host_address + +This option specifies which interface to bind to when making an outgoing SMTP +call. The value is an IP address, not an interface name such as +eth0. Do not confuse this with the interface address that was used when a +message was received, which is in $received_ip_address, formerly known as +$interface_address. The name was changed to minimize confusion with the +outgoing interface address. There is no variable that contains an outgoing +interface address because, unless it is set by this option, its value is +unknown. + + +During the expansion of the option the variables $host and +$host_address refer to the host to which a connection is about to be made +during the expansion of the string. Forced expansion failure, or an empty +string result causes the option to be ignored. Otherwise, after expansion, the +string must be a list of IP addresses, colon-separated by default, but the +separator can be changed in the usual way (). +For example: + + +interface = <; 192.168.123.123 ; 3ffe:ffff:836f::fe86:a061 + + +The first interface of the correct type (IPv4 or IPv6) is used for the outgoing +connection. If none of them are the correct type, the option is ignored. If + is not set, or is ignored, the system’s IP functions choose which +interface to use if the host has more than one. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +keepalive +on outgoing connection + +This option controls the setting of SO_KEEPALIVE on outgoing TCP/IP socket +connections. When set, it causes the kernel to probe idle connections +periodically, by sending packets with old sequence numbers. The other end +of the connection should send a acknowledgment if the connection is still okay +or a reset if the connection has been aborted. The reason for doing this is +that it has the beneficial effect of freeing up certain types of connection +that can get stuck when the remote host is disconnected without tidying up the +TCP/IP call properly. The keepalive mechanism takes several hours to detect +unreachable hosts. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + + +LMTP +ignoring quota errors + +If this option is set true when the option is set to lmtp, the +string IGNOREQUOTA is added to RCPT commands, provided that the LMTP server +has advertised support for IGNOREQUOTA in its response to the LHLO command. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: integer +Default: 100 + + + + + + +RCPT +maximum number of outgoing + +This option limits the number of RCPT commands that are sent in a single +SMTP message transaction. Each set of addresses is treated independently, and +so can cause parallel connections to the same host if +permits this. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: boolean† +Default: true + + + + + + +$domain + +When this option is set, the smtp transport can handle a number of +addresses containing a mixture of different domains provided they all resolve +to the same list of hosts. Turning the option off restricts the transport to +handling only one domain at a time. This is useful if you want to use +$domain in an expansion for the transport, because it is set only when there +is a single domain involved in a remote delivery. + + +It is expanded per-address and can depend on any of +$address_data, $domain_data, $local_part_data, +$host, $host_address and $host_port. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: see below + + + + + + +port +sending TCP/IP + + +TCP/IP +setting outgoing port + +This option specifies the TCP/IP port on the server to which Exim connects. +Note: Do not confuse this with the port that was used when a message was +received, which is in $received_port, formerly known as $interface_port. +The name was changed to minimize confusion with the outgoing port. There is no +variable that contains an outgoing port. + + +If the value of this option begins with a digit it is taken as a port number; +otherwise it is looked up using getservbyname(). The default value is +normally smtp, +but if is set to lmtp the default is lmtp +and if is set to smtps the default is smtps. +If the expansion fails, or if a port number cannot be found, delivery +is deferred. + + +Note that at least one Linux distribution has been seen failing +to put smtps in its /etc/services file, resulting is such deferrals. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string +Default: smtp + + + + + + +LMTP +over TCP/IP + + +ssmtp protocol +outbound + + +TLS +SSL-on-connect outbound + + +$port + +If this option is set to lmtp instead of smtp, the default value for +the option changes to lmtp, and the transport operates the LMTP +protocol (RFC 2033) instead of SMTP. This protocol is sometimes used for local +deliveries into closed message stores. Exim also has support for running LMTP +over a pipe to a local process – see chapter . + + +If this option is set to smtps, the default value for the option +changes to smtps, and the transport initiates TLS immediately after +connecting, as an outbound SSL-on-connect, instead of using STARTTLS to upgrade. + + +The Internet standards bodies used to strongly discourage use of this mode, +but as of RFC 8314 it is perferred over STARTTLS for message submission +(as distinct from MTA-MTA communication). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: boolean† +Default: true + + + + + +Exim normally includes both the host name and the IP address in the key it +constructs for indexing retry data after a temporary delivery failure. This +means that when one of several IP addresses for a host is failing, it gets +tried periodically (controlled by the retry rules), but use of the other IP +addresses is not affected. + + +However, in some dialup environments hosts are assigned a different IP address +each time they connect. In this situation the use of the IP address as part of +the retry key leads to undesirable behaviour. Setting this option false causes +Exim to use only the host name. +Since it is expanded it can be made to depend on the host or domain. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +serializing connections + + +host +serializing connections + +Because Exim operates in a distributed manner, if several messages for the same +host arrive at around the same time, more than one simultaneous connection to +the remote host can occur. This is not usually a problem except when there is a +slow link between the hosts. In that situation it may be helpful to restrict +Exim to one connection at a time. This can be done by setting + to match the relevant hosts. + + + +hints database +serializing deliveries to a host + +Exim implements serialization by means of a hints database in which a record is +written whenever a process connects to one of the restricted hosts. The record +is deleted when the connection is completed. Obviously there is scope for +records to get left lying around if there is a system or program crash. To +guard against this, Exim ignores any records that are more than six hours old. + + +If you set up this kind of serialization, you should also arrange to delete the +relevant hints database whenever your system reboots. The names of the files +start with misc and they are kept in the spool/db directory. There +may be one or two files, depending on the type of DBM in use. The same files +are used for ETRN serialization. + + +See also the generic transport option. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: integer +Default: 1024 + + + + + + +SMTP +SIZE + + +message +size issue for transport filter + + +size +of message + + +transport +filter + + +filter +transport filter + +If a remote SMTP server indicates that it supports the SIZE option of the +MAIL command, Exim uses this to pass over the message size at the start of +an SMTP transaction. It adds the value of to the value it +sends, to allow for headers and other text that may be added during delivery by +configuration options or in a transport filter. It may be necessary to increase +this if a lot of text is added to messages. + + +Alternatively, if the value of is set negative, it disables +the use of the SIZE option altogether. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +proxy +SOCKS + +This option enables use of SOCKS proxies for connections made by the +transport. For details see section . + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +TLS +client certificate, location of + + +certificate +client, location of + + +$host + + +$host_address + +The value of this option must be the absolute path to a file which contains the +client’s certificate, for possible use when sending a message over an encrypted +connection. The values of $host and $host_address are set to the name and +address of the server during the expansion. See chapter for +details of TLS. + + +Note: This option must be set if you want Exim to be able to use a TLS +certificate when sending messages as a client. The global option of the same +name specifies the certificate for Exim as a server; it is not automatically +assumed that the same certificate should be used when Exim is operating as a +client. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +TLS +client certificate revocation list + + +certificate +revocation list for client + +This option specifies a certificate revocation list. The expanded value must +be the name of a file that contains a CRL in PEM format. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: integer +Default: 1024 + + + + + + +TLS +Diffie-Hellman minimum acceptable size + +When establishing a TLS session, if a ciphersuite which uses Diffie-Hellman +key agreement is negotiated, the server will provide a large prime number +for use. This option establishes the minimum acceptable size of that number. +If the parameter offered by the server is too small, then the TLS handshake +will fail. + + +Only supported when using GnuTLS. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +TLS +client private key, location of + + +$host + + +$host_address + +The value of this option must be the absolute path to a file which contains the +client’s private key. This is used when sending a message over an encrypted +connection using a client certificate. The values of $host and +$host_address are set to the name and address of the server during the +expansion. If this option is unset, or the expansion is forced to fail, or the +result is an empty string, the private key is assumed to be in the same file as +the certificate. See chapter for details of TLS. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +TLS +requiring specific ciphers + + +cipher +requiring specific + + +$host + + +$host_address + +The value of this option must be a list of permitted cipher suites, for use +when setting up an outgoing encrypted connection. (There is a global option of +the same name for controlling incoming connections.) The values of $host and +$host_address are set to the name and address of the server during the +expansion. See chapter for details of TLS; note that this option +is used in different ways by OpenSSL and GnuTLS (see sections + and ). For GnuTLS, the order of the +ciphers is a preference order. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +TLS +Server Name Indication + + +$tls_sni + +If this option is set then it sets the $tls_out_sni variable and causes any +TLS session to pass this value as the Server Name Indication extension to +the remote side, which can be used by the remote side to select an appropriate +certificate and private key for the session. + + +See for more information. + + +Note that for OpenSSL, this feature requires a build of OpenSSL that supports +TLS extensions. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: boolean +Default: true + + + + + + +4xx responses +to STARTTLS + +When the server host is not in , and there is a problem in +setting up a TLS session, this option determines whether or not Exim should try +to deliver the message unencrypted. If it is set false, delivery to the +current host is deferred; if there are other hosts, they are tried. If this +option is set true, Exim attempts to deliver unencrypted after a 4xx +response to STARTTLS. Also, if STARTTLS is accepted, but the subsequent +TLS negotiation fails, Exim closes the current connection (because it is in an +unknown state), opens a new one to the same host, and then tries the delivery +in clear. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: host list† +Default: * + + + + + + +TLS +server certificate verification + + +certificate +verification of server + +This option gives a list of hosts for which, on encrypted connections, +certificate verification will be tried but need not succeed. +The option must also be set. +Note that unless the host is in this list +TLS connections will be denied to hosts using self-signed certificates +when is matched. +The $tls_out_certificate_verified variable is set when +certificate verification succeeds. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: host list† +Default: * + + + + + + +TLS +server certificate hostname verification + + +certificate +verification of server + +This option give a list of hosts for which, +while verifying the server certificate, +checks will be included on the host name +(note that this will generally be the result of a DNS MX lookup) +versus Subject and Subject-Alternate-Name fields. Wildcard names are permitted +limited to being the initial component of a 3-or-more component FQDN. + + +There is no equivalent checking on client certificates. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: system + + + + + + +TLS +server certificate verification + + +certificate +verification of server + + +$host + + +$host_address + +The value of this option must be either the +word "system" +or the absolute path to +a file or directory containing permitted certificates for servers, +for use when setting up an encrypted connection. + + +The "system" value for the option will use a location compiled into the SSL library. +This is not available for GnuTLS versions preceding 3.0.20; a value of "system" +is taken as empty and an explicit location +must be specified. + + +The use of a directory for the option value is not available for GnuTLS versions +preceding 3.3.6 and a single file must be used. + + +With OpenSSL the certificates specified +explicitly +either by file or directory +are added to those given by the system default location. + + +The values of $host and +$host_address are set to the name and address of the server during the +expansion of this option. See chapter for details of TLS. + + +For back-compatibility, +if neither tls_verify_hosts nor tls_try_verify_hosts are set +(a single-colon empty list counts as being set) +and certificate verification fails the TLS connection is closed. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: host list† +Default: unset + + + + + + +TLS +server certificate verification + + +certificate +verification of server + +This option gives a list of hosts for which, on encrypted connections, +certificate verification must succeed. +The option must also be set. +If both this option and are unset +operation is as if this option selected all hosts. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: integer!! +Default: unset + + + + + + +utf8 +address downconversion + + +i18n +utf8 address downconversion + +If built with internationalization support, +this option controls conversion of UTF-8 in message addresses +to a-label form. +For details see section . + +
+
+How the limits for the number of hosts to try are used + + +host +maximum number to try + + +limit +hosts; maximum number tried + +There are two options that are concerned with the number of hosts that are +tried when an SMTP delivery takes place. They are and +. + + +The option limits the number of hosts that are tried +for a single delivery. However, despite the term host in its name, the +option actually applies to each IP address independently. In other words, a +multihomed host is treated as several independent hosts, just as it is for +retrying. + + +Many of the larger ISPs have multiple MX records which often point to +multihomed hosts. As a result, a list of a dozen or more IP addresses may be +created as a result of routing one of these domains. + + +Trying every single IP address on such a long list does not seem sensible; if +several at the top of the list fail, it is reasonable to assume there is some +problem that is likely to affect all of them. Roughly speaking, the value of + is the maximum number that are tried before deferring the +delivery. However, the logic cannot be quite that simple. + + +Firstly, IP addresses that are skipped because their retry times have not +arrived do not count, and in addition, addresses that are past their retry +limits are also not counted, even when they are tried. This means that when +some IP addresses are past their retry limits, more than the value of + may be tried. The reason for this behaviour is to ensure +that all IP addresses are considered before timing out an email address (but +see below for an exception). + + +Secondly, when the limit is reached, Exim looks down the host +list to see if there is a subsequent host with a different (higher valued) MX. +If there is, that host is considered next, and the current IP address is used +but not counted. This behaviour helps in the case of a domain with a retry rule +that hardly ever delays any hosts, as is now explained: + + +Consider the case of a long list of hosts with one MX value, and a few with a +higher MX value. If is small (the default is 5) only a few +hosts at the top of the list are tried at first. With the default retry rule, +which specifies increasing retry times, the higher MX hosts are eventually +tried when those at the top of the list are skipped because they have not +reached their retry times. + + +However, it is common practice to put a fixed short retry time on domains for +large ISPs, on the grounds that their servers are rarely down for very long. +Unfortunately, these are exactly the domains that tend to resolve to long lists +of hosts. The short retry time means that the lowest MX hosts are tried every +time. The attempts may be in a different order because of random sorting, but +without the special MX check, the higher MX hosts would never be tried until +all the lower MX hosts had timed out (which might be several days), because +there are always some lower MX hosts that have reached their retry times. With +the special check, Exim considers at least one IP address from each MX value at +every delivery attempt, even if the limit has already been +reached. + + +The above logic means that is not a hard limit, and in +particular, Exim normally eventually tries all the IP addresses before timing +out an email address. When was implemented, this seemed a +reasonable thing to do. Recently, however, some lunatic DNS configurations have +been set up with hundreds of IP addresses for some domains. It can +take a very long time indeed for an address to time out in these cases. + + +The option was added to help with this problem. +Exim never tries more than this number of IP addresses; if it hits this limit +and they are all timed out, the email address is bounced, even though not all +possible IP addresses have been tried. + + + +
+ + + +Address rewriting + + +rewriting +addresses + +There are some circumstances in which Exim automatically rewrites domains in +addresses. The two most common are when an address is given without a domain +(referred to as an unqualified address) or when an address contains an +abbreviated domain that is expanded by DNS lookup. + + +Unqualified envelope addresses are accepted only for locally submitted +messages, or for messages that are received from hosts matching + or , as +appropriate. Unqualified addresses in header lines are qualified if they are in +locally submitted messages, or messages from hosts that are permitted to send +unqualified envelope addresses. Otherwise, unqualified addresses in header +lines are neither qualified nor rewritten. + + +One situation in which Exim does not automatically rewrite a domain is +when it is the name of a CNAME record in the DNS. The older RFCs suggest that +such a domain should be rewritten using the canonical name, and some MTAs +do this. The new RFCs do not contain this suggestion. + +
+Explicitly configured address rewriting + +This chapter describes the rewriting rules that can be used in the +main rewrite section of the configuration file, and also in the generic + option that can be set on any transport. + + +Some people believe that configured address rewriting is a Mortal Sin. +Others believe that life is not possible without it. Exim provides the +facility; you do not have to use it. + + +The main rewriting rules that appear in the rewrite section of the +configuration file are applied to addresses in incoming messages, both envelope +addresses and addresses in header lines. Each rule specifies the types of +address to which it applies. + + +Whether or not addresses in header lines are rewritten depends on the origin of +the headers and the type of rewriting. Global rewriting, that is, rewriting +rules from the rewrite section of the configuration file, is applied only to +those headers that were received with the message. Header lines that are added +by ACLs or by a system filter or by individual routers or transports (which +are specific to individual recipient addresses) are not rewritten by the global +rules. + + +Rewriting at transport time, by means of the option, +applies all headers except those added by routers and transports. That is, as +well as the headers that were received with the message, it also applies to +headers that were added by an ACL or a system filter. + + +In general, rewriting addresses from your own system or domain has some +legitimacy. Rewriting other addresses should be done only with great care and +in special circumstances. The author of Exim believes that rewriting should be +used sparingly, and mainly for regularizing addresses in your own domains. +Although it can sometimes be used as a routing tool, this is very strongly +discouraged. + + +There are two commonly encountered circumstances where rewriting is used, as +illustrated by these examples: + + + + +The company whose domain is hitch.fict.example has a number of hosts that +exchange mail with each other behind a firewall, but there is only a single +gateway to the outer world. The gateway rewrites *.hitch.fict.example as +hitch.fict.example when sending mail off-site. + + + + +A host rewrites the local parts of its own users so that, for example, +fp42@hitch.fict.example becomes Ford.Prefect@hitch.fict.example. + + + +
+
+When does rewriting happen? + + +rewriting +timing of + + +access control lists (ACLs) +rewriting addresses in + +Configured address rewriting can take place at several different stages of a +message’s processing. + + + +$sender_address + +At the start of an ACL for MAIL, the sender address may have been rewritten +by a special SMTP-time rewrite rule (see section ), but no +ordinary rewrite rules have yet been applied. If, however, the sender address +is verified in the ACL, it is rewritten before verification, and remains +rewritten thereafter. The subsequent value of $sender_address is the +rewritten address. This also applies if sender verification happens in a +RCPT ACL. Otherwise, when the sender address is not verified, it is +rewritten as soon as a message’s header lines have been received. + + + +$domain + + +$local_part + +Similarly, at the start of an ACL for RCPT, the current recipient’s address +may have been rewritten by a special SMTP-time rewrite rule, but no ordinary +rewrite rules have yet been applied to it. However, the behaviour is different +from the sender address when a recipient is verified. The address is rewritten +for the verification, but the rewriting is not remembered at this stage. The +value of $local_part and $domain after verification are always the same +as they were before (that is, they contain the unrewritten – except for +SMTP-time rewriting – address). + + +As soon as a message’s header lines have been received, all the envelope +recipient addresses are permanently rewritten, and rewriting is also applied to +the addresses in the header lines (if configured). This happens before adding +any header lines that were specified in MAIL or RCPT ACLs, and + +local_scan() function +address rewriting; timing of + +before the DATA ACL and local_scan() functions are run. + + +When an address is being routed, either for delivery or for verification, +rewriting is applied immediately to child addresses that are generated by +redirection, unless is set on the router. + + + +envelope sender +rewriting at transport time + + +rewriting +at transport time + + +header lines +rewriting at transport time + +At transport time, additional rewriting of addresses in header lines can be +specified by setting the generic option on a transport. +This option contains rules that are identical in form to those in the rewrite +section of the configuration file. They are applied to the original message +header lines and any that were added by ACLs or a system filter. They are not +applied to header lines that are added by routers or the transport. + + +The outgoing envelope sender can be rewritten by means of the +transport option. However, it is not possible to rewrite envelope recipients at +transport time. + +
+
+Testing the rewriting rules that apply on input + + +rewriting +testing + + +testing +rewriting + +Exim’s input rewriting configuration appears in a part of the runtime +configuration file headed by begin rewrite. It can be tested by the + command line option. This takes an address (which can be a full RFC +2822 address) as its argument. The output is a list of how the address would be +transformed by the rewriting rules for each of the different places it might +appear in an incoming message, that is, for each different header and for the +envelope sender and recipient fields. For example, + + +exim -brw ph10@exim.workshop.example + + +might produce the output + + +sender: Philip.Hazel@exim.workshop.example +from: Philip.Hazel@exim.workshop.example +to: ph10@exim.workshop.example +cc: ph10@exim.workshop.example +bcc: ph10@exim.workshop.example +reply-to: Philip.Hazel@exim.workshop.example +env-from: Philip.Hazel@exim.workshop.example +env-to: ph10@exim.workshop.example + + +which shows that rewriting has been set up for that address when used in any of +the source fields, but not when it appears as a recipient address. At the +present time, there is no equivalent way of testing rewriting rules that are +set for a particular transport. + +
+
+Rewriting rules + + +rewriting +rules + +The rewrite section of the configuration file consists of lines of rewriting +rules in the form + + +<source pattern> <replacement> <flags> + + +Rewriting rules that are specified for the generic +transport option are given as a colon-separated list. Each item in the list +takes the same form as a line in the main rewriting configuration (except that +any colons must be doubled, of course). + + +The formats of source patterns and replacement strings are described below. +Each is terminated by white space, unless enclosed in double quotes, in which +case normal quoting conventions apply inside the quotes. The flags are single +characters which may appear in any order. Spaces and tabs between them are +ignored. + + +For each address that could potentially be rewritten, the rules are scanned in +order, and replacements for the address from earlier rules can themselves be +replaced by later rules (but see the q and R flags). + + +The order in which addresses are rewritten is undefined, may change between +releases, and must not be relied on, with one exception: when a message is +received, the envelope sender is always rewritten first, before any header +lines are rewritten. For example, the replacement string for a rewrite of an +address in To: must not assume that the message’s address in From: has +(or has not) already been rewritten. However, a rewrite of From: may assume +that the envelope sender has already been rewritten. + + + +$domain + + +$local_part + +The variables $local_part and $domain can be used in the replacement +string to refer to the address that is being rewritten. Note that lookup-driven +rewriting can be done by a rule of the form + + +*@* ${lookup ... + + +where the lookup key uses $1 and $2 or $local_part and $domain to +refer to the address that is being rewritten. + +
+
+Rewriting patterns + + +rewriting +patterns + + +address list +in a rewriting pattern + +The source pattern in a rewriting rule is any item which may appear in an +address list (see section ). It is in fact processed as a +single-item address list, which means that it is expanded before being tested +against the address. As always, if you use a regular expression as a pattern, +you must take care to escape dollar and backslash characters, or use the \N +facility to suppress string expansion within the regular expression. + + +Domains in patterns should be given in lower case. Local parts in patterns are +case-sensitive. If you want to do case-insensitive matching of local parts, you +can use a regular expression that starts with ^(?i). + + + +numerical variables ($1 $2 etc) +in rewriting rules + +After matching, the numerical variables $1, $2, etc. may be set, +depending on the type of match which occurred. These can be used in the +replacement string to insert portions of the incoming address. $0 always +refers to the complete incoming address. When a regular expression is used, the +numerical variables are set from its capturing subexpressions. For other types +of pattern they are set as follows: + + + + +If a local part or domain starts with an asterisk, the numerical variables +refer to the character strings matched by asterisks, with $1 associated with +the first asterisk, and $2 with the second, if present. For example, if the +pattern + + +*queen@*.fict.example + + +is matched against the address hearts-queen@wonderland.fict.example then + + +$0 = hearts-queen@wonderland.fict.example +$1 = hearts- +$2 = wonderland + + +Note that if the local part does not start with an asterisk, but the domain +does, it is $1 that contains the wild part of the domain. + + + + +If the domain part of the pattern is a partial lookup, the wild and fixed parts +of the domain are placed in the next available numerical variables. Suppose, +for example, that the address foo@bar.baz.example is processed by a +rewriting rule of the form + + +*@partial-dbm;/some/dbm/file <replacement string> + + +and the key in the file that matches the domain is *.baz.example. Then + + +$1 = foo +$2 = bar +$3 = baz.example + + +If the address foo@baz.example is looked up, this matches the same +wildcard file entry, and in this case $2 is set to the empty string, but +$3 is still set to baz.example. If a non-wild key is matched in a +partial lookup, $2 is again set to the empty string and $3 is set to the +whole domain. For non-partial domain lookups, no numerical variables are set. + + + +
+
+Rewriting replacements + + +rewriting +replacements + +If the replacement string for a rule is a single asterisk, addresses that +match the pattern and the flags are not rewritten, and no subsequent +rewriting rules are scanned. For example, + + +hatta@lookingglass.fict.example * f + + +specifies that hatta@lookingglass.fict.example is never to be rewritten in +From: headers. + + + +$domain + + +$local_part + +If the replacement string is not a single asterisk, it is expanded, and must +yield a fully qualified address. Within the expansion, the variables +$local_part and $domain refer to the address that is being rewritten. +Any letters they contain retain their original case – they are not lower +cased. The numerical variables are set up according to the type of pattern that +matched the address, as described above. If the expansion is forced to fail by +the presence of fail in a conditional or lookup item, rewriting by the +current rule is abandoned, but subsequent rules may take effect. Any other +expansion failure causes the entire rewriting operation to be abandoned, and an +entry written to the panic log. + +
+
+Rewriting flags + +There are three different kinds of flag that may appear on rewriting rules: + + + + +Flags that specify which headers and envelope addresses to rewrite: E, F, T, b, +c, f, h, r, s, t. + + + + +A flag that specifies rewriting at SMTP time: S. + + + + +Flags that control the rewriting process: Q, q, R, w. + + + + +For rules that are part of the generic transport option, +E, F, T, and S are not permitted. + +
+
+Flags specifying which headers and envelope addresses to rewrite + + +rewriting +flags + +If none of the following flag letters, nor the S flag (see section +) are present, a main rewriting rule applies to all headers +and to both the sender and recipient fields of the envelope, whereas a +transport-time rewriting rule just applies to all headers. Otherwise, the +rewriting rule is skipped unless the relevant addresses are being processed. + + +E rewrite all envelope fields +F rewrite the envelope From field +T rewrite the envelope To field +b rewrite the Bcc: header +c rewrite the Cc: header +f rewrite the From: header +h rewrite all headers +r rewrite the Reply-To: header +s rewrite the Sender: header +t rewrite the To: header + + +"All headers" means all of the headers listed above that can be selected +individually, plus their Resent- versions. It does not include +other headers such as Subject: etc. + + +You should be particularly careful about rewriting Sender: headers, and +restrict this to special known cases in your own domains. + +
+
+The SMTP-time rewriting flag + + +SMTP +rewriting malformed addresses + + +RCPT +rewriting argument of + + +MAIL +rewriting argument of + +The rewrite flag S specifies a rewrite of incoming envelope addresses at +SMTP time, as soon as an address is received in a MAIL or RCPT command, and +before any other processing; even before syntax checking. The pattern is +required to be a regular expression, and it is matched against the whole of the +data for the command, including any surrounding angle brackets. + + + +$domain + + +$local_part + +This form of rewrite rule allows for the handling of addresses that are not +compliant with RFCs 2821 and 2822 (for example, bang paths in batched SMTP +input). Because the input is not required to be a syntactically valid address, +the variables $local_part and $domain are not available during the +expansion of the replacement string. The result of rewriting replaces the +original address in the MAIL or RCPT command. + +
+
+Flags controlling the rewriting process + +There are four flags which control the way the rewriting process works. These +take effect only when a rule is invoked, that is, when the address is of the +correct type (matches the flags) and matches the pattern: + + + + +If the Q flag is set on a rule, the rewritten address is permitted to be an +unqualified local part. It is qualified with . In the +absence of Q the rewritten address must always include a domain. + + + + +If the q flag is set on a rule, no further rewriting rules are considered, +even if no rewriting actually takes place because of a fail in the +expansion. The q flag is not effective if the address is of the wrong type +(does not match the flags) or does not match the pattern. + + + + +The R flag causes a successful rewriting rule to be re-applied to the new +address, up to ten times. It can be combined with the q flag, to stop +rewriting once it fails to match (after at least one successful rewrite). + + + + + +rewriting +whole addresses + +When an address in a header is rewritten, the rewriting normally applies only +to the working part of the address, with any comments and RFC 2822 phrase +left unchanged. For example, rewriting might change + + +From: Ford Prefect <fp42@restaurant.hitch.fict.example> + + +into + + +From: Ford Prefect <prefectf@hitch.fict.example> + + + +RFC 2047 + +Sometimes there is a need to replace the whole address item, and this can be +done by adding the flag letter w to a rule. If this is set on a rule that +causes an address in a header line to be rewritten, the entire address is +replaced, not just the working part. The replacement must be a complete RFC +2822 address, including the angle brackets if necessary. If text outside angle +brackets contains a character whose value is greater than 126 or less than 32 +(except for tab), the text is encoded according to RFC 2047. The character set +is taken from , which gets its default at build time. + + +When the w flag is set on a rule that causes an envelope address to be +rewritten, all but the working part of the replacement address is discarded. + + + +
+
+Rewriting examples + +Here is an example of the two common rewriting paradigms: + + +*@*.hitch.fict.example $1@hitch.fict.example +*@hitch.fict.example ${lookup{$1}dbm{/etc/realnames}\ + {$value}fail}@hitch.fict.example bctfrF + + +Note the use of fail in the lookup expansion in the second rule, forcing +the string expansion to fail if the lookup does not succeed. In this context it +has the effect of leaving the original address unchanged, but Exim goes on to +consider subsequent rewriting rules, if any, because the q flag is not +present in that rule. An alternative to fail would be to supply $1 +explicitly, which would cause the rewritten address to be the same as before, +at the cost of a small bit of processing. Not supplying either of these is an +error, since the rewritten address would then contain no local part. + + +The first example above replaces the domain with a superior, more general +domain. This may not be desirable for certain local parts. If the rule + + +root@*.hitch.fict.example * + + +were inserted before the first rule, rewriting would be suppressed for the +local part root at any domain ending in hitch.fict.example. + + +Rewriting can be made conditional on a number of tests, by making use of +${if in the expansion item. For example, to apply a rewriting rule only to +messages that originate outside the local host: + + +*@*.hitch.fict.example "${if !eq {$sender_host_address}{}\ + {$1@hitch.fict.example}fail}" + + +The replacement string is quoted in this example because it contains white +space. + + + +rewriting +bang paths + + +bang paths +rewriting + +Exim does not handle addresses in the form of bang paths. If it sees such +an address it treats it as an unqualified local part which it qualifies with +the local qualification domain (if the source of the message is local or if the +remote host is permitted to send unqualified addresses). Rewriting can +sometimes be used to handle simple bang paths with a fixed number of +components. For example, the rule + + +\N^([^!]+)!(.*)@your.domain.example$\N $2@$1 + + +rewrites a two-component bang path host.name!user as the domain address +user@host.name. However, there is a security implication in using this as +a global rewriting rule for envelope addresses. It can provide a backdoor +method for using your system as a relay, because the incoming addresses appear +to be local. If the bang path addresses are received via SMTP, it is safer to +use the S flag to rewrite them as they are received, so that relay checking +can be done on the rewritten addresses. + + +
+ + + +Retry configuration + + +retry +configuration, description of + + +configuration file +retry section + +The retry section of the runtime configuration file contains a list of +retry rules that control how often Exim tries to deliver messages that cannot +be delivered at the first attempt. If there are no retry rules (the section is +empty or not present), there are no retries. In this situation, temporary +errors are treated as permanent. The default configuration contains a single, +general-purpose retry rule (see section ). The command +line option can be used to test which retry rule will be used for a given +address, domain and error. + + +The most common cause of retries is temporary failure to deliver to a remote +host because the host is down, or inaccessible because of a network problem. +Exim’s retry processing in this case is applied on a per-host (strictly, per IP +address) basis, not on a per-message basis. Thus, if one message has recently +been delayed, delivery of a new message to the same host is not immediately +tried, but waits for the host’s retry time to arrive. If the +log selector is set, the message + +retry +time not reached + +retry time not reached is written to the main log whenever a delivery is +skipped for this reason. Section contains more details of +the handling of errors during remote deliveries. + + +Retry processing applies to routing as well as to delivering, except as covered +in the next paragraph. The retry rules do not distinguish between these +actions. It is not possible, for example, to specify different behaviour for +failures to route the domain snark.fict.example and failures to deliver to +the host snark.fict.example. I didn’t think anyone would ever need this +added complication, so did not implement it. However, although they share the +same retry rule, the actual retry times for routing and transporting a given +domain are maintained independently. + + +When a delivery is not part of a queue run (typically an immediate delivery on +receipt of a message), the routers are always run, and local deliveries are +always attempted, even if retry times are set for them. This makes for better +behaviour if one particular message is causing problems (for example, causing +quota overflow, or provoking an error in a filter file). If such a delivery +suffers a temporary failure, the retry data is updated as normal, and +subsequent delivery attempts from queue runs occur only when the retry time for +the local address is reached. + +
+Changing retry rules + +If you change the retry rules in your configuration, you should consider +whether or not to delete the retry data that is stored in Exim’s spool area in +files with names like db/retry. Deleting any of Exim’s hints files is +always safe; that is why they are called hints. + + +The hints retry data contains suggested retry times based on the previous +rules. In the case of a long-running problem with a remote host, it might +record the fact that the host has timed out. If your new rules increase the +timeout time for such a host, you should definitely remove the old retry data +and let Exim recreate it, based on the new rules. Otherwise Exim might bounce +messages that it should now be retaining. + +
+
+Format of retry rules + + +retry +rules + +Each retry rule occupies one line and consists of three or four parts, +separated by white space: a pattern, an error name, an optional list of sender +addresses, and a list of retry parameters. The pattern and sender lists must be +enclosed in double quotes if they contain white space. The rules are searched +in order until one is found where the pattern, error name, and sender list (if +present) match the failing host or address, the error that occurred, and the +message’s sender, respectively. + + +The pattern is any single item that may appear in an address list (see section +). It is in fact processed as a one-item address list, +which means that it is expanded before being tested against the address that +has been delayed. A negated address list item is permitted. Address +list processing treats a plain domain name as if it were preceded by *@, +which makes it possible for many retry rules to start with just a domain. For +example, + + +lookingglass.fict.example * F,24h,30m; + + +provides a rule for any address in the lookingglass.fict.example domain, +whereas + + +alice@lookingglass.fict.example * F,24h,30m; + + +applies only to temporary failures involving the local part . +In practice, almost all rules start with a domain name pattern without a local +part. + + + +regular expressions +in retry rules + +Warning: If you use a regular expression in a retry rule pattern, it +must match a complete address, not just a domain, because that is how regular +expressions work in address lists. + + +^\Nxyz\d+\.abc\.example$\N * G,1h,10m,2 +^\N[^@]+@xyz\d+\.abc\.example$\N * G,1h,10m,2 + +
+
+Choosing which retry rule to use for address errors + +When Exim is looking for a retry rule after a routing attempt has failed (for +example, after a DNS timeout), each line in the retry configuration is tested +against the complete address only if is set for the +router. Otherwise, only the domain is used, except when matching against a +regular expression, when the local part of the address is replaced with *. +A domain on its own can match a domain pattern, or a pattern that starts with +*@. By default, is true for routers where + is true, and false for other routers. + + +Similarly, when Exim is looking for a retry rule after a local delivery has +failed (for example, after a mailbox full error), each line in the retry +configuration is tested against the complete address only if + is set for the transport (it defaults true for all +local transports). + + + +4xx responses +retry rules for + +However, when Exim is looking for a retry rule after a remote delivery attempt +suffers an address error (a 4xx SMTP response for a recipient address), the +whole address is always used as the key when searching the retry rules. The +rule that is found is used to create a retry time for the combination of the +failing address and the message’s sender. It is the combination of sender and +recipient that is delayed in subsequent queue runs until its retry time is +reached. You can delay the recipient without regard to the sender by setting + false in the smtp transport but this can +lead to problems with servers that regularly issue 4xx responses to RCPT +commands. + +
+
+Choosing which retry rule to use for host and message errors + +For a temporary error that is not related to an individual address (for +example, a connection timeout), each line in the retry configuration is checked +twice. First, the name of the remote host is used as a domain name (preceded by +*@ when matching a regular expression). If this does not match the line, +the domain from the email address is tried in a similar fashion. For example, +suppose the MX records for a.b.c.example are + + +a.b.c.example MX 5 x.y.z.example + MX 6 p.q.r.example + MX 7 m.n.o.example + + +and the retry rules are + + +p.q.r.example * F,24h,30m; +a.b.c.example * F,4d,45m; + + +and a delivery to the host x.y.z.example suffers a connection failure. The +first rule matches neither the host nor the domain, so Exim looks at the second +rule. This does not match the host, but it does match the domain, so it is used +to calculate the retry time for the host x.y.z.example. Meanwhile, Exim +tries to deliver to p.q.r.example. If this also suffers a host error, the +first retry rule is used, because it matches the host. + + +In other words, temporary failures to deliver to host p.q.r.example use the +first rule to determine retry times, but for all the other hosts for the domain +a.b.c.example, the second rule is used. The second rule is also used if +routing to a.b.c.example suffers a temporary failure. + + +Note: The host name is used when matching the patterns, not its IP address. +However, if a message is routed directly to an IP address without the use of a +host name, for example, if a manualroute router contains a setting such as: + + +route_list = *.a.example 192.168.34.23 + + +then the host name that is used when searching for a retry rule is the +textual form of the IP address. + +
+
+Retry rules for specific errors + + +retry +specific errors; specifying + +The second field in a retry rule is the name of a particular error, or an +asterisk, which matches any error. The errors that can be tested for are: + + + + + + +Authentication failed when trying to send to a host in the + list in an smtp transport. + + + + + + +A 4xx error was received for an outgoing DATA command, either immediately +after the command, or after sending the message’s data. + + + + + + +A 4xx error was received for an outgoing MAIL command. + + + + + + +A 4xx error was received for an outgoing RCPT command. + + + + +For the three 4xx errors, either the first or both of the x’s can be given +as specific digits, for example: mail_45x or rcpt_436. For example, to +recognize 452 errors given to RCPT commands for addresses in a certain domain, +and have retries every ten minutes with a one-hour timeout, you could set up a +retry rule of this form: + + +the.domain.name rcpt_452 F,1h,10m + + +These errors apply to both outgoing SMTP (the smtp transport) and outgoing +LMTP (either the lmtp transport, or the smtp transport in LMTP mode). + + + + + + +A server unexpectedly closed the SMTP connection. There may, of course, +legitimate reasons for this (host died, network died), but if it repeats a lot +for the same host, it indicates something odd. + + + + + + +A DNS lookup for a host failed. +Note that a router will need to have matched +its option for this retry type to be usable. +Also note that a router will probably need +its option set to . + + + + + + +A connection to a host obtained from an MX record was refused. + + + + + + +A connection to a host not obtained from an MX record was refused. + + + + + + +A connection was refused. + + + + + + +A connection attempt to a host obtained from an MX record timed out. + + + + + + +A connection attempt to a host not obtained from an MX record timed out. + + + + + + +A connection attempt timed out. + + + + + + +There was a timeout while connecting or during an SMTP session with a host +obtained from an MX record. + + + + + + +There was a timeout while connecting or during an SMTP session with a host not +obtained from an MX record. + + + + + + +There was a timeout while connecting or during an SMTP session. + + + + + + +The server was required to use TLS (it matched in the +smtp transport), but either did not offer TLS, or it responded with 4xx +to STARTTLS, or there was a problem setting up the TLS connection. + + + + + + +A mailbox quota was exceeded in a local delivery by the appendfile +transport. + + + +<time> + + + +quota +error testing in retry rule + + +retry +quota error testing + +A mailbox quota was exceeded in a local delivery by the appendfile +transport, and the mailbox has not been accessed for <time>. For example, +quota_4d applies to a quota error when the mailbox has not been accessed +for four days. + + + + + +mailbox +time of last read + +The idea of <time> is to make it possible to have shorter +timeouts when the mailbox is full and is not being read by its owner. Ideally, +it should be based on the last time that the user accessed the mailbox. +However, it is not always possible to determine this. Exim uses the following +heuristic rules: + + + + +If the mailbox is a single file, the time of last access (the atime) is +used. As no new messages are being delivered (because the mailbox is over +quota), Exim does not access the file, so this is the time of last user access. + + + + + +maildir format +time of last read + +For a maildir delivery, the time of last modification of the new +subdirectory is used. As the mailbox is over quota, no new files are created in +the new subdirectory, because no new messages are being delivered. Any +change to the new subdirectory is therefore assumed to be the result of an +MUA moving a new message to the cur directory when it is first read. The +time that is used is therefore the last time that the user read a new message. + + + + +For other kinds of multi-file mailbox, the time of last access cannot be +obtained, so a retry rule that uses this type of error field is never matched. + + + + +The quota errors apply both to system-enforced quotas and to Exim’s own quota +mechanism in the appendfile transport. The quota error also applies +when a local delivery is deferred because a partition is full (the ENOSPC +error). + +
+
+Retry rules for specified senders + + +retry +rules; sender-specific + +You can specify retry rules that apply only when the failing message has a +specific sender. In particular, this can be used to define retry rules that +apply only to bounce messages. The third item in a retry rule can be of this +form: + + +senders=<address list> + + +The retry timings themselves are then the fourth item. For example: + + +* rcpt_4xx senders=: F,1h,30m + + +matches recipient 4xx errors for bounce messages sent to any address at any +host. If the address list contains white space, it must be enclosed in quotes. +For example: + + +a.domain rcpt_452 senders="xb.dom : yc.dom" G,8h,10m,1.5 + + +Warning: This facility can be unhelpful if it is used for host errors +(which do not depend on the recipient). The reason is that the sender is used +only to match the retry rule. Once the rule has been found for a host error, +its contents are used to set a retry time for the host, and this will apply to +all messages, not just those with specific senders. + + +When testing retry rules using , you can supply a sender using the + command line option, like this: + + +exim -f "" -brt user@dom.ain + + +If you do not set with , a retry rule that contains a senders +list is never matched. + +
+
+Retry parameters + + +retry +parameters in rules + +The third (or fourth, if a senders list is present) field in a retry rule is a +sequence of retry parameter sets, separated by semicolons. Each set consists of + + +<letter>,<cutoff time>,<arguments> + + +The letter identifies the algorithm for computing a new retry time; the cutoff +time is the time beyond which this algorithm no longer applies, and the +arguments vary the algorithm’s action. The cutoff time is measured from the +time that the first failure for the domain (combined with the local part if +relevant) was detected, not from the time the message was received. + + + +retry +algorithms + + +retry +fixed intervals + + +retry +increasing intervals + + +retry +random intervals + +The available algorithms are: + + + + +F: retry at fixed intervals. There is a single time parameter specifying +the interval. + + + + +G: retry at geometrically increasing intervals. The first argument +specifies a starting value for the interval, and the second a multiplier, which +is used to increase the size of the interval at each retry. + + + + +H: retry at randomized intervals. The arguments are as for G. For each +retry, the previous interval is multiplied by the factor in order to get a +maximum for the next interval. The minimum interval is the first argument of +the parameter, and an actual interval is chosen randomly between them. Such a +rule has been found to be helpful in cluster configurations when all the +members of the cluster restart at once, and may therefore synchronize their +queue processing times. + + + + +When computing the next retry time, the algorithm definitions are scanned in +order until one whose cutoff time has not yet passed is reached. This is then +used to compute a new retry time that is later than the current time. In the +case of fixed interval retries, this simply means adding the interval to the +current time. For geometrically increasing intervals, retry intervals are +computed from the rule’s parameters until one that is greater than the previous +interval is found. The main configuration variable + +limit +retry interval + + +retry +interval, maximum + + + + + limits the maximum interval between retries. It +cannot be set greater than 24h, which is its default value. + + +A single remote domain may have a number of hosts associated with it, and each +host may have more than one IP address. Retry algorithms are selected on the +basis of the domain name, but are applied to each IP address independently. If, +for example, a host has two IP addresses and one is unusable, Exim will +generate retry times for it and will not try to use it until its next retry +time comes. Thus the good IP address is likely to be tried first most of the +time. + + + +hints database +use for retrying + +Retry times are hints rather than promises. Exim does not make any attempt to +run deliveries exactly at the computed times. Instead, a queue runner process +starts delivery processes for delayed messages periodically, and these attempt +new deliveries only for those addresses that have passed their next retry time. +If a new message arrives for a deferred address, an immediate delivery attempt +occurs only if the address has passed its retry time. In the absence of new +messages, the minimum time between retries is the interval between queue runner +processes. There is not much point in setting retry times of five minutes if +your queue runners happen only once an hour, unless there are a significant +number of incoming messages (which might be the case on a system that is +sending everything to a smart host, for example). + + +The data in the retry hints database can be inspected by using the +exim_dumpdb or exim_fixdb utility programs (see chapter +). The latter utility can also be used to change the data. The +exinext utility script can be used to find out what the next retry times +are for the hosts associated with a particular mail domain, and also for local +deliveries that have been deferred. + +
+
+Retry rule examples + +Here are some example retry rules: + + +alice@wonderland.fict.example quota_5d F,7d,3h +wonderland.fict.example quota_5d +wonderland.fict.example * F,1h,15m; G,2d,1h,2; +lookingglass.fict.example * F,24h,30m; +* refused_A F,2h,20m; +* * F,2h,15m; G,16h,1h,1.5; F,5d,8h + + +The first rule sets up special handling for mail to +alice@wonderland.fict.example when there is an over-quota error and the +mailbox has not been read for at least 5 days. Retries continue every three +hours for 7 days. The second rule handles over-quota errors for all other local +parts at wonderland.fict.example; the absence of a local part has the same +effect as supplying *@. As no retry algorithms are supplied, messages that +fail are bounced immediately if the mailbox has not been read for at least 5 +days. + + +The third rule handles all other errors at wonderland.fict.example; retries +happen every 15 minutes for an hour, then with geometrically increasing +intervals until two days have passed since a delivery first failed. After the +first hour there is a delay of one hour, then two hours, then four hours, and +so on (this is a rather extreme example). + + +The fourth rule controls retries for the domain lookingglass.fict.example. +They happen every 30 minutes for 24 hours only. The remaining two rules handle +all other domains, with special action for connection refusal from hosts that +were not obtained from an MX record. + + +The final rule in a retry configuration should always have asterisks in the +first two fields so as to provide a general catch-all for any addresses that do +not have their own special handling. This example tries every 15 minutes for 2 +hours, then with intervals starting at one hour and increasing by a factor of +1.5 up to 16 hours, then every 8 hours up to 5 days. + +
+
+Timeout of retry data + + +timeout +of retry data + + + + + +hints database +data expiry + + +retry +timeout of data + +Exim timestamps the data that it writes to its retry hints database. When it +consults the data during a delivery it ignores any that is older than the value +set in (default 7 days). If, for example, a host hasn’t +been tried for 7 days, Exim will try to deliver to it immediately a message +arrives, and if that fails, it will calculate a retry time as if it were +failing for the first time. + + +This improves the behaviour for messages routed to rarely-used hosts such as MX +backups. If such a host was down at one time, and happens to be down again when +Exim tries a month later, using the old retry data would imply that it had been +down all the time, which is not a justified assumption. + + +If a host really is permanently dead, this behaviour causes a burst of retries +every now and again, but only if messages routed to it are rare. If there is a +message at least once every 7 days the retry data never expires. + +
+
+Long-term failures + + +delivery failure, long-term + + +retry +after long-term failure + +Special processing happens when an email address has been failing for so long +that the cutoff time for the last algorithm is reached. For example, using the +default retry rule: + + +* * F,2h,15m; G,16h,1h,1.5; F,4d,6h + + +the cutoff time is four days. Reaching the retry cutoff is independent of how +long any specific message has been failing; it is the length of continuous +failure for the recipient address that counts. + + +When the cutoff time is reached for a local delivery, or for all the IP +addresses associated with a remote delivery, a subsequent delivery failure +causes Exim to give up on the address, and a bounce message is generated. +In order to cater for new messages that use the failing address, a next retry +time is still computed from the final algorithm, and is used as follows: + + +For local deliveries, one delivery attempt is always made for any subsequent +messages. If this delivery fails, the address fails immediately. The +post-cutoff retry time is not used. + + + +final cutoff +retries, controlling + + +retry +final cutoff + +If the delivery is remote, there are two possibilities, controlled by the + + + + option of the smtp transport. The option is true by +default. Until the post-cutoff retry time for one of the IP addresses, +as set by the option, is +reached, the failing email address is bounced immediately, without a delivery +attempt taking place. After that time, one new delivery attempt is made to +those IP addresses that are past their retry times, and if that still fails, +the address is bounced and new retry times are computed. + + +In other words, when all the hosts for a given email address have been failing +for a long time, Exim bounces rather then defers until one of the hosts’ retry +times is reached. Then it tries once, and bounces if that attempt fails. This +behaviour ensures that few resources are wasted in repeatedly trying to deliver +to a broken destination, but if the host does recover, Exim will eventually +notice. + + +If is set false, Exim behaves differently. If all IP +addresses are past their final cutoff time, Exim tries to deliver to those IP +addresses that have not been tried since the message arrived. If there are +no suitable IP addresses, or if they all fail, the address is bounced. In other +words, it does not delay when a new message arrives, but tries the expired +addresses immediately, unless they have been tried since the message arrived. +If there is a continuous stream of messages for the failing domains, setting + false means that there will be many more attempts to +deliver to permanently failing IP addresses than when is +true. + +
+
+Deliveries that work intermittently + + +retry +intermittently working deliveries + +Some additional logic is needed to cope with cases where a host is +intermittently available, or when a message has some attribute that prevents +its delivery when others to the same address get through. In this situation, +because some messages are successfully delivered, the retry clock for the +host or address keeps getting reset by the successful deliveries, and so +failing messages remain in the queue for ever because the cutoff time is never +reached. + + +Two exceptional actions are applied to prevent this happening. The first +applies to errors that are related to a message rather than a remote host. +Section has a discussion of the different kinds of error; +examples of message-related errors are 4xx responses to MAIL or DATA +commands, and quota failures. For this type of error, if a message’s arrival +time is earlier than the first failed time for the error, the earlier time +is used when scanning the retry rules to decide when to try next and when to +time out the address. + + +The exceptional second action applies in all cases. If a message has been on +the queue for longer than the cutoff time of any applicable retry rule for a +given address, a delivery is attempted for that address, even if it is not yet +time, and if this delivery fails, the address is timed out. A new retry time is +not computed in this case, so that other messages for the same address are +considered immediately. + + + +
+ + + +SMTP authentication + + +SMTP +authentication configuration + + +authentication + +The authenticators section of Exim’s runtime configuration is concerned +with SMTP authentication. This facility is an extension to the SMTP protocol, +described in RFC 2554, which allows a client SMTP host to authenticate itself +to a server. This is a common way for a server to recognize clients that are +permitted to use it as a relay. SMTP authentication is not of relevance to the +transfer of mail between servers that have no managerial connection with each +other. + + + +AUTH +description of + +Very briefly, the way SMTP authentication works is as follows: + + + + +The server advertises a number of authentication mechanisms in response to +the client’s EHLO command. + + + + +The client issues an AUTH command, naming a specific mechanism. The command +may, optionally, contain some authentication data. + + + + +The server may issue one or more challenges, to which the client must send +appropriate responses. In simple authentication mechanisms, the challenges are +just prompts for user names and passwords. The server does not have to issue +any challenges – in some mechanisms the relevant data may all be transmitted +with the AUTH command. + + + + +The server either accepts or denies authentication. + + + + +If authentication succeeds, the client may optionally make use of the AUTH +option on the MAIL command to pass an authenticated sender in subsequent +mail transactions. Authentication lasts for the remainder of the SMTP +connection. + + + + +If authentication fails, the client may give up, or it may try a different +authentication mechanism, or it may try transferring mail over the +unauthenticated connection. + + + + +If you are setting up a client, and want to know which authentication +mechanisms the server supports, you can use Telnet to connect to port 25 (the +SMTP port) on the server, and issue an EHLO command. The response to this +includes the list of supported mechanisms. For example: + + +$ telnet server.example 25 +Trying 192.168.34.25... +Connected to server.example. +Escape character is '^]'. +220 server.example ESMTP Exim 4.20 ... +ehlo client.example +250-server.example Hello client.example [10.8.4.5] +250-SIZE 52428800 +250-PIPELINING +250-AUTH PLAIN +250 HELP + + +The second-last line of this example output shows that the server supports +authentication using the PLAIN mechanism. In Exim, the different authentication +mechanisms are configured by specifying authenticator drivers. Like the +routers and transports, which authenticators are included in the binary is +controlled by build-time definitions. The following are currently available, +included by setting + + +AUTH_CRAM_MD5=yes +AUTH_CYRUS_SASL=yes +AUTH_DOVECOT=yes +AUTH_GSASL=yes +AUTH_HEIMDAL_GSSAPI=yes +AUTH_PLAINTEXT=yes +AUTH_SPA=yes +AUTH_TLS=yes + + +in Local/Makefile, respectively. The first of these supports the CRAM-MD5 +authentication mechanism (RFC 2195), and the second provides an interface to +the Cyrus SASL authentication library. +The third is an interface to Dovecot’s authentication system, delegating the +work via a socket interface. +The fourth provides an interface to the GNU SASL authentication library, which +provides mechanisms but typically not data sources. +The fifth provides direct access to Heimdal GSSAPI, geared for Kerberos, but +supporting setting a server keytab. +The sixth can be configured to support +the PLAIN authentication mechanism (RFC 2595) or the LOGIN mechanism, which is +not formally documented, but used by several MUAs. The seventh authenticator +supports Microsoft’s Secure Password Authentication mechanism. +The eighth is an Exim authenticator but not an SMTP one; +instead it can use information from a TLS negotiation. + + +The authenticators are configured using the same syntax as other drivers (see +section ). If no authenticators are required, no +authentication section need be present in the configuration file. Each +authenticator can in principle have both server and client functions. When Exim +is receiving SMTP mail, it is acting as a server; when it is sending out +messages over SMTP, it is acting as a client. Authenticator configuration +options are provided for use in both these circumstances. + + +To make it clear which options apply to which situation, the prefixes + and are used on option names that are specific to +either the server or the client function, respectively. Server and client +functions are disabled if none of their options are set. If an authenticator is +to be used for both server and client functions, a single definition, using +both sets of options, is required. For example: + + +cram: + driver = cram_md5 + public_name = CRAM-MD5 + server_secret = ${if eq{$auth1}{ph10}{secret1}fail} + client_name = ph10 + client_secret = secret2 + + +The option is used when Exim is acting as a server, and the + options when it is acting as a client. + + +Descriptions of the individual authenticators are given in subsequent chapters. +The remainder of this chapter covers the generic options for the +authenticators, followed by general discussion of the way authentication works +in Exim. + + +Beware: the meaning of $auth1, $auth2, ... varies on a per-driver and +per-mechanism basis. Please read carefully to determine which variables hold +account labels such as usercodes and which hold passwords or other +authenticating data. + + +Note that some mechanisms support two different identifiers for accounts: the +authentication id and the authorization id. The contractions authn +and authz are commonly encountered. The American spelling is standard here. +Conceptually, authentication data such as passwords are tied to the identifier +used to authenticate; servers may have rules to permit one user to act as a +second user, so that after login the session is treated as though that second +user had logged in. That second user is the authorization id. A robust +configuration might confirm that the authz field is empty or matches the +authn field. Often this is just ignored. The authn can be considered +as verified data, the authz as an unverified request which the server might +choose to honour. + + +A realm is a text string, typically a domain name, presented by a server +to a client to help it select an account and credentials to use. In some +mechanisms, the client and server provably agree on the realm, but clients +typically can not treat the realm as secure data to be blindly trusted. + +
+Generic options for authenticators + + +authentication +generic options + + +options +generic; for authenticators + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: authenticators +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +When Exim is authenticating as a client, it skips any authenticator whose + expansion yields 0, no, or false. This can be +used, for example, to skip plain text authenticators when the connection is not +encrypted by a setting such as: + + +client_condition = ${if !eq{$tls_out_cipher}{}} + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: authenticators +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +When client authentication succeeds, this condition is expanded; the +result is used in the log lines for outbound messages. +Typically it will be the user name used for authentication. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: authenticators +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + +This option must always be set. It specifies which of the available +authenticators is to be used. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: authenticators +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + +This option specifies the name of the authentication mechanism that the driver +implements, and by which it is known to the outside world. These names should +contain only upper case letters, digits, underscores, and hyphens (RFC 2222), +but Exim in fact matches them caselessly. If is not set, it +defaults to the driver’s instance name. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: authenticators +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +When a server is about to advertise an authentication mechanism, the condition +is expanded. If it yields the empty string, 0, no, or false, the +mechanism is not advertised. +If the expansion fails, the mechanism is not advertised. If the failure was not +forced, and was not caused by a lookup defer, the incident is logged. +See section below for further discussion. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: authenticators +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option must be set for a server authenticator, where it +is used directly to control authentication. See section +for details. + + +For the gsasl authenticator, this option is required for various +mechanisms; see chapter for details. + + +For the other authenticators, can be used as an additional +authentication or authorization mechanism that is applied after the other +authenticator conditions succeed. If it is set, it is expanded when the +authenticator would otherwise return a success code. If the expansion is forced +to fail, authentication fails. Any other expansion failure causes a temporary +error code to be returned. If the result of a successful expansion is an empty +string, 0, no, or false, authentication fails. If the result of the +expansion is 1, yes, or true, authentication succeeds. For any +other result, a temporary error code is returned, with the expanded string as +the error text. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: authenticators +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +If this option is set and authentication debugging is enabled (see the +command line option), the string is expanded and included in the debugging +output when the authenticator is run as a server. This can help with checking +out the values of variables. +If expansion of the string fails, the error message is written to the debugging +output, and Exim carries on processing. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: authenticators +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +$authenticated_id + + +$authenticated_fail_id + +When an Exim server successfully authenticates a client, this string is +expanded using data from the authentication, and preserved for any incoming +messages in the variable $authenticated_id. It is also included in the log +lines for incoming messages. For example, a user/password authenticator +configuration might preserve the user name that was used to authenticate, and +refer to it subsequently during delivery of the message. +On a failing authentication the expansion result is instead saved in +the $authenticated_fail_id variable. +If expansion fails, the option is ignored. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: authenticators +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option allows a server to discard authenticated sender addresses supplied +as part of MAIL commands in SMTP connections that are authenticated by the +driver on which is set. The option is not used +as part of the authentication process; instead its (unexpanded) value is +remembered for later use. +How it is used is described in the following section. + +
+
+The AUTH parameter on MAIL commands + + +authentication +sender; authenticated + + +AUTH +on MAIL command + +When a client supplied an AUTH= item on a MAIL command, Exim applies +the following checks before accepting it as the authenticated sender of the +message: + + + + +If the connection is not using extended SMTP (that is, HELO was used rather +than EHLO), the use of AUTH= is a syntax error. + + + + +If the value of the AUTH= parameter is <>, it is ignored. + + + + + +$authenticated_sender + +If is defined, the ACL it specifies is run. While it is +running, the value of $authenticated_sender is set to the value obtained +from the AUTH= parameter. If the ACL does not yield accept, the value of +$authenticated_sender is deleted. The ACL may not +return drop or discard. If it defers, a temporary error code (451) is +given for the MAIL command. + + + + +If is not defined, the value of the AUTH= parameter +is accepted and placed in $authenticated_sender only if the client has +authenticated. + + + + +If the AUTH= value was accepted by either of the two previous rules, and +the client has authenticated, and the authenticator has a setting for the +, the condition is checked at this point. The +valued that was saved from the authenticator is expanded. If the expansion +fails, or yields an empty string, 0, no, or false, the value of +$authenticated_sender is deleted. If the expansion yields any other value, +the value of $authenticated_sender is retained and passed on with the +message. + + + + +When $authenticated_sender is set for a message, it is passed on to other +hosts to which Exim authenticates as a client. Do not confuse this value with +$authenticated_id, which is a string obtained from the authentication +process, and which is not usually a complete email address. + + + +$sender_address + +Whenever an AUTH= value is ignored, the incident is logged. The ACL for +MAIL, if defined, is run after AUTH= is accepted or ignored. It can +therefore make use of $authenticated_sender. The converse is not true: the +value of $sender_address is not yet set up when the +ACL is run. + +
+
+Authentication on an Exim server + + +authentication +on an Exim server + +When Exim receives an EHLO command, it advertises the public names of those +authenticators that are configured as servers, subject to the following +conditions: + + + + +The client host must match (default *). + + + + +It the option is set, its expansion must not +yield the empty string, 0, no, or false. + + + + +The order in which the authenticators are defined controls the order in which +the mechanisms are advertised. + + +Some mail clients (for example, some versions of Netscape) require the user to +provide a name and password for authentication whenever AUTH is advertised, +even though authentication may not in fact be needed (for example, Exim may be +set up to allow unconditional relaying from the client by an IP address check). +You can make such clients more friendly by not advertising AUTH to them. +For example, if clients on the 10.9.8.0/24 network are permitted (by the ACL +that runs for RCPT) to relay without authentication, you should set + + +auth_advertise_hosts = ! 10.9.8.0/24 + + +so that no authentication mechanisms are advertised to them. + + +The controls the advertisement of individual +authentication mechanisms. For example, it can be used to restrict the +advertisement of a particular mechanism to encrypted connections, by a setting +such as: + + +server_advertise_condition = ${if eq{$tls_in_cipher}{}{no}{yes}} + + + +$tls_in_cipher + +If the session is encrypted, $tls_in_cipher is not empty, and so the expansion +yields yes, which allows the advertisement to happen. + + +When an Exim server receives an AUTH command from a client, it rejects it +immediately if AUTH was not advertised in response to an earlier EHLO +command. This is the case if + + + + +The client host does not match ; or + + + + +No authenticators are configured with server options; or + + + + +Expansion of blocked the advertising of all the +server authenticators. + + + + +Otherwise, Exim runs the ACL specified by in order +to decide whether to accept the command. If is not set, +AUTH is accepted from any client host. + + +If AUTH is not rejected by the ACL, Exim searches its configuration for a +server authentication mechanism that was advertised in response to EHLO and +that matches the one named in the AUTH command. If it finds one, it runs +the appropriate authentication protocol, and authentication either succeeds or +fails. If there is no matching advertised mechanism, the AUTH command is +rejected with a 504 error. + + + +$received_protocol + + +$sender_host_authenticated + +When a message is received from an authenticated host, the value of +$received_protocol is set to esmtpa or esmtpsa instead of esmtp +or esmtps, and $sender_host_authenticated contains the name (not the +public name) of the authenticator driver that successfully authenticated the +client from which the message was received. This variable is empty if there was +no successful authentication. + + + +authentication +expansion item + +Successful authentication sets up information used by the +$authresults expansion item. + +
+
+Testing server authentication + + +authentication +testing a server + + +AUTH +testing a server + + +base64 encoding +creating authentication test data + +Exim’s option can be useful for testing server authentication +configurations. The data for the AUTH command has to be sent using base64 +encoding. A quick way to produce such data for testing is the following Perl +script: + + +use MIME::Base64; +printf ("%s", encode_base64(eval "\"$ARGV[0]\"")); + + + +binary zero +in authentication data + +This interprets its argument as a Perl string, and then encodes it. The +interpretation as a Perl string allows binary zeros, which are required for +some kinds of authentication, to be included in the data. For example, a +command line to run this script on such data might be + + +encode '\0user\0password' + + +Note the use of single quotes to prevent the shell interpreting the +backslashes, so that they can be interpreted by Perl to specify characters +whose code value is zero. + + +Warning 1: If either of the user or password strings starts with an octal +digit, you must use three zeros instead of one after the leading backslash. If +you do not, the octal digit that starts your string will be incorrectly +interpreted as part of the code for the first character. + + +Warning 2: If there are characters in the strings that Perl interprets +specially, you must use a Perl escape to prevent them being misinterpreted. For +example, a command such as + + +encode '\0user@domain.com\0pas$$word' + + +gives an incorrect answer because of the unescaped @ and $ characters. + + +If you have the command installed, another way to do produce +base64-encoded strings is to run the command + + +echo -e -n `\0user\0password' | mimencode + + +The option of enables the interpretation of backslash escapes +in the argument, and the option specifies no newline at the end of its +output. However, not all versions of recognize these options, so you +should check your version before relying on this suggestion. + +
+
+Authentication by an Exim client + + +authentication +on an Exim client + +The smtp transport has two options called and +. When the smtp transport connects to a server that +announces support for authentication, and the host matches an entry in either +of these options, Exim (as a client) tries to authenticate as follows: + + + + +For each authenticator that is configured as a client, in the order in which +they are defined in the configuration, it searches the authentication +mechanisms announced by the server for one whose name matches the public name +of the authenticator. + + + + + +$host + + +$host_address + +When it finds one that matches, it runs the authenticator’s client code. The +variables $host and $host_address are available for any string expansions +that the client might do. They are set to the server’s name and IP address. If +any expansion is forced to fail, the authentication attempt is abandoned, and +Exim moves on to the next authenticator. Otherwise an expansion failure causes +delivery to be deferred. + + + + +If the result of the authentication attempt is a temporary error or a timeout, +Exim abandons trying to send the message to the host for the moment. It will +try again later. If there are any backup hosts available, they are tried in the +usual way. + + + + +If the response to authentication is a permanent error (5xx code), Exim +carries on searching the list of authenticators and tries another one if +possible. If all authentication attempts give permanent errors, or if there are +no attempts because no mechanisms match (or option expansions force failure), +what happens depends on whether the host matches or +. In the first case, a temporary error is generated, and +delivery is deferred. The error can be detected in the retry rules, and thereby +turned into a permanent error if you wish. In the second case, Exim tries to +deliver the message unauthenticated. + + + + +Note that the hostlist test for whether to do authentication can be +confused if name-IP lookups change between the time the peer is decided +upon and the time that the transport runs. For example, with a manualroute +router given a host name, and with DNS "round-robin" used by that name: if +the local resolver cache times out between the router and the transport +running, the transport may get an IP for the name for its authentication +check which does not match the connection peer IP. +No authentication will then be done, despite the names being identical. + + +For such cases use a separate transport which always authenticates. + + + +AUTH +on MAIL command + +When Exim has authenticated itself to a remote server, it adds the AUTH +parameter to the MAIL commands it sends, if it has an authenticated sender for +the message. If the message came from a remote host, the authenticated sender +is the one that was receiving on an incoming MAIL command, provided that the +incoming connection was authenticated and the condition +allowed the authenticated sender to be retained. If a local process calls Exim +to send a message, the sender address that is built from the login name and + is treated as authenticated. However, if the + option is set on the smtp transport, it overrides +the authenticated sender that was received with the message. + + + +
+ + + +The plaintext authenticator + + +plaintext authenticator + + +authenticators +plaintext + +The plaintext authenticator can be configured to support the PLAIN and +LOGIN authentication mechanisms, both of which transfer authentication data as +plain (unencrypted) text (though base64 encoded). The use of plain text is a +security risk; you are strongly advised to insist on the use of SMTP encryption +(see chapter ) if you use the PLAIN or LOGIN mechanisms. If you do +use unencrypted plain text, you should not use the same passwords for SMTP +connections as you do for login accounts. + +
+Plaintext options + + +options +plaintext authenticator (server) + +When configured as a server, plaintext uses the following options: + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: authenticators +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This is actually a global authentication option, but it must be set in order to +configure the plaintext driver as a server. Its use is described below. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: plaintext +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +The contents of this option, after expansion, must be a colon-separated list of +prompt strings. If expansion fails, a temporary authentication rejection is +given. + +
+
+Using plaintext in a server + + +AUTH +in plaintext authenticator + + +binary zero +in plaintext authenticator + + +numerical variables ($1 $2 etc) +in plaintext authenticator + + +$auth1, $auth2, etc + + +base64 encoding +in plaintext authenticator + + + +When running as a server, plaintext performs the authentication test by +expanding a string. The data sent by the client with the AUTH command, or in +response to subsequent prompts, is base64 encoded, and so may contain any byte +values when decoded. If any data is supplied with the command, it is treated as +a list of strings, separated by NULs (binary zeros), the first three of which +are placed in the expansion variables $auth1, $auth2, and $auth3 +(neither LOGIN nor PLAIN uses more than three strings). + + +For compatibility with previous releases of Exim, the values are also placed in +the expansion variables $1, $2, and $3. However, the use of these +variables for this purpose is now deprecated, as it can lead to confusion in +string expansions that also use them for other things. + + +If there are more strings in than the number of strings +supplied with the AUTH command, the remaining prompts are used to obtain more +data. Each response from the client may be a list of NUL-separated strings. + + + +$authenticated_id + +Once a sufficient number of data strings have been received, + is expanded. If the expansion is forced to fail, +authentication fails. Any other expansion failure causes a temporary error code +to be returned. If the result of a successful expansion is an empty string, +0, no, or false, authentication fails. If the result of the +expansion is 1, yes, or true, authentication succeeds and the +generic option is expanded and saved in $authenticated_id. +For any other result, a temporary error code is returned, with the expanded +string as the error text. + + +Warning: If you use a lookup in the expansion to find the user’s +password, be sure to make the authentication fail if the user is unknown. +There are good and bad examples at the end of the next section. + +
+
+The PLAIN authentication mechanism + + +PLAIN authentication mechanism + + +authentication +PLAIN mechanism + + +binary zero +in plaintext authenticator + +The PLAIN authentication mechanism (RFC 2595) specifies that three strings be +sent as one item of data (that is, one combined string containing two NUL +separators). The data is sent either as part of the AUTH command, or +subsequently in response to an empty prompt from the server. + + +The second and third strings are a user name and a corresponding password. +Using a single fixed user name and password as an example, this could be +configured as follows: + + +fixed_plain: + driver = plaintext + public_name = PLAIN + server_prompts = : + server_condition = \ + ${if and {{eq{$auth2}{username}}{eq{$auth3}{mysecret}}}} + server_set_id = $auth2 + + +Note that the default result strings from (true or an empty string) +are exactly what we want here, so they need not be specified. Obviously, if the +password contains expansion-significant characters such as dollar, backslash, +or closing brace, they have to be escaped. + + +The setting specifies a single, empty prompt (empty items at +the end of a string list are ignored). If all the data comes as part of the +AUTH command, as is commonly the case, the prompt is not used. This +authenticator is advertised in the response to EHLO as + + +250-AUTH PLAIN + + +and a client host can authenticate itself by sending the command + + +AUTH PLAIN AHVzZXJuYW1lAG15c2VjcmV0 + + +As this contains three strings (more than the number of prompts), no further +data is required from the client. Alternatively, the client may just send + + +AUTH PLAIN + + +to initiate authentication, in which case the server replies with an empty +prompt. The client must respond with the combined data string. + + +The data string is base64 encoded, as required by the RFC. This example, +when decoded, is <NUL>username<NUL>mysecret, where <NUL> +represents a zero byte. This is split up into three strings, the first of which +is empty. The option in the authenticator checks that the +second two are username and mysecret respectively. + + +Having just one fixed user name and password, as in this example, is not very +realistic, though for a small organization with only a handful of +authenticating clients it could make sense. + + +A more sophisticated instance of this authenticator could use the user name in +$auth2 to look up a password in a file or database, and maybe do an encrypted +comparison (see in chapter ). Here is a example of +this approach, where the passwords are looked up in a DBM file. Warning: +This is an incorrect example: + + +server_condition = \ + ${if eq{$auth3}{${lookup{$auth2}dbm{/etc/authpwd}}}} + + +The expansion uses the user name ($auth2) as the key to look up a password, +which it then compares to the supplied password ($auth3). Why is this example +incorrect? It works fine for existing users, but consider what happens if a +non-existent user name is given. The lookup fails, but as no success/failure +strings are given for the lookup, it yields an empty string. Thus, to defeat +the authentication, all a client has to do is to supply a non-existent user +name and an empty password. The correct way of writing this test is: + + +server_condition = ${lookup{$auth2}dbm{/etc/authpwd}\ + {${if eq{$value}{$auth3}}} {false}} + + +In this case, if the lookup succeeds, the result is checked; if the lookup +fails, false is returned and authentication fails. If is being +used instead of , the first example is in fact safe, because +always fails if its second argument is empty. However, the second way of +writing the test makes the logic clearer. + +
+
+The LOGIN authentication mechanism + + +LOGIN authentication mechanism + + +authentication +LOGIN mechanism + +The LOGIN authentication mechanism is not documented in any RFC, but is in use +in a number of programs. No data is sent with the AUTH command. Instead, a +user name and password are supplied separately, in response to prompts. The +plaintext authenticator can be configured to support this as in this example: + + +fixed_login: + driver = plaintext + public_name = LOGIN + server_prompts = User Name : Password + server_condition = \ + ${if and {{eq{$auth1}{username}}{eq{$auth2}{mysecret}}}} + server_set_id = $auth1 + + +Because of the way plaintext operates, this authenticator accepts data supplied +with the AUTH command (in contravention of the specification of LOGIN), but +if the client does not supply it (as is the case for LOGIN clients), the prompt +strings are used to obtain two data items. + + +Some clients are very particular about the precise text of the prompts. For +example, Outlook Express is reported to recognize only Username: and +Password:. Here is an example of a LOGIN authenticator that uses those +strings. It uses the expansion condition to check the user +name and password by binding to an LDAP server: + + +login: + driver = plaintext + public_name = LOGIN + server_prompts = Username:: : Password:: + server_condition = ${if and{{ \ + !eq{}{$auth1} }{ \ + ldapauth{\ + user="uid=${quote_ldap_dn:$auth1},ou=people,o=example.org" \ + pass=${quote:$auth2} \ + ldap://ldap.example.org/} }} } + server_set_id = uid=$auth1,ou=people,o=example.org + + +We have to check that the username is not empty before using it, because LDAP +does not permit empty DN components. We must also use the +operator to correctly quote the DN for authentication. However, the basic + operator, rather than any of the LDAP quoting operators, is the +correct one to use for the password, because quoting is needed only to make +the password conform to the Exim syntax. At the LDAP level, the password is an +uninterpreted string. + +
+
+Support for different kinds of authentication + +A number of string expansion features are provided for the purpose of +interfacing to different ways of user authentication. These include checking +traditionally encrypted passwords from /etc/passwd (or equivalent), PAM, +Radius, , pwcheck, and saslauthd. For details see section +. + +
+
+Using plaintext in a client + + +options +plaintext authenticator (client) + +The plaintext authenticator has two client options: + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: plaintext +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +If the client receives a server prompt that is not a valid base64 string, +authentication is abandoned by default. However, if this option is set true, +the error in the challenge is ignored and the client sends the response as +usual. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: plaintext +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +The string is a colon-separated list of authentication data strings. Each +string is independently expanded before being sent to the server. The first +string is sent with the AUTH command; any more strings are sent in response +to prompts from the server. Before each string is expanded, the value of the +most recent prompt is placed in the next $auth<n> variable, starting +with $auth1 for the first prompt. Up to three prompts are stored in this +way. Thus, the prompt that is received in response to sending the first string +(with the AUTH command) can be used in the expansion of the second string, and +so on. If an invalid base64 string is received when + is set, an empty string is put in the +$auth<n> variable. + + +Note: You cannot use expansion to create multiple strings, because +splitting takes priority and happens first. + + +Because the PLAIN authentication mechanism requires NUL (binary zero) bytes in +the data, further processing is applied to each string before it is sent. If +there are any single circumflex characters in the string, they are converted to +NULs. Should an actual circumflex be required as data, it must be doubled in +the string. + + +This is an example of a client configuration that implements the PLAIN +authentication mechanism with a fixed user name and password: + + +fixed_plain: + driver = plaintext + public_name = PLAIN + client_send = ^username^mysecret + + +The lack of colons means that the entire text is sent with the AUTH +command, with the circumflex characters converted to NULs. A similar example +that uses the LOGIN mechanism is: + + +fixed_login: + driver = plaintext + public_name = LOGIN + client_send = : username : mysecret + + +The initial colon means that the first string is empty, so no data is sent with +the AUTH command itself. The remaining strings are sent in response to +prompts. + + + +
+ + + +The cram_md5 authenticator + + +cram_md5 authenticator + + +authenticators +cram_md5 + + +CRAM-MD5 authentication mechanism + + +authentication +CRAM-MD5 mechanism + +The CRAM-MD5 authentication mechanism is described in RFC 2195. The server +sends a challenge string to the client, and the response consists of a user +name and the CRAM-MD5 digest of the challenge string combined with a secret +string (password) which is known to both server and client. Thus, the secret +is not sent over the network as plain text, which makes this authenticator more +secure than plaintext. However, the downside is that the secret has to be +available in plain text at either end. + +
+Using cram_md5 as a server + + +options +cram_md5 authenticator (server) + +This authenticator has one server option, which must be set to configure the +authenticator as a server: + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: cram_md5 +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +numerical variables ($1 $2 etc) +in cram_md5 authenticator + +When the server receives the client’s response, the user name is placed in +the expansion variable $auth1, and is expanded to +obtain the password for that user. The server then computes the CRAM-MD5 digest +that the client should have sent, and checks that it received the correct +string. If the expansion of is forced to fail, authentication +fails. If the expansion fails for some other reason, a temporary error code is +returned to the client. + + +For compatibility with previous releases of Exim, the user name is also placed +in $1. However, the use of this variables for this purpose is now +deprecated, as it can lead to confusion in string expansions that also use +numeric variables for other things. + + +For example, the following authenticator checks that the user name given by the +client is ph10, and if so, uses secret as the password. For any other +user name, authentication fails. + + +fixed_cram: + driver = cram_md5 + public_name = CRAM-MD5 + server_secret = ${if eq{$auth1}{ph10}{secret}fail} + server_set_id = $auth1 + + + +$authenticated_id + +If authentication succeeds, the setting of preserves the user +name in $authenticated_id. A more typical configuration might look up the +secret string in a file, using the user name as the key. For example: + + +lookup_cram: + driver = cram_md5 + public_name = CRAM-MD5 + server_secret = ${lookup{$auth1}lsearch{/etc/authpwd}\ + {$value}fail} + server_set_id = $auth1 + + +Note that this expansion explicitly forces failure if the lookup fails +because $auth1 contains an unknown user name. + + +As another example, if you wish to re-use a Cyrus SASL sasldb2 file without +using the relevant libraries, you need to know the realm to specify in the +lookup and then ask for the userPassword attribute for that user in that +realm, with: + + +cyrusless_crammd5: + driver = cram_md5 + public_name = CRAM-MD5 + server_secret = ${lookup{$auth1:mail.example.org:userPassword}\ + dbmjz{/etc/sasldb2}{$value}fail} + server_set_id = $auth1 + +
+
+Using cram_md5 as a client + + +options +cram_md5 authenticator (client) + +When used as a client, the cram_md5 authenticator has two options: + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: cram_md5 +Type: string† +Default: the primary host name + + + + + +This string is expanded, and the result used as the user name data when +computing the response to the server’s challenge. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: cram_md5 +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option must be set for the authenticator to work as a client. Its value is +expanded and the result used as the secret string when computing the response. + + + +$host + + +$host_address + +Different user names and secrets can be used for different servers by referring +to $host or $host_address in the options. Forced failure of either +expansion string is treated as an indication that this authenticator is not +prepared to handle this case. Exim moves on to the next configured client +authenticator. Any other expansion failure causes Exim to give up trying to +send the message to the current server. + + +A simple example configuration of a cram_md5 authenticator, using fixed +strings, is: + + +fixed_cram: + driver = cram_md5 + public_name = CRAM-MD5 + client_name = ph10 + client_secret = secret + + + + + +
+ + + +The cyrus_sasl authenticator + + +cyrus_sasl authenticator + + +authenticators +cyrus_sasl + + +Cyrus +SASL library + + +Kerberos + +The code for this authenticator was provided by Matthew Byng-Maddick while +at A L Digital Ltd. + + +The cyrus_sasl authenticator provides server support for the Cyrus SASL +library implementation of the RFC 2222 (Simple Authentication and Security +Layer). This library supports a number of authentication mechanisms, +including PLAIN and LOGIN, but also several others that Exim does not support +directly. In particular, there is support for Kerberos authentication. + + +The cyrus_sasl authenticator provides a gatewaying mechanism directly to +the Cyrus interface, so if your Cyrus library can do, for example, CRAM-MD5, +then so can the cyrus_sasl authenticator. By default it uses the public +name of the driver to determine which mechanism to support. + + +Where access to some kind of secret file is required, for example, in GSSAPI +or CRAM-MD5, it is worth noting that the authenticator runs as the Exim +user, and that the Cyrus SASL library has no way of escalating privileges +by default. You may also find you need to set environment variables, +depending on the driver you are using. + + +The application name provided by Exim is exim, so various SASL options may +be set in exim.conf in your SASL directory. If you are using GSSAPI for +Kerberos, note that because of limitations in the GSSAPI interface, +changing the server keytab might need to be communicated down to the Kerberos +layer independently. The mechanism for doing so is dependent upon the Kerberos +implementation. + + +For example, for older releases of Heimdal, the environment variable KRB5_KTNAME +may be set to point to an alternative keytab file. Exim will pass this +variable through from its own inherited environment when started as root or the +Exim user. The keytab file needs to be readable by the Exim user. +With newer releases of Heimdal, a setuid Exim may cause Heimdal to discard the +environment variable. In practice, for those releases, the Cyrus authenticator +is not a suitable interface for GSSAPI (Kerberos) support. Instead, consider +the heimdal_gssapi authenticator, described in chapter + +
+Using cyrus_sasl as a server + +The cyrus_sasl authenticator has four private options. It puts the username +(on a successful authentication) into $auth1. For compatibility with +previous releases of Exim, the username is also placed in $1. However, the +use of this variable for this purpose is now deprecated, as it can lead to +confusion in string expansions that also use numeric variables for other +things. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: cyrus_sasl +Type: string† +Default: see below + + + + + +This option selects the hostname that is used when communicating with the +library. The default value is $primary_hostname. It is up to the underlying +SASL plug-in what it does with this data. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: cyrus_sasl +Type: string +Default: see below + + + + + +This option selects the authentication mechanism this driver should use. The +default is the value of the generic option. This option allows +you to use a different underlying mechanism from the advertised name. For +example: + + +sasl: + driver = cyrus_sasl + public_name = X-ANYTHING + server_mech = CRAM-MD5 + server_set_id = $auth1 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: cyrus_sasl +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This specifies the SASL realm that the server claims to be in. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: cyrus_sasl +Type: string +Default: smtp + + + + + +This is the SASL service that the server claims to implement. + + +For straightforward cases, you do not need to set any of the authenticator’s +private options. All you need to do is to specify an appropriate mechanism as +the public name. Thus, if you have a SASL library that supports CRAM-MD5 and +PLAIN, you could have two authenticators as follows: + + +sasl_cram_md5: + driver = cyrus_sasl + public_name = CRAM-MD5 + server_set_id = $auth1 + +sasl_plain: + driver = cyrus_sasl + public_name = PLAIN + server_set_id = $auth2 + + +Cyrus SASL does implement the LOGIN authentication method, even though it is +not a standard method. It is disabled by default in the source distribution, +but it is present in many binary distributions. + + + +
+ + + +The dovecot authenticator + + +dovecot authenticator + + +authenticators +dovecot + +This authenticator is an interface to the authentication facility of the +Dovecot POP/IMAP server, which can support a number of authentication methods. +Note that Dovecot must be configured to use auth-client not auth-userdb. +If you are using Dovecot to authenticate POP/IMAP clients, it might be helpful +to use the same mechanisms for SMTP authentication. This is a server +authenticator only. There is only one option: + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: dovecot +Type: string +Default: unset + + + + + +This option must specify the UNIX socket that is the interface to Dovecot +authentication. The option must specify an authentication +mechanism that Dovecot is configured to support. You can have several +authenticators for different mechanisms. For example: + + +dovecot_plain: + driver = dovecot + public_name = PLAIN + server_socket = /var/run/dovecot/auth-client + server_set_id = $auth1 + +dovecot_ntlm: + driver = dovecot + public_name = NTLM + server_socket = /var/run/dovecot/auth-client + server_set_id = $auth1 + + +If the SMTP connection is encrypted, or if $sender_host_address is equal to +$received_ip_address (that is, the connection is local), the secured +option is passed in the Dovecot authentication command. If, for a TLS +connection, a client certificate has been verified, the valid-client-cert +option is passed. When authentication succeeds, the identity of the user +who authenticated is placed in $auth1. + + + + + + +The gsasl authenticator + + +gsasl authenticator + + +authenticators +gsasl + + +authentication +GNU SASL + + +authentication +SASL + + +authentication +EXTERNAL + + +authentication +ANONYMOUS + + +authentication +PLAIN + + +authentication +LOGIN + + +authentication +DIGEST-MD5 + + +authentication +CRAM-MD5 + + +authentication +SCRAM-SHA-1 + +The gsasl authenticator provides server integration for the GNU SASL +library and the mechanisms it provides. This is new as of the 4.80 release +and there are a few areas where the library does not let Exim smoothly +scale to handle future authentication mechanisms, so no guarantee can be +made that any particular new authentication mechanism will be supported +without code changes in Exim. + + +Exim’s gsasl authenticator does not have client-side support at this +time; only the server-side support is implemented. Patches welcome. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: gsasl +Type: boolean +Default: false + + + + + +Do not set this true without consulting a cryptographic engineer. + + +Some authentication mechanisms are able to use external context at both ends +of the session to bind the authentication to that context, and fail the +authentication process if that context differs. Specifically, some TLS +ciphersuites can provide identifying information about the cryptographic +context. + + +This should have meant that certificate identity and verification becomes a +non-issue, as a man-in-the-middle attack will cause the correct client and +server to see different identifiers and authentication will fail. + + +This is currently only supported when using the GnuTLS library. This is +only usable by mechanisms which support "channel binding"; at time of +writing, that’s the SCRAM family. + + +This defaults off to ensure smooth upgrade across Exim releases, in case +this option causes some clients to start failing. Some future release +of Exim might have switched the default to be true. + + +However, Channel Binding in TLS has proven to be broken in current versions. +Do not plan to rely upon this feature for security, ever, without consulting +with a subject matter expert (a cryptographic engineer). + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: gsasl +Type: string† +Default: see below + + + + + +This option selects the hostname that is used when communicating with the +library. The default value is $primary_hostname. +Some mechanisms will use this data. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: gsasl +Type: string +Default: see below + + + + + +This option selects the authentication mechanism this driver should use. The +default is the value of the generic option. This option allows +you to use a different underlying mechanism from the advertised name. For +example: + + +sasl: + driver = gsasl + public_name = X-ANYTHING + server_mech = CRAM-MD5 + server_set_id = $auth1 + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: gsasl +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +Various mechanisms need access to the cleartext password on the server, so +that proof-of-possession can be demonstrated on the wire, without sending +the password itself. + + +The data available for lookup varies per mechanism. +In all cases, $auth1 is set to the authentication id. +The $auth2 variable will always be the authorization id (authz) +if available, else the empty string. +The $auth3 variable will always be the realm if available, +else the empty string. + + +A forced failure will cause authentication to defer. + + +If using this option, it may make sense to set the +option to be simply "true". + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: gsasl +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This specifies the SASL realm that the server claims to be in. +Some mechanisms will use this data. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: gsasl +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option provides data for the SCRAM family of mechanisms. +$auth1 is not available at evaluation time. +(This may change, as we receive feedback on use) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: gsasl +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option provides data for the SCRAM family of mechanisms. +$auth1 is not available at evaluation time. +(This may change, as we receive feedback on use) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: gsasl +Type: string +Default: smtp + + + + + +This is the SASL service that the server claims to implement. +Some mechanisms will use this data. + +
+<command>gsasl</command> auth variables + + +$auth1, $auth2, etc + +These may be set when evaluating specific options, as detailed above. +They will also be set when evaluating . + + +Unless otherwise stated below, the gsasl integration will use the following +meanings for these variables: + + + + + +$auth1 + +$auth1: the authentication id + + + + + +$auth2 + +$auth2: the authorization id + + + + + +$auth3 + +$auth3: the realm + + + + +On a per-mechanism basis: + + + + + +authentication +EXTERNAL + +EXTERNAL: only $auth1 is set, to the possibly empty authorization id; +the option must be present. + + + + + +authentication +ANONYMOUS + +ANONYMOUS: only $auth1 is set, to the possibly empty anonymous token; +the option must be present. + + + + + +authentication +GSSAPI + +GSSAPI: $auth1 will be set to the GSSAPI Display Name; +$auth2 will be set to the authorization id, +the option must be present. + + + + +An anonymous token is something passed along as an unauthenticated +identifier; this is analogous to FTP anonymous authentication passing an +email address, or software-identifier@, as the "password". + + +An example showing the password having the realm specified in the callback +and demonstrating a Cyrus SASL to GSASL migration approach is: + + +gsasl_cyrusless_crammd5: + driver = gsasl + public_name = CRAM-MD5 + server_realm = imap.example.org + server_password = ${lookup{$auth1:$auth3:userPassword}\ + dbmjz{/etc/sasldb2}{$value}fail} + server_set_id = ${quote:$auth1} + server_condition = yes + +
+ + + +The heimdal_gssapi authenticator + + +heimdal_gssapi authenticator + + +authenticators +heimdal_gssapi + + +authentication +GSSAPI + + +authentication +Kerberos + +The heimdal_gssapi authenticator provides server integration for the +Heimdal GSSAPI/Kerberos library, permitting Exim to set a keytab pathname +reliably. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: heimdal_gssapi +Type: string† +Default: see below + + + + + +This option selects the hostname that is used, with , +for constructing the GSS server name, as a GSS_C_NT_HOSTBASED_SERVICE +identifier. The default value is $primary_hostname. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: heimdal_gssapi +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +If set, then Heimdal will not use the system default keytab (typically +/etc/krb5.keytab) but instead the pathname given in this option. +The value should be a pathname, with no file: prefix. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: heimdal_gssapi +Type: string† +Default: smtp + + + + + +This option specifies the service identifier used, in conjunction with +, for building the identifier for finding credentials +from the keytab. + +
+<command>heimdal_gssapi</command> auth variables + +Beware that these variables will typically include a realm, thus will appear +to be roughly like an email address already. The authzid in $auth2 is +not verified, so a malicious client can set it to anything. + + +The $auth1 field should be safely trustable as a value from the Key +Distribution Center. Note that these are not quite email addresses. +Each identifier is for a role, and so the left-hand-side may include a +role suffix. For instance, joe/admin@EXAMPLE.ORG. + + + +$auth1, $auth2, etc + + + + + + +$auth1 + +$auth1: the authentication id, set to the GSS Display Name. + + + + + +$auth2 + +$auth2: the authorization id, sent within SASL encapsulation after +authentication. If that was empty, this will also be set to the +GSS Display Name. + + + +
+ + + +The spa authenticator + + +spa authenticator + + +authenticators +spa + + +authentication +Microsoft Secure Password + + +authentication +NTLM + + +Microsoft Secure Password Authentication + + +NTLM authentication + +The spa authenticator provides client support for Microsoft’s Secure +Password Authentication mechanism, +which is also sometimes known as NTLM (NT LanMan). The code for client side of +this authenticator was contributed by Marc Prud’hommeaux, and much of it is +taken from the Samba project (https://www.samba.org/). The code for the +server side was subsequently contributed by Tom Kistner. The mechanism works as +follows: + + + + +After the AUTH command has been accepted, the client sends an SPA +authentication request based on the user name and optional domain. + + + + +The server sends back a challenge. + + + + +The client builds a challenge response which makes use of the user’s password +and sends it to the server, which then accepts or rejects it. + + + + +Encryption is used to protect the password in transit. + +
+Using spa as a server + + +options +spa authenticator (server) + +The spa authenticator has just one server option: + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: spa +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +numerical variables ($1 $2 etc) +in spa authenticator + +This option is expanded, and the result must be the cleartext password for the +authenticating user, whose name is at this point in $auth1. For +compatibility with previous releases of Exim, the user name is also placed in +$1. However, the use of this variable for this purpose is now deprecated, as +it can lead to confusion in string expansions that also use numeric variables +for other things. For example: + + +spa: + driver = spa + public_name = NTLM + server_password = \ + ${lookup{$auth1}lsearch{/etc/exim/spa_clearpass}{$value}fail} + + +If the expansion is forced to fail, authentication fails. Any other expansion +failure causes a temporary error code to be returned. + +
+
+Using spa as a client + + +options +spa authenticator (client) + +The spa authenticator has the following client options: + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: spa +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option specifies an optional domain for the authentication. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: spa +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option specifies the user’s password, and must be set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: spa +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option specifies the user name, and must be set. Here is an example of a +configuration of this authenticator for use with the mail servers at +msn.com: + + +msn: + driver = spa + public_name = MSN + client_username = msn/msn_username + client_password = msn_plaintext_password + client_domain = DOMAIN_OR_UNSET + + + + + +
+ + + +The tls authenticator + + +tls authenticator + + +authenticators +tls + + +authentication +Client Certificate + + +authentication +X509 + + +Certificate-based authentication + +The tls authenticator provides server support for +authentication based on client certificates. + + +It is not an SMTP authentication mechanism and is not +advertised by the server as part of the SMTP EHLO response. +It is an Exim authenticator in the sense that it affects +the protocol element of the log line, can be tested for +by the ACL condition, and can set +the $authenticated_id variable. + + +The client must present a verifiable certificate, +for which it must have been requested via the + or main options +(see ). + + +If an authenticator of this type is configured it is +run before any SMTP-level communication is done, +and can authenticate the connection. +If it does, SMTP authentication is not offered. + + +A maximum of one authenticator of this type may be present. + + + +options +tls authenticator (server) + +The tls authenticator has three server options: + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: tls +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + +variables ($auth1 $auth2 etc) +in tls authenticator + +This option is expanded after the TLS negotiation and +the result is placed in $auth1. +If the expansion is forced to fail, authentication fails. Any other expansion +failure causes a temporary error code to be returned. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: tls +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: tls +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +As above, for $auth2 and $auth3. + + + may also be spelled . + + +Example: + + +tls: + driver = tls + server_param1 = ${certextract {subj_altname,mail,>:} \ + {$tls_in_peercert}} + server_condition = ${if and { {eq{$tls_in_certificate_verified}{1}} \ + {forany {$auth1} \ + {!= {0} \ + {${lookup ldap{ldap:///\ + mailname=${quote_ldap_dn:${lc:$item}},\ + ou=users,LDAP_DC?mailid} {$value}{0} \ + } } } }}} + server_set_id = ${if = {1}{${listcount:$auth1}} {$auth1}{}} + + +This accepts a client certificate that is verifiable against any +of your configured trust-anchors +(which usually means the full set of public CAs) +and which has a SAN with a good account name. + + +Note that, up to TLS1.2, the client cert is on the wire in-clear, including the SAN, +The account name is therefore guessable by an opponent. +TLS 1.3 protects both server and client certificates, and is not vulnerable +in this way. +Likewise, a traditional plaintext SMTP AUTH done inside TLS is not. + + + + + + +Note that because authentication is traditionally an SMTP operation, +the ACL condition cannot be used in +a connect- or helo-ACL. + + + + +Encrypted SMTP connections using TLS/SSL +Encrypted SMTP connections + + +encryption +on SMTP connection + + +SMTP +encryption + + +TLS +on SMTP connection + + +OpenSSL + + +GnuTLS + +Support for TLS (Transport Layer Security), formerly known as SSL (Secure +Sockets Layer), is implemented by making use of the OpenSSL library or the +GnuTLS library (Exim requires GnuTLS release 1.0 or later). There is no +cryptographic code in the Exim distribution itself for implementing TLS. In +order to use this feature you must install OpenSSL or GnuTLS, and then build a +version of Exim that includes TLS support (see section ). +You also need to understand the basic concepts of encryption at a managerial +level, and in particular, the way that public keys, private keys, and +certificates are used. + + +RFC 3207 defines how SMTP connections can make use of encryption. Once a +connection is established, the client issues a STARTTLS command. If the +server accepts this, the client and the server negotiate an encryption +mechanism. If the negotiation succeeds, the data that subsequently passes +between them is encrypted. + + +Exim’s ACLs can detect whether the current SMTP session is encrypted or not, +and if so, what cipher suite is in use, whether the client supplied a +certificate, and whether or not that certificate was verified. This makes it +possible for an Exim server to deny or accept certain commands based on the +encryption state. + + +Warning: Certain types of firewall and certain anti-virus products can +disrupt TLS connections. You need to turn off SMTP scanning for these products +in order to get TLS to work. + +
+Support for the <quote>submissions</quote> (aka <quote>ssmtp</quote> and <quote>smtps</quote>) protocol + + +submissions protocol + + +ssmtp protocol + + +smtps protocol + + +SMTP +submissions protocol + + +SMTP +ssmtp protocol + + +SMTP +smtps protocol + +The history of port numbers for TLS in SMTP is a little messy and has been +contentious. As of RFC 8314, the common practice of using the historically +allocated port 465 for "email submission but with TLS immediately upon connect +instead of using STARTTLS" is officially blessed by the IETF, and recommended +by them in preference to STARTTLS. + + +The name originally assigned to the port was ssmtp or smtps, but as +clarity emerged over the dual roles of SMTP, for MX delivery and Email +Submission, nomenclature has shifted. The modern name is now submissions. + + +This approach was, for a while, officially abandoned when encrypted SMTP was +standardized, but many clients kept using it, even as the TCP port number was +reassigned for other use. +Thus you may encounter guidance claiming that you shouldn’t enable use of +this port. +In practice, a number of mail-clients have only ever supported submissions, +not submission with STARTTLS upgrade. +Ideally, offer both submission (587) and submissions (465) service. + + +Exim supports TLS-on-connect by means of the +global option. Its value must be a list of port numbers; +the most common use is expected to be: + + +tls_on_connect_ports = 465 + + +The port numbers specified by this option apply to all SMTP connections, both +via the daemon and via inetd. You still need to specify all the ports that +the daemon uses (by setting or or +the command line option) because does not add +an extra port – rather, it specifies different behaviour on a port that is +defined elsewhere. + + +There is also a command line option. This overrides +; it forces the TLS-only behaviour for all ports. + +
+
+OpenSSL vs GnuTLS + + +TLS +OpenSSL vs GnuTLS + +The first TLS support in Exim was implemented using OpenSSL. Support for GnuTLS +followed later, when the first versions of GnuTLS were released. To build Exim +to use GnuTLS, you need to set + + +USE_GNUTLS=yes + + +in Local/Makefile, in addition to + + +SUPPORT_TLS=yes + + +You must also set TLS_LIBS and TLS_INCLUDE appropriately, so that the +include files and libraries for GnuTLS can be found. + + +There are some differences in usage when using GnuTLS instead of OpenSSL: + + + + +The option +cannot be the path of a directory +for GnuTLS versions before 3.3.6 +(for later versions, or OpenSSL, it can be either). + + + + +The default value for differs for historical reasons. + + + + + +$tls_in_peerdn + + +$tls_out_peerdn + +Distinguished Name (DN) strings reported by the OpenSSL library use a slash for +separating fields; GnuTLS uses commas, in accordance with RFC 2253. This +affects the value of the $tls_in_peerdn and $tls_out_peerdn variables. + + + + +OpenSSL identifies cipher suites using hyphens as separators, for example: +DES-CBC3-SHA. GnuTLS historically used underscores, for example: +RSA_ARCFOUR_SHA. What is more, OpenSSL complains if underscores are present +in a cipher list. To make life simpler, Exim changes underscores to hyphens +for OpenSSL and passes the string unchanged to GnuTLS (expecting the library +to handle its own older variants) when processing lists of cipher suites in the + options (the global option and the smtp transport +option). + + + + +The options operate differently, as described in the +sections and . + + + + +The SMTP transport option is only honoured by GnuTLS. +When using OpenSSL, this option is ignored. +(If an API is found to let OpenSSL be configured in this way, +let the Exim Maintainers know and we’ll likely use it). + + + + +With GnuTLS, if an explicit list is used for the main option +main option, it must be ordered to match the list. + + + + +Some other recently added features may only be available in one or the other. +This should be documented with the feature. If the documentation does not +explicitly state that the feature is infeasible in the other TLS +implementation, then patches are welcome. + + + +
+
+GnuTLS parameter computation + +This section only applies if is set to historic or to +an explicit path; if the latter, then the text about generation still applies, +but not the chosen filename. +By default, as of Exim 4.80 a hard-coded D-H prime is used. +See the documentation of for more information. + + +GnuTLS uses D-H parameters that may take a substantial amount of time +to compute. It is unreasonable to re-compute them for every TLS session. +Therefore, Exim keeps this data in a file in its spool directory, called +gnutls-params-NNNN for some value of NNNN, corresponding to the number +of bits requested. +The file is owned by the Exim user and is readable only by +its owner. Every Exim process that start up GnuTLS reads the D-H +parameters from this file. If the file does not exist, the first Exim process +that needs it computes the data and writes it to a temporary file which is +renamed once it is complete. It does not matter if several Exim processes do +this simultaneously (apart from wasting a few resources). Once a file is in +place, new Exim processes immediately start using it. + + +For maximum security, the parameters that are stored in this file should be +recalculated periodically, the frequency depending on your paranoia level. +If you are avoiding using the fixed D-H primes published in RFCs, then you +are concerned about some advanced attacks and will wish to do this; if you do +not regenerate then you might as well stick to the standard primes. + + +Arranging this is easy in principle; just delete the file when you want new +values to be computed. However, there may be a problem. The calculation of new +parameters needs random numbers, and these are obtained from /dev/random. +If the system is not very active, /dev/random may delay returning data +until enough randomness (entropy) is available. This may cause Exim to hang for +a substantial amount of time, causing timeouts on incoming connections. + + +The solution is to generate the parameters externally to Exim. They are stored +in gnutls-params-N in PEM format, which means that they can be +generated externally using the certtool command that is part of GnuTLS. + + +To replace the parameters with new ones, instead of deleting the file +and letting Exim re-create it, you can generate new parameters using +certtool and, when this has been done, replace Exim’s cache file by +renaming. The relevant commands are something like this: + + +# ls +[ look for file; assume gnutls-params-2236 is the most recent ] +# rm -f new-params +# touch new-params +# chown exim:exim new-params +# chmod 0600 new-params +# certtool --generate-dh-params --bits 2236 >>new-params +# openssl dhparam -noout -text -in new-params | head +[ check the first line, make sure it's not more than 2236; + if it is, then go back to the start ("rm") and repeat + until the size generated is at most the size requested ] +# chmod 0400 new-params +# mv new-params gnutls-params-2236 + + +If Exim never has to generate the parameters itself, the possibility of +stalling is removed. + + +The filename changed in Exim 4.80, to gain the -bits suffix. The value which +Exim will choose depends upon the version of GnuTLS in use. For older GnuTLS, +the value remains hard-coded in Exim as 1024. As of GnuTLS 2.12.x, there is +a way for Exim to ask for the "normal" number of bits for D-H public-key usage, +and Exim does so. This attempt to remove Exim from TLS policy decisions +failed, as GnuTLS 2.12 returns a value higher than the current hard-coded limit +of the NSS library. Thus Exim gains the global option, +which applies to all D-H usage, client or server. If the value returned by +GnuTLS is greater than then the value will be clamped down +to . The default value has been set at the current NSS +limit, which is still much higher than Exim historically used. + + +The filename and bits used will change as the GnuTLS maintainers change the +value for their parameter GNUTLS_SEC_PARAM_NORMAL, as clamped by +. At the time of writing (mid 2012), GnuTLS 2.12 recommends +2432 bits, while NSS is limited to 2236 bits. + + +In fact, the requested value will be *lower* than , to +increase the chance of the generated prime actually being within acceptable +bounds, as GnuTLS has been observed to overshoot. Note the check step in the +procedure above. There is no sane procedure available to Exim to double-check +the size of the generated prime, so it might still be too large. + +
+
+Requiring specific ciphers in OpenSSL + + +TLS +requiring specific ciphers (OpenSSL) + + + +OpenSSL + +There is a function in the OpenSSL library that can be passed a list of cipher +suites before the cipher negotiation takes place. This specifies which ciphers + + +are acceptable for TLS versions prior to 1.3. + + +The list is colon separated and may contain names like +DES-CBC3-SHA. Exim passes the expanded value of +directly to this function call. +Many systems will install the OpenSSL manual-pages, so you may have +ciphers(1) available to you. +The following quotation from the OpenSSL +documentation specifies what forms of item are allowed in the cipher string: + + + + +It can consist of a single cipher suite such as RC4-SHA. + + + + +It can represent a list of cipher suites containing a certain algorithm, +or cipher suites of a certain type. For example SHA1 represents all +ciphers suites using the digest algorithm SHA1 and SSLv3 represents all +SSL v3 algorithms. + + + + +Lists of cipher suites can be combined in a single cipher string using +the + character. This is used as a logical and operation. For example +SHA1+DES represents all cipher suites containing the SHA1 and the DES +algorithms. + + + + +Each cipher string can be optionally preceded by one of the characters !, +- or +. + + + + +If ! is used, the ciphers are permanently deleted from the list. The +ciphers deleted can never reappear in the list even if they are explicitly +stated. + + + + +If - is used, the ciphers are deleted from the list, but some or all +of the ciphers can be added again by later options. + + + + +If + is used, the ciphers are moved to the end of the list. This +option does not add any new ciphers; it just moves matching existing ones. + + + + +If none of these characters is present, the string is interpreted as +a list of ciphers to be appended to the current preference list. If the list +includes any ciphers already present they will be ignored: that is, they will +not be moved to the end of the list. + + +The OpenSSL ciphers(1) command may be used to test the results of a given +string: + + +# note single-quotes to get ! past any shell history expansion +$ openssl ciphers 'HIGH:!MD5:!SHA1' + + +This example will let the library defaults be permitted on the MX port, where +there’s probably no identity verification anyway, but ups the ante on the +submission ports where the administrator might have some influence on the +choice of clients used: + + +# OpenSSL variant; see man ciphers(1) +tls_require_ciphers = ${if =={$received_port}{25}\ + {DEFAULT}\ + {HIGH:!MD5:!SHA1}} + + +This example will prefer ECDSA-authenticated ciphers over RSA ones: + + +tls_require_ciphers = ECDSA:RSA:!COMPLEMENTOFDEFAULT + + +For TLS version 1.3 the control available is less fine-grained +and Exim does not provide access to it at present. +The value of the option is ignored when +TLS version 1.3 is negotiated. + + +As of writing the library default cipher suite list for TLSv1.3 is + + +TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384:TLS_CHACHA20_POLY1305_SHA256:TLS_AES_128_GCM_SHA256 + +
+
+Requiring specific ciphers or other parameters in GnuTLS + + +GnuTLS +specifying parameters for + + +TLS +specifying ciphers (GnuTLS) + + +TLS +specifying key exchange methods (GnuTLS) + + +TLS +specifying MAC algorithms (GnuTLS) + + +TLS +specifying protocols (GnuTLS) + + +TLS +specifying priority string (GnuTLS) + + + +GnuTLS + +The GnuTLS library allows the caller to provide a "priority string", documented +as part of the gnutls_priority_init function. This is very similar to the +ciphersuite specification in OpenSSL. + + +The option is treated as the GnuTLS priority string +and controls both protocols and ciphers. + + +The option is available both as an global option, +controlling how Exim behaves as a server, and also as an option of the +smtp transport, controlling how Exim behaves as a client. In both cases +the value is string expanded. The resulting string is not an Exim list and +the string is given to the GnuTLS library, so that Exim does not need to be +aware of future feature enhancements of GnuTLS. + + +Documentation of the strings accepted may be found in the GnuTLS manual, under +"Priority strings". This is online as +https://www.gnutls.org/manual/html_node/Priority-Strings.html, +but beware that this relates to GnuTLS 3, which may be newer than the version +installed on your system. If you are using GnuTLS 3, +then the example code +https://www.gnutls.org/manual/gnutls.html#Listing-the-ciphersuites-in-a-priority-string +on that site can be used to test a given string. + + +For example: + + +# Disable older versions of protocols +tls_require_ciphers = NORMAL:%LATEST_RECORD_VERSION:-VERS-SSL3.0 + + +Prior to Exim 4.80, an older API of GnuTLS was used, and Exim supported three +additional options, "", "" and +"". was an Exim list. + + +This example will let the library defaults be permitted on the MX port, where +there’s probably no identity verification anyway, and lowers security further +by increasing compatibility; but this ups the ante on the submission ports +where the administrator might have some influence on the choice of clients +used: + + +# GnuTLS variant +tls_require_ciphers = ${if =={$received_port}{25}\ + {NORMAL:%COMPAT}\ + {SECURE128}} + +
+
+Configuring an Exim server to use TLS + + +TLS +configuring an Exim server + +When Exim has been built with TLS support, it advertises the availability of +the STARTTLS command to client hosts that match , +but not to any others. The default value of this option is *, which means +that STARTTLS is always advertised. Set it to blank to never advertise; +this is reasonable for systems that want to use TLS only as a client. + + +If STARTTLS is to be used you +need to set some other options in order to make TLS available. + + +If a client issues a STARTTLS command and there is some configuration +problem in the server, the command is rejected with a 454 error. If the client +persists in trying to issue SMTP commands, all except QUIT are rejected +with the error + + +554 Security failure + + +If a STARTTLS command is issued within an existing TLS session, it is +rejected with a 554 error code. + + +To enable TLS operations on a server, the option +must be set to match some hosts. The default is * which matches all hosts. + + +If this is all you do, TLS encryption will be enabled but not authentication - +meaning that the peer has no assurance it is actually you he is talking to. +You gain protection from a passive sniffer listening on the wire but not +from someone able to intercept the communication. + + +Further protection requires some further configuration at the server end. + + +To make TLS work you need to set, in the server, + + +tls_certificate = /some/file/name +tls_privatekey = /some/file/name + + +These options are, in fact, expanded strings, so you can make them depend on +the identity of the client that is connected if you wish. The first file +contains the server’s X509 certificate, and the second contains the private key +that goes with it. These files need to be +PEM format and readable by the Exim user, and must +always be given as full path names. +The key must not be password-protected. +They can be the same file if both the +certificate and the key are contained within it. If is not +set, or if its expansion is forced to fail or results in an empty string, this +is assumed to be the case. The certificate file may also contain intermediate +certificates that need to be sent to the client to enable it to authenticate +the server’s certificate. + + +For dual-stack (eg. RSA and ECDSA) configurations, these options can be +colon-separated lists of file paths. Ciphers using given authentication +algorithms require the presence of a suitable certificate to supply the +public-key. The server selects among the certificates to present to the +client depending on the selected cipher, hence the priority ordering for +ciphers will affect which certificate is used. + + +If you do not understand about certificates and keys, please try to find a +source of this background information, which is not Exim-specific. (There are a +few comments below in section .) + + +Note: These options do not apply when Exim is operating as a client – +they apply only in the case of a server. If you need to use a certificate in an +Exim client, you must set the options of the same names in an smtp +transport. + + +With just these options, an Exim server will be able to use TLS. It does not +require the client to have a certificate (but see below for how to insist on +this). There is one other option that may be needed in other situations. If + + +tls_dhparam = /some/file/name + + +is set, the SSL library is initialized for the use of Diffie-Hellman ciphers +with the parameters contained in the file. +Set this to none to disable use of DH entirely, by making no prime +available: + + +tls_dhparam = none + + +This may also be set to a string identifying a standard prime to be used for +DH; if it is set to default or, for OpenSSL, is unset, then the prime +used is ike23. There are a few standard primes available, see the +documentation for for the complete list. + + +See the command + + +openssl dhparam + + +for a way of generating file data. + + +The strings supplied for these three options are expanded every time a client +host connects. It is therefore possible to use different certificates and keys +for different hosts, if you so wish, by making use of the client’s IP address +in $sender_host_address to control the expansion. If a string expansion is +forced to fail, Exim behaves as if the option is not set. + + + +cipher +logging + + +log +TLS cipher + + +$tls_in_cipher + +The variable $tls_in_cipher is set to the cipher suite that was negotiated for +an incoming TLS connection. It is included in the Received: header of an +incoming message (by default – you can, of course, change this), and it is +also included in the log line that records a message’s arrival, keyed by +X=, unless the log selector is turned off. The +condition can be used to test for specific cipher suites in ACLs. + + +Once TLS has been established, the ACLs that run for subsequent SMTP commands +can check the name of the cipher suite and vary their actions accordingly. The +cipher suite names vary, depending on which TLS library is being used. For +example, OpenSSL uses the name DES-CBC3-SHA for the cipher suite which in other +contexts is known as TLS_RSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA. Check the OpenSSL or GnuTLS +documentation for more details. + + +For outgoing SMTP deliveries, $tls_out_cipher is used and logged +(again depending on the log selector). + +
+
+Requesting and verifying client certificates + + +certificate +verification of client + + +TLS +client certificate verification + +If you want an Exim server to request a certificate when negotiating a TLS +session with a client, you must set either or +. You can, of course, set either of them to * to +apply to all TLS connections. For any host that matches one of these options, +Exim requests a certificate as part of the setup of the TLS session. The +contents of the certificate are verified by comparing it with a list of +expected trust-anchors or certificates. +These may be the system default set (depending on library version), +an explicit file or, +depending on library version, a directory, identified by +. + + +A file can contain multiple certificates, concatenated end to end. If a +directory is used +(OpenSSL only), +each certificate must be in a separate file, with a name (or a symbolic link) +of the form <hash>.0, where <hash> is a hash value constructed from the +certificate. You can compute the relevant hash by running the command + + +openssl x509 -hash -noout -in /cert/file + + +where /cert/file contains a single certificate. + + +There is no checking of names of the client against the certificate +Subject Name or Subject Alternate Names. + + +The difference between and is +what happens if the client does not supply a certificate, or if the certificate +does not match any of the certificates in the collection named by +. If the client matches , the +attempt to set up a TLS session is aborted, and the incoming connection is +dropped. If the client matches , the (encrypted) SMTP +session continues. ACLs that run for subsequent SMTP commands can detect the +fact that no certificate was verified, and vary their actions accordingly. For +example, you can insist on a certificate before accepting a message for +relaying, but not when the message is destined for local delivery. + + + +$tls_in_peerdn + +When a client supplies a certificate (whether it verifies or not), the value of +the Distinguished Name of the certificate is made available in the variable +$tls_in_peerdn during subsequent processing of the message. + + + +log +distinguished name + +Because it is often a long text string, it is not included in the log line or +Received: header by default. You can arrange for it to be logged, keyed by +DN=, by setting the log selector, and you can use + to change the Received: header. When no +certificate is supplied, $tls_in_peerdn is empty. + +
+
+Revoked certificates + + +TLS +revoked certificates + + +revocation list + + +certificate +revocation list + + +OCSP +stapling + +Certificate issuing authorities issue Certificate Revocation Lists (CRLs) when +certificates are revoked. If you have such a list, you can pass it to an Exim +server using the global option called and to an Exim client using +an identically named option for the smtp transport. In each case, the value +of the option is expanded and must then be the name of a file that contains a +CRL in PEM format. +The downside is that clients have to periodically re-download a potentially huge +file from every certificate authority they know of. + + +The way with most moving parts at query time is Online Certificate +Status Protocol (OCSP), where the client verifies the certificate +against an OCSP server run by the CA. This lets the CA track all +usage of the certs. It requires running software with access to the +private key of the CA, to sign the responses to the OCSP queries. OCSP +is based on HTTP and can be proxied accordingly. + + +The only widespread OCSP server implementation (known to this writer) +comes as part of OpenSSL and aborts on an invalid request, such as +connecting to the port and then disconnecting. This requires +re-entering the passphrase each time some random client does this. + + +The third way is OCSP Stapling; in this, the server using a certificate +issued by the CA periodically requests an OCSP proof of validity from +the OCSP server, then serves it up inline as part of the TLS +negotiation. This approach adds no extra round trips, does not let the +CA track users, scales well with number of certs issued by the CA and is +resilient to temporary OCSP server failures, as long as the server +starts retrying to fetch an OCSP proof some time before its current +proof expires. The downside is that it requires server support. + + +Unless Exim is built with the support disabled, +or with GnuTLS earlier than version 3.3.16 / 3.4.8 +support for OCSP stapling is included. + + +There is a global option called . +The file specified therein is expected to be in DER format, and contain +an OCSP proof. Exim will serve it as part of the TLS handshake. This +option will be re-expanded for SNI, if the option +contains tls_in_sni, as per other TLS options. + + +Exim does not at this time implement any support for fetching a new OCSP +proof. The burden is on the administrator to handle this, outside of +Exim. The file specified should be replaced atomically, so that the +contents are always valid. Exim will expand the option +on each connection, so a new file will be handled transparently on the +next connection. + + +When built with OpenSSL Exim will check for a valid next update timestamp +in the OCSP proof; if not present, or if the proof has expired, it will be +ignored. + + +For the client to be able to verify the stapled OCSP the server must +also supply, in its stapled information, any intermediate +certificates for the chain leading to the OCSP proof from the signer +of the server certificate. There may be zero or one such. These +intermediate certificates should be added to the server OCSP stapling +file named by . + + +Note that the proof only covers the terminal server certificate, +not any of the chain from CA to it. + + +There is no current way to staple a proof for a client certificate. + + + A helper script "ocsp_fetch.pl" for fetching a proof from a CA + OCSP server is supplied. The server URL may be included in the + server certificate, if the CA is helpful. + + One failure mode seen was the OCSP Signer cert expiring before the end + of validity of the OCSP proof. The checking done by Exim/OpenSSL + noted this as invalid overall, but the re-fetch script did not. + +
+
+Configuring an Exim client to use TLS + + +cipher +logging + + +log +TLS cipher + + +log +distinguished name + + +TLS +configuring an Exim client + +The and log selectors apply to outgoing SMTP +deliveries as well as to incoming, the latter one causing logging of the +server certificate’s DN. The remaining client configuration for TLS is all +within the smtp transport. + + +It is not necessary to set any options to have TLS work in the smtp +transport. If Exim is built with TLS support, and TLS is advertised by a +server, the smtp transport always tries to start a TLS session. However, +this can be prevented by setting (an option of the +transport) to a list of server hosts for which TLS should not be used. + + +If you do not want Exim to attempt to send messages unencrypted when an attempt +to set up an encrypted connection fails in any way, you can set + to a list of hosts for which encryption is mandatory. For +those hosts, delivery is always deferred if an encrypted connection cannot be +set up. If there are any other hosts for the address, they are tried in the +usual way. + + +When the server host is not in , Exim may try to deliver +the message unencrypted. It always does this if the response to STARTTLS is +a 5xx code. For a temporary error code, or for a failure to negotiate a TLS +session after a success response code, what happens is controlled by the + option of the smtp transport. If it is false, +delivery to this host is deferred, and other hosts (if available) are tried. If +it is true, Exim attempts to deliver unencrypted after a 4xx response to +STARTTLS, and if STARTTLS is accepted, but the subsequent TLS +negotiation fails, Exim closes the current connection (because it is in an +unknown state), opens a new one to the same host, and then tries the delivery +unencrypted. + + +The and options of the smtp +transport provide the client with a certificate, which is passed to the server +if it requests it. If the server is Exim, it will request a certificate only if + or matches the client. + + +If the option is set on the smtp transport, it +specifies a collection of expected server certificates. +These may be +the system default set (depending on library version), +a file, +or (depending on library version) a directory. +The client verifies the server’s certificate +against this collection, taking into account any revoked certificates that are +in the list defined by . +Failure to verify fails the TLS connection unless either of the + or options are set. + + +The and options restrict +certificate verification to the listed servers. Verification either must +or need not succeed respectively. + + +The option lists hosts for which additional +checks are made: that the host name (the one in the DNS A record) +is valid for the certificate. +The option defaults to always checking. + + +The smtp transport has two OCSP-related options: +; a host-list for which a Certificate Status +is requested and required for the connection to proceed. The default +value is empty. +; a host-list for which (additionally) +a Certificate Status is requested (but not necessarily verified). The default +value is "*" meaning that requests are made unless configured +otherwise. + + +The host(s) should also be in , and + configured for the transport, +for OCSP to be relevant. + + +If + is set on the smtp transport, it must contain a +list of permitted cipher suites. If either of these checks fails, delivery to +the current host is abandoned, and the smtp transport tries to deliver to +alternative hosts, if any. + + + Note: +These options must be set in the smtp transport for Exim to use TLS when it +is operating as a client. Exim does not assume that a server certificate (set +by the global options of the same name) should also be used when operating as a +client. + + + +$host + + +$host_address + +All the TLS options in the smtp transport are expanded before use, with +$host and $host_address containing the name and address of the server to +which the client is connected. Forced failure of an expansion causes Exim to +behave as if the relevant option were unset. + + + +$tls_out_bits + + +$tls_out_cipher + + +$tls_out_peerdn + + +$tls_out_sni + +Before an SMTP connection is established, the +$tls_out_bits, $tls_out_cipher, $tls_out_peerdn and $tls_out_sni +variables are emptied. (Until the first connection, they contain the values +that were set when the message was received.) If STARTTLS is subsequently +successfully obeyed, these variables are set to the relevant values for the +outgoing connection. + +
+
+Use of TLS Server Name Indication + + +TLS +Server Name Indication + + +$tls_in_sni + + + + +With TLS1.0 or above, there is an extension mechanism by which extra +information can be included at various points in the protocol. One of these +extensions, documented in RFC 6066 (and before that RFC 4366) is +Server Name Indication, commonly SNI. This extension is sent by the +client in the initial handshake, so that the server can examine the servername +within and possibly choose to use different certificates and keys (and more) +for this session. + + +This is analogous to HTTP’s Host: header, and is the main mechanism by +which HTTPS-enabled web-sites can be virtual-hosted, many sites to one IP +address. + + +With SMTP to MX, there are the same problems here as in choosing the identity +against which to validate a certificate: you can’t rely on insecure DNS to +provide the identity which you then cryptographically verify. So this will +be of limited use in that environment. + + +With SMTP to Submission, there is a well-defined hostname which clients are +connecting to and can validate certificates against. Thus clients can +choose to include this information in the TLS negotiation. If this becomes +wide-spread, then hosters can choose to present different certificates to +different clients. Or even negotiate different cipher suites. + + +The option on an SMTP transport is an expanded string; the result, +if not empty, will be sent on a TLS session as part of the handshake. There’s +nothing more to it. Choosing a sensible value not derived insecurely is the +only point of caution. The $tls_out_sni variable will be set to this string +for the lifetime of the client connection (including during authentication). + + +Except during SMTP client sessions, if $tls_in_sni is set then it is a string +received from a client. +It can be logged with the item +tls_sni. + + +If the string tls_in_sni appears in the main section’s +option (prior to expansion) then the following options will be re-expanded +during TLS session handshake, to permit alternative values to be chosen: + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Great care should be taken to deal with matters of case, various injection +attacks in the string (../ or SQL), and ensuring that a valid filename +can always be referenced; it is important to remember that $tls_in_sni is +arbitrary unverified data provided prior to authentication. +Further, the initial certificate is loaded before SNI is arrived, so +an expansion for must have a default which is used +when $tls_in_sni is empty. + + +The Exim developers are proceeding cautiously and so far no other TLS options +are re-expanded. + + +When Exim is built against OpenSSL, OpenSSL must have been built with support +for TLS Extensions. This holds true for OpenSSL 1.0.0+ and 0.9.8+ with +enable-tlsext in EXTRACONFIGURE. If you invoke openssl s_client -h and +see -servername in the output, then OpenSSL has support. + + +When Exim is built against GnuTLS, SNI support is available as of GnuTLS +0.5.10. (Its presence predates the current API which Exim uses, so if Exim +built, then you have SNI support). + +
+
+Multiple messages on the same encrypted TCP/IP connection + + +multiple SMTP deliveries with TLS + + +TLS +multiple message deliveries + +Exim sends multiple messages down the same TCP/IP connection by starting up +an entirely new delivery process for each message, passing the socket from +one process to the next. This implementation does not fit well with the use +of TLS, because there is quite a lot of state information associated with a TLS +connection, not just a socket identification. Passing all the state information +to a new process is not feasible. Consequently, for sending using TLS Exim +starts an additional proxy process for handling the encryption, piping the +unencrypted data stream from and to the delivery processes. + + +An older mode of operation can be enabled on a per-host basis by the + option on the smtp transport. If the host matches +this list the proxy process described above is not used; instead Exim +shuts down an existing TLS session being run by the delivery process +before passing the socket to a new process. The new process may then +try to start a new TLS session, and if successful, may try to re-authenticate +if AUTH is in use, before sending the next message. + + +The RFC is not clear as to whether or not an SMTP session continues in clear +after TLS has been shut down, or whether TLS may be restarted again later, as +just described. However, if the server is Exim, this shutdown and +reinitialization works. It is not known which (if any) other servers operate +successfully if the client closes a TLS session and continues with unencrypted +SMTP, but there are certainly some that do not work. For such servers, Exim +should not pass the socket to another process, because the failure of the +subsequent attempt to use it would cause Exim to record a temporary host error, +and delay other deliveries to that host. + + +To test for this case, Exim sends an EHLO command to the server after +closing down the TLS session. If this fails in any way, the connection is +closed instead of being passed to a new delivery process, but no retry +information is recorded. + + +There is also a manual override; you can set on the +smtp transport to match those hosts for which Exim should not pass +connections to new processes if TLS has been used. + +
+
+Certificates and all that + + +certificate +references to discussion + +In order to understand fully how TLS works, you need to know about +certificates, certificate signing, and certificate authorities. +This is a large topic and an introductory guide is unsuitable for the Exim +reference manual, so instead we provide pointers to existing documentation. + + +The Apache web-server was for a long time the canonical guide, so their +documentation is a good place to start; their SSL module’s Introduction +document is currently at + + +https://httpd.apache.org/docs/current/ssl/ssl_intro.html + + +and their FAQ is at + + +https://httpd.apache.org/docs/current/ssl/ssl_faq.html + + +Eric Rescorla’s book, SSL and TLS, published by Addison-Wesley (ISBN +0-201-61598-3) in 2001, contains both introductory and more in-depth +descriptions. +More recently Ivan Ristić’s book Bulletproof SSL and TLS, +published by Feisty Duck (ISBN 978-1907117046) in 2013 is good. +Ivan is the author of the popular TLS testing tools at +https://www.ssllabs.com/. + +
+
+Certificate chains + +The file named by may contain more than one +certificate. This is useful in the case where the certificate that is being +sent is validated by an intermediate certificate which the other end does +not have. Multiple certificates must be in the correct order in the file. +First the host’s certificate itself, then the first intermediate +certificate to validate the issuer of the host certificate, then the next +intermediate certificate to validate the issuer of the first intermediate +certificate, and so on, until finally (optionally) the root certificate. +The root certificate must already be trusted by the recipient for +validation to succeed, of course, but if it’s not preinstalled, sending the +root certificate along with the rest makes it available for the user to +install if the receiving end is a client MUA that can interact with a user. + + +Note that certificates using MD5 are unlikely to work on today’s Internet; +even if your libraries allow loading them for use in Exim when acting as a +server, increasingly clients will not accept such certificates. The error +diagnostics in such a case can be frustratingly vague. + +
+
+Self-signed certificates + + +certificate +self-signed + +You can create a self-signed certificate using the req command provided +with OpenSSL, like this: + + +openssl req -x509 -newkey rsa:1024 -keyout file1 -out file2 \ + -days 9999 -nodes + + +file1 and file2 can be the same file; the key and the certificate are +delimited and so can be identified independently. The option +specifies a period for which the certificate is valid. The option is +important: if you do not set it, the key is encrypted with a passphrase +that you are prompted for, and any use that is made of the key causes more +prompting for the passphrase. This is not helpful if you are going to use +this certificate and key in an MTA, where prompting is not possible. + + +NB: we are now past the point where 9999 days takes us past the 32-bit Unix +epoch. If your system uses unsigned time_t (most do) and is 32-bit, then +the above command might produce a date in the past. Think carefully about +the lifetime of the systems you’re deploying, and either reduce the duration +of the certificate or reconsider your platform deployment. (At time of +writing, reducing the duration is the most likely choice, but the inexorable +progression of time takes us steadily towards an era where this will not +be a sensible resolution). + + +A self-signed certificate made in this way is sufficient for testing, and +may be adequate for all your requirements if you are mainly interested in +encrypting transfers, and not in secure identification. + + +However, many clients require that the certificate presented by the server be a +user (also called leaf or site) certificate, and not a self-signed +certificate. In this situation, the self-signed certificate described above +must be installed on the client host as a trusted root certification +authority (CA), and the certificate used by Exim must be a user certificate +signed with that self-signed certificate. + + +For information on creating self-signed CA certificates and using them to sign +user certificates, see the General implementation overview chapter of the +Open-source PKI book, available online at +https://sourceforge.net/projects/ospkibook/. + + + +
+
+DANE + + +DANE + +DNS-based Authentication of Named Entities, as applied to SMTP over TLS, provides assurance to a client that +it is actually talking to the server it wants to rather than some attacker operating a Man In The Middle (MITM) +operation. The latter can terminate the TLS connection you make, and make another one to the server (so both +you and the server still think you have an encrypted connection) and, if one of the "well known" set of +Certificate Authorities has been suborned - something which *has* been seen already (2014), a verifiable +certificate (if you’re using normal root CAs, eg. the Mozilla set, as your trust anchors). + + +What DANE does is replace the CAs with the DNS as the trust anchor. The assurance is limited to a) the possibility +that the DNS has been suborned, b) mistakes made by the admins of the target server. The attack surface presented +by (a) is thought to be smaller than that of the set of root CAs. + + +It also allows the server to declare (implicitly) that connections to it should use TLS. An MITM could simply +fail to pass on a server’s STARTTLS. + + +DANE scales better than having to maintain (and side-channel communicate) copies of server certificates +for every possible target server. It also scales (slightly) better than having to maintain on an SMTP +client a copy of the standard CAs bundle. It also means not having to pay a CA for certificates. + + +DANE requires a server operator to do three things: 1) run DNSSEC. This provides assurance to clients +that DNS lookups they do for the server have not been tampered with. The domain MX record applying +to this server, its A record, its TLSA record and any associated CNAME records must all be covered by +DNSSEC. +2) add TLSA DNS records. These say what the server certificate for a TLS connection should be. +3) offer a server certificate, or certificate chain, in TLS connections which is is anchored by one of the TLSA records. + + +There are no changes to Exim specific to server-side operation of DANE. +Support for client-side operation of DANE can be included at compile time by defining SUPPORT_DANE=yes +in Local/Makefile. +If it has been included, the macro "_HAVE_DANE" will be defined. + + +The TLSA record for the server may have "certificate usage" of DANE-TA(2) or DANE-EE(3). +These are the "Trust Anchor" and "End Entity" variants. +The latter specifies the End Entity directly, i.e. the certificate involved is that of the server +(and if only DANE-EE is used then it should be the sole one transmitted during the TLS handshake); +this is appropriate for a single system, using a self-signed certificate. +DANE-TA usage is effectively declaring a specific CA to be used; this might be a private CA or a public, +well-known one. +A private CA at simplest is just a self-signed certificate (with certain +attributes) which is used to sign server certificates, but running one securely +does require careful arrangement. +With DANE-TA, as implemented in Exim and commonly in other MTAs, +the server TLS handshake must transmit the entire certificate chain from CA to server-certificate. +DANE-TA is commonly used for several services and/or servers, each having a TLSA query-domain CNAME record, +all of which point to a single TLSA record. +DANE-TA and DANE-EE can both be used together. + + +Our recommendation is to use DANE with a certificate from a public CA, +because this enables a variety of strategies for remote clients to verify +your certificate. +You can then publish information both via DANE and another technology, +"MTA-STS", described below. + + +When you use DANE-TA to publish trust anchor information, you ask entities +outside your administrative control to trust the Certificate Authority for +connections to you. +If using a private CA then you should expect others to still apply the +technical criteria they’d use for a public CA to your certificates. +In particular, you should probably try to follow current best practices for CA +operation around hash algorithms and key sizes. +Do not expect other organizations to lower their security expectations just +because a particular profile might be reasonable for your own internal use. + + +When this text was last updated, this in practice means to avoid use of SHA-1 +and MD5; if using RSA to use key sizes of at least 2048 bits (and no larger +than 4096, for interoperability); to use keyUsage fields correctly; to use +random serial numbers. +The list of requirements is subject to change as best practices evolve. +If you’re not already using a private CA, or it doesn’t meet these +requirements, then we encourage you to avoid all these issues and use a public +CA such as Let’s Encrypt instead. + + +The TLSA record should have a Selector field of SPKI(1) and a Matching Type field of SHA2-512(2). + + +At the time of writing, https://www.huque.com/bin/gen_tlsa +is useful for quickly generating TLSA records; and commands like + + + openssl x509 -in -pubkey -noout <certificate.pem \ + | openssl rsa -outform der -pubin 2>/dev/null \ + | openssl sha512 \ + | awk '{print $2}' + + +are workable for 4th-field hashes. + + +For use with the DANE-TA model, server certificates must have a correct name (SubjectName or SubjectAltName). + + +The Certificate issued by the CA published in the DANE-TA model should be +issued using a strong hash algorithm. +Exim, and importantly various other MTAs sending to you, will not +re-enable hash algorithms which have been disabled by default in TLS +libraries. +This means no MD5 and no SHA-1. SHA2-256 is the minimum for reliable +interoperability (and probably the maximum too, in 2018). + + +The use of OCSP-stapling should be considered, allowing for fast revocation of certificates (which would otherwise +be limited by the DNS TTL on the TLSA records). However, this is likely to only be usable with DANE-TA. NOTE: the +default of requesting OCSP for all hosts is modified iff DANE is in use, to: + + + hosts_request_ocsp = ${if or { {= {0}{$tls_out_tlsa_usage}} \ + {= {4}{$tls_out_tlsa_usage}} } \ + {*}{}} + + +The (new) variable $tls_out_tlsa_usage is a bitfield with numbered bits set for TLSA record usage codes. +The zero above means DANE was not in use, the four means that only DANE-TA usage TLSA records were +found. If the definition of includes the +string "tls_out_tlsa_usage", they are re-expanded in time to +control the OCSP request. + + +This modification of hosts_request_ocsp is only done if it has the default value of "*". Admins who change it, and +those who use , should consider the interaction with DANE in their OCSP settings. + + +For client-side DANE there are three new smtp transport options, , +and . +The require variant will result in failure if the target host is not DNSSEC-secured. + + +DANE will only be usable if the target host has DNSSEC-secured MX, A and TLSA records. + + +A TLSA lookup will be done if either of the above options match and the host-lookup succeeded using dnssec. +If a TLSA lookup is done and succeeds, a DANE-verified TLS connection +will be required for the host. If it does not, the host will not +be used; there is no fallback to non-DANE or non-TLS. + + +If DANE is requested and usable, then the TLS cipher list configuration +prefers to use the option and falls +back to only if that is unset. +This lets you configure "decent crypto" for DANE and "better than nothing +crypto" as the default. Note though that while GnuTLS lets the string control +which versions of TLS/SSL will be negotiated, OpenSSL does not and you’re +limited to ciphersuite constraints. + + +If DANE is requested and useable (see above) the following transport options are ignored: + + + hosts_require_tls + tls_verify_hosts + tls_try_verify_hosts + tls_verify_certificates + tls_crl + tls_verify_cert_hostnames + + +If DANE is not usable, whether requested or not, and CA-anchored +verification evaluation is wanted, the above variables should be set appropriately. + + +Currently the must be active and is ignored. + + +If verification was successful using DANE then the "CV" item in the delivery log line will show as "CV=dane". + + +There is a new variable $tls_out_dane which will have "yes" if +verification succeeded using DANE and "no" otherwise (only useful +in combination with events; see ), +and a new variable $tls_out_tlsa_usage (detailed above). + + + +DANE +reporting + +An event (see ) of type "dane:fail" will be raised on failures +to achieve DANE-verified connection, if one was either requested and offered, or +required. This is intended to support TLS-reporting as defined in +https://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-ietf-uta-smtp-tlsrpt-17. +The $event_data will be one of the Result Types defined in +Section 4.3 of that document. + + +Under GnuTLS, DANE is only supported from version 3.0.0 onwards. + + +DANE is specified in published RFCs and decouples certificate authority trust +selection from a "race to the bottom" of "you must trust everything for mail +to get through". There is an alternative technology called MTA-STS, which +instead publishes MX trust anchor information on an HTTPS website. At the +time this text was last updated, MTA-STS was still a draft, not yet an RFC. +Exim has no support for MTA-STS as a client, but Exim mail server operators +can choose to publish information describing their TLS configuration using +MTA-STS to let those clients who do use that protocol derive trust +information. + + +The MTA-STS design requires a certificate from a public Certificate Authority +which is recognized by clients sending to you. +That selection of which CAs are trusted by others is outside your control. + + +The most interoperable course of action is probably to use +Let’s Encrypt, with automated certificate +renewal; to publish the anchor information in DNSSEC-secured DNS via TLSA +records for DANE clients (such as Exim and Postfix) and to publish anchor +information for MTA-STS as well. This is what is done for the exim.org +domain itself (with caveats around occasionally broken MTA-STS because of +incompatible specification changes prior to reaching RFC status). + +
+ + + +Access control lists + + +access control lists (ACLs) +description + + +control of incoming mail + + +message +controlling incoming + + +policy control +access control lists + +Access Control Lists (ACLs) are defined in a separate section of the runtime +configuration file, headed by begin acl. Each ACL definition starts with a +name, terminated by a colon. Here is a complete ACL section that contains just +one very small ACL: + + +begin acl +small_acl: + accept hosts = one.host.only + + +You can have as many lists as you like in the ACL section, and the order in +which they appear does not matter. The lists are self-terminating. + + +The majority of ACLs are used to control Exim’s behaviour when it receives +certain SMTP commands. This applies both to incoming TCP/IP connections, and +when a local process submits a message using SMTP by specifying the +option. The most common use is for controlling which recipients are accepted +in incoming messages. In addition, you can define an ACL that is used to check +local non-SMTP messages. The default configuration file contains an example of +a realistic ACL for checking RCPT commands. This is discussed in chapter +. + +
+Testing ACLs + +The command line option provides a way of testing your ACL +configuration locally by running a fake SMTP session with which you interact. + +
+
+Specifying when ACLs are used + + +access control lists (ACLs) +options for specifying + +In order to cause an ACL to be used, you have to name it in one of the relevant +options in the main part of the configuration. These options are: + +AUTH +ACL for + + +DATA +ACLs for + + +ETRN +ACL for + + +EXPN +ACL for + + +HELO +ACL for + + +EHLO +ACL for + + +DKIM +ACL for + + +MAIL +ACL for + + +QUIT, ACL for + + +RCPT +ACL for + + +STARTTLS, ACL for + + +VRFY +ACL for + + +SMTP +connection, ACL for + + +non-SMTP messages +ACLs for + + +MIME content scanning +ACL for + + +PRDR +ACL for + + + + + + + + +     +ACL for non-SMTP messages + + +     +ACL for non-SMTP MIME parts + + +     +ACL at start of non-SMTP message + + +     +ACL for AUTH + + +     +ACL for start of SMTP connection + + +     +ACL after DATA is complete + + +     +ACL for each recipient, after DATA is complete + + +     +ACL for each DKIM signer + + +     +ACL for ETRN + + +     +ACL for EXPN + + +     +ACL for HELO or EHLO + + +     +ACL for MAIL + + +     +ACL for the AUTH parameter of MAIL + + +     +ACL for content-scanning MIME parts + + +     +ACL for non-QUIT terminations + + +     +ACL at start of DATA command + + +     +ACL for QUIT + + +     +ACL for RCPT + + +     +ACL for STARTTLS + + +     +ACL for VRFY + + + + + +For example, if you set + + +acl_smtp_rcpt = small_acl + + +the little ACL defined above is used whenever Exim receives a RCPT command +in an SMTP dialogue. The majority of policy tests on incoming messages can be +done when RCPT commands arrive. A rejection of RCPT should cause the +sending MTA to give up on the recipient address contained in the RCPT +command, whereas rejection at other times may cause the client MTA to keep on +trying to deliver the message. It is therefore recommended that you do as much +testing as possible at RCPT time. + +
+
+The non-SMTP ACLs + + +non-SMTP messages +ACLs for + +The non-SMTP ACLs apply to all non-interactive incoming messages, that is, they +apply to batched SMTP as well as to non-SMTP messages. (Batched SMTP is not +really SMTP.) Many of the ACL conditions (for example, host tests, and tests on +the state of the SMTP connection such as encryption and authentication) are not +relevant and are forbidden in these ACLs. However, the sender and recipients +are known, so the and conditions and the +$sender_address and $recipients variables can be used. Variables such as +$authenticated_sender are also available. You can specify added header lines +in any of these ACLs. + + +The ACL is run right at the start of receiving a +non-SMTP message, before any of the message has been read. (This is the +analogue of the ACL for SMTP input.) In the case of +batched SMTP input, it runs after the DATA command has been reached. The +result of this ACL is ignored; it cannot be used to reject a message. If you +really need to, you could set a value in an ACL variable here and reject based +on that in the ACL. However, this ACL can be used to set +controls, and in particular, it can be used to set + + +control = suppress_local_fixups + + +This cannot be used in the other non-SMTP ACLs because by the time they are +run, it is too late. + + +The ACL is available only when Exim is compiled with the +content-scanning extension. For details, see chapter . + + +The ACL is run just before the local_scan() function. Any +kind of rejection is treated as permanent, because there is no way of sending a +temporary error for these kinds of message. + +
+
+The SMTP connect ACL + + +SMTP +connection, ACL for + + + + +The ACL test specified by happens at the start of an SMTP +session, after the test specified by (which is now +an anomaly) and any TCP Wrappers testing (if configured). If the connection is +accepted by an verb that has a modifier, the contents of +the message override the banner message that is otherwise specified by the + option. + +
+
+The EHLO/HELO ACL + + +EHLO +ACL for + + +HELO +ACL for + +The ACL test specified by happens when the client issues an +EHLO or HELO command, after the tests specified by , +, , and . +Note that a client may issue more than one EHLO or HELO command in an SMTP +session, and indeed is required to issue a new EHLO or HELO after successfully +setting up encryption following a STARTTLS command. + + +Note also that a deny neither forces the client to go away nor means that +mail will be refused on the connection. Consider checking for +$sender_helo_name being defined in a MAIL or RCPT ACL to do that. + + +If the command is accepted by an verb that has a +modifier, the message may not contain more than one line (it will be truncated +at the first newline and a panic logged if it does). Such a message cannot +affect the EHLO options that are listed on the second and subsequent lines of +an EHLO response. + +
+
+The DATA ACLs + + +DATA +ACLs for + +Two ACLs are associated with the DATA command, because it is two-stage +command, with two responses being sent to the client. +When the DATA command is received, the ACL defined by +is obeyed. This gives you control after all the RCPT commands, but before +the message itself is received. It offers the opportunity to give a negative +response to the DATA command before the data is transmitted. Header lines +added by MAIL or RCPT ACLs are not visible at this time, but any that +are defined here are visible when the ACL is run. + + +You cannot test the contents of the message, for example, to verify addresses +in the headers, at RCPT time or when the DATA command is received. Such +tests have to appear in the ACL that is run after the message itself has been +received, before the final response to the DATA command is sent. This is +the ACL specified by , which is the second ACL that is +associated with the DATA command. + + + +CHUNKING +BDAT command + + +BDAT +SMTP command + + +RFC 3030 +CHUNKING + +If CHUNKING was advertised and a BDAT command sequence is received, +the ACL is not run. +The is run after the last BDAT command and all of +the data specified is received. + + +For both of these ACLs, it is not possible to reject individual recipients. An +error response rejects the entire message. Unfortunately, it is known that some +MTAs do not treat hard (5xx) responses to the DATA command (either +before or after the data) correctly – they keep the message on their queues +and try again later, but that is their problem, though it does waste some of +your resources. + + +The ACL is run after +the , +the +and the ACLs. + +
+
+The SMTP DKIM ACL + +The ACL is available only when Exim is compiled with DKIM support +enabled (which is the default). + + +The ACL test specified by happens after a message has been +received, and is executed for each DKIM signature found in a message. If not +otherwise specified, the default action is to accept. + + +This ACL is evaluated before and . + + +For details on the operation of DKIM, see section . + +
+
+The SMTP MIME ACL + +The option is available only when Exim is compiled with the +content-scanning extension. For details, see chapter . + + +This ACL is evaluated after but before . + +
+
+The SMTP PRDR ACL + + +PRDR +ACL for + + + + +The ACL is available only when Exim is compiled +with PRDR support enabled (which is the default). +It becomes active only when the PRDR feature is negotiated between +client and server for a message, and more than one recipient +has been accepted. + + +The ACL test specified by happens after a message +has been received, and is executed once for each recipient of the message +with $local_part and $domain valid. +The test may accept, defer or deny for individual recipients. +The will still be called after this ACL and +can reject the message overall, even if this ACL has accepted it +for some or all recipients. + + +PRDR may be used to support per-user content filtering. Without it +one must defer any recipient after the first that has a different +content-filter configuration. With PRDR, the RCPT-time check + +PRDR +variable for + +for this can be disabled when the variable $prdr_requested +is yes. +Any required difference in behaviour of the main DATA-time +ACL should however depend on the PRDR-time ACL having run, as Exim +will avoid doing so in some situations (e.g. single-recipient mails). + + +See also the global option +and the smtp transport option. + + +This ACL is evaluated after but before . +If the ACL is not defined, processing completes as if +the feature was not requested by the client. + +
+
+The QUIT ACL + + +QUIT, ACL for + +The ACL for the SMTP QUIT command is anomalous, in that the outcome of the ACL +does not affect the response code to QUIT, which is always 221. Thus, the ACL +does not in fact control any access. +For this reason, it may only accept +or warn as its final result. + + +This ACL can be used for tasks such as custom logging at the end of an SMTP +session. For example, you can use ACL variables in other ACLs to count +messages, recipients, etc., and log the totals at QUIT time using one or +more modifiers on a verb. + + +Warning: Only the $acl_cx variables can be used for this, because +the $acl_mx variables are reset at the end of each incoming message. + + +You do not need to have a final , but if you do, you can use a + modifier to specify custom text that is sent as part of the 221 +response to QUIT. + + +This ACL is run only for a normal QUIT. For certain kinds of disastrous +failure (for example, failure to open a log file, or when Exim is bombing out +because it has detected an unrecoverable error), all SMTP commands from the +client are given temporary error responses until QUIT is received or the +connection is closed. In these special cases, the QUIT ACL does not run. + +
+
+The not-QUIT ACL + + +$acl_smtp_notquit + +The not-QUIT ACL, specified by , is run in most cases when +an SMTP session ends without sending QUIT. However, when Exim itself is in bad +trouble, such as being unable to write to its log files, this ACL is not run, +because it might try to do things (such as write to log files) that make the +situation even worse. + + +Like the QUIT ACL, this ACL is provided to make it possible to do customized +logging or to gather statistics, and its outcome is ignored. The +modifier is forbidden in this ACL, and the only permitted verbs are +and . + + + +$smtp_notquit_reason + +When the not-QUIT ACL is running, the variable $smtp_notquit_reason is set +to a string that indicates the reason for the termination of the SMTP +connection. The possible values are: + + + + + + + +    acl-drop +Another ACL issued a command + + +    bad-commands +Too many unknown or non-mail commands + + +    command-timeout +Timeout while reading SMTP commands + + +    connection-lost +The SMTP connection has been lost + + +    data-timeout +Timeout while reading message data + + +    local-scan-error +The local_scan() function crashed + + +    local-scan-timeout +The local_scan() function timed out + + +    signal-exit +SIGTERM or SIGINT + + +    synchronization-error +SMTP synchronization error + + +    tls-failed +TLS failed to start + + + + + +In most cases when an SMTP connection is closed without having received QUIT, +Exim sends an SMTP response message before actually closing the connection. +With the exception of the acl-drop case, the default message can be +overridden by the modifier in the not-QUIT ACL. In the case of a + verb in another ACL, it is the message from the other ACL that is +used. + +
+
+Finding an ACL to use + + +access control lists (ACLs) +finding which to use + +The value of an xxx option is expanded before use, so +you can use different ACLs in different circumstances. For example, + + +acl_smtp_rcpt = ${if ={25}{$interface_port} \ + {acl_check_rcpt} {acl_check_rcpt_submit} } + + +In the default configuration file there are some example settings for +providing an RFC 4409 message submission service on port 587 and +an RFC 8314 submissions service on port 465. You can use a string +expansion like this to choose an ACL for MUAs on these ports which is +more appropriate for this purpose than the default ACL on port 25. + + +The expanded string does not have to be the name of an ACL in the +configuration file; there are other possibilities. Having expanded the +string, Exim searches for an ACL as follows: + + + + +If the string begins with a slash, Exim uses it as a filename, and reads its +contents as an ACL. The lines are processed in the same way as lines in the +Exim configuration file. In particular, continuation lines are supported, blank +lines are ignored, as are lines whose first non-whitespace character is #. +If the file does not exist or cannot be read, an error occurs (typically +causing a temporary failure of whatever caused the ACL to be run). For example: + + +acl_smtp_data = /etc/acls/\ + ${lookup{$sender_host_address}lsearch\ + {/etc/acllist}{$value}{default}} + + +This looks up an ACL file to use on the basis of the host’s IP address, falling +back to a default if the lookup fails. If an ACL is successfully read from a +file, it is retained in memory for the duration of the Exim process, so that it +can be re-used without having to re-read the file. + + + + +If the string does not start with a slash, and does not contain any spaces, +Exim searches the ACL section of the configuration for an ACL whose name +matches the string. + + + + +If no named ACL is found, or if the string contains spaces, Exim parses +the string as an inline ACL. This can save typing in cases where you just +want to have something like + + +acl_smtp_vrfy = accept + + +in order to allow free use of the VRFY command. Such a string may contain +newlines; it is processed in the same way as an ACL that is read from a file. + + + +
+
+ACL return codes + + +access control lists (ACLs) +return codes + +Except for the QUIT ACL, which does not affect the SMTP return code (see +section above), the result of running an ACL is either +accept or deny, or, if some test cannot be completed (for example, if a +database is down), defer. These results cause 2xx, 5xx, and 4xx +return codes, respectively, to be used in the SMTP dialogue. A fourth return, +error, occurs when there is an error such as invalid syntax in the ACL. +This also causes a 4xx return code. + + +For the non-SMTP ACL, defer and error are treated in the same way as +deny, because there is no mechanism for passing temporary errors to the +submitters of non-SMTP messages. + + +ACLs that are relevant to message reception may also return discard. This +has the effect of accept, but causes either the entire message or an +individual recipient address to be discarded. In other words, it is a +blackholing facility. Use it with care. + + +If the ACL for MAIL returns discard, all recipients are discarded, and no +ACL is run for subsequent RCPT commands. The effect of discard in a +RCPT ACL is to discard just the one recipient address. If there are no +recipients left when the message’s data is received, the DATA ACL is not +run. A discard return from the DATA or the non-SMTP ACL discards all the +remaining recipients. The discard return is not permitted for the + ACL. + + +If the ACL for VRFY returns accept, a recipient verify (without callout) +is done on the address and the result determines the SMTP response. + + + +local_scan() function +when all recipients discarded + +The local_scan() function is always run, even if there are no remaining +recipients; it may create new recipients. + +
+
+Unset ACL options + + +access control lists (ACLs) +unset options + +The default actions when any of the xxx options are unset are not +all the same. Note: These defaults apply only when the relevant ACL is +not defined at all. For any defined ACL, the default action when control +reaches the end of the ACL statements is deny. + + +For and there is no default because +these two are ACLs that are used only for their side effects. They cannot be +used to accept or reject anything. + + +For , , , +, , , , +, , and , the action +when the ACL is not defined is accept. + + +For the others (, , , and +), the action when the ACL is not defined is deny. +This means that must be defined in order to receive any +messages over an SMTP connection. For an example, see the ACL in the default +configuration file. + +
+
+Data for message ACLs + + +access control lists (ACLs) +data for message ACL + + +$domain + + +$local_part + + +$sender_address + + +$sender_host_address + + +$smtp_command + +When a MAIL or RCPT ACL, or either of the DATA ACLs, is running, the variables +that contain information about the host and the message’s sender (for example, +$sender_host_address and $sender_address) are set, and can be used in ACL +statements. In the case of RCPT (but not MAIL or DATA), $domain and +$local_part are set from the argument address. The entire SMTP command +is available in $smtp_command. + + +When an ACL for the AUTH parameter of MAIL is running, the variables that +contain information about the host are set, but $sender_address is not yet +set. Section contains a discussion of this parameter and +how it is used. + + + +$message_size + +The $message_size variable is set to the value of the SIZE parameter on +the MAIL command at MAIL, RCPT and pre-data time, or to -1 if +that parameter is not given. The value is updated to the true message size by +the time the final DATA ACL is run (after the message data has been +received). + + + +$rcpt_count + + +$recipients_count + +The $rcpt_count variable increases by one for each RCPT command received. +The $recipients_count variable increases by one each time a RCPT command is +accepted, so while an ACL for RCPT is being processed, it contains the number +of previously accepted recipients. At DATA time (for both the DATA ACLs), +$rcpt_count contains the total number of RCPT commands, and +$recipients_count contains the total number of accepted recipients. + +
+
+Data for non-message ACLs + + +access control lists (ACLs) +data for non-message ACL + + +$smtp_command_argument + + +$smtp_command + +When an ACL is being run for AUTH, EHLO, ETRN, EXPN, HELO, STARTTLS, or VRFY, +the remainder of the SMTP command line is placed in $smtp_command_argument, +and the entire SMTP command is available in $smtp_command. +These variables can be tested using a condition. For example, +here is an ACL for use with AUTH, which insists that either the session is +encrypted, or the CRAM-MD5 authentication method is used. In other words, it +does not permit authentication methods that use cleartext passwords on +unencrypted connections. + + +acl_check_auth: + accept encrypted = * + accept condition = ${if eq{${uc:$smtp_command_argument}}\ + {CRAM-MD5}} + deny message = TLS encryption or CRAM-MD5 required + + +(Another way of applying this restriction is to arrange for the authenticators +that use cleartext passwords not to be advertised when the connection is not +encrypted. You can use the generic authenticator +option to do this.) + +
+
+Format of an ACL + + +access control lists (ACLs) +format of + + +access control lists (ACLs) +verbs, definition of + +An individual ACL consists of a number of statements. Each statement starts +with a verb, optionally followed by a number of conditions and modifiers. +Modifiers can change the way the verb operates, define error and log messages, +set variables, insert delays, and vary the processing of accepted messages. + + +If all the conditions are met, the verb is obeyed. The same condition may be +used (with different arguments) more than once in the same statement. This +provides a means of specifying an and conjunction between conditions. For +example: + + +deny dnslists = list1.example + dnslists = list2.example + + +If there are no conditions, the verb is always obeyed. Exim stops evaluating +the conditions and modifiers when it reaches a condition that fails. What +happens then depends on the verb (and in one case, on a special modifier). Not +all the conditions make sense at every testing point. For example, you cannot +test a sender address in the ACL that is run for a VRFY command. + +
+
+ACL verbs + +The ACL verbs are as follows: + + + + + + ACL verb + +: If all the conditions are met, the ACL returns accept. If any +of the conditions are not met, what happens depends on whether +appears among the conditions (for syntax see below). If the failing condition +is before , control is passed to the next ACL statement; if it is +after , the ACL returns deny. Consider this statement, used to +check a RCPT command: + + +accept domains = +local_domains + endpass + verify = recipient + + +If the recipient domain does not match the condition, control +passes to the next statement. If it does match, the recipient is verified, and +the command is accepted if verification succeeds. However, if verification +fails, the ACL yields deny, because the failing condition is after +. + + +The feature has turned out to be confusing to many people, so its +use is not recommended nowadays. It is always possible to rewrite an ACL so +that is not needed, and it is no longer used in the default +configuration. + + + + ACL modifier +with + +If a modifier appears on an statement, its action +depends on whether or not is present. In the absence of +(when an verb either accepts or passes control to the next +statement), can be used to vary the message that is sent when an +SMTP command is accepted. For example, in a RCPT ACL you could have: + + +accept <some conditions> + message = OK, I will allow you through today + + +You can specify an SMTP response code, optionally followed by an extended +response code at the start of the message, but the first digit must be the +same as would be sent by default, which is 2 for an verb. + + +If is present in an statement, specifies +an error message that is used when access is denied. This behaviour is retained +for backward compatibility, but current best practice is to avoid the use +of . + + + + + + ACL verb + +: If all the conditions are true, the ACL returns defer which, in +an SMTP session, causes a 4xx response to be given. For a non-SMTP ACL, + is the same as , because there is no way of sending a +temporary error. For a RCPT command, is much the same as using a +redirect router and :defer: while verifying, but the verb can +be used in any ACL, and even for a recipient it might be a simpler approach. + + + + + + ACL verb + +: If all the conditions are met, the ACL returns deny. If any of +the conditions are not met, control is passed to the next ACL statement. For +example, + + +deny dnslists = blackholes.mail-abuse.org + + +rejects commands from hosts that are on a DNS black list. + + + + + + ACL verb + +: This verb behaves like , except that it returns +discard from the ACL instead of accept. It is permitted only on ACLs +that are concerned with receiving messages. When all the conditions are true, +the sending entity receives a success response. However, causes +recipients to be discarded. If it is used in an ACL for RCPT, just the one +recipient is discarded; if used for MAIL, DATA or in the non-SMTP ACL, all the +message’s recipients are discarded. Recipients that are discarded before DATA +do not appear in the log line when the log selector is set. + + +If the modifier is set when operates, +its contents are added to the line that is automatically written to the log. +The modifier operates exactly as it does for . + + + + + + ACL verb + +: This verb behaves like , except that an SMTP connection is +forcibly closed after the 5xx error message has been sent. For example: + + +drop message = I don't take more than 20 RCPTs + condition = ${if > {$rcpt_count}{20}} + + +There is no difference between and for the connect-time ACL. +The connection is always dropped after sending a 550 response. + + + + + + ACL verb + +: If all the conditions are met, control is passed to the next ACL +statement. If any of the conditions are not met, the ACL returns deny. For +example, when checking a RCPT command, + + +require message = Sender did not verify + verify = sender + + +passes control to subsequent statements only if the message’s sender can be +verified. Otherwise, it rejects the command. Note the positioning of the + modifier, before the condition. The reason for this is +discussed in section . + + + + + + ACL verb + +: If all the conditions are true, a line specified by the + modifier is written to Exim’s main log. Control always passes +to the next ACL statement. If any condition is false, the log line is not +written. If an identical log line is requested several times in the same +message, only one copy is actually written to the log. If you want to force +duplicates to be written, use the modifier instead. + + +If is not present, a verb just checks its conditions +and obeys any immediate modifiers (such as , , +, , and ) that appear before the +first failing condition. There is more about adding header lines in section +. + + +If any condition on a statement cannot be completed (that is, there is +some sort of defer), the log line specified by is not written. +This does not include the case of a forced failure from a lookup, which +is considered to be a successful completion. After a defer, no further +conditions or modifiers in the statement are processed. The incident +is logged, and the ACL continues to be processed, from the next statement +onwards. + + + +$acl_verify_message + +When one of the conditions is an address verification that fails, the +text of the verification failure message is in $acl_verify_message. If you +want this logged, you must set it up explicitly. For example: + + +warn !verify = sender + log_message = sender verify failed: $acl_verify_message + + + + +At the end of each ACL there is an implicit unconditional . + + +As you can see from the examples above, the conditions and modifiers are +written one to a line, with the first one on the same line as the verb, and +subsequent ones on following lines. If you have a very long condition, you can +continue it onto several physical lines by the usual backslash continuation +mechanism. It is conventional to align the conditions vertically. + +
+
+ACL variables + + +access control lists (ACLs) +variables + +There are some special variables that can be set during ACL processing. They +can be used to pass information between different ACLs, different invocations +of the same ACL in the same SMTP connection, and between ACLs and the routers, +transports, and filters that are used to deliver a message. The names of these +variables must begin with $acl_c or $acl_m, followed either by a digit or +an underscore, but the remainder of the name can be any sequence of +alphanumeric characters and underscores that you choose. There is no limit on +the number of ACL variables. The two sets act as follows: + + + + +The values of those variables whose names begin with $acl_c persist +throughout an SMTP connection. They are never reset. Thus, a value that is set +while receiving one message is still available when receiving the next message +on the same SMTP connection. + + + + +The values of those variables whose names begin with $acl_m persist only +while a message is being received. They are reset afterwards. They are also +reset by MAIL, RSET, EHLO, HELO, and after starting up a TLS session. + + + + +When a message is accepted, the current values of all the ACL variables are +preserved with the message and are subsequently made available at delivery +time. The ACL variables are set by a modifier called . For example: + + +accept hosts = whatever + set acl_m4 = some value +accept authenticated = * + set acl_c_auth = yes + + +Note: A leading dollar sign is not used when naming a variable that is to +be set. If you want to set a variable without taking any action, you can use a + verb without any other modifiers or conditions. + + + + + +What happens if a syntactically valid but undefined ACL variable is +referenced depends on the setting of the option. If it is +false (the default), an empty string is substituted; if it is true, an +error is generated. + + +Versions of Exim before 4.64 have a limited set of numbered variables, but +their names are compatible, so there is no problem with upgrading. + +
+
+Condition and modifier processing + + +access control lists (ACLs) +conditions; processing + + +access control lists (ACLs) +modifiers; processing + +An exclamation mark preceding a condition negates its result. For example: + + +deny domains = *.dom.example + !verify = recipient + + +causes the ACL to return deny if the recipient domain ends in +dom.example and the recipient address cannot be verified. Sometimes +negation can be used on the right-hand side of a condition. For example, these +two statements are equivalent: + + +deny hosts = !192.168.3.4 +deny !hosts = 192.168.3.4 + + +However, for many conditions ( being a good example), only left-hand +side negation of the whole condition is possible. + + +The arguments of conditions and modifiers are expanded. A forced failure +of an expansion causes a condition to be ignored, that is, it behaves as if the +condition is true. Consider these two statements: + + +accept senders = ${lookup{$host_name}lsearch\ + {/some/file}{$value}fail} +accept senders = ${lookup{$host_name}lsearch\ + {/some/file}{$value}{}} + + +Each attempts to look up a list of acceptable senders. If the lookup succeeds, +the returned list is searched, but if the lookup fails the behaviour is +different in the two cases. The in the first statement causes the +condition to be ignored, leaving no further conditions. The verb +therefore succeeds. The second statement, however, generates an empty list when +the lookup fails. No sender can match an empty list, so the condition fails, +and therefore the also fails. + + +ACL modifiers appear mixed in with conditions in ACL statements. Some of them +specify actions that are taken as the conditions for a statement are checked; +others specify text for messages that are used when access is denied or a +warning is generated. The modifier affects the way an incoming +message is handled. + + +The positioning of the modifiers in an ACL statement is important, because the +processing of a verb ceases as soon as its outcome is known. Only those +modifiers that have already been encountered will take effect. For example, +consider this use of the modifier: + + +require message = Can't verify sender + verify = sender + message = Can't verify recipient + verify = recipient + message = This message cannot be used + + +If sender verification fails, Exim knows that the result of the statement is +deny, so it goes no further. The first modifier has been seen, +so its text is used as the error message. If sender verification succeeds, but +recipient verification fails, the second message is used. If recipient +verification succeeds, the third message becomes current, but is never used +because there are no more conditions to cause failure. + + +For the verb, on the other hand, it is always the last +modifier that is used, because all the conditions must be true for rejection to +happen. Specifying more than one modifier does not make sense, and +the message can even be specified after all the conditions. For example: + + +deny hosts = ... + !senders = *@my.domain.example + message = Invalid sender from client host + + +The deny result does not happen until the end of the statement is reached, +by which time Exim has set up the message. + +
+
+ACL modifiers + + +access control lists (ACLs) +modifiers; list of + +The ACL modifiers are as follows: + + + +add_header = <text> + + +This modifier specifies one or more header lines that are to be added to an +incoming message, assuming, of course, that the message is ultimately +accepted. For details, see section . + + + +continue = <text> + + + + ACL modifier + + +database +updating in ACL + +This modifier does nothing of itself, and processing of the ACL always +continues with the next condition or modifier. The value of is in +the side effects of expanding its argument. Typically this could be used to +update a database. It is really just a syntactic tidiness, to avoid having to +write rather ugly lines like this: + + +condition = ${if eq{0}{<some expansion>}{true}{true}} + + +Instead, all you need is + + +continue = <some expansion> + + + +control = <text> + + + + ACL modifier + +This modifier affects the subsequent processing of the SMTP connection or of an +incoming message that is accepted. The effect of the first type of control +lasts for the duration of the connection, whereas the effect of the second type +lasts only until the current message has been received. The message-specific +controls always apply to the whole message, not to individual recipients, +even if the modifier appears in a RCPT ACL. + + +As there are now quite a few controls that can be applied, they are described +separately in section . The modifier can be used +in several different ways. For example: + + + + +It can be at the end of an statement: + + + accept ...some conditions + control = queue_only + + +In this case, the control is applied when this statement yields accept, in +other words, when the conditions are all true. + + + + +It can be in the middle of an statement: + + + accept ...some conditions... + control = queue_only + ...some more conditions... + + +If the first set of conditions are true, the control is applied, even if the +statement does not accept because one of the second set of conditions is false. +In this case, some subsequent statement must yield accept for the control +to be relevant. + + + + +It can be used with to apply the control, leaving the +decision about accepting or denying to a subsequent verb. For +example: + + + warn ...some conditions... + control = freeze + accept ... + + +This example of does not contain , , or +, so it does not add anything to the message and does not write a +log entry. + + + + +If you want to apply a control unconditionally, you can use it with a + verb. For example: + + + require control = no_multiline_responses + + + + + +delay = <time> + + + + ACL modifier + + + + +This modifier may appear in any ACL except notquit. It causes Exim to wait for +the time interval before proceeding. However, when testing Exim using the + option, the delay is not actually imposed (an appropriate message is +output instead). The time is given in the usual Exim notation, and the delay +happens as soon as the modifier is processed. In an SMTP session, pending +output is flushed before the delay is imposed. + + +Like , can be used with or , for +example: + + +deny ...some conditions... + delay = 30s + + +The delay happens if all the conditions are true, before the statement returns +deny. Compare this with: + + +deny delay = 30s + ...some conditions... + + +which waits for 30s before processing the conditions. The modifier +can also be used with and together with : + + +warn ...some conditions... + delay = 2m + control = freeze +accept ... + + +If is encountered when the SMTP PIPELINING extension is in use, +responses to several commands are no longer buffered and sent in one packet (as +they would normally be) because all output is flushed before imposing the +delay. This optimization is disabled so that a number of small delays do not +appear to the client as one large aggregated delay that might provoke an +unwanted timeout. You can, however, disable output flushing for by +using a modifier to set . + + + +endpass + + + + ACL modifier + +This modifier, which has no argument, is recognized only in and + statements. It marks the boundary between the conditions whose +failure causes control to pass to the next statement, and the conditions whose +failure causes the ACL to return deny. This concept has proved to be +confusing to some people, so the use of is no longer recommended as +best practice. See the description of above for more details. + + + +log_message = <text> + + + + ACL modifier + +This modifier sets up a message that is used as part of the log message if the +ACL denies access or a statement’s conditions are true. For example: + + +require log_message = wrong cipher suite $tls_in_cipher + encrypted = DES-CBC3-SHA + + + is also used when recipients are discarded by . For +example: + + +discard <some conditions> + log_message = Discarded $local_part@$domain because... + + +When access is denied, adds to any underlying error message +that may exist because of a condition failure. For example, while verifying a +recipient address, a :fail: redirection might have already set up a +message. + + +The message may be defined before the conditions to which it applies, because +the string expansion does not happen until Exim decides that access is to be +denied. This means that any variables that are set by the condition are +available for inclusion in the message. For example, the $dnslist_<xxx> +variables are set after a DNS black list lookup succeeds. If the expansion of + fails, or if the result is an empty string, the modifier is +ignored. + + + +$acl_verify_message + +If you want to use a statement to log the result of an address +verification, you can use $acl_verify_message to include the verification +error message. + + +If is used with a statement, Warning: is added to +the start of the logged message. If the same warning log message is requested +more than once while receiving a single email message, only one copy is +actually logged. If you want to log multiple copies, use instead +of . In the absence of and , nothing +is logged for a successful statement. + + +If is not present and there is no underlying error message (for +example, from the failure of address verification), but is present, +the text is used for logging rejections. However, if any text for +logging contains newlines, only the first line is logged. In the absence of +both and , a default built-in message is used for +logging rejections. + + + +log_reject_target = <log name list> + + + + ACL modifier + + +logging in ACL +specifying which log + +This modifier makes it possible to specify which logs are used for messages +about ACL rejections. Its argument is a colon-separated list of words that can +be main, reject, or panic. The default is main:reject. The list +may be empty, in which case a rejection is not logged at all. For example, this +ACL fragment writes no logging information when access is denied: + + +deny <some conditions> + log_reject_target = + + +This modifier can be used in SMTP and non-SMTP ACLs. It applies to both +permanent and temporary rejections. Its effect lasts for the rest of the +current ACL. + + + +logwrite = <text> + + + + ACL modifier + + +logging in ACL +immediate + +This modifier writes a message to a log file as soon as it is encountered when +processing an ACL. (Compare , which, except in the case of + and , is used only if the ACL statement denies +access.) The modifier can be used to log special incidents in +ACLs. For example: + + +accept <some special conditions> + control = freeze + logwrite = froze message because ... + + +By default, the message is written to the main log. However, it may begin +with a colon, followed by a comma-separated list of log names, and then +another colon, to specify exactly which logs are to be written. For +example: + + +logwrite = :main,reject: text for main and reject logs +logwrite = :panic: text for panic log only + + + +message = <text> + + + + ACL modifier + +This modifier sets up a text string that is expanded and used as a response +message when an ACL statement terminates the ACL with an accept, deny, +or defer response. (In the case of the and verbs, +there is some complication if is involved; see the description of + for details.) + + +The expansion of the message happens at the time Exim decides that the ACL is +to end, not at the time it processes . If the expansion fails, or +generates an empty string, the modifier is ignored. Here is an example where + must be specified first, because the ACL ends with a rejection if +the condition fails: + + +require message = Host not recognized + hosts = 10.0.0.0/8 + + +(Once a condition has failed, no further conditions or modifiers are +processed.) + + + +SMTP +error codes + + + + +For ACLs that are triggered by SMTP commands, the message is returned as part +of the SMTP response. The use of with (or ) +is meaningful only for SMTP, as no message is returned when a non-SMTP message +is accepted. In the case of the connect ACL, accepting with a message modifier +overrides the value of . For the EHLO/HELO ACL, a customized +accept message may not contain more than one line (otherwise it will be +truncated at the first newline and a panic logged), and it cannot affect the +EHLO options. + + +When SMTP is involved, the message may begin with an overriding response code, +consisting of three digits optionally followed by an extended response code +of the form n.n.n, each code being followed by a space. For example: + + +deny message = 599 1.2.3 Host not welcome + hosts = 192.168.34.0/24 + + +The first digit of the supplied response code must be the same as would be sent +by default. A panic occurs if it is not. Exim uses a 550 code when it denies +access, but for the predata ACL, note that the default success code is 354, not +2xx. + + +Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, for the QUIT ACL, unlike the others, +the message modifier cannot override the 221 response code. + + +The text in a modifier is literal; any quotes are taken as +literals, but because the string is expanded, backslash escapes are processed +anyway. If the message contains newlines, this gives rise to a multi-line SMTP +response. + + + +$acl_verify_message + +For ACLs that are called by an ACL condition, the message is +stored in $acl_verify_message, from which the calling ACL may use it. + + +If is used on a statement that verifies an address, the message +specified overrides any message that is generated by the verification process. +However, the original message is available in the variable +$acl_verify_message, so you can incorporate it into your message if you +wish. In particular, if you want the text from items in redirect +routers to be passed back as part of the SMTP response, you should either not +use a modifier, or make use of $acl_verify_message. + + +For compatibility with previous releases of Exim, a modifier that +is used with a verb behaves in a similar way to the +modifier, but this usage is now deprecated. However, acts only when +all the conditions are true, wherever it appears in an ACL command, whereas + acts as soon as it is encountered. If is used with + in an ACL that is not concerned with receiving a message, it has no +effect. + + + +queue = <text> + + + + ACL modifier + + +named queues +selecting in ACL + +This modifier specifies the use of a named queue for spool files +for the message. +It can only be used before the message is received (i.e. not in +the DATA ACL). +This could be used, for example, for known high-volume burst sources +of traffic, or for quarantine of messages. +Separate queue-runner processes will be needed for named queues. +If the text after expansion is empty, the default queue is used. + + + +remove_header = <text> + + +This modifier specifies one or more header names in a colon-separated list + that are to be removed from an incoming message, assuming, of course, that +the message is ultimately accepted. For details, see section . + + + +set <acl_name> = <value> + + + + ACL modifier + +This modifier puts a value into one of the ACL variables (see section +). + + + +udpsend = <parameters> + + + +UDP communications + +This modifier sends a UDP packet, for purposes such as statistics +collection or behaviour monitoring. The parameters are expanded, and +the result of the expansion must be a colon-separated list consisting +of a destination server, port number, and the packet contents. The +server can be specified as a host name or IPv4 or IPv6 address. The +separator can be changed with the usual angle bracket syntax. For +example, you might want to collect information on which hosts connect +when: + + +udpsend = <; 2001:dB8::dead:beef ; 1234 ;\ + $tod_zulu $sender_host_address + + + +
+
+Use of the control modifier + + + ACL modifier + +The modifier supports the following settings: + + + +control = allow_auth_unadvertised + + +This modifier allows a client host to use the SMTP AUTH command even when it +has not been advertised in response to EHLO. Furthermore, because there are +apparently some really broken clients that do this, Exim will accept AUTH after +HELO (rather than EHLO) when this control is set. It should be used only if you +really need it, and you should limit its use to those broken clients that do +not work without it. For example: + + +warn hosts = 192.168.34.25 + control = allow_auth_unadvertised + + +Normally, when an Exim server receives an AUTH command, it checks the name of +the authentication mechanism that is given in the command to ensure that it +matches an advertised mechanism. When this control is set, the check that a +mechanism has been advertised is bypassed. Any configured mechanism can be used +by the client. This control is permitted only in the connection and HELO ACLs. + + + +control = caseful_local_part +control = caselower_local_part + + + +access control lists (ACLs) +case of local part in + + +case of local parts + + +$local_part + +These two controls are permitted only in the ACL specified by +(that is, during RCPT processing). By default, the contents of $local_part +are lower cased before ACL processing. If caseful_local_part is specified, +any uppercase letters in the original local part are restored in $local_part +for the rest of the ACL, or until a control that sets caselower_local_part +is encountered. + + +These controls affect only the current recipient. Moreover, they apply only to +local part handling that takes place directly in the ACL (for example, as a key +in lookups). If a test to verify the recipient is obeyed, the case-related +handling of the local part during the verification is controlled by the router +configuration (see the generic router option). + + +This facility could be used, for example, to add a spam score to local parts +containing upper case letters. For example, using $acl_m4 to accumulate the +spam score: + + +warn control = caseful_local_part + set acl_m4 = ${eval:\ + $acl_m4 + \ + ${if match{$local_part}{[A-Z]}{1}{0}}\ + } + control = caselower_local_part + + +Notice that we put back the lower cased version afterwards, assuming that +is what is wanted for subsequent tests. + + + +control = cutthrough_delivery/<options> + + + +access control lists (ACLs) +cutthrough routing + + +cutthrough +requesting + +This option requests delivery be attempted while the item is being received. + + +The option is usable in the RCPT ACL. +If enabled for a message received via smtp and routed to an smtp transport, +and only one transport, interface, destination host and port combination +is used for all recipients of the message, +then the delivery connection is made while the receiving connection is open +and data is copied from one to the other. + + +An attempt to set this option for any recipient but the first +for a mail will be quietly ignored. +If a recipient-verify callout +(with use_sender) +connection is subsequently +requested in the same ACL it is held open and used for +any subsequent recipients and the data, +otherwise one is made after the initial RCPT ACL completes. + + +Note that routers are used in verify mode, +and cannot depend on content of received headers. +Note also that headers cannot be +modified by any of the post-data ACLs (DATA, MIME and DKIM). +Headers may be modified by routers (subject to the above) and transports. +The Received-By: header is generated as soon as the body reception starts, +rather than the traditional time after the full message is received; +this will affect the timestamp. + + +All the usual ACLs are called; if one results in the message being +rejected, all effort spent in delivery (including the costs on +the ultimate destination) will be wasted. +Note that in the case of data-time ACLs this includes the entire +message body. + + +Cutthrough delivery is not supported via transport-filters or when DKIM signing +of outgoing messages is done, because it sends data to the ultimate destination +before the entire message has been received from the source. +It is not supported for messages received with the SMTP PRDR +or CHUNKING +options in use. + + +Should the ultimate destination system positively accept or reject the mail, +a corresponding indication is given to the source system and nothing is queued. +If the item is successfully delivered in cutthrough mode +the delivery log lines are tagged with ">>" rather than "=>" and appear +before the acceptance "<=" line. + + +If there is a temporary error the item is queued for later delivery in the +usual fashion. +This behaviour can be adjusted by appending the option defer=<value> +to the control; the default value is spool and the alternate value +pass copies an SMTP defer response from the target back to the initiator +and does not queue the message. +Note that this is independent of any recipient verify conditions in the ACL. + + +Delivery in this mode avoids the generation of a bounce mail to a +(possibly faked) +sender when the destination system is doing content-scan based rejection. + + + +control = debug/<options> + + + +access control lists (ACLs) +enabling debug logging + + +debugging +enabling from an ACL + +This control turns on debug logging, almost as though Exim had been invoked +with -d, with the output going to a new logfile in the usual logs directory, +by default called debuglog. +The filename can be adjusted with the tag option, which +may access any variables already defined. The logging may be adjusted with +the opts option, which takes the same values as the -d command-line +option. +Logging started this way may be stopped, and the file removed, +with the kill option. +Some examples (which depend on variables that don’t exist in all +contexts): + + + control = debug + control = debug/tag=.$sender_host_address + control = debug/opts=+expand+acl + control = debug/tag=.$message_exim_id/opts=+expand + control = debug/kill + + + +control = dkim_disable_verify + + + +disable DKIM verify + + +DKIM +disable verify + +This control turns off DKIM verification processing entirely. For details on +the operation and configuration of DKIM, see section . + + + +control = dscp/<value> + + + +access control lists (ACLs) +setting DSCP value + + +DSCP +inbound + +This option causes the DSCP value associated with the socket for the inbound +connection to be adjusted to a given value, given as one of a number of fixed +strings or to numeric value. +The option may be used to ask Exim which names it knows of. +Common values include throughput, mincost, and on newer systems +ef, af41, etc. Numeric values may be in the range 0 to 0x3F. + + +The outbound packets from Exim will be marked with this value in the header +(for IPv4, the TOS field; for IPv6, the TCLASS field); there is no guarantee +that these values will have any effect, not be stripped by networking +equipment, or do much of anything without cooperation with your Network +Engineer and those of all network operators between the source and destination. + + + +control = enforce_sync +control = no_enforce_sync + + + +SMTP +synchronization checking + + +synchronization checking in SMTP + +These controls make it possible to be selective about when SMTP synchronization +is enforced. The global option specifies the initial +state of the switch (it is true by default). See the description of this option +in chapter for details of SMTP synchronization checking. + + +The effect of these two controls lasts for the remainder of the SMTP +connection. They can appear in any ACL except the one for the non-SMTP +messages. The most straightforward place to put them is in the ACL defined by +, which is run at the start of an incoming SMTP connection, +before the first synchronization check. The expected use is to turn off the +synchronization checks for badly-behaved hosts that you nevertheless need to +work with. + + + +control = fakedefer/<message> + + + +fake defer + + +defer, fake + +This control works in exactly the same way as (described below) +except that it causes an SMTP 450 response after the message data instead of a +550 response. You must take care when using because it causes the +messages to be duplicated when the sender retries. Therefore, you should not +use if the message is to be delivered normally. + + + +control = fakereject/<message> + + + +fake rejection + + +rejection, fake + +This control is permitted only for the MAIL, RCPT, and DATA ACLs, in other +words, only when an SMTP message is being received. If Exim accepts the +message, instead the final 250 response, a 550 rejection message is sent. +However, Exim proceeds to deliver the message as normal. The control applies +only to the current message, not to any subsequent ones that may be received in +the same SMTP connection. + + +The text for the 550 response is taken from the modifier. If no +message is supplied, the following is used: + + +550-Your message has been rejected but is being +550-kept for evaluation. +550-If it was a legitimate message, it may still be +550 delivered to the target recipient(s). + + +This facility should be used with extreme caution. + + + +control = freeze + + + +frozen messages +forcing in ACL + +This control is permitted only for the MAIL, RCPT, DATA, and non-SMTP ACLs, in +other words, only when a message is being received. If the message is accepted, +it is placed on Exim’s queue and frozen. The control applies only to the +current message, not to any subsequent ones that may be received in the same +SMTP connection. + + +This modifier can optionally be followed by /no_tell. If the global option + is set, it is ignored for the current message (that is, nobody +is told about the freezing), provided all the control=freeze modifiers that +are obeyed for the current message have the /no_tell option. + + + +control = no_delay_flush + + + +SMTP +output flushing, disabling for delay + +Exim normally flushes SMTP output before implementing a delay in an ACL, to +avoid unexpected timeouts in clients when the SMTP PIPELINING extension is in +use. This control, as long as it is encountered before the modifier, +disables such output flushing. + + + +control = no_callout_flush + + + +SMTP +output flushing, disabling for callout + +Exim normally flushes SMTP output before performing a callout in an ACL, to +avoid unexpected timeouts in clients when the SMTP PIPELINING extension is in +use. This control, as long as it is encountered before the condition +that causes the callout, disables such output flushing. + + + +control = no_mbox_unspool + + +This control is available when Exim is compiled with the content scanning +extension. Content scanning may require a copy of the current message, or parts +of it, to be written in mbox format to a spool file, for passing to a virus +or spam scanner. Normally, such copies are deleted when they are no longer +needed. If this control is set, the copies are not deleted. The control applies +only to the current message, not to any subsequent ones that may be received in +the same SMTP connection. It is provided for debugging purposes and is unlikely +to be useful in production. + + + +control = no_multiline_responses + + + +multiline responses, suppressing + +This control is permitted for any ACL except the one for non-SMTP messages. +It seems that there are broken clients in use that cannot handle multiline +SMTP responses, despite the fact that RFC 821 defined them over 20 years ago. + + +If this control is set, multiline SMTP responses from ACL rejections are +suppressed. One way of doing this would have been to put out these responses as +one long line. However, RFC 2821 specifies a maximum of 512 bytes per response +(use multiline responses for more it says – ha!), and some of the +responses might get close to that. So this facility, which is after all only a +sop to broken clients, is implemented by doing two very easy things: + + + + +Extra information that is normally output as part of a rejection caused by +sender verification failure is omitted. Only the final line (typically sender +verification failed) is sent. + + + + +If a modifier supplies a multiline response, only the first +line is output. + + + + +The setting of the switch can, of course, be made conditional on the +calling host. Its effect lasts until the end of the SMTP connection. + + + +control = no_pipelining + + + +PIPELINING +suppressing advertising + +This control turns off the advertising of the PIPELINING extension to SMTP in +the current session. To be useful, it must be obeyed before Exim sends its +response to an EHLO command. Therefore, it should normally appear in an ACL +controlled by or . See also +. + + + +control = queue_only + + + + + + +queueing incoming messages + +This control is permitted only for the MAIL, RCPT, DATA, and non-SMTP ACLs, in +other words, only when a message is being received. If the message is accepted, +it is placed on Exim’s queue and left there for delivery by a subsequent queue +runner. No immediate delivery process is started. In other words, it has the +effect as the global option. However, the control applies only +to the current message, not to any subsequent ones that may be received in the +same SMTP connection. + + + +control = submission/<options> + + + +message +submission + + +submission mode + +This control is permitted only for the MAIL, RCPT, and start of data ACLs (the +latter is the one defined by ). Setting it tells Exim that +the current message is a submission from a local MUA. In this case, Exim +operates in submission mode, and applies certain fixups to the message if +necessary. For example, it adds a Date: header line if one is not present. +This control is not permitted in the ACL, because that is too +late (the message has already been created). + + +Chapter describes the processing that Exim applies to +messages. Section covers the processing that happens in +submission mode; the available options for this control are described there. +The control applies only to the current message, not to any subsequent ones +that may be received in the same SMTP connection. + + + +control = suppress_local_fixups + + + +submission fixups, suppressing + +This control applies to locally submitted (non TCP/IP) messages, and is the +complement of control = submission. It disables the fixups that are +normally applied to locally-submitted messages. Specifically: + + + + +Any Sender: header line is left alone (in this respect, it is a +dynamic version of ). + + + + +No Message-ID:, From:, or Date: header lines are added. + + + + +There is no check that From: corresponds to the actual sender. + + + + +This control may be useful when a remotely-originated message is accepted, +passed to some scanning program, and then re-submitted for delivery. It can be +used only in the , , , +and ACLs, because it has to be set before the message’s +data is read. + + +Note: This control applies only to the current message, not to any others +that are being submitted at the same time using or . + + + +control = utf8_downconvert + + +This control enables conversion of UTF-8 in message addresses +to a-label form. +For details see section . + + + +
+
+Summary of message fixup control + +All four possibilities for message fixups can be specified: + + + + +Locally submitted, fixups applied: the default. + + + + +Locally submitted, no fixups applied: use +control = suppress_local_fixups. + + + + +Remotely submitted, no fixups applied: the default. + + + + +Remotely submitted, fixups applied: use control = submission. + + + +
+
+Adding header lines in ACLs + + +header lines +adding in an ACL + + +header lines +position of added lines + + + ACL modifier + +The modifier can be used to add one or more extra header lines +to an incoming message, as in this example: + + +warn dnslists = sbl.spamhaus.org : \ + dialup.mail-abuse.org + add_header = X-blacklisted-at: $dnslist_domain + + +The modifier is permitted in the MAIL, RCPT, PREDATA, DATA, +MIME, DKIM, and non-SMTP ACLs (in other words, those that are concerned with +receiving a message). The message must ultimately be accepted for + to have any significant effect. You can use with +any ACL verb, including (though this is potentially useful only in a +RCPT ACL). + + +Headers will not be added to the message if the modifier is used in +DATA, MIME or DKIM ACLs for a message delivered by cutthrough routing. + + +Leading and trailing newlines are removed from +the data for the modifier; if it then +contains one or more newlines that +are not followed by a space or a tab, it is assumed to contain multiple header +lines. Each one is checked for valid syntax; X-ACL-Warn: is added to the +front of any line that is not a valid header line. + + +Added header lines are accumulated during the MAIL, RCPT, and predata ACLs. +They are added to the message before processing the DATA and MIME ACLs. +However, if an identical header line is requested more than once, only one copy +is actually added to the message. Further header lines may be accumulated +during the DATA and MIME ACLs, after which they are added to the message, again +with duplicates suppressed. Thus, it is possible to add two identical header +lines to an SMTP message, but only if one is added before DATA and one after. +In the case of non-SMTP messages, new headers are accumulated during the +non-SMTP ACLs, and are added to the message after all the ACLs have run. If a +message is rejected after DATA or by the non-SMTP ACL, all added header lines +are included in the entry that is written to the reject log. + + + +header lines +added; visibility of + +Header lines are not visible in string expansions +of message headers +until they are added to the +message. It follows that header lines defined in the MAIL, RCPT, and predata +ACLs are not visible until the DATA ACL and MIME ACLs are run. Similarly, +header lines that are added by the DATA or MIME ACLs are not visible in those +ACLs. Because of this restriction, you cannot use header lines as a way of +passing data between (for example) the MAIL and RCPT ACLs. If you want to do +this, you can use ACL variables, as described in section +. + + +The list of headers yet to be added is given by the variable. + + +The modifier acts immediately as it is encountered during the +processing of an ACL. Notice the difference between these two cases: + + +accept add_header = ADDED: some text + <some condition> + +accept <some condition> + add_header = ADDED: some text + + +In the first case, the header line is always added, whether or not the +condition is true. In the second case, the header line is added only if the +condition is true. Multiple occurrences of may occur in the same +ACL statement. All those that are encountered before a condition fails are +honoured. + + + + ACL verb + +For compatibility with previous versions of Exim, a modifier for a + verb acts in the same way as , except that it takes +effect only if all the conditions are true, even if it appears before some of +them. Furthermore, only the last occurrence of is honoured. This +usage of is now deprecated. If both and +are present on a verb, both are processed according to their +specifications. + + +By default, new header lines are added to a message at the end of the existing +header lines. However, you can specify that any particular header line should +be added right at the start (before all the Received: lines), immediately +after the first block of Received: lines, or immediately before any line +that is not a Received: or Resent-something: header. + + +This is done by specifying :at_start:, :after_received:, or +:at_start_rfc: (or, for completeness, :at_end:) before the text of the +header line, respectively. (Header text cannot start with a colon, as there has +to be a header name first.) For example: + + +warn add_header = \ + :after_received:X-My-Header: something or other... + + +If more than one header line is supplied in a single modifier, +each one is treated independently and can therefore be placed differently. If +you add more than one line at the start, or after the Received: block, they end +up in reverse order. + + +Warning: This facility currently applies only to header lines that are +added in an ACL. It does NOT work for header lines that are added in a +system filter or in a router or transport. + +
+
+Removing header lines in ACLs + + +header lines +removing in an ACL + + +header lines +position of removed lines + + + ACL modifier + +The modifier can be used to remove one or more header lines +from an incoming message, as in this example: + + +warn message = Remove internal headers + remove_header = x-route-mail1 : x-route-mail2 + + +The modifier is permitted in the MAIL, RCPT, PREDATA, DATA, +MIME, DKIM, and non-SMTP ACLs (in other words, those that are concerned with +receiving a message). The message must ultimately be accepted for + to have any significant effect. You can use +with any ACL verb, including , though this is really not useful for +any verb that doesn’t result in a delivered message. + + +Headers will not be removed from the message if the modifier is used in +DATA, MIME or DKIM ACLs for a message delivered by cutthrough routing. + + +More than one header can be removed at the same time by using a colon separated +list of header names. The header matching is case insensitive. Wildcards are +not permitted, nor is list expansion performed, so you cannot use hostlists to +create a list of headers, however both connection and message variable expansion +are performed ( and ), illustrated in this example: + + +warn hosts = +internal_hosts + set acl_c_ihdrs = x-route-mail1 : x-route-mail2 +warn message = Remove internal headers + remove_header = $acl_c_ihdrs + + +Header names for removal are accumulated during the MAIL, RCPT, and predata ACLs. +Matching header lines are removed from the message before processing the DATA and MIME ACLs. +If multiple header lines match, all are removed. +There is no harm in attempting to remove the same header twice nor in removing +a non-existent header. Further header lines to be removed may be accumulated +during the DATA and MIME ACLs, after which they are removed from the message, +if present. In the case of non-SMTP messages, headers to be removed are +accumulated during the non-SMTP ACLs, and are removed from the message after +all the ACLs have run. If a message is rejected after DATA or by the non-SMTP +ACL, there really is no effect because there is no logging of what headers +would have been removed. + + + +header lines +removed; visibility of + +Header lines are not visible in string expansions until the DATA phase when it +is received. Any header lines removed in the MAIL, RCPT, and predata ACLs are +not visible in the DATA ACL and MIME ACLs. Similarly, header lines that are +removed by the DATA or MIME ACLs are still visible in those ACLs. Because of +this restriction, you cannot use header lines as a way of controlling data +passed between (for example) the MAIL and RCPT ACLs. If you want to do this, +you should instead use ACL variables, as described in section +. + + +The modifier acts immediately as it is encountered during the +processing of an ACL. Notice the difference between these two cases: + + +accept remove_header = X-Internal + <some condition> + +accept <some condition> + remove_header = X-Internal + + +In the first case, the header line is always removed, whether or not the +condition is true. In the second case, the header line is removed only if the +condition is true. Multiple occurrences of may occur in the +same ACL statement. All those that are encountered before a condition fails +are honoured. + + +Warning: This facility currently applies only to header lines that are +present during ACL processing. It does NOT remove header lines that are added +in a system filter or in a router or transport. + +
+
+ACL conditions + + +access control lists (ACLs) +conditions; list of + +Some of the conditions listed in this section are available only when Exim is +compiled with the content-scanning extension. They are included here briefly +for completeness. More detailed descriptions can be found in the discussion on +content scanning in chapter . + + +Not all conditions are relevant in all circumstances. For example, testing +senders and recipients does not make sense in an ACL that is being run as the +result of the arrival of an ETRN command, and checks on message headers can be +done only in the ACLs specified by and . You +can use the same condition (with different parameters) more than once in the +same ACL statement. This provides a way of specifying an and conjunction. +The conditions are as follows: + + + +acl = <name of acl or ACL string or file name > + + + +access control lists (ACLs) +nested + + +access control lists (ACLs) +indirect + + +access control lists (ACLs) +arguments + + + ACL condition + +The possible values of the argument are the same as for the +xxx options. The named or inline ACL is run. If it returns +accept the condition is true; if it returns deny the condition is +false. If it returns defer, the current ACL returns defer unless the +condition is on a verb. In that case, a defer return makes the +condition false. This means that further processing of the verb +ceases, but processing of the ACL continues. + + +If the argument is a named ACL, up to nine space-separated optional values +can be appended; they appear within the called ACL in $acl_arg1 to $acl_arg9, +and $acl_narg is set to the count of values. +Previous values of these variables are restored after the call returns. +The name and values are expanded separately. +Note that spaces in complex expansions which are used as arguments +will act as argument separators. + + +If the nested returns drop and the outer condition denies access, +the connection is dropped. If it returns discard, the verb must be + or , and the action is taken immediately – no further +conditions are tested. + + +ACLs may be nested up to 20 deep; the limit exists purely to catch runaway +loops. This condition allows you to use different ACLs in different +circumstances. For example, different ACLs can be used to handle RCPT commands +for different local users or different local domains. + + + +authenticated = <string list> + + + + ACL condition + + +authentication +ACL checking + + +access control lists (ACLs) +testing for authentication + +If the SMTP connection is not authenticated, the condition is false. Otherwise, +the name of the authenticator is tested against the list. To test for +authentication by any authenticator, you can set + + +authenticated = * + + + +condition = <string> + + + + ACL condition + + +customizing +ACL condition + + +access control lists (ACLs) +customized test + + +access control lists (ACLs) +testing, customized + +This feature allows you to make up custom conditions. If the result of +expanding the string is an empty string, the number zero, or one of the strings +no or false, the condition is false. If the result is any non-zero +number, or one of the strings yes or true, the condition is true. For +any other value, some error is assumed to have occurred, and the ACL returns +defer. However, if the expansion is forced to fail, the condition is +ignored. The effect is to treat it as true, whether it is positive or +negative. + + + +decode = <location> + + + + ACL condition + +This condition is available only when Exim is compiled with the +content-scanning extension, and it is allowed only in the ACL defined by +. It causes the current MIME part to be decoded into a file. +If all goes well, the condition is true. It is false only if there are +problems such as a syntax error or a memory shortage. For more details, see +chapter . + + + +dnslists = <list of domain names and other data> + + + + ACL condition + + +DNS list +in ACL + + +black list (DNS) + + +access control lists (ACLs) +testing a DNS list + +This condition checks for entries in DNS black lists. These are also known as +RBL lists, after the original Realtime Blackhole List, but note that the +use of the lists at mail-abuse.org now carries a charge. There are too many +different variants of this condition to describe briefly here. See sections +– for details. + + + +domains = <domain list> + + + + ACL condition + + +domain +ACL checking + + +access control lists (ACLs) +testing a recipient domain + + +$domain_data + +This condition is relevant only after a RCPT command. It checks that the domain +of the recipient address is in the domain list. If percent-hack processing is +enabled, it is done before this test is done. If the check succeeds with a +lookup, the result of the lookup is placed in $domain_data until the next + test. + + +Note carefully (because many people seem to fall foul of this): you cannot +use in a DATA ACL. + + + +encrypted = <string list> + + + + ACL condition + + +encryption +checking in an ACL + + +access control lists (ACLs) +testing for encryption + +If the SMTP connection is not encrypted, the condition is false. Otherwise, the +name of the cipher suite in use is tested against the list. To test for +encryption without testing for any specific cipher suite(s), set + + +encrypted = * + + + +hosts = <host list> + + + + ACL condition + + +host +ACL checking + + +access control lists (ACLs) +testing the client host + +This condition tests that the calling host matches the host list. If you have +name lookups or wildcarded host names and IP addresses in the same host list, +you should normally put the IP addresses first. For example, you could have: + + +accept hosts = 10.9.8.7 : dbm;/etc/friendly/hosts + + +The lookup in this example uses the host name for its key. This is implied by +the lookup type dbm. (For a host address lookup you would use net-dbm +and it wouldn’t matter which way round you had these two items.) + + +The reason for the problem with host names lies in the left-to-right way that +Exim processes lists. It can test IP addresses without doing any DNS lookups, +but when it reaches an item that requires a host name, it fails if it cannot +find a host name to compare with the pattern. If the above list is given in the +opposite order, the statement fails for a host whose name cannot be +found, even if its IP address is 10.9.8.7. + + +If you really do want to do the name check first, and still recognize the IP +address even if the name lookup fails, you can rewrite the ACL like this: + + +accept hosts = dbm;/etc/friendly/hosts +accept hosts = 10.9.8.7 + + +The default action on failing to find the host name is to assume that the host +is not in the list, so the first statement fails. The second +statement can then check the IP address. + + + +$host_data + +If a condition is satisfied by means of a lookup, the result +of the lookup is made available in the $host_data variable. This +allows you, for example, to set up a statement like this: + + +deny hosts = net-lsearch;/some/file +message = $host_data + + +which gives a custom error message for each denied host. + + + +local_parts = <local part list> + + + + ACL condition + + +local part +ACL checking + + +access control lists (ACLs) +testing a local part + + +$local_part_data + +This condition is relevant only after a RCPT command. It checks that the local +part of the recipient address is in the list. If percent-hack processing is +enabled, it is done before this test. If the check succeeds with a lookup, the +result of the lookup is placed in $local_part_data, which remains set until +the next test. + + + +malware = <option> + + + + ACL condition + + +access control lists (ACLs) +virus scanning + + +access control lists (ACLs) +scanning for viruses + +This condition is available only when Exim is compiled with the +content-scanning extension. It causes the incoming message to be scanned for +viruses. For details, see chapter . + + + +mime_regex = <list of regular expressions> + + + + ACL condition + + +access control lists (ACLs) +testing by regex matching + +This condition is available only when Exim is compiled with the +content-scanning extension, and it is allowed only in the ACL defined by +. It causes the current MIME part to be scanned for a match +with any of the regular expressions. For details, see chapter +. + + + +ratelimit = <parameters> + + + +rate limiting + +This condition can be used to limit the rate at which a user or host submits +messages. Details are given in section . + + + +recipients = <address list> + + + + ACL condition + + +recipient +ACL checking + + +access control lists (ACLs) +testing a recipient + +This condition is relevant only after a RCPT command. It checks the entire +recipient address against a list of recipients. + + + +regex = <list of regular expressions> + + + + ACL condition + + +access control lists (ACLs) +testing by regex matching + +This condition is available only when Exim is compiled with the +content-scanning extension, and is available only in the DATA, MIME, and +non-SMTP ACLs. It causes the incoming message to be scanned for a match with +any of the regular expressions. For details, see chapter . + + + +sender_domains = <domain list> + + + + ACL condition + + +sender +ACL checking + + +access control lists (ACLs) +testing a sender domain + + +$domain + + +$sender_address_domain + +This condition tests the domain of the sender of the message against the given +domain list. Note: The domain of the sender address is in +$sender_address_domain. It is not put in $domain during the testing +of this condition. This is an exception to the general rule for testing domain +lists. It is done this way so that, if this condition is used in an ACL for a +RCPT command, the recipient’s domain (which is in $domain) can be used to +influence the sender checking. + + +Warning: It is a bad idea to use this condition on its own as a control on +relaying, because sender addresses are easily, and commonly, forged. + + + +senders = <address list> + + + + ACL condition + + +sender +ACL checking + + +access control lists (ACLs) +testing a sender + +This condition tests the sender of the message against the given list. To test +for a bounce message, which has an empty sender, set + + +senders = : + + +Warning: It is a bad idea to use this condition on its own as a control on +relaying, because sender addresses are easily, and commonly, forged. + + + +spam = <username> + + + + ACL condition + + +access control lists (ACLs) +scanning for spam + +This condition is available only when Exim is compiled with the +content-scanning extension. It causes the incoming message to be scanned by +SpamAssassin. For details, see chapter . + + + +verify = certificate + + + + ACL condition + + +TLS +client certificate verification + + +certificate +verification of client + + +access control lists (ACLs) +certificate verification + + +access control lists (ACLs) +testing a TLS certificate + +This condition is true in an SMTP session if the session is encrypted, and a +certificate was received from the client, and the certificate was verified. The +server requests a certificate only if the client matches +or (see chapter ). + + + +verify = csa + + + +CSA verification + +This condition checks whether the sending host (the client) is authorized to +send email. Details of how this works are given in section +. + + + +verify = header_names_ascii + + + + ACL condition + + +access control lists (ACLs) +verifying header names only ASCII + + +header lines +verifying header names only ASCII + + +verifying +header names only ASCII + +This condition is relevant only in an ACL that is run after a message has been +received, that is, in an ACL specified by or +. It checks all header names (not the content) to make sure +there are no non-ASCII characters, also excluding control characters. The +allowable characters are decimal ASCII values 33 through 126. + + +Exim itself will handle headers with non-ASCII characters, but it can cause +problems for downstream applications, so this option will allow their +detection and rejection in the DATA ACL’s. + + + +verify = header_sender/<options> + + + + ACL condition + + +access control lists (ACLs) +verifying sender in the header + + +header lines +verifying the sender in + + +sender +verifying in header + + +verifying +sender in header + +This condition is relevant only in an ACL that is run after a message has been +received, that is, in an ACL specified by or +. It checks that there is a verifiable address in at least one +of the Sender:, Reply-To:, or From: header lines. Such an address +is loosely thought of as a sender address (hence the name of the test). +However, an address that appears in one of these headers need not be an address +that accepts bounce messages; only sender addresses in envelopes are required +to accept bounces. Therefore, if you use the callout option on this check, you +might want to arrange for a non-empty address in the MAIL command. + + +Details of address verification and the options are given later, starting at +section (callouts are described in section +). You can combine this condition with the +condition to restrict it to bounce messages only: + + +deny senders = : + message = A valid sender header is required for bounces + !verify = header_sender + + + +verify = header_syntax + + + + ACL condition + + +access control lists (ACLs) +verifying header syntax + + +header lines +verifying syntax + + +verifying +header syntax + +This condition is relevant only in an ACL that is run after a message has been +received, that is, in an ACL specified by or +. It checks the syntax of all header lines that can contain +lists of addresses (Sender:, From:, Reply-To:, To:, Cc:, +and Bcc:), returning true if there are no problems. +Unqualified addresses (local parts without domains) are +permitted only in locally generated messages and from hosts that match + or , as +appropriate. + + +Note that this condition is a syntax check only. However, a common spamming +ploy used to be to send syntactically invalid headers such as + + +To: @ + + +and this condition can be used to reject such messages, though they are not as +common as they used to be. + + + +verify = helo + + + + ACL condition + + +access control lists (ACLs) +verifying HELO/EHLO + + +HELO +verifying + + +EHLO +verifying + + +verifying +EHLO + + +verifying +HELO + +This condition is true if a HELO or EHLO command has been received from the +client host, and its contents have been verified. If there has been no previous +attempt to verify the HELO/EHLO contents, it is carried out when this +condition is encountered. See the description of the and + options for details of how to request verification +independently of this condition. + + +For SMTP input that does not come over TCP/IP (the command line +option), this condition is always true. + + + +verify = not_blind + + + +verifying +not blind + + +bcc recipients, verifying none + +This condition checks that there are no blind (bcc) recipients in the message. +Every envelope recipient must appear either in a To: header line or in a +Cc: header line for this condition to be true. Local parts are checked +case-sensitively; domains are checked case-insensitively. If Resent-To: or +Resent-Cc: header lines exist, they are also checked. This condition can be +used only in a DATA or non-SMTP ACL. + + +There are, of course, many legitimate messages that make use of blind (bcc) +recipients. This check should not be used on its own for blocking messages. + + + +verify = recipient/<options> + + + + ACL condition + + +access control lists (ACLs) +verifying recipient + + +recipient +verifying + + +verifying +recipient + + +$address_data + +This condition is relevant only after a RCPT command. It verifies the current +recipient. Details of address verification are given later, starting at section +. After a recipient has been verified, the value +of $address_data is the last value that was set while routing the address. +This applies even if the verification fails. When an address that is being +verified is redirected to a single address, verification continues with the new +address, and in that case, the subsequent value of $address_data is the +value for the child address. + + + +verify = reverse_host_lookup/<options> + + + + ACL condition + + +access control lists (ACLs) +verifying host reverse lookup + + +host +verifying reverse lookup + +This condition ensures that a verified host name has been looked up from the IP +address of the client host. (This may have happened already if the host name +was needed for checking a host list, or if the host matched .) +Verification ensures that the host name obtained from a reverse DNS lookup, or +one of its aliases, does, when it is itself looked up in the DNS, yield the +original IP address. + + +There is one possible option, defer_ok. If this is present and a +DNS operation returns a temporary error, the verify condition succeeds. + + +If this condition is used for a locally generated message (that is, when there +is no client host involved), it always succeeds. + + + +verify = sender/<options> + + + + ACL condition + + +access control lists (ACLs) +verifying sender + + +sender +verifying + + +verifying +sender + +This condition is relevant only after a MAIL or RCPT command, or after a +message has been received (the or ACLs). If +the message’s sender is empty (that is, this is a bounce message), the +condition is true. Otherwise, the sender address is verified. + + + +$address_data + + +$sender_address_data + +If there is data in the $address_data variable at the end of routing, its +value is placed in $sender_address_data at the end of verification. This +value can be used in subsequent conditions and modifiers in the same ACL +statement. It does not persist after the end of the current statement. If you +want to preserve the value for longer, you can save it in an ACL variable. + + +Details of verification are given later, starting at section +. Exim caches the result of sender verification, +to avoid doing it more than once per message. + + + +verify = sender=<address>/<options> + + + + ACL condition + +This is a variation of the previous option, in which a modified address is +verified as a sender. + + +Note that ’/’ is legal in local-parts; if the address may have such +(eg. is generated from the received message) +they must be protected from the options parsing by doubling: + + +verify = sender=${sg{${address:$h_sender:}}{/}{//}} + + + +
+
+Using DNS lists + + +DNS list +in ACL + + +black list (DNS) + + +access control lists (ACLs) +testing a DNS list + +In its simplest form, the condition tests whether the calling host +is on at least one of a number of DNS lists by looking up the inverted IP +address in one or more DNS domains. (Note that DNS list domains are not mail +domains, so the + syntax for named lists doesn’t work - it is used for +special options instead.) For example, if the calling host’s IP +address is 192.168.62.43, and the ACL statement is + + +deny dnslists = blackholes.mail-abuse.org : \ + dialups.mail-abuse.org + + +the following records are looked up: + + +43.62.168.192.blackholes.mail-abuse.org +43.62.168.192.dialups.mail-abuse.org + + +As soon as Exim finds an existing DNS record, processing of the list stops. +Thus, multiple entries on the list provide an or conjunction. If you want +to test that a host is on more than one list (an and conjunction), you can +use two separate conditions: + + +deny dnslists = blackholes.mail-abuse.org + dnslists = dialups.mail-abuse.org + + +If a DNS lookup times out or otherwise fails to give a decisive answer, Exim +behaves as if the host does not match the list item, that is, as if the DNS +record does not exist. If there are further items in the DNS list, they are +processed. + + +This is usually the required action when is used with +(which is the most common usage), because it prevents a DNS failure from +blocking mail. However, you can change this behaviour by putting one of the +following special items in the list: + + ++include_unknown behave as if the item is on the list ++exclude_unknown behave as if the item is not on the list (default) ++defer_unknown give a temporary error + + + ++include_unknown + + ++exclude_unknown + + ++defer_unknown + +Each of these applies to any subsequent items on the list. For example: + + +deny dnslists = +defer_unknown : foo.bar.example + + +Testing the list of domains stops as soon as a match is found. If you want to +warn for one list and block for another, you can use two different statements: + + +deny dnslists = blackholes.mail-abuse.org +warn message = X-Warn: sending host is on dialups list + dnslists = dialups.mail-abuse.org + + + +caching +of dns lookup + + +DNS +TTL + +DNS list lookups are cached by Exim for the duration of the SMTP session +(but limited by the DNS return TTL value), +so a lookup based on the IP address is done at most once for any incoming +connection (assuming long-enough TTL). +Exim does not share information between multiple incoming +connections (but your local name server cache should be active). + + +There are a number of DNS lists to choose from, some commercial, some free, +or free for small deployments. An overview can be found at +https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_DNS_blacklists. + +
+
+Specifying the IP address for a DNS list lookup + + +DNS list +keyed by explicit IP address + +By default, the IP address that is used in a DNS list lookup is the IP address +of the calling host. However, you can specify another IP address by listing it +after the domain name, introduced by a slash. For example: + + +deny dnslists = black.list.tld/192.168.1.2 + + +This feature is not very helpful with explicit IP addresses; it is intended for +use with IP addresses that are looked up, for example, the IP addresses of the +MX hosts or nameservers of an email sender address. For an example, see section + below. + +
+
+DNS lists keyed on domain names + + +DNS list +keyed by domain name + +There are some lists that are keyed on domain names rather than inverted IP +addresses (see, e.g., the domain based zones link at +http://www.rfc-ignorant.org/). No reversing of components is used +with these lists. You can change the name that is looked up in a DNS list by +listing it after the domain name, introduced by a slash. For example, + + +deny message = Sender's domain is listed at $dnslist_domain + dnslists = dsn.rfc-ignorant.org/$sender_address_domain + + +This particular example is useful only in ACLs that are obeyed after the +RCPT or DATA commands, when a sender address is available. If (for +example) the message’s sender is user@tld.example the name that is looked +up by this example is + + +tld.example.dsn.rfc-ignorant.org + + +A single condition can contain entries for both names and IP +addresses. For example: + + +deny dnslists = sbl.spamhaus.org : \ + dsn.rfc-ignorant.org/$sender_address_domain + + +The first item checks the sending host’s IP address; the second checks a domain +name. The whole condition is true if either of the DNS lookups succeeds. + +
+
+Multiple explicit keys for a DNS list + + +DNS list +multiple keys for + +The syntax described above for looking up explicitly-defined values (either +names or IP addresses) in a DNS blacklist is a simplification. After the domain +name for the DNS list, what follows the slash can in fact be a list of items. +As with all lists in Exim, the default separator is a colon. However, because +this is a sublist within the list of DNS blacklist domains, it is necessary +either to double the separators like this: + + +dnslists = black.list.tld/name.1::name.2 + + +or to change the separator character, like this: + + +dnslists = black.list.tld/<;name.1;name.2 + + +If an item in the list is an IP address, it is inverted before the DNS +blacklist domain is appended. If it is not an IP address, no inversion +occurs. Consider this condition: + + +dnslists = black.list.tld/<;192.168.1.2;a.domain + + +The DNS lookups that occur are: + + +2.1.168.192.black.list.tld +a.domain.black.list.tld + + +Once a DNS record has been found (that matches a specific IP return +address, if specified – see section ), no further lookups +are done. If there is a temporary DNS error, the rest of the sublist of domains +or IP addresses is tried. A temporary error for the whole dnslists item occurs +only if no other DNS lookup in this sublist succeeds. In other words, a +successful lookup for any of the items in the sublist overrides a temporary +error for a previous item. + + +The ability to supply a list of items after the slash is in some sense just a +syntactic convenience. These two examples have the same effect: + + +dnslists = black.list.tld/a.domain : black.list.tld/b.domain +dnslists = black.list.tld/a.domain::b.domain + + +However, when the data for the list is obtained from a lookup, the second form +is usually much more convenient. Consider this example: + + +deny message = The mail servers for the domain \ + $sender_address_domain \ + are listed at $dnslist_domain ($dnslist_value); \ + see $dnslist_text. + dnslists = sbl.spamhaus.org/<|${lookup dnsdb {>|a=<|\ + ${lookup dnsdb {>|mxh=\ + $sender_address_domain} }} } + + +Note the use of >| in the dnsdb lookup to specify the separator for +multiple DNS records. The inner dnsdb lookup produces a list of MX hosts +and the outer dnsdb lookup finds the IP addresses for these hosts. The result +of expanding the condition might be something like this: + + +dnslists = sbl.spamhaus.org/<|192.168.2.3|192.168.5.6|... + + +Thus, this example checks whether or not the IP addresses of the sender +domain’s mail servers are on the Spamhaus black list. + + +The key that was used for a successful DNS list lookup is put into the variable +$dnslist_matched (see section ). + +
+
+Data returned by DNS lists + + +DNS list +data returned from + +DNS lists are constructed using address records in the DNS. The original RBL +just used the address 127.0.0.1 on the right hand side of each record, but the +RBL+ list and some other lists use a number of values with different meanings. +The values used on the RBL+ list are: + + +127.1.0.1 RBL +127.1.0.2 DUL +127.1.0.3 DUL and RBL +127.1.0.4 RSS +127.1.0.5 RSS and RBL +127.1.0.6 RSS and DUL +127.1.0.7 RSS and DUL and RBL + + +Section below describes how you can distinguish between +different values. Some DNS lists may return more than one address record; +see section for details of how they are checked. + +
+
+Variables set from DNS lists + + +expansion +variables, set from DNS list + + +DNS list +variables set from + + +$dnslist_domain + + +$dnslist_matched + + +$dnslist_text + + +$dnslist_value + +When an entry is found in a DNS list, the variable $dnslist_domain contains +the name of the overall domain that matched (for example, +spamhaus.example), $dnslist_matched contains the key within that domain +(for example, 192.168.5.3), and $dnslist_value contains the data from +the DNS record. When the key is an IP address, it is not reversed in +$dnslist_matched (though it is, of course, in the actual lookup). In simple +cases, for example: + + +deny dnslists = spamhaus.example + + +the key is also available in another variable (in this case, +$sender_host_address). In more complicated cases, however, this is not true. +For example, using a data lookup (as described in section ) +might generate a dnslists lookup like this: + + +deny dnslists = spamhaus.example/<|192.168.1.2|192.168.6.7|... + + +If this condition succeeds, the value in $dnslist_matched might be +192.168.6.7 (for example). + + +If more than one address record is returned by the DNS lookup, all the IP +addresses are included in $dnslist_value, separated by commas and spaces. +The variable $dnslist_text contains the contents of any associated TXT +record. For lists such as RBL+ the TXT record for a merged entry is often not +very meaningful. See section for a way of obtaining more +information. + + +You can use the DNS list variables in or modifiers +– although these appear before the condition in the ACL, they are not +expanded until after it has failed. For example: + + +deny hosts = !+local_networks + message = $sender_host_address is listed \ + at $dnslist_domain + dnslists = rbl-plus.mail-abuse.example + +
+
+Additional matching conditions for DNS lists + + +DNS list +matching specific returned data + +You can add an equals sign and an IP address after a domain name +in order to restrict its action to DNS records with a matching right hand side. +For example, + + +deny dnslists = rblplus.mail-abuse.org=127.0.0.2 + + +rejects only those hosts that yield 127.0.0.2. Without this additional data, +any address record is considered to be a match. For the moment, we assume +that the DNS lookup returns just one record. Section +describes how multiple records are handled. + + +More than one IP address may be given for checking, using a comma as a +separator. These are alternatives – if any one of them matches, the + condition is true. For example: + + +deny dnslists = a.b.c=127.0.0.2,127.0.0.3 + + +If you want to specify a constraining address list and also specify names or IP +addresses to be looked up, the constraining address list must be specified +first. For example: + + +deny dnslists = dsn.rfc-ignorant.org\ + =127.0.0.2/$sender_address_domain + + +If the character & is used instead of =, the comparison for each +listed IP address is done by a bitwise and instead of by an equality test. +In other words, the listed addresses are used as bit masks. The comparison is +true if all the bits in the mask are present in the address that is being +tested. For example: + + +dnslists = a.b.c&0.0.0.3 + + +matches if the address is x.x.x.3, x.x.x.7, x.x.x.11, etc. If you +want to test whether one bit or another bit is present (as opposed to both +being present), you must use multiple values. For example: + + +dnslists = a.b.c&0.0.0.1,0.0.0.2 + + +matches if the final component of the address is an odd number or two times +an odd number. + +
+
+Negated DNS matching conditions + +You can supply a negative list of IP addresses as part of a +condition. Whereas + + +deny dnslists = a.b.c=127.0.0.2,127.0.0.3 + + +means deny if the host is in the black list at the domain a.b.c and the +IP address yielded by the list is either 127.0.0.2 or 127.0.0.3, + + +deny dnslists = a.b.c!=127.0.0.2,127.0.0.3 + + +means deny if the host is in the black list at the domain a.b.c and the +IP address yielded by the list is not 127.0.0.2 and not 127.0.0.3. In other +words, the result of the test is inverted if an exclamation mark appears before +the = (or the &) sign. + + +Note: This kind of negation is not the same as negation in a domain, +host, or address list (which is why the syntax is different). + + +If you are using just one list, the negation syntax does not gain you much. The +previous example is precisely equivalent to + + +deny dnslists = a.b.c + !dnslists = a.b.c=127.0.0.2,127.0.0.3 + + +However, if you are using multiple lists, the negation syntax is clearer. +Consider this example: + + +deny dnslists = sbl.spamhaus.org : \ + list.dsbl.org : \ + dnsbl.njabl.org!=127.0.0.3 : \ + relays.ordb.org + + +Using only positive lists, this would have to be: + + +deny dnslists = sbl.spamhaus.org : \ + list.dsbl.org +deny dnslists = dnsbl.njabl.org + !dnslists = dnsbl.njabl.org=127.0.0.3 +deny dnslists = relays.ordb.org + + +which is less clear, and harder to maintain. + +
+
+Handling multiple DNS records from a DNS list + +A DNS lookup for a condition may return more than one DNS record, +thereby providing more than one IP address. When an item in a list +is followed by = or & and a list of IP addresses, in order to restrict +the match to specific results from the DNS lookup, there are two ways in which +the checking can be handled. For example, consider the condition: + + +dnslists = a.b.c=127.0.0.1 + + +What happens if the DNS lookup for the incoming IP address yields both +127.0.0.1 and 127.0.0.2 by means of two separate DNS records? Is the +condition true because at least one given value was found, or is it false +because at least one of the found values was not listed? And how does this +affect negated conditions? Both possibilities are provided for with the help of +additional separators == and =&. + + + + +If = or & is used, the condition is true if any one of the looked up +IP addresses matches one of the listed addresses. For the example above, the +condition is true because 127.0.0.1 matches. + + + + +If == or =& is used, the condition is true only if every one of the +looked up IP addresses matches one of the listed addresses. If the condition is +changed to: + + +dnslists = a.b.c==127.0.0.1 + + +and the DNS lookup yields both 127.0.0.1 and 127.0.0.2, the condition is +false because 127.0.0.2 is not listed. You would need to have: + + +dnslists = a.b.c==127.0.0.1,127.0.0.2 + + +for the condition to be true. + + + + +When ! is used to negate IP address matching, it inverts the result, giving +the precise opposite of the behaviour above. Thus: + + + + +If != or !& is used, the condition is true if none of the looked up IP +addresses matches one of the listed addresses. Consider: + + +dnslists = a.b.c!&0.0.0.1 + + +If the DNS lookup yields both 127.0.0.1 and 127.0.0.2, the condition is +false because 127.0.0.1 matches. + + + + +If !== or !=& is used, the condition is true if there is at least one +looked up IP address that does not match. Consider: + + +dnslists = a.b.c!=&0.0.0.1 + + +If the DNS lookup yields both 127.0.0.1 and 127.0.0.2, the condition is +true, because 127.0.0.2 does not match. You would need to have: + + +dnslists = a.b.c!=&0.0.0.1,0.0.0.2 + + +for the condition to be false. + + + + +When the DNS lookup yields only a single IP address, there is no difference +between = and == and between & and =&. + +
+
+Detailed information from merged DNS lists + + +DNS list +information from merged + +When the facility for restricting the matching IP values in a DNS list is used, +the text from the TXT record that is set in $dnslist_text may not reflect +the true reason for rejection. This happens when lists are merged and the IP +address in the A record is used to distinguish them; unfortunately there is +only one TXT record. One way round this is not to use merged lists, but that +can be inefficient because it requires multiple DNS lookups where one would do +in the vast majority of cases when the host of interest is not on any of the +lists. + + +A less inefficient way of solving this problem is available. If +two domain names, comma-separated, are given, the second is used first to +do an initial check, making use of any IP value restrictions that are set. +If there is a match, the first domain is used, without any IP value +restrictions, to get the TXT record. As a byproduct of this, there is also +a check that the IP being tested is indeed on the first list. The first +domain is the one that is put in $dnslist_domain. For example: + + +deny message = \ + rejected because $sender_host_address is blacklisted \ + at $dnslist_domain\n$dnslist_text + dnslists = \ + sbl.spamhaus.org,sbl-xbl.spamhaus.org=127.0.0.2 : \ + dul.dnsbl.sorbs.net,dnsbl.sorbs.net=127.0.0.10 + + +For the first blacklist item, this starts by doing a lookup in +sbl-xbl.spamhaus.org and testing for a 127.0.0.2 return. If there is a +match, it then looks in sbl.spamhaus.org, without checking the return +value, and as long as something is found, it looks for the corresponding TXT +record. If there is no match in sbl-xbl.spamhaus.org, nothing more is done. +The second blacklist item is processed similarly. + + +If you are interested in more than one merged list, the same list must be +given several times, but because the results of the DNS lookups are cached, +the DNS calls themselves are not repeated. For example: + + +deny dnslists = \ + http.dnsbl.sorbs.net,dnsbl.sorbs.net=127.0.0.2 : \ + socks.dnsbl.sorbs.net,dnsbl.sorbs.net=127.0.0.3 : \ + misc.dnsbl.sorbs.net,dnsbl.sorbs.net=127.0.0.4 : \ + dul.dnsbl.sorbs.net,dnsbl.sorbs.net=127.0.0.10 + + +In this case there is one lookup in dnsbl.sorbs.net, and if none of the IP +values matches (or if no record is found), this is the only lookup that is +done. Only if there is a match is one of the more specific lists consulted. + +
+
+DNS lists and IPv6 + + +IPv6 +DNS black lists + + +DNS list +IPv6 usage + +If Exim is asked to do a dnslist lookup for an IPv6 address, it inverts it +nibble by nibble. For example, if the calling host’s IP address is +3ffe:ffff:836f:0a00:000a:0800:200a:c031, Exim might look up + + +1.3.0.c.a.0.0.2.0.0.8.0.a.0.0.0.0.0.a.0.f.6.3.8. + f.f.f.f.e.f.f.3.blackholes.mail-abuse.org + + +(split over two lines here to fit on the page). Unfortunately, some of the DNS +lists contain wildcard records, intended for IPv4, that interact badly with +IPv6. For example, the DNS entry + + +*.3.some.list.example. A 127.0.0.1 + + +is probably intended to put the entire 3.0.0.0/8 IPv4 network on the list. +Unfortunately, it also matches the entire 3::/4 IPv6 network. + + +You can exclude IPv6 addresses from DNS lookups by making use of a suitable + condition, as in this example: + + +deny condition = ${if isip4{$sender_host_address}} + dnslists = some.list.example + + +If an explicit key is being used for a DNS lookup and it may be an IPv6 +address you should specify alternate list separators for both the outer +(DNS list name) list and inner (lookup keys) list: + + + dnslists = <; dnsbl.example.com/<|$acl_m_addrslist + +
+
+Rate limiting incoming messages + + +rate limiting +client sending + + +limiting client sending rates + + + + +The ACL condition can be used to measure and control the rate at +which clients can send email. This is more powerful than the + options, because those options control the rate of +commands in a single SMTP session only, whereas the condition +works across all connections (concurrent and sequential) from the same client +host. The syntax of the condition is: + + +ratelimit = <m> / <p> / <options> / <key> + + +If the average client sending rate is less than m messages per time +period p then the condition is false; otherwise it is true. + + +As a side-effect, the condition sets the expansion variable +$sender_rate to the client’s computed rate, $sender_rate_limit to the +configured value of m, and $sender_rate_period to the configured value +of p. + + +The parameter p is the smoothing time constant, in the form of an Exim +time interval, for example, 8h for eight hours. A larger time constant +means that it takes Exim longer to forget a client’s past behaviour. The +parameter m is the maximum number of messages that a client is permitted to +send in each time interval. It also specifies the number of messages permitted +in a fast burst. By increasing both m and p but keeping m/p +constant, you can allow a client to send more messages in a burst without +changing its long-term sending rate limit. Conversely, if m and p are +both small, messages must be sent at an even rate. + + +There is a script in util/ratelimit.pl which extracts sending rates from +log files, to assist with choosing appropriate settings for m and p +when deploying the ACL condition. The script prints usage +instructions when it is run with no arguments. + + +The key is used to look up the data for calculating the client’s average +sending rate. This data is stored in Exim’s spool directory, alongside the +retry and other hints databases. The default key is $sender_host_address, +which means Exim computes the sending rate of each client host IP address. +By changing the key you can change how Exim identifies clients for the purpose +of ratelimiting. For example, to limit the sending rate of each authenticated +user, independent of the computer they are sending from, set the key to +$authenticated_id. You must ensure that the lookup key is meaningful; for +example, $authenticated_id is only meaningful if the client has +authenticated (which you can check with the ACL condition). + + +The lookup key does not have to identify clients: If you want to limit the +rate at which a recipient receives messages, you can use the key +$local_part@$domain with the option (see below) in a RCPT +ACL. + + +Each condition can have up to four options. A option +specifies what Exim measures the rate of, for example, messages or recipients +or bytes. You can adjust the measurement using the and/or + options. You can also control when Exim updates the recorded rate +using a , , or option. The options are +separated by a slash, like the other parameters. They may appear in any order. + + +Internally, Exim appends the smoothing constant p onto the lookup key with +any options that alter the meaning of the stored data. The limit m is not +stored, so you can alter the configured maximum rate and Exim will still +remember clients’ past behaviour. If you change the mode or add or +remove the option, the lookup key changes so Exim will forget past +behaviour. The lookup key is not affected by changes to the update mode and +the option. + +
+
+Ratelimit options for what is being measured + + +rate limiting +per_* options + +The option limits the client’s connection rate. It is not +normally used in the , , or + ACLs. + + +The option limits the client’s rate of sending messages. This is +the default if none of the options is specified. It can be used in +, , , , +, or . + + +The option limits the sender’s email bandwidth. It can be used in +the same ACLs as the option, though it is best to use this option +in the , or ACLs; if it is +used in an earlier ACL, Exim relies on the SIZE parameter given by the client +in its MAIL command, which may be inaccurate or completely missing. You can +follow the limit m in the configuration with K, M, or G to specify limits +in kilobytes, megabytes, or gigabytes, respectively. + + +The option causes Exim to limit the rate at which recipients are +accepted. It can be used in the , , +, , or ACLs. In + the rate is updated one recipient at a time; in the other +ACLs the rate is updated with the total (accepted) recipient count in one go. Note that +in either case the rate limiting engine will see a message with many +recipients as a large high-speed burst. + + +The option is like the option, except it counts the +number of different recipients that the client has sent messages to in the +last time period. That is, if the client repeatedly sends messages to the same +recipient, its measured rate is not increased. This option can only be used in +. + + +The option causes Exim to recompute the rate every time the +condition is processed. This can be used to limit the rate of any SMTP +command. If it is used in multiple ACLs it can limit the aggregate rate of +multiple different commands. + + +The option can be used to alter how much Exim adds to the client’s +measured rate. For example, the option is equivalent to +per_mail/count=$message_size. If there is no option, Exim +increases the measured rate by one (except for the option in ACLs +other than ). The count does not have to be an integer. + + +The option is described in section below. + +
+
+Ratelimit update modes + + +rate limiting +reading data without updating + +You can specify one of three options with the condition to +control when its database is updated. This section describes the +mode, and the next section describes the and modes. + + +If the condition is used in mode, Exim looks up a +previously-computed rate to check against the limit. + + +For example, you can test the client’s sending rate and deny it access (when +it is too fast) in the connect ACL. If the client passes this check then it +can go on to send a message, in which case its recorded rate will be updated +in the MAIL ACL. Subsequent connections from the same client will check this +new rate. + + +acl_check_connect: + deny ratelimit = 100 / 5m / readonly + log_message = RATE CHECK: $sender_rate/$sender_rate_period \ + (max $sender_rate_limit) +# ... +acl_check_mail: + warn ratelimit = 100 / 5m / strict + log_message = RATE UPDATE: $sender_rate/$sender_rate_period \ + (max $sender_rate_limit) + + +If Exim encounters multiple conditions with the same key when +processing a message then it may increase the client’s measured rate more than +it should. For example, this will happen if you check the option +in both and . However it’s OK to check the +same condition multiple times in the same ACL. You can avoid any +multiple update problems by using the option on later ratelimit +checks. + + +The options described above do not make sense in some ACLs. If you +use a option in an ACL where it is not normally permitted then the +update mode defaults to and you cannot specify the or + modes. In other ACLs the default update mode is (see the +next section) so you must specify the option explicitly. + +
+
+Ratelimit options for handling fast clients + + +rate limiting +strict and leaky modes + +If a client’s average rate is greater than the maximum, the rate limiting +engine can react in two possible ways, depending on the presence of the + or update modes. This is independent of the other +counter-measures (such as rejecting the message) that may be specified by the +rest of the ACL. + + +The (default) option means that the client’s recorded rate is not +updated if it is above the limit. The effect of this is that Exim measures the +client’s average rate of successfully sent email, + + +up to the given limit. +This is appropriate if the countermeasure when the condition is true +consists of refusing the message, and +is generally the better choice if you have clients that retry automatically. +If the action when true is anything more complex then this option is +likely not what is wanted. + + +The option means that the client’s recorded rate is always +updated. The effect of this is that Exim measures the client’s average rate +of attempts to send email, which can be much higher than the maximum it is +actually allowed. If the client is over the limit it may be subjected to +counter-measures by the ACL. It must slow down and allow sufficient time to +pass that its computed rate falls below the maximum before it can send email +again. The time (the number of smoothing periods) it must wait and not +attempt to send mail can be calculated with this formula: + + + ln(peakrate/maxrate) + +
+
+Limiting the rate of different events + + +rate limiting +counting unique events + +The option controls a mechanism for counting the +rate of different events. For example, the option uses this +mechanism to count the number of different recipients that the client has +sent messages to in the last time period; it is equivalent to +per_rcpt/unique=$local_part@$domain. You could use this feature to +measure the rate that a client uses different sender addresses with the +options per_mail/unique=$sender_address. + + +For each key Exim stores the set of values that it +has seen for that key. The whole set is thrown away when it is older than the +rate smoothing period p, so each different event is counted at most once +per period. In the update mode, an event that causes the client to +go over the limit is not added to the set, in the same way that the client’s +recorded rate is not updated in the same situation. + + +When you combine the and options, the specific + value is ignored, and Exim just retrieves the client’s stored +rate. + + +The mechanism needs more space in the ratelimit database than the +other options in order to store the event set. The number of +unique values is potentially as large as the rate limit, so the extra space +required increases with larger limits. + + +The uniqueification is not perfect: there is a small probability that Exim +will think a new event has happened before. If the sender’s rate is less than +the limit, Exim should be more than 99.9% correct. However in mode +the measured rate can go above the limit, in which case Exim may under-count +events by a significant margin. Fortunately, if the rate is high enough (2.7 +times the limit) that the false positive rate goes above 9%, then Exim will +throw away the over-full event set before the measured rate falls below the +limit. Therefore the only harm should be that exceptionally high sending rates +are logged incorrectly; any countermeasures you configure will be as effective +as intended. + +
+
+Using rate limiting + +Exim’s other ACL facilities are used to define what counter-measures are taken +when the rate limit is exceeded. This might be anything from logging a warning +(for example, while measuring existing sending rates in order to define +policy), through time delays to slow down fast senders, up to rejecting the +message. For example: + + +# Log all senders' rates +warn ratelimit = 0 / 1h / strict + log_message = Sender rate $sender_rate / $sender_rate_period + +# Slow down fast senders; note the need to truncate $sender_rate +# at the decimal point. +warn ratelimit = 100 / 1h / per_rcpt / strict + delay = ${eval: ${sg{$sender_rate}{[.].*}{}} - \ + $sender_rate_limit }s + +# Keep authenticated users under control +deny authenticated = * + ratelimit = 100 / 1d / strict / $authenticated_id + +# System-wide rate limit +defer message = Sorry, too busy. Try again later. + ratelimit = 10 / 1s / $primary_hostname + +# Restrict incoming rate from each host, with a default +# set using a macro and special cases looked up in a table. +defer message = Sender rate exceeds $sender_rate_limit \ + messages per $sender_rate_period + ratelimit = ${lookup {$sender_host_address} \ + cdb {DB/ratelimits.cdb} \ + {$value} {RATELIMIT} } + + +Warning: If you have a busy server with a lot of tests, +especially with the option, you may suffer from a performance +bottleneck caused by locking on the ratelimit hints database. Apart from +making your ACLs less complicated, you can reduce the problem by using a +RAM disk for Exim’s hints directory (usually /var/spool/exim/db/). However +this means that Exim will lose its hints data after a reboot (including retry +hints, the callout cache, and ratelimit data). + +
+
+Address verification + + +verifying address +options for + + +policy control +address verification + +Several of the conditions described in section + cause addresses to be verified. Section + discusses the reporting of sender verification failures. +The verification conditions can be followed by options that modify the +verification process. The options are separated from the keyword and from each +other by slashes, and some of them contain parameters. For example: + + +verify = sender/callout +verify = recipient/defer_ok/callout=10s,defer_ok + + +The first stage of address verification, which always happens, is to run the +address through the routers, in verify mode. Routers can detect the +difference between verification and routing for delivery, and their actions can +be varied by a number of generic options such as and +(see chapter ). If routing fails, verification fails. +The available options are as follows: + + + + +If the option is specified, successful routing to one or more +remote hosts is followed by a callout to those hosts as an additional +check. Callouts and their sub-options are discussed in the next section. + + + + +If there is a defer error while doing verification routing, the ACL +normally returns defer. However, if you include in the +options, the condition is forced to be true instead. Note that this is a main +verification option as well as a suboption for callouts. + + + + +The option is covered in section , which +discusses the reporting of sender address verification failures. + + + + +The option causes verification always to succeed +immediately after a successful redirection. By default, if a redirection +generates just one address, that address is also verified. See further +discussion in section . + + + + + +verifying address +differentiating failures + + +$recipient_verify_failure + + +$sender_verify_failure + + +$acl_verify_message + +After an address verification failure, $acl_verify_message contains the +error message that is associated with the failure. It can be preserved by +coding like this: + + +warn !verify = sender + set acl_m0 = $acl_verify_message + + +If you are writing your own custom rejection message or log message when +denying access, you can use this variable to include information about the +verification failure. + + +In addition, $sender_verify_failure or $recipient_verify_failure (as +appropriate) contains one of the following words: + + + + +: The address was unqualified (no domain), and the message +was neither local nor came from an exempted host. + + + + +: Routing failed. + + + + +: Routing succeeded, and a callout was attempted; rejection +occurred at or before the MAIL command (that is, on initial +connection, HELO, or MAIL). + + + + +: The RCPT command in a callout was rejected. + + + + +: The postmaster check in a callout was rejected. + + + + +The main use of these variables is expected to be to distinguish between +rejections of MAIL and rejections of RCPT in callouts. + + +The above variables may also be set after a successful +address verification to: + + + + +: A random local-part callout succeeded + + + +
+
+Callout verification + + +verifying address +by callout + + +callout +verification + + +SMTP +callout verification + +For non-local addresses, routing verifies the domain, but is unable to do any +checking of the local part. There are situations where some means of verifying +the local part is desirable. One way this can be done is to make an SMTP +callback to a delivery host for the sender address or a callforward to +a subsequent host for a recipient address, to see if the host accepts the +address. We use the term callout to cover both cases. Note that for a +sender address, the callback is not to the client host that is trying to +deliver the message, but to one of the hosts that accepts incoming mail for the +sender’s domain. + + +Exim does not do callouts by default. If you want them to happen, you must +request them by setting appropriate options on the condition, as +described below. This facility should be used with care, because it can add a +lot of resource usage to the cost of verifying an address. However, Exim does +cache the results of callouts, which helps to reduce the cost. Details of +caching are in section . + + +Recipient callouts are usually used only between hosts that are controlled by +the same administration. For example, a corporate gateway host could use +callouts to check for valid recipients on an internal mailserver. A successful +callout does not guarantee that a real delivery to the address would succeed; +on the other hand, a failing callout does guarantee that a delivery would fail. + + +If the option is present on a condition that verifies an address, a +second stage of verification occurs if the address is successfully routed to +one or more remote hosts. The usual case is routing by a dnslookup or a +manualroute router, where the router specifies the hosts. However, if a +router that does not set up hosts routes to an smtp transport with a + setting, the transport’s hosts are used. If an smtp transport has + set, its hosts are always used, whether or not the router +supplies a host list. +Callouts are only supported on smtp transports. + + +The port that is used is taken from the transport, if it is specified and is a +remote transport. (For routers that do verification only, no transport need be +specified.) Otherwise, the default SMTP port is used. If a remote transport +specifies an outgoing interface, this is used; otherwise the interface is not +specified. Likewise, the text that is used for the HELO command is taken from +the transport’s option; if there is no transport, the value of +$smtp_active_hostname is used. + + +For a sender callout check, Exim makes SMTP connections to the remote hosts, to +test whether a bounce message could be delivered to the sender address. The +following SMTP commands are sent: + + +HELO <local host name> +MAIL FROM:<> +RCPT TO:<the address to be tested> +QUIT + + +LHLO is used instead of HELO if the transport’s option is +set to lmtp. + + +The callout may use EHLO, AUTH and/or STARTTLS given appropriate option +settings. + + +A recipient callout check is similar. By default, it also uses an empty address +for the sender. This default is chosen because most hosts do not make use of +the sender address when verifying a recipient. Using the same address means +that a single cache entry can be used for each recipient. Some sites, however, +do make use of the sender address when verifying. These are catered for by the + and options, described in the next section. + + +If the response to the RCPT command is a 2xx code, the verification +succeeds. If it is 5xx, the verification fails. For any other condition, +Exim tries the next host, if any. If there is a problem with all the remote +hosts, the ACL yields defer, unless the parameter of the + option is given, in which case the condition is forced to succeed. + + + +SMTP +output flushing, disabling for callout + +A callout may take a little time. For this reason, Exim normally flushes SMTP +output before performing a callout in an ACL, to avoid unexpected timeouts in +clients when the SMTP PIPELINING extension is in use. The flushing can be +disabled by using a modifier to set . + +
+
+Additional parameters for callouts + + +callout +additional parameters for + +The option can be followed by an equals sign and a number of +optional parameters, separated by commas. For example: + + +verify = recipient/callout=10s,defer_ok + + +The old syntax, which had and as +separate verify options, is retained for backwards compatibility, but is now +deprecated. The additional parameters for are as follows: + + + +<a time interval> + + + +callout +timeout, specifying + +This specifies the timeout that applies for the callout attempt to each host. +For example: + + +verify = sender/callout=5s + + +The default is 30 seconds. The timeout is used for each response from the +remote host. It is also used for the initial connection, unless overridden by +the parameter. + + + +connect = <time interval> + + + +callout +connection timeout, specifying + +This parameter makes it possible to set a different (usually smaller) timeout +for making the SMTP connection. For example: + + +verify = sender/callout=5s,connect=1s + + +If not specified, this timeout defaults to the general timeout value. + + + +defer_ok + + + +callout +defer, action on + +When this parameter is present, failure to contact any host, or any other kind +of temporary error, is treated as success by the ACL. However, the cache is not +updated in this circumstance. + + + +fullpostmaster + + + +callout +full postmaster check + +This operates like the option (see below), but if the check for +postmaster@domain fails, it tries just postmaster, without a domain, in +accordance with the specification in RFC 2821. The RFC states that the +unqualified address postmaster should be accepted. + + + +mailfrom = <email address> + + + +callout +sender when verifying header + +When verifying addresses in header lines using the +verification option, Exim behaves by default as if the addresses are envelope +sender addresses from a message. Callout verification therefore tests to see +whether a bounce message could be delivered, by using an empty address in the +MAIL command. However, it is arguable that these addresses might never be used +as envelope senders, and could therefore justifiably reject bounce messages +(empty senders). The callout parameter allows you to specify what +address to use in the MAIL command. For example: + + +require verify = header_sender/callout=mailfrom=abcd@x.y.z + + +This parameter is available only for the verification option. + + + +maxwait = <time interval> + + + +callout +overall timeout, specifying + +This parameter sets an overall timeout for performing a callout verification. +For example: + + +verify = sender/callout=5s,maxwait=30s + + +This timeout defaults to four times the callout timeout for individual SMTP +commands. The overall timeout applies when there is more than one host that can +be tried. The timeout is checked before trying the next host. This prevents +very long delays if there are a large number of hosts and all are timing out +(for example, when network connections are timing out). + + + +no_cache + + + +callout +cache, suppressing + + +caching callout, suppressing + +When this parameter is given, the callout cache is neither read nor updated. + + + +postmaster + + + +callout +postmaster; checking + +When this parameter is set, a successful callout check is followed by a similar +check for the local part postmaster at the same domain. If this address is +rejected, the callout fails (but see above). The result of +the postmaster check is recorded in a cache record; if it is a failure, this is +used to fail subsequent callouts for the domain without a connection being +made, until the cache record expires. + + + +postmaster_mailfrom = <email address> + + +The postmaster check uses an empty sender in the MAIL command by default. +You can use this parameter to do a postmaster check using a different address. +For example: + + +require verify = sender/callout=postmaster_mailfrom=abc@x.y.z + + +If both and are present, the rightmost +one overrides. The parameter is equivalent to this example: + + +require verify = sender/callout=postmaster_mailfrom= + + +Warning: The caching arrangements for postmaster checking do not take +account of the sender address. It is assumed that either the empty address or +a fixed non-empty address will be used. All that Exim remembers is that the +postmaster check for the domain succeeded or failed. + + + +random + + + +callout +random check + +When this parameter is set, before doing the normal callout check, Exim does a +check for a random local part at the same domain. The local part is not +really random – it is defined by the expansion of the option +, which defaults to + + +$primary_hostname-$tod_epoch-testing + + +The idea here is to try to determine whether the remote host accepts all local +parts without checking. If it does, there is no point in doing callouts for +specific local parts. If the random check succeeds, the result is saved in +a cache record, and used to force the current and subsequent callout checks to +succeed without a connection being made, until the cache record expires. + + + +use_postmaster + + + +callout +sender for recipient check + +This parameter applies to recipient callouts only. For example: + + +deny !verify = recipient/callout=use_postmaster + + + +$qualify_domain + +It causes a non-empty postmaster address to be used in the MAIL command when +performing the callout for the recipient, and also for a random check if +that is configured. The local part of the address is postmaster and the +domain is the contents of $qualify_domain. + + + +use_sender + + +This option applies to recipient callouts only. For example: + + +require verify = recipient/callout=use_sender + + +It causes the message’s actual sender address to be used in the MAIL +command when performing the callout, instead of an empty address. There is no +need to use this option unless you know that the called hosts make use of the +sender when checking recipients. If used indiscriminately, it reduces the +usefulness of callout caching. + + + +hold + + +This option applies to recipient callouts only. For example: + + +require verify = recipient/callout=use_sender,hold + + +It causes the connection to be held open and used for any further recipients +and for eventual delivery (should that be done quickly). +Doing this saves on TCP and SMTP startup costs, and TLS costs also +when that is used for the connections. +The advantage is only gained if there are no callout cache hits +(which could be enforced by the no_cache option), +if the use_sender option is used, +if neither the random nor the use_postmaster option is used, +and if no other callouts intervene. + + + + +If you use any of the parameters that set a non-empty sender for the MAIL +command (, , , or +), you should think about possible loops. Recipient checking is +usually done between two hosts that are under the same management, and the host +that receives the callouts is not normally configured to do callouts itself. +Therefore, it is normally safe to use or in +these circumstances. + + +However, if you use a non-empty sender address for a callout to an arbitrary +host, there is the likelihood that the remote host will itself initiate a +callout check back to your host. As it is checking what appears to be a message +sender, it is likely to use an empty address in MAIL, thus avoiding a +callout loop. However, to be on the safe side it would be best to set up your +own ACLs so that they do not do sender verification checks when the recipient +is the address you use for header sender or postmaster callout checking. + + +Another issue to think about when using non-empty senders for callouts is +caching. When you set or , the cache record is keyed +by the sender/recipient combination; thus, for any given recipient, many more +actual callouts are performed than when an empty sender or postmaster is used. + +
+
+Callout caching + + +hints database +callout cache + + +callout +cache, description of + + +caching +callout + +Exim caches the results of callouts in order to reduce the amount of resources +used, unless you specify the parameter with the +option. A hints database called callout is used for the cache. Two +different record types are used: one records the result of a callout check for +a specific address, and the other records information that applies to the +entire domain (for example, that it accepts the local part postmaster). + + +When an original callout fails, a detailed SMTP error message is given about +the failure. However, for subsequent failures use the cache data, this message +is not available. + + +The expiry times for negative and positive address cache records are +independent, and can be set by the global options +(default 2h) and (default 24h), respectively. + + +If a host gives a negative response to an SMTP connection, or rejects any +commands up to and including + + +MAIL FROM:<> + + +(but not including the MAIL command with a non-empty address), +any callout attempt is bound to fail. Exim remembers such failures in a +domain cache record, which it uses to fail callouts for the domain without +making new connections, until the domain record times out. There are two +separate expiry times for domain cache records: + (default 3h) and + (default 7d). + + +Domain records expire when the negative expiry time is reached if callouts +cannot be made for the domain, or if the postmaster check failed. +Otherwise, they expire when the positive expiry time is reached. This +ensures that, for example, a host that stops accepting random local parts +will eventually be noticed. + + +The callout caching mechanism is based on the domain of the address that is +being tested. If the domain routes to several hosts, it is assumed that their +behaviour will be the same. + +
+
+Sender address verification reporting + + +verifying +suppressing error details + +See section for a general discussion of +verification. When sender verification fails in an ACL, the details of the +failure are given as additional output lines before the 550 response to the +relevant SMTP command (RCPT or DATA). For example, if sender callout is in use, +you might see: + + +MAIL FROM:<xyz@abc.example> +250 OK +RCPT TO:<pqr@def.example> +550-Verification failed for <xyz@abc.example> +550-Called: 192.168.34.43 +550-Sent: RCPT TO:<xyz@abc.example> +550-Response: 550 Unknown local part xyz in <xyz@abc.example> +550 Sender verification failed + + +If more than one RCPT command fails in the same way, the details are given +only for the first of them. However, some administrators do not want to send +out this much information. You can suppress the details by adding +/no_details to the ACL statement that requests sender verification. For +example: + + +verify = sender/no_details + +
+
+Redirection while verifying + + +verifying +redirection while + + +address redirection +while verifying + +A dilemma arises when a local address is redirected by aliasing or forwarding +during verification: should the generated addresses themselves be verified, +or should the successful expansion of the original address be enough to verify +it? By default, Exim takes the following pragmatic approach: + + + + +When an incoming address is redirected to just one child address, verification +continues with the child address, and if that fails to verify, the original +verification also fails. + + + + +When an incoming address is redirected to more than one child address, +verification does not continue. A success result is returned. + + + + +This seems the most reasonable behaviour for the common use of aliasing as a +way of redirecting different local parts to the same mailbox. It means, for +example, that a pair of alias entries of the form + + +A.Wol: aw123 +aw123: :fail: Gone away, no forwarding address + + +work as expected, with both local parts causing verification failure. When a +redirection generates more than one address, the behaviour is more like a +mailing list, where the existence of the alias itself is sufficient for +verification to succeed. + + +It is possible, however, to change the default behaviour so that all successful +redirections count as successful verifications, however many new addresses are +generated. This is specified by the verification +option. For example: + + +require verify = recipient/success_on_redirect/callout=10s + + +In this example, verification succeeds if a router generates a new address, and +the callout does not occur, because no address was routed to a remote host. + + +When verification is being tested via the option, the treatment of +redirections is as just described, unless the or any debugging option is +also specified. In that case, full verification is done for every generated +address and a report is output for each of them. + +
+
+Client SMTP authorization (CSA) + + +CSA +verifying + +Client SMTP Authorization is a system that allows a site to advertise +which machines are and are not permitted to send email. This is done by placing +special SRV records in the DNS; these are looked up using the client’s HELO +domain. At the time of writing, CSA is still an Internet Draft. Client SMTP +Authorization checks in Exim are performed by the ACL condition: + + +verify = csa + + +This fails if the client is not authorized. If there is a DNS problem, or if no +valid CSA SRV record is found, or if the client is authorized, the condition +succeeds. These three cases can be distinguished using the expansion variable +$csa_status, which can take one of the values fail, defer, +unknown, or ok. The condition does not itself defer because that would +be likely to cause problems for legitimate email. + + +The error messages produced by the CSA code include slightly more +detail. If $csa_status is defer, this may be because of problems +looking up the CSA SRV record, or problems looking up the CSA target +address record. There are four reasons for $csa_status being fail: + + + + +The client’s host name is explicitly not authorized. + + + + +The client’s IP address does not match any of the CSA target IP addresses. + + + + +The client’s host name is authorized but it has no valid target IP addresses +(for example, the target’s addresses are IPv6 and the client is using IPv4). + + + + +The client’s host name has no CSA SRV record but a parent domain has asserted +that all subdomains must be explicitly authorized. + + + + +The verification condition can take an argument which is the domain to +use for the DNS query. The default is: + + +verify = csa/$sender_helo_name + + +This implementation includes an extension to CSA. If the query domain +is an address literal such as [192.0.2.95], or if it is a bare IP +address, Exim searches for CSA SRV records in the reverse DNS as if +the HELO domain was (for example) 95.2.0.192.in-addr.arpa. Therefore it is +meaningful to say: + + +verify = csa/$sender_host_address + + +In fact, this is the check that Exim performs if the client does not say HELO. +This extension can be turned off by setting the main configuration option + to be false. + + +If a CSA SRV record is not found for the domain itself, a search +is performed through its parent domains for a record which might be +making assertions about subdomains. The maximum depth of this search is limited +using the main configuration option , which is 5 by +default. Exim does not look for CSA SRV records in a top level domain, so the +default settings handle HELO domains as long as seven +(hostname.five.four.three.two.one.com). This encompasses the vast majority +of legitimate HELO domains. + + +The dnsdb lookup also has support for CSA. Although dnsdb also supports +direct SRV lookups, this is not sufficient because of the extra parent domain +search behaviour of CSA, and (as with PTR lookups) dnsdb also turns IP +addresses into lookups in the reverse DNS space. The result of a successful +lookup such as: + + +${lookup dnsdb {csa=$sender_helo_name}} + + +has two space-separated fields: an authorization code and a target host name. +The authorization code can be Y for yes, N for no, X for explicit +authorization required but absent, or ? for unknown. + +
+
+Bounce address tag validation + + +BATV, verifying + +Bounce address tag validation (BATV) is a scheme whereby the envelope senders +of outgoing messages have a cryptographic, timestamped tag added to them. +Genuine incoming bounce messages should therefore always be addressed to +recipients that have a valid tag. This scheme is a way of detecting unwanted +bounce messages caused by sender address forgeries (often called collateral +spam), because the recipients of such messages do not include valid tags. + + +There are two expansion items to help with the implementation of the BATV +prvs (private signature) scheme in an Exim configuration. This scheme signs +the original envelope sender address by using a simple key to add a hash of the +address and some time-based randomizing information. The expansion +item creates a signed address, and the expansion item checks one. +The syntax of these expansion items is described in section +. +The validity period on signed addresses is seven days. + + +As an example, suppose the secret per-address keys are stored in an MySQL +database. A query to look up the key for an address could be defined as a macro +like this: + + +PRVSCHECK_SQL = ${lookup mysql{SELECT secret FROM batv_prvs \ + WHERE sender='${quote_mysql:$prvscheck_address}'\ + }{$value}} + + +Suppose also that the senders who make use of BATV are defined by an address +list called . Then, in the ACL for RCPT commands, you could +use this: + + +# Bounces: drop unsigned addresses for BATV senders +deny message = This address does not send an unsigned reverse path + senders = : + recipients = +batv_senders + +# Bounces: In case of prvs-signed address, check signature. +deny message = Invalid reverse path signature. + senders = : + condition = ${prvscheck {$local_part@$domain}\ + {PRVSCHECK_SQL}{1}} + !condition = $prvscheck_result + + +The first statement rejects recipients for bounce messages that are addressed +to plain BATV sender addresses, because it is known that BATV senders do not +send out messages with plain sender addresses. The second statement rejects +recipients that are prvs-signed, but with invalid signatures (either because +the key is wrong, or the signature has timed out). + + +A non-prvs-signed address is not rejected by the second statement, because the + expansion yields an empty string if its first argument is not a +prvs-signed address, thus causing the condition to be false. If +the first argument is a syntactically valid prvs-signed address, the yield is +the third string (in this case 1), whether or not the cryptographic and +timeout checks succeed. The $prvscheck_result variable contains the result +of the checks (empty for failure, 1 for success). + + +There is one more issue you must consider when implementing prvs-signing: +you have to ensure that the routers accept prvs-signed addresses and +deliver them correctly. The easiest way to handle this is to use a redirect +router to remove the signature with a configuration along these lines: + + +batv_redirect: + driver = redirect + data = ${prvscheck {$local_part@$domain}{PRVSCHECK_SQL}} + + +This works because, if the third argument of is empty, the result +of the expansion of a prvs-signed address is the decoded value of the original +address. This router should probably be the first of your routers that handles +local addresses. + + +To create BATV-signed addresses in the first place, a transport of this form +can be used: + + +external_smtp_batv: + driver = smtp + return_path = ${prvs {$return_path} \ + {${lookup mysql{SELECT \ + secret FROM batv_prvs WHERE \ + sender='${quote_mysql:$sender_address}'} \ + {$value}fail}}} + + +If no key can be found for the existing return path, no signing takes place. + +
+
+Using an ACL to control relaying + + +access control lists (ACLs) +relay control + + +relaying +control by ACL + + +policy control +relay control + +An MTA is said to relay a message if it receives it from some host and +delivers it directly to another host as a result of a remote address contained +within it. Redirecting a local address via an alias or forward file and then +passing the message on to another host is not relaying, + +percent hack + +but a redirection as a result of the percent hack is. + + +Two kinds of relaying exist, which are termed incoming and outgoing. +A host which is acting as a gateway or an MX backup is concerned with incoming +relaying from arbitrary hosts to a specific set of domains. On the other hand, +a host which is acting as a smart host for a number of clients is concerned +with outgoing relaying from those clients to the Internet at large. Often the +same host is fulfilling both functions, +but in principle these two kinds of relaying are entirely independent. What is +not wanted is the transmission of mail from arbitrary remote hosts through your +system to arbitrary domains. + + +You can implement relay control by means of suitable statements in the ACL that +runs for each RCPT command. For convenience, it is often easiest to use +Exim’s named list facility to define the domains and hosts involved. For +example, suppose you want to do the following: + + + + +Deliver a number of domains to mailboxes on the local host (or process them +locally in some other way). Let’s say these are my.dom1.example and +my.dom2.example. + + + + +Relay mail for a number of other domains for which you are the secondary MX. +These might be friend1.example and friend2.example. + + + + +Relay mail from the hosts on your local LAN, to whatever domains are involved. +Suppose your LAN is 192.168.45.0/24. + + + + +In the main part of the configuration, you put the following definitions: + + +domainlist local_domains = my.dom1.example : my.dom2.example +domainlist relay_to_domains = friend1.example : friend2.example +hostlist relay_from_hosts = 192.168.45.0/24 + + +Now you can use these definitions in the ACL that is run for every RCPT +command: + + +acl_check_rcpt: + accept domains = +local_domains : +relay_to_domains + accept hosts = +relay_from_hosts + + +The first statement accepts any RCPT command that contains an address in +the local or relay domains. For any other domain, control passes to the second +statement, which accepts the command only if it comes from one of the relay +hosts. In practice, you will probably want to make your ACL more sophisticated +than this, for example, by including sender and recipient verification. The +default configuration includes a more comprehensive example, which is described +in chapter . + +
+
+Checking a relay configuration + + +relaying +checking control of + +You can check the relay characteristics of your configuration in the same way +that you can test any ACL behaviour for an incoming SMTP connection, by using +the option to run a fake SMTP session with which you interact. + + +
+ + + +Content scanning at ACL time + + +content scanning +at ACL time + +The extension of Exim to include content scanning at ACL time, formerly known +as exiscan, was originally implemented as a patch by Tom Kistner. The code +was integrated into the main source for Exim release 4.50, and Tom continues to +maintain it. Most of the wording of this chapter is taken from Tom’s +specification. + + +It is also possible to scan the content of messages at other times. The +local_scan() function (see chapter ) allows for content +scanning after all the ACLs have run. A transport filter can be used to scan +messages at delivery time (see the option, described in +chapter ). + + +If you want to include the ACL-time content-scanning features when you compile +Exim, you need to arrange for WITH_CONTENT_SCAN to be defined in your +Local/Makefile. When you do that, the Exim binary is built with: + + + + +Two additional ACLs ( and ) that are run +for all MIME parts for SMTP and non-SMTP messages, respectively. + + + + +Additional ACL conditions and modifiers: , , +, , and . These can be used in the ACL that is +run at the end of message reception (the ACL). + + + + +An additional control feature (no_mbox_unspool) that saves spooled copies +of messages, or parts of messages, for debugging purposes. + + + + +Additional expansion variables that are set in the new ACL and by the new +conditions. + + + + +Two new main configuration options: and . + + + + +Content-scanning is continually evolving, and new features are still being +added. While such features are still unstable and liable to incompatible +changes, they are made available in Exim by setting options whose names begin +EXPERIMENTAL_ in Local/Makefile. Such features are not documented in +this manual. You can find out about them by reading the file called +doc/experimental.txt. + + +All the content-scanning facilities work on a MBOX copy of the message that is +temporarily created in a file called: + + +<spool_directory>/scan/<message_id>/<message_id>.eml + + +The .eml extension is a friendly hint to virus scanners that they can +expect an MBOX-like structure inside that file. The file is created when the +first content scanning facility is called. Subsequent calls to content +scanning conditions open the same file again. The directory is recursively +removed when the ACL has finished running, unless + + +control = no_mbox_unspool + + +has been encountered. When the MIME ACL decodes files, they are put into the +same directory by default. + +
+Scanning for viruses + + +virus scanning + + +content scanning +for viruses + + +content scanning +the condition + +The ACL condition lets you connect virus scanner software to Exim. +It supports a generic interface to scanners called via the shell, and +specialized interfaces for daemon type virus scanners, which are resident +in memory and thus are much faster. + + +A timeout of 2 minutes is applied to a scanner call (by default); +if it expires then a defer action is taken. + + + + + +You can set the option in the main part of the configuration +to specify which scanner to use, together with any additional options that +are needed. The basic syntax is as follows: + + +av_scanner = <scanner-type>:<option1>:<option2>:[...] + + +If you do not set , it defaults to + + +av_scanner = sophie:/var/run/sophie + + +If the value of starts with a dollar character, it is expanded +before use. +The usual list-parsing of the content (see ) applies. +The following scanner types are supported in this release, +though individual ones can be included or not at build time: + + + + + + + +virus scanners +avast + +This is the scanner daemon of Avast. It has been tested with Avast Core +Security (currently at version 2.2.0). +You can get a trial version at https://www.avast.com or for Linux +at https://www.avast.com/linux-server-antivirus. +This scanner type takes one option, +which can be either a full path to a UNIX socket, +or host and port specifiers separated by white space. +The host may be a name or an IP address; the port is either a +single number or a pair of numbers with a dash between. +A list of options may follow. These options are interpreted on the +Exim’s side of the malware scanner, or are given on separate lines to +the daemon as options before the main scan command. + + + +pass_unscanned +avast + +If pass_unscanned +is set, any files the Avast scanner can’t scan (e.g. +decompression bombs, or invalid archives) are considered clean. Use with +care. + + +For example: + + +av_scanner = avast:/var/run/avast/scan.sock:FLAGS -fullfiles:SENSITIVITY -pup +av_scanner = avast:/var/run/avast/scan.sock:pass_unscanned:FLAGS -fullfiles:SENSITIVITY -pup +av_scanner = avast:192.168.2.22 5036 + + +If you omit the argument, the default path +/var/run/avast/scan.sock +is used. +If you use a remote host, +you need to make Exim’s spool directory available to it, +as the scanner is passed a file path, not file contents. +For information about available commands and their options you may use + + +$ socat UNIX:/var/run/avast/scan.sock STDIO: + FLAGS + SENSITIVITY + PACK + + +If the scanner returns a temporary failure (e.g. license issues, or +permission problems), the message is deferred and a paniclog entry is +written. The usual defer_ok option is available. + + + + + + + +virus scanners +Kaspersky + +This is the scanner daemon of Kaspersky Version 5. You can get a trial version +at https://www.kaspersky.com/. This scanner type takes one option, +which is the path to the daemon’s UNIX socket. The default is shown in this +example: + + +av_scanner = aveserver:/var/run/aveserver + + + + + + + +virus scanners +clamd + +This daemon-type scanner is GPL and free. You can get it at +https://www.clamav.net/. Some older versions of clamd do not seem to +unpack MIME containers, so it used to be recommended to unpack MIME attachments +in the MIME ACL. This is no longer believed to be necessary. + + +The options are a list of server specifiers, which may be +a UNIX socket specification, +a TCP socket specification, +or a (global) option. + + +A socket specification consists of a space-separated list. +For a Unix socket the first element is a full path for the socket, +for a TCP socket the first element is the IP address +and the second a port number, +Any further elements are per-server (non-global) options. +These per-server options are supported: + + +retry=<timespec> Retry on connect fail + + +The retry option specifies a time after which a single retry for +a failed connect is made. The default is to not retry. + + +If a Unix socket file is specified, only one server is supported. + + +Examples: + + +av_scanner = clamd:/opt/clamd/socket +av_scanner = clamd:192.0.2.3 1234 +av_scanner = clamd:192.0.2.3 1234:local +av_scanner = clamd:192.0.2.3 1234 retry=10s +av_scanner = clamd:192.0.2.3 1234 : 192.0.2.4 1234 + + +If the value of av_scanner points to a UNIX socket file or contains the +local +option, then the ClamAV interface will pass a filename containing the data +to be scanned, which should normally result in less I/O happening and be +more efficient. Normally in the TCP case, the data is streamed to ClamAV as +Exim does not assume that there is a common filesystem with the remote host. + + +The final example shows that multiple TCP targets can be specified. Exim will +randomly use one for each incoming email (i.e. it load balances them). Note +that only TCP targets may be used if specifying a list of scanners; a UNIX +socket cannot be mixed in with TCP targets. If one of the servers becomes +unavailable, Exim will try the remaining one(s) until it finds one that works. +When a clamd server becomes unreachable, Exim will log a message. Exim does +not keep track of scanner state between multiple messages, and the scanner +selection is random, so the message will get logged in the mainlog for each +email that the down scanner gets chosen first (message wrapped to be readable): + + +2013-10-09 14:30:39 1VTumd-0000Y8-BQ malware acl condition: + clamd: connection to localhost, port 3310 failed + (Connection refused) + + +If the option is unset, the default is /tmp/clamd. Thanks to David Saez for +contributing the code for this scanner. + + + + + + + +virus scanners +command line interface + +This is the keyword for the generic command line scanner interface. It can be +used to attach virus scanners that are invoked from the shell. This scanner +type takes 3 mandatory options: + + + + +The full path and name of the scanner binary, with all command line options, +and a placeholder (%s) for the directory to scan. + + + + +A regular expression to match against the STDOUT and STDERR output of the +virus scanner. If the expression matches, a virus was found. You must make +absolutely sure that this expression matches on virus found. This is called +the trigger expression. + + + + +Another regular expression, containing exactly one pair of parentheses, to +match the name of the virus found in the scanners output. This is called the +name expression. + + + + +For example, Sophos Sweep reports a virus on a line like this: + + +Virus 'W32/Magistr-B' found in file ./those.bat + + +For the trigger expression, we can match the phrase found in file. For the +name expression, we want to extract the W32/Magistr-B string, so we can match +for the single quotes left and right of it. Altogether, this makes the +configuration setting: + + +av_scanner = cmdline:\ + /path/to/sweep -ss -all -rec -archive %s:\ + found in file:'(.+)' + + + + + + + +virus scanners +DrWeb + +The DrWeb daemon scanner (https://www.sald.ru/) interface +takes one option, +either a full path to a UNIX socket, +or host and port specifiers separated by white space. +The host may be a name or an IP address; the port is either a +single number or a pair of numbers with a dash between. +For example: + + +av_scanner = drweb:/var/run/drwebd.sock +av_scanner = drweb:192.168.2.20 31337 + + +If you omit the argument, the default path /usr/local/drweb/run/drwebd.sock +is used. Thanks to Alex Miller for contributing the code for this scanner. + + + + + + + +virus scanners +f-protd + +The f-protd scanner is accessed via HTTP over TCP. +One argument is taken, being a space-separated hostname and port number +(or port-range). +For example: + + +av_scanner = f-protd:localhost 10200-10204 + + +If you omit the argument, the default values shown above are used. + + + + + + + +virus scanners +f-prot6d + +The f-prot6d scanner is accessed using the FPSCAND protocol over TCP. +One argument is taken, being a space-separated hostname and port number. +For example: + + +av_scanner = f-prot6d:localhost 10200 + + +If you omit the argument, the default values show above are used. + + + + + + + +virus scanners +F-Secure + +The F-Secure daemon scanner (https://www.f-secure.com/) takes one +argument which is the path to a UNIX socket. For example: + + +av_scanner = fsecure:/path/to/.fsav + + +If no argument is given, the default is /var/run/.fsav. Thanks to Johan +Thelmen for contributing the code for this scanner. + + + + + + + +virus scanners +Kaspersky + +This is the scanner daemon of Kaspersky Version 4. This version of the +Kaspersky scanner is outdated. Please upgrade (see above). This +scanner type takes one option, which is the path to the daemon’s UNIX socket. +For example: + + +av_scanner = kavdaemon:/opt/AVP/AvpCtl + + +The default path is /var/run/AvpCtl. + + + + + + + +virus scanners +mksd + +This was a daemon type scanner that is aimed mainly at Polish users, +though some documentation was available in English. +The history can be shown at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mks_vir +and this appears to be a candidate for removal from Exim, unless +we are informed of other virus scanners which use the same protocol +to integrate. +The only option for this scanner type is +the maximum number of processes used simultaneously to scan the attachments, +provided that mksd has +been run with at least the same number of child processes. For example: + + +av_scanner = mksd:2 + + +You can safely omit this option (the default value is 1). + + + + + + + +virus scanners +simple socket-connected + +This is a general-purpose way of talking to simple scanner daemons +running on the local machine. +There are four options: +an address (which may be an IP address and port, or the path of a Unix socket), +a commandline to send (may include a single %s which will be replaced with +the path to the mail file to be scanned), +an RE to trigger on from the returned data, +and an RE to extract malware_name from the returned data. +For example: + + +av_scanner = sock:127.0.0.1 6001:%s:(SPAM|VIRUS):(.*)$ + + +Note that surrounding whitespace is stripped from each option, meaning +there is no way to specify a trailing newline. +The socket specifier and both regular-expressions are required. +Default for the commandline is %s\n (note this does have a trailing newline); +specify an empty element to get this. + + + + + + + +virus scanners +Sophos and Sophie + +Sophie is a daemon that uses Sophos’ library to scan for viruses. +You can get Sophie at http://sophie.sourceforge.net/. The only option +for this scanner type is the path to the UNIX socket that Sophie uses for +client communication. For example: + + +av_scanner = sophie:/tmp/sophie + + +The default path is /var/run/sophie, so if you are using this, you can omit +the option. + + + + +When is correctly set, you can use the condition in +the DATA ACL. Note: You cannot use the condition in the MIME +ACL. + + +The option is expanded each time is called. This +makes it possible to use different scanners. See further below for an example. +The condition caches its results, so when you use it multiple times +for the same message, the actual scanning process is only carried out once. +However, using expandable items in disables this caching, in +which case each use of the condition causes a new scan of the +message. + + +The condition takes a right-hand argument that is expanded before +use and taken as a list, slash-separated by default. +The first element can then be one of + + + + +true, *, or 1, in which case the message is scanned for viruses. +The condition succeeds if a virus was found, and fail otherwise. This is the +recommended usage. + + + + +false or 0 or an empty string, in which case no scanning is done and +the condition fails immediately. + + + + +A regular expression, in which case the message is scanned for viruses. The +condition succeeds if a virus is found and its name matches the regular +expression. This allows you to take special actions on certain types of virus. +Note that / characters in the RE must be doubled due to the list-processing, +unless the separator is changed (in the usual way ). + + + + +You can append a defer_ok element to the argument list to accept +messages even if there is a problem with the virus scanner. +Otherwise, such a problem causes the ACL to defer. + + +You can append a tmo=<val> element to the argument list to +specify a non-default timeout. The default is two minutes. +For example: + + +malware = * / defer_ok / tmo=10s + + +A timeout causes the ACL to defer. + + + +$callout_address + +When a connection is made to the scanner the expansion variable $callout_address +is set to record the actual address used. + + + +$malware_name + +When a virus is found, the condition sets up an expansion variable called +$malware_name that contains the name of the virus. You can use it in a + modifier that specifies the error returned to the sender, and/or in +logging data. + + +Beware the interaction of Exim’s with any size limits +imposed by your anti-virus scanner. + + +Here is a very simple scanning example: + + +deny message = This message contains malware ($malware_name) + malware = * + + +The next example accepts messages when there is a problem with the scanner: + + +deny message = This message contains malware ($malware_name) + malware = */defer_ok + + +The next example shows how to use an ACL variable to scan with both sophie and +aveserver. It assumes you have set: + + +av_scanner = $acl_m0 + + +in the main Exim configuration. + + +deny message = This message contains malware ($malware_name) + set acl_m0 = sophie + malware = * + +deny message = This message contains malware ($malware_name) + set acl_m0 = aveserver + malware = * + +
+
+Scanning with SpamAssassin and Rspamd + + +content scanning +for spam + + +spam scanning + + +SpamAssassin + + +Rspamd + +The ACL condition calls SpamAssassin’s daemon to get a spam +score and a report for the message. +Support is also provided for Rspamd. + + +For more information about installation and configuration of SpamAssassin or +Rspamd refer to their respective websites at +https://spamassassin.apache.org/ and https://www.rspamd.com/ + + +SpamAssassin can be installed with CPAN by running: + + +perl -MCPAN -e 'install Mail::SpamAssassin' + + +SpamAssassin has its own set of configuration files. Please review its +documentation to see how you can tweak it. The default installation should work +nicely, however. + + + + + +By default, SpamAssassin listens on 127.0.0.1, TCP port 783 and if you +intend to use an instance running on the local host you do not need to set +. If you intend to use another host or port for SpamAssassin, +you must set the option in the global part of the Exim +configuration as follows (example): + + +spamd_address = 192.168.99.45 783 + + +The SpamAssassin protocol relies on a TCP half-close from the client. +If your SpamAssassin client side is running a Linux system with an +iptables firewall, consider setting + to at least the +timeout, Exim uses when waiting for a response from the SpamAssassin +server (currently defaulting to 120s). With a lower value the Linux +connection tracking may consider your half-closed connection as dead too +soon. + + +To use Rspamd (which by default listens on all local addresses +on TCP port 11333) +you should add after the address/port pair, for example: + + +spamd_address = 127.0.0.1 11333 variant=rspamd + + +As of version 2.60, also supports communication over UNIX +sockets. If you want to us these, supply with an absolute +filename instead of an address/port pair: + + +spamd_address = /var/run/spamd_socket + + +You can have multiple servers to improve scalability. These can +reside on other hardware reachable over the network. To specify multiple + servers, put multiple address/port pairs in the +option, separated with colons (the separator can be changed in the usual way ): + + +spamd_address = 192.168.2.10 783 : \ + 192.168.2.11 783 : \ + 192.168.2.12 783 + + +Up to 32 servers are supported. +When a server fails to respond to the connection attempt, all other +servers are tried until one succeeds. If no server responds, the +condition defers. + + +Unix and TCP socket specifications may be mixed in any order. +Each element of the list is a list itself, space-separated by default +and changeable in the usual way (); +take care to not double the separator. + + +For TCP socket specifications a host name or IP (v4 or v6, but +subject to list-separator quoting rules) address can be used, +and the port can be one or a dash-separated pair. +In the latter case, the range is tried in strict order. + + +Elements after the first for Unix sockets, or second for TCP socket, +are options. +The supported options are: + + +pri=<priority> Selection priority +weight=<value> Selection bias +time=<start>-<end> Use only between these times of day +retry=<timespec> Retry on connect fail +tmo=<timespec> Connection time limit +variant=rspamd Use Rspamd rather than SpamAssassin protocol + + +The pri option specifies a priority for the server within the list, +higher values being tried first. +The default priority is 1. + + +The weight option specifies a selection bias. +Within a priority set +servers are queried in a random fashion, weighted by this value. +The default value for selection bias is 1. + + +Time specifications for the time option are <hour>.<minute>.<second> +in the local time zone; each element being one or more digits. +Either the seconds or both minutes and seconds, plus the leading . +characters, may be omitted and will be taken as zero. + + +Timeout specifications for the retry and tmo options +are the usual Exim time interval standard, e.g. 20s or 1m. + + +The tmo option specifies an overall timeout for communication. +The default value is two minutes. + + +The retry option specifies a time after which a single retry for +a failed connect is made. +The default is to not retry. + + +The variable is expanded before use if it starts with +a dollar sign. In this case, the expansion may return a string that is +used as the list so that multiple spamd servers can be the result of an +expansion. + + + +$callout_address + +When a connection is made to the server the expansion variable $callout_address +is set to record the actual address used. + +
+
+Calling SpamAssassin from an Exim ACL + +Here is a simple example of the use of the condition in a DATA ACL: + + +deny message = This message was classified as SPAM + spam = joe + + +The right-hand side of the condition specifies a name. This is +relevant if you have set up multiple SpamAssassin profiles. If you do not want +to scan using a specific profile, but rather use the SpamAssassin system-wide +default profile, you can scan for an unknown name, or simply use nobody. +Rspamd does not use this setting. However, you must put something on the +right-hand side. + + +The name allows you to use per-domain or per-user antispam profiles in +principle, but this is not straightforward in practice, because a message may +have multiple recipients, not necessarily all in the same domain. Because the + condition has to be called from a DATA-time ACL in order to be able to +read the contents of the message, the variables $local_part and $domain +are not set. +Careful enforcement of single-recipient messages +(e.g. by responding with defer in the recipient ACL for all recipients +after the first), +or the use of PRDR, + +PRDR +use for per-user SpamAssassin profiles + +are needed to use this feature. + + +The right-hand side of the condition is expanded before being used, so +you can put lookups or conditions there. When the right-hand side evaluates to +0 or false, no scanning is done and the condition fails immediately. + + +Scanning with SpamAssassin uses a lot of resources. If you scan every message, +large ones may cause significant performance degradation. As most spam messages +are quite small, it is recommended that you do not scan the big ones. For +example: + + +deny message = This message was classified as SPAM + condition = ${if < {$message_size}{10K}} + spam = nobody + + +The condition returns true if the threshold specified in the user’s +SpamAssassin profile has been matched or exceeded. If you want to use the + condition for its side effects (see the variables below), you can make +it always return true by appending :true to the username. + + + +spam scanning +returned variables + +When the condition is run, it sets up a number of expansion +variables. +Except for $spam_report, +these variables are saved with the received message so are +available for use at delivery time. + + + +$spam_score + + +The spam score of the message, for example, 3.4 or 30.5. This is useful +for inclusion in log or reject messages. + + + +$spam_score_int + + +The spam score of the message, multiplied by ten, as an integer value. For +example 34 or 305. It may appear to disagree with $spam_score +because $spam_score is rounded and $spam_score_int is truncated. +The integer value is useful for numeric comparisons in conditions. + + + +$spam_bar + + +A string consisting of a number of + or - characters, representing the +integer part of the spam score value. A spam score of 4.4 would have a +$spam_bar value of ++++. This is useful for inclusion in warning +headers, since MUAs can match on such strings. The maximum length of the +spam bar is 50 characters. + + + +$spam_report + + +A multiline text table, containing the full SpamAssassin report for the +message. Useful for inclusion in headers or reject messages. +This variable is only usable in a DATA-time ACL. +Beware that SpamAssassin may return non-ASCII characters, especially +when running in country-specific locales, which are not legal +unencoded in headers. + + + +$spam_action + + +For SpamAssassin either ’reject’ or ’no action’ depending on the +spam score versus threshold. +For Rspamd, the recommended action. + + + + +The condition caches its results unless expansion in +spamd_address was used. If you call it again with the same user name, it +does not scan again, but rather returns the same values as before. + + +The condition returns DEFER if there is any error while running +the message through SpamAssassin or if the expansion of spamd_address +failed. If you want to treat DEFER as FAIL (to pass on to the next ACL +statement block), append /defer_ok to the right-hand side of the +spam condition, like this: + + +deny message = This message was classified as SPAM + spam = joe/defer_ok + + +This causes messages to be accepted even if there is a problem with . + + +Here is a longer, commented example of the use of the +condition: + + +# put headers in all messages (no matter if spam or not) +warn spam = nobody:true + add_header = X-Spam-Score: $spam_score ($spam_bar) + add_header = X-Spam-Report: $spam_report + +# add second subject line with *SPAM* marker when message +# is over threshold +warn spam = nobody + add_header = Subject: *SPAM* $h_Subject: + +# reject spam at high scores (> 12) +deny message = This message scored $spam_score spam points. + spam = nobody:true + condition = ${if >{$spam_score_int}{120}{1}{0}} + +
+
+Scanning MIME parts + + +content scanning +MIME parts + + +MIME content scanning + + + + + + + +The global option specifies an ACL that is called once for +each MIME part of an SMTP message, including multipart types, in the sequence +of their position in the message. Similarly, the option +specifies an ACL that is used for the MIME parts of non-SMTP messages. These +options may both refer to the same ACL if you want the same processing in both +cases. + + +These ACLs are called (possibly many times) just before the +ACL in the case of an SMTP message, or just before the ACL in +the case of a non-SMTP message. However, a MIME ACL is called only if the +message contains a Content-Type: header line. When a call to a MIME +ACL does not yield accept, ACL processing is aborted and the appropriate +result code is sent to the client. In the case of an SMTP message, the + ACL is not called when this happens. + + +You cannot use the or conditions in a MIME ACL; these can +only be used in the DATA or non-SMTP ACLs. However, you can use the +condition to match against the raw MIME part. You can also use the + condition to match against the decoded MIME part (see section +). + + +At the start of a MIME ACL, a number of variables are set from the header +information for the relevant MIME part. These are described below. The contents +of the MIME part are not by default decoded into a disk file except for MIME +parts whose content-type is message/rfc822. If you want to decode a MIME +part into a disk file, you can use the condition. The general +syntax is: + + +decode = [/<path>/]<filename> + + +The right hand side is expanded before use. After expansion, +the value can be: + + + + +0 or false, in which case no decoding is done. + + + + +The string default. In that case, the file is put in the temporary +default directory <spool_directory>/scan/<message_id>/ with +a sequential filename consisting of the message id and a sequence number. The +full path and name is available in $mime_decoded_filename after decoding. + + + + +A full path name starting with a slash. If the full name is an existing +directory, it is used as a replacement for the default directory. The filename +is then sequentially assigned. If the path does not exist, it is used as +the full path and filename. + + + + +If the string does not start with a slash, it is used as the +filename, and the default path is then used. + + + + +The condition normally succeeds. It is only false for syntax +errors or unusual circumstances such as memory shortages. You can easily decode +a file with its original, proposed filename using + + +decode = $mime_filename + + +However, you should keep in mind that $mime_filename might contain +anything. If you place files outside of the default path, they are not +automatically unlinked. + + +For RFC822 attachments (these are messages attached to messages, with a +content-type of message/rfc822), the ACL is called again in the same manner +as for the primary message, only that the $mime_is_rfc822 expansion +variable is set (see below). Attached messages are always decoded to disk +before being checked, and the files are unlinked once the check is done. + + +The MIME ACL supports the and conditions. These can be +used to match regular expressions against raw and decoded MIME parts, +respectively. They are described in section . + + + +MIME content scanning +returned variables + +The following list describes all expansion variables that are +available in the MIME ACL: + + + +$mime_boundary + + +If the current part is a multipart (see $mime_is_multipart) below, it should +have a boundary string, which is stored in this variable. If the current part +has no boundary parameter in the Content-Type: header, this variable +contains the empty string. + + + +$mime_charset + + +This variable contains the character set identifier, if one was found in the +Content-Type: header. Examples for charset identifiers are: + + +us-ascii +gb2312 (Chinese) +iso-8859-1 + + +Please note that this value is not normalized, so you should do matches +case-insensitively. + + + +$mime_content_description + + +This variable contains the normalized content of the Content-Description: +header. It can contain a human-readable description of the parts content. Some +implementations repeat the filename for attachments here, but they are usually +only used for display purposes. + + + +$mime_content_disposition + + +This variable contains the normalized content of the Content-Disposition: +header. You can expect strings like attachment or inline here. + + + +$mime_content_id + + +This variable contains the normalized content of the Content-ID: header. +This is a unique ID that can be used to reference a part from another part. + + + +$mime_content_size + + +This variable is set only after the modifier (see above) has been +successfully run. It contains the size of the decoded part in kilobytes. The +size is always rounded up to full kilobytes, so only a completely empty part +has a $mime_content_size of zero. + + + +$mime_content_transfer_encoding + + +This variable contains the normalized content of the +Content-transfer-encoding: header. This is a symbolic name for an encoding +type. Typical values are base64 and quoted-printable. + + + +$mime_content_type + + +If the MIME part has a Content-Type: header, this variable contains its +value, lowercased, and without any options (like name or charset). Here +are some examples of popular MIME types, as they may appear in this variable: + + +text/plain +text/html +application/octet-stream +image/jpeg +audio/midi + + +If the MIME part has no Content-Type: header, this variable contains the +empty string. + + + +$mime_decoded_filename + + +This variable is set only after the modifier (see above) has been +successfully run. It contains the full path and filename of the file +containing the decoded data. + + + + + +RFC 2047 + + + + +$mime_filename + + +This is perhaps the most important of the MIME variables. It contains a +proposed filename for an attachment, if one was found in either the +Content-Type: or Content-Disposition: headers. The filename will be +RFC2047 +or RFC2231 +decoded, but no additional sanity checks are done. + If no filename was +found, this variable contains the empty string. + + + +$mime_is_coverletter + + +This variable attempts to differentiate the cover letter of an e-mail from +attached data. It can be used to clamp down on flashy or unnecessarily encoded +content in the cover letter, while not restricting attachments at all. + + +The variable contains 1 (true) for a MIME part believed to be part of the +cover letter, and 0 (false) for an attachment. At present, the algorithm is as +follows: + + + + +The outermost MIME part of a message is always a cover letter. + + + + +If a multipart/alternative or multipart/related MIME part is a cover letter, +so are all MIME subparts within that multipart. + + + + +If any other multipart is a cover letter, the first subpart is a cover letter, +and the rest are attachments. + + + + +All parts contained within an attachment multipart are attachments. + + + + +As an example, the following will ban HTML mail (including that sent with +alternative plain text), while allowing HTML files to be attached. HTML +coverletter mail attached to non-HTML coverletter mail will also be allowed: + + +deny message = HTML mail is not accepted here +!condition = $mime_is_rfc822 +condition = $mime_is_coverletter +condition = ${if eq{$mime_content_type}{text/html}{1}{0}} + + + +$mime_is_multipart + + +This variable has the value 1 (true) when the current part has the main type +multipart, for example, multipart/alternative or multipart/mixed. +Since multipart entities only serve as containers for other parts, you may not +want to carry out specific actions on them. + + + +$mime_is_rfc822 + + +This variable has the value 1 (true) if the current part is not a part of the +checked message itself, but part of an attached message. Attached message +decoding is fully recursive. + + + +$mime_part_count + + +This variable is a counter that is raised for each processed MIME part. It +starts at zero for the very first part (which is usually a multipart). The +counter is per-message, so it is reset when processing RFC822 attachments (see +$mime_is_rfc822). The counter stays set after is +complete, so you can use it in the DATA ACL to determine the number of MIME +parts of a message. For non-MIME messages, this variable contains the value -1. + + + +
+
+Scanning with regular expressions + + +content scanning +with regular expressions + + +regular expressions +content scanning with + +You can specify your own custom regular expression matches on the full body of +the message, or on individual MIME parts. + + +The condition takes one or more regular expressions as arguments and +matches them against the full message (when called in the DATA ACL) or a raw +MIME part (when called in the MIME ACL). The condition matches +linewise, with a maximum line length of 32K characters. That means you cannot +have multiline matches with the condition. + + +The condition can be called only in the MIME ACL. It matches up +to 32K of decoded content (the whole content at once, not linewise). If the +part has not been decoded with the modifier earlier in the ACL, it +is decoded automatically when is executed (using default path +and filename values). If the decoded data is larger than 32K, only the first +32K characters are checked. + + +The regular expressions are passed as a colon-separated list. To include a +literal colon, you must double it. Since the whole right-hand side string is +expanded before being used, you must also escape dollar signs and backslashes +with more backslashes, or use the \N facility to disable expansion. +Here is a simple example that contains two regular expressions: + + +deny message = contains blacklisted regex ($regex_match_string) + regex = [Mm]ortgage : URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL + + +The conditions returns true if any one of the regular expressions matches. The +$regex_match_string expansion variable is then set up and contains the +matching regular expression. +The expansion variables $regex1 $regex2 etc +are set to any substrings captured by the regular expression. + + +Warning: With large messages, these conditions can be fairly +CPU-intensive. + + + + +
+ + + +Adding a local scan function to Exim +Local scan function + + +local_scan() function +description of + + +customizing +input scan using C function + + +policy control +by local scan function + +In these days of email worms, viruses, and ever-increasing spam, some sites +want to apply a lot of checking to messages before accepting them. + + +The content scanning extension (chapter ) has facilities for +passing messages to external virus and spam scanning software. You can also do +a certain amount in Exim itself through string expansions and the +condition in the ACL that runs after the SMTP DATA command or the ACL for +non-SMTP messages (see chapter ), but this has its limitations. + + +To allow for further customization to a site’s own requirements, there is the +possibility of linking Exim with a private message scanning function, written +in C. If you want to run code that is written in something other than C, you +can of course use a little C stub to call it. + + +The local scan function is run once for every incoming message, at the point +when Exim is just about to accept the message. +It can therefore be used to control non-SMTP messages from local processes as +well as messages arriving via SMTP. + + +Exim applies a timeout to calls of the local scan function, and there is an +option called for setting it. The default is 5 minutes. +Zero means no timeout. +Exim also sets up signal handlers for SIGSEGV, SIGILL, SIGFPE, and SIGBUS +before calling the local scan function, so that the most common types of crash +are caught. If the timeout is exceeded or one of those signals is caught, the +incoming message is rejected with a temporary error if it is an SMTP message. +For a non-SMTP message, the message is dropped and Exim ends with a non-zero +code. The incident is logged on the main and reject logs. + +
+Building Exim to use a local scan function + + +local_scan() function +building Exim to use + +To make use of the local scan function feature, you must tell Exim where your +function is before building Exim, by setting + + +both HAVE_LOCAL_SCAN and + + +LOCAL_SCAN_SOURCE in your +Local/Makefile. A recommended place to put it is in the Local +directory, so you might set + + +HAVE_LOCAL_SCAN=yes +LOCAL_SCAN_SOURCE=Local/local_scan.c + + +for example. The function must be called local_scan(). It is called by +Exim after it has received a message, when the success return code is about to +be sent. This is after all the ACLs have been run. The return code from your +function controls whether the message is actually accepted or not. There is a +commented template function (that just accepts the message) in the file +_src/local_scan.c_. + + +If you want to make use of Exim’s runtime configuration file to set options +for your local_scan() function, you must also set + + +LOCAL_SCAN_HAS_OPTIONS=yes + + +in Local/Makefile (see section below). + +
+
+API for local_scan() + + +local_scan() function +API description + + + +API description + +You must include this line near the start of your code: + + +#include "local_scan.h" + + +This header file defines a number of variables and other values, and the +prototype for the function itself. Exim is coded to use unsigned char values +almost exclusively, and one of the things this header defines is a shorthand +for unsigned char called uschar. +It also contains the following macro definitions, to simplify casting character +strings and pointers to character strings: + + +#define CS (char *) +#define CCS (const char *) +#define CSS (char **) +#define US (unsigned char *) +#define CUS (const unsigned char *) +#define USS (unsigned char **) + + +The function prototype for local_scan() is: + + +extern int local_scan(int fd, uschar **return_text); + + +The arguments are as follows: + + + + + is a file descriptor for the file that contains the body of the message +(the -D file). The file is open for reading and writing, but updating it is not +recommended. Warning: You must not close this file descriptor. + + +The descriptor is positioned at character 19 of the file, which is the first +character of the body itself, because the first 19 characters are the message +id followed by -D and a newline. If you rewind the file, you should use the +macro SPOOL_DATA_START_OFFSET to reset to the start of the data, just in +case this changes in some future version. + + + + + is an address which you can use to return a pointer to a text +string at the end of the function. The value it points to on entry is NULL. + + + + +The function must return an value which is one of the following macros: + + + +LOCAL_SCAN_ACCEPT + + + +$local_scan_data + +The message is accepted. If you pass back a string of text, it is saved with +the message, and made available in the variable $local_scan_data. No +newlines are permitted (if there are any, they are turned into spaces) and the +maximum length of text is 1000 characters. + + + +LOCAL_SCAN_ACCEPT_FREEZE + + +This behaves as LOCAL_SCAN_ACCEPT, except that the accepted message is +queued without immediate delivery, and is frozen. + + + +LOCAL_SCAN_ACCEPT_QUEUE + + +This behaves as LOCAL_SCAN_ACCEPT, except that the accepted message is +queued without immediate delivery. + + + +LOCAL_SCAN_REJECT + + +The message is rejected; the returned text is used as an error message which is +passed back to the sender and which is also logged. Newlines are permitted – +they cause a multiline response for SMTP rejections, but are converted to +\n in log lines. If no message is given, Administrative prohibition is +used. + + + +LOCAL_SCAN_TEMPREJECT + + +The message is temporarily rejected; the returned text is used as an error +message as for LOCAL_SCAN_REJECT. If no message is given, Temporary local +problem is used. + + + +LOCAL_SCAN_REJECT_NOLOGHDR + + +This behaves as LOCAL_SCAN_REJECT, except that the header of the rejected +message is not written to the reject log. It has the effect of unsetting the + log selector for just this rejection. If + is already unset (see the discussion of the + option in section ), this code is the +same as LOCAL_SCAN_REJECT. + + + +LOCAL_SCAN_TEMPREJECT_NOLOGHDR + + +This code is a variation of LOCAL_SCAN_TEMPREJECT in the same way that +LOCAL_SCAN_REJECT_NOLOGHDR is a variation of LOCAL_SCAN_REJECT. + + + + +If the message is not being received by interactive SMTP, rejections are +reported by writing to or by sending an email, as configured by the + command line options. + +
+
+Configuration options for local_scan() + + +local_scan() function +configuration options + +It is possible to have option settings in the main configuration file +that set values in static variables in the local_scan() module. If you +want to do this, you must have the line + + +LOCAL_SCAN_HAS_OPTIONS=yes + + +in your Local/Makefile when you build Exim. (This line is in +OS/Makefile-Default, commented out). Then, in the local_scan() source +file, you must define static variables to hold the option values, and a table +to define them. + + +The table must be a vector called , of type +optionlist. Each entry is a triplet, consisting of a name, an option type, +and a pointer to the variable that holds the value. The entries must appear in +alphabetical order. Following you must also define a +variable called that contains the number of +entries in the table. Here is a short example, showing two kinds of option: + + +static int my_integer_option = 42; +static uschar *my_string_option = US"a default string"; + +optionlist local_scan_options[] = { + { "my_integer", opt_int, &my_integer_option }, + { "my_string", opt_stringptr, &my_string_option } +}; + +int local_scan_options_count = + sizeof(local_scan_options)/sizeof(optionlist); + + +The values of the variables can now be changed from Exim’s runtime +configuration file by including a local scan section as in this example: + + +begin local_scan +my_integer = 99 +my_string = some string of text... + + +The available types of option data are as follows: + + + +opt_bool + + +This specifies a boolean (true/false) option. The address should point to a +variable of type BOOL, which will be set to TRUE or FALSE, which are macros +that are defined as 1 and 0, respectively. If you want to detect +whether such a variable has been set at all, you can initialize it to +TRUE_UNSET. (BOOL variables are integers underneath, so can hold more than two +values.) + + + +opt_fixed + + +This specifies a fixed point number, such as is used for load averages. +The address should point to a variable of type int. The value is stored +multiplied by 1000, so, for example, 1.4142 is truncated and stored as 1414. + + + +opt_int + + +This specifies an integer; the address should point to a variable of type +int. The value may be specified in any of the integer formats accepted by +Exim. + + + +opt_mkint + + +This is the same as , except that when such a value is output in a + listing, if it is an exact number of kilobytes or megabytes, it is +printed with the suffix K or M. + + + +opt_octint + + +This also specifies an integer, but the value is always interpreted as an +octal integer, whether or not it starts with the digit zero, and it is +always output in octal. + + + +opt_stringptr + + +This specifies a string value; the address must be a pointer to a +variable that points to a string (for example, of type uschar *). + + + +opt_time + + +This specifies a time interval value. The address must point to a variable of +type int. The value that is placed there is a number of seconds. + + + + +If the command line option is followed by local_scan, Exim prints +out the values of all the local_scan() options. + +
+
+Available Exim variables + + +local_scan() function +available Exim variables + +The header local_scan.h gives you access to a number of C variables. These +are the only ones that are guaranteed to be maintained from release to release. +Note, however, that you can obtain the value of any Exim expansion variable, +including $recipients, by calling expand_string(). The exported +C variables are as follows: + + + +int body_linecount + + +This variable contains the number of lines in the message’s body. +It is not valid if the option is used. + + + +int body_zerocount + + +This variable contains the number of binary zero bytes in the message’s body. +It is not valid if the option is used. + + + +unsigned int debug_selector + + +This variable is set to zero when no debugging is taking place. Otherwise, it +is a bitmap of debugging selectors. Two bits are identified for use in +local_scan(); they are defined as macros: + + + + +The D_v bit is set when was present on the command line. This is a +testing option that is not privileged – any caller may set it. All the +other selector bits can be set only by admin users. + + + + +The D_local_scan bit is provided for use by local_scan(); it is set +by the +local_scan debug selector. It is not included in the default set +of debugging bits. + + + + +Thus, to write to the debugging output only when +local_scan has been +selected, you should use code like this: + + +if ((debug_selector & D_local_scan) != 0) + debug_printf("xxx", ...); + + + +uschar *expand_string_message + + +After a failing call to expand_string() (returned value NULL), the +variable contains the error message, zero-terminated. + + + +header_line *header_list + + +A pointer to a chain of header lines. The structure is +discussed below. + + + +header_line *header_last + + +A pointer to the last of the header lines. + + + +uschar *headers_charset + + +The value of the configuration option. + + + +BOOL host_checking + + +This variable is TRUE during a host checking session that is initiated by the + command line option. + + + +uschar *interface_address + + +The IP address of the interface that received the message, as a string. This +is NULL for locally submitted messages. + + + +int interface_port + + +The port on which this message was received. When testing with the +command line option, the value of this variable is -1 unless a port has been +specified via the option. + + + +uschar *message_id + + +This variable contains Exim’s message id for the incoming message (the value of +$message_exim_id) as a zero-terminated string. + + + +uschar *received_protocol + + +The name of the protocol by which the message was received. + + + +int recipients_count + + +The number of accepted recipients. + + + +recipient_item *recipients_list + + + +recipient +adding in local scan + + +recipient +removing in local scan + +The list of accepted recipients, held in a vector of length +. The structure is discussed below. You +can add additional recipients by calling receive_add_recipient() (see +below). You can delete recipients by removing them from the vector and +adjusting the value in . In particular, by setting + to zero you remove all recipients. If you then return the +value LOCAL_SCAN_ACCEPT, the message is accepted, but immediately +blackholed. To replace the recipients, you can set to zero +and then call receive_add_recipient() as often as needed. + + + +uschar *sender_address + + +The envelope sender address. For bounce messages this is the empty string. + + + +uschar *sender_host_address + + +The IP address of the sending host, as a string. This is NULL for +locally-submitted messages. + + + +uschar *sender_host_authenticated + + +The name of the authentication mechanism that was used, or NULL if the message +was not received over an authenticated SMTP connection. + + + +uschar *sender_host_name + + +The name of the sending host, if known. + + + +int sender_host_port + + +The port on the sending host. + + + +BOOL smtp_input + + +This variable is TRUE for all SMTP input, including BSMTP. + + + +BOOL smtp_batched_input + + +This variable is TRUE for BSMTP input. + + + +int store_pool + + +The contents of this variable control which pool of memory is used for new +requests. See section for details. + + + +
+
+Structure of header lines + +The structure contains the members listed below. +You can add additional header lines by calling the header_add() function +(see below). You can cause header lines to be ignored (deleted) by setting +their type to *. + + + +struct header_line *next + + +A pointer to the next header line, or NULL for the last line. + + + +int type + + +A code identifying certain headers that Exim recognizes. The codes are printing +characters, and are documented in chapter of this manual. +Notice in particular that any header line whose type is * is not transmitted +with the message. This flagging is used for header lines that have been +rewritten, or are to be removed (for example, Envelope-sender: header +lines.) Effectively, * means deleted. + + + +int slen + + +The number of characters in the header line, including the terminating and any +internal newlines. + + + +uschar *text + + +A pointer to the text of the header. It always ends with a newline, followed by +a zero byte. Internal newlines are preserved. + + + +
+
+Structure of recipient items + +The structure contains these members: + + + +uschar *address + + +This is a pointer to the recipient address as it was received. + + + +int pno + + +This is used in later Exim processing when top level addresses are created by +the option. It is not relevant at the time local_scan() is run +and must always contain -1 at this stage. + + + +uschar *errors_to + + +If this value is not NULL, bounce messages caused by failing to deliver to the +recipient are sent to the address it contains. In other words, it overrides the +envelope sender for this one recipient. (Compare the generic +router option.) If a local_scan() function sets an field to +an unqualified address, Exim qualifies it using the domain from +. When local_scan() is called, the field +is NULL for all recipients. + + + +
+
+Available Exim functions + + +local_scan() function +available Exim functions + +The header local_scan.h gives you access to a number of Exim functions. +These are the only ones that are guaranteed to be maintained from release to +release: + + + +pid_t child_open(uschar **argv, uschar **envp, int newumask, int *infdptr, int *outfdptr,   BOOL make_leader) + + +This function creates a child process that runs the command specified by +. The environment for the process is specified by , which can +be NULL if no environment variables are to be passed. A new umask is supplied +for the process in . + + +Pipes to the standard input and output of the new process are set up +and returned to the caller via the and arguments. The +standard error is cloned to the standard output. If there are any file +descriptors in the way in the new process, they are closed. If the final +argument is TRUE, the new process is made into a process group leader. + + +The function returns the pid of the new process, or -1 if things go wrong. + + + +int child_close(pid_t pid, int timeout) + + +This function waits for a child process to terminate, or for a timeout (in +seconds) to expire. A timeout value of zero means wait as long as it takes. The +return value is as follows: + + + + +>= 0 + + +The process terminated by a normal exit and the value is the process +ending status. + + + + +< 0 and > –256 + + +The process was terminated by a signal and the value is the negation of the +signal number. + + + + +–256 + + +The process timed out. + + + + +–257 + + +The was some other error in wait(); is still set. + + + + + +pid_t child_open_exim(int *fd) + + +This function provide you with a means of submitting a new message to +Exim. (Of course, you can also call /usr/sbin/sendmail yourself if you +want, but this packages it all up for you.) The function creates a pipe, +forks a subprocess that is running + + +exim -t -oem -oi -f <> + + +and returns to you (via the int * argument) a file descriptor for the pipe +that is connected to the standard input. The yield of the function is the PID +of the subprocess. You can then write a message to the file descriptor, with +recipients in To:, Cc:, and/or Bcc: header lines. + + +When you have finished, call child_close() to wait for the process to +finish and to collect its ending status. A timeout value of zero is usually +fine in this circumstance. Unless you have made a mistake with the recipient +addresses, you should get a return code of zero. + + + +pid_t child_open_exim2(int *fd, uschar *sender, uschar *sender_authentication) + + +This function is a more sophisticated version of child_open(). The command +that it runs is: + + +exim -t -oem -oi -f sender -oMas sender_authentication + + +The third argument may be NULL, in which case the option is omitted. + + + +void debug_printf(char *, ...) + + +This is Exim’s debugging function, with arguments as for (printf(). The +output is written to the standard error stream. If no debugging is selected, +calls to debug_printf() have no effect. Normally, you should make calls +conditional on the local_scan debug selector by coding like this: + + +if ((debug_selector & D_local_scan) != 0) + debug_printf("xxx", ...); + + + +uschar *expand_string(uschar *string) + + +This is an interface to Exim’s string expansion code. The return value is the +expanded string, or NULL if there was an expansion failure. +The C variable contains an error message after an +expansion failure. If expansion does not change the string, the return value is +the pointer to the input string. Otherwise, the return value points to a new +block of memory that was obtained by a call to store_get(). See section + below for a discussion of memory handling. + + + +void header_add(int type, char *format, ...) + + +This function allows you to an add additional header line at the end of the +existing ones. The first argument is the type, and should normally be a space +character. The second argument is a format string and any number of +substitution arguments as for sprintf(). You may include internal newlines +if you want, and you must ensure that the string ends with a newline. + + + +void header_add_at_position(BOOL after, uschar *name, BOOL topnot, int type, char *format,   ...) + + +This function adds a new header line at a specified point in the header +chain. The header itself is specified as for header_add(). + + +If is NULL, the new header is added at the end of the chain if + is true, or at the start if is false. If is not +NULL, the header lines are searched for the first non-deleted header that +matches the name. If one is found, the new header is added before it if + is false. If is true, the new header is added after the +found header and any adjacent subsequent ones with the same name (even if +marked deleted). If no matching non-deleted header is found, the +option controls where the header is added. If it is true, addition is at the +top; otherwise at the bottom. Thus, to add a header after all the Received: +headers, or at the top if there are no Received: headers, you could use + + +header_add_at_position(TRUE, US"Received", TRUE, + ' ', "X-xxx: ..."); + + +Normally, there is always at least one non-deleted Received: header, but +there may not be if expands to an empty string. + + + +void header_remove(int occurrence, uschar *name) + + +This function removes header lines. If is zero or negative, all +occurrences of the header are removed. If occurrence is greater than zero, that +particular instance of the header is removed. If no header(s) can be found that +match the specification, the function does nothing. + + + +BOOL header_testname(header_line *hdr, uschar *name, int length, BOOL notdel) + + +This function tests whether the given header has the given name. It is not just +a string comparison, because white space is permitted between the name and the +colon. If the argument is true, a false return is forced for all +deleted headers; otherwise they are not treated specially. For example: + + +if (header_testname(h, US"X-Spam", 6, TRUE)) ... + + + +uschar *lss_b64encode(uschar *cleartext, int length) + + + +base64 encoding +functions for local_scan() use + +This function base64-encodes a string, which is passed by address and length. +The text may contain bytes of any value, including zero. The result is passed +back in dynamic memory that is obtained by calling store_get(). It is +zero-terminated. + + + +int lss_b64decode(uschar *codetext, uschar **cleartext) + + +This function decodes a base64-encoded string. Its arguments are a +zero-terminated base64-encoded string and the address of a variable that is set +to point to the result, which is in dynamic memory. The length of the decoded +string is the yield of the function. If the input is invalid base64 data, the +yield is -1. A zero byte is added to the end of the output string to make it +easy to interpret as a C string (assuming it contains no zeros of its own). The +added zero byte is not included in the returned count. + + + +int lss_match_domain(uschar *domain, uschar *list) + + +This function checks for a match in a domain list. Domains are always +matched caselessly. The return value is one of the following: + + +OK match succeeded +FAIL match failed +DEFER match deferred + + +DEFER is usually caused by some kind of lookup defer, such as the +inability to contact a database. + + + +int lss_match_local_part(uschar *localpart, uschar *list, BOOL caseless) + + +This function checks for a match in a local part list. The third argument +controls case-sensitivity. The return values are as for +lss_match_domain(). + + + +int lss_match_address(uschar *address, uschar *list, BOOL caseless) + + +This function checks for a match in an address list. The third argument +controls the case-sensitivity of the local part match. The domain is always +matched caselessly. The return values are as for lss_match_domain(). + + + +int lss_match_host(uschar *host_name, uschar *host_address, uschar *list) + + +This function checks for a match in a host list. The most common usage is +expected to be + + +lss_match_host(sender_host_name, sender_host_address, ...) + + + +$sender_host_address + +An empty address field matches an empty item in the host list. If the host name +is NULL, the name corresponding to $sender_host_address is automatically +looked up if a host name is required to match an item in the list. The return +values are as for lss_match_domain(), but in addition, lss_match_host() +returns ERROR in the case when it had to look up a host name, but the lookup +failed. + + + +void log_write(unsigned int selector, int which, char *format, ...) + + +This function writes to Exim’s log files. The first argument should be zero (it +is concerned with ). The second argument can be LOG_MAIN or +LOG_REJECT or LOG_PANIC or the inclusive or of any combination of +them. It specifies to which log or logs the message is written. The remaining +arguments are a format and relevant insertion arguments. The string should not +contain any newlines, not even at the end. + + + +void receive_add_recipient(uschar *address, int pno) + + +This function adds an additional recipient to the message. The first argument +is the recipient address. If it is unqualified (has no domain), it is qualified +with the domain. The second argument must always be -1. + + +This function does not allow you to specify a private address (as +described with the structure of above), because it pre-dates +the addition of that field to the structure. However, it is easy to add such a +value afterwards. For example: + + + receive_add_recipient(US"monitor@mydom.example", -1); + recipients_list[recipients_count-1].errors_to = + US"postmaster@mydom.example"; + + + +BOOL receive_remove_recipient(uschar *recipient) + + +This is a convenience function to remove a named recipient from the list of +recipients. It returns true if a recipient was removed, and false if no +matching recipient could be found. The argument must be a complete email +address. + + + + + +RFC 2047 + + + + +uschar rfc2047_decode(uschar *string, BOOL lencheck, uschar *target, int zeroval, int *lenptr,   uschar **error) + + +This function decodes strings that are encoded according to RFC 2047. Typically +these are the contents of header lines. First, each encoded word is decoded +from the Q or B encoding into a byte-string. Then, if provided with the name of +a charset encoding, and if the iconv() function is available, an attempt is +made to translate the result to the named character set. If this fails, the +binary string is returned with an error message. + + +The first argument is the string to be decoded. If is TRUE, the +maximum MIME word length is enforced. The third argument is the target +encoding, or NULL if no translation is wanted. + + + +binary zero +in RFC 2047 decoding + + +RFC 2047 +binary zero in + +If a binary zero is encountered in the decoded string, it is replaced by the +contents of the argument. For use with Exim headers, the value must +not be 0 because header lines are handled as zero-terminated strings. + + +The function returns the result of processing the string, zero-terminated; if + is not NULL, the length of the result is set in the variable to +which it points. When is 0, should not be NULL. + + +If an error is encountered, the function returns NULL and uses the +argument to return an error message. The variable pointed to by is +set to NULL if there is no error; it may be set non-NULL even when the function +returns a non-NULL value if decoding was successful, but there was a problem +with translation. + + + +int smtp_fflush(void) + + +This function is used in conjunction with smtp_printf(), as described +below. + + + +void smtp_printf(char *, ...) + + +The arguments of this function are like printf(); it writes to the SMTP +output stream. You should use this function only when there is an SMTP output +stream, that is, when the incoming message is being received via interactive +SMTP. This is the case when is TRUE and +is FALSE. If you want to test for an incoming message from another host (as +opposed to a local process that used the command line option), you can +test the value of , which is non-NULL when a remote host +is involved. + + +If an SMTP TLS connection is established, smtp_printf() uses the TLS +output function, so it can be used for all forms of SMTP connection. + + +Strings that are written by smtp_printf() from within local_scan() +must start with an appropriate response code: 550 if you are going to return +LOCAL_SCAN_REJECT, 451 if you are going to return +LOCAL_SCAN_TEMPREJECT, and 250 otherwise. Because you are writing the +initial lines of a multi-line response, the code must be followed by a hyphen +to indicate that the line is not the final response line. You must also ensure +that the lines you write terminate with CRLF. For example: + + +smtp_printf("550-this is some extra info\r\n"); +return LOCAL_SCAN_REJECT; + + +Note that you can also create multi-line responses by including newlines in +the data returned via the argument. The added value of using +smtp_printf() is that, for instance, you could introduce delays between +multiple output lines. + + +The smtp_printf() function does not return any error indication, because it +does not automatically flush pending output, and therefore does not test +the state of the stream. (In the main code of Exim, flushing and error +detection is done when Exim is ready for the next SMTP input command.) If +you want to flush the output and check for an error (for example, the +dropping of a TCP/IP connection), you can call smtp_fflush(), which has no +arguments. It flushes the output stream, and returns a non-zero value if there +is an error. + + + +void *store_get(int) + + +This function accesses Exim’s internal store (memory) manager. It gets a new +chunk of memory whose size is given by the argument. Exim bombs out if it ever +runs out of memory. See the next section for a discussion of memory handling. + + + +void *store_get_perm(int) + + +This function is like store_get(), but it always gets memory from the +permanent pool. See the next section for a discussion of memory handling. + + + +uschar *string_copy(uschar *string) + + +See below. + + + +uschar *string_copyn(uschar *string, int length) + + +See below. + + + +uschar *string_sprintf(char *format, ...) + + +These three functions create strings using Exim’s dynamic memory facilities. +The first makes a copy of an entire string. The second copies up to a maximum +number of characters, indicated by the second argument. The third uses a format +and insertion arguments to create a new string. In each case, the result is a +pointer to a new string in the current memory pool. See the next section for +more discussion. + + + +
+
+More about Exim’s memory handling + + +local_scan() function +memory handling + +No function is provided for freeing memory, because that is never needed. +The dynamic memory that Exim uses when receiving a message is automatically +recycled if another message is received by the same process (this applies only +to incoming SMTP connections – other input methods can supply only one +message at a time). After receiving the last message, a reception process +terminates. + + +Because it is recycled, the normal dynamic memory cannot be used for holding +data that must be preserved over a number of incoming messages on the same SMTP +connection. However, Exim in fact uses two pools of dynamic memory; the second +one is not recycled, and can be used for this purpose. + + +If you want to allocate memory that remains available for subsequent messages +in the same SMTP connection, you should set + + +store_pool = POOL_PERM + + +before calling the function that does the allocation. There is no need to +restore the value if you do not need to; however, if you do want to revert to +the normal pool, you can either restore the previous value of or +set it explicitly to POOL_MAIN. + + +The pool setting applies to all functions that get dynamic memory, including +expand_string(), store_get(), and the string_xxx() functions. +There is also a convenience function called store_get_perm() that gets a +block of memory from the permanent pool while preserving the value of +. + + +
+ + + +System-wide message filtering + + +filter +system filter + + +filtering all mail + + +system filter + +The previous chapters (on ACLs and the local scan function) describe checks +that can be applied to messages before they are accepted by a host. There is +also a mechanism for checking messages once they have been received, but before +they are delivered. This is called the system filter. + + +The system filter operates in a similar manner to users’ filter files, but it +is run just once per message (however many recipients the message has). +It should not normally be used as a substitute for routing, because +commands in a system router provide new envelope recipient addresses. +The system filter must be an Exim filter. It cannot be a Sieve filter. + + +The system filter is run at the start of a delivery attempt, before any routing +is done. If a message fails to be completely delivered at the first attempt, +the system filter is run again at the start of every retry. +If you want your filter to do something only once per message, you can make use +of the condition in an command in the filter to +prevent it happening on retries. + + + +$domain + + +$local_part + +Warning: Because the system filter runs just once, variables that are +specific to individual recipient addresses, such as $local_part and +$domain, are not set, and the personal condition is not meaningful. If +you want to run a centrally-specified filter for each recipient address +independently, you can do so by setting up a suitable redirect router, as +described in section below. + +
+Specifying a system filter + + +uid (user id) +system filter + + +gid (group id) +system filter + +The name of the file that contains the system filter must be specified by +setting . If you want the filter to run under a uid and gid +other than root, you must also set and + as appropriate. For example: + + +system_filter = /etc/mail/exim.filter +system_filter_user = exim + + +If a system filter generates any deliveries directly to files or pipes (via the + or commands), transports to handle these deliveries must be +specified by setting and +, respectively. Similarly, + must be set to handle any messages generated +by the command. + +
+
+Testing a system filter + +You can run simple tests of a system filter in the same way as for a user +filter, but you should use rather than , so that features that +are permitted only in system filters are recognized. + + +If you want to test the combined effect of a system filter and a user filter, +you can use both and on the same command line. + +
+
+Contents of a system filter + +The language used to specify system filters is the same as for users’ filter +files. It is described in the separate end-user document Exim’s interface to +mail filtering. However, there are some additional features that are +available only in system filters; these are described in subsequent sections. +If they are encountered in a user’s filter file or when testing with , +they cause errors. + + + +frozen messages +manual thaw; testing in filter + +There are two special conditions which, though available in users’ filter +files, are designed for use in system filters. The condition +is true only for the first attempt at delivering a message, and + is true only if the message has been frozen, and +subsequently thawed by an admin user. An explicit forced delivery counts as a +manual thaw, but thawing as a result of the setting does not. + + +Warning: If a system filter uses the condition to +specify an unseen (non-significant) delivery, and that delivery does not +succeed, it will not be tried again. +If you want Exim to retry an unseen delivery until it succeeds, you should +arrange to set it up every time the filter runs. + + +When a system filter finishes running, the values of the variables $n0 – +$n9 are copied into $sn0 – $sn9 and are thereby made available to +users’ filter files. Thus a system filter can, for example, set up scores +to which users’ filter files can refer. + +
+
+Additional variable for system filters + + +$recipients + +The expansion variable $recipients, containing a list of all the recipients +of the message (separated by commas and white space), is available in system +filters. It is not available in users’ filters for privacy reasons. + +
+
+Defer, freeze, and fail commands for system filters + + +freezing messages + + +message +freezing + + +message +forced failure + + + +in system filter + + + in system filter + + + in system filter + +There are three extra commands (, and ) which are +always available in system filters, but are not normally enabled in users’ +filters. (See the , and options +for the redirect router.) These commands can optionally be followed by the +word and a string containing an error message, for example: + + +fail text "this message looks like spam to me" + + +The keyword is optional if the next character is a double quote. + + +The command defers delivery of the original recipients of the +message. The command causes all the original recipients to be failed, +and a bounce message to be created. The command suspends all +delivery attempts for the original recipients. In all cases, any new deliveries +that are specified by the filter are attempted as normal after the filter has +run. + + +The command is ignored if the message has been manually unfrozen and +not manually frozen since. This means that automatic freezing by a system +filter can be used as a way of checking out suspicious messages. If a message +is found to be all right, manually unfreezing it allows it to be delivered. + + + +log + command log line + + + +log line; reducing + +The text given with a fail command is used as part of the bounce message as +well as being written to the log. If the message is quite long, this can fill +up a lot of log space when such failures are common. To reduce the size of the +log message, Exim interprets the text in a special way if it starts with the +two characters << and contains >> later. The text between these two +strings is written to the log, and the rest of the text is used in the bounce +message. For example: + + +fail "<<filter test 1>>Your message is rejected \ + because it contains attachments that we are \ + not prepared to receive." + + + +loop +caused by + +Take great care with the command when basing the decision to fail on +the contents of the message, because the bounce message will of course include +the contents of the original message and will therefore trigger the +command again (causing a mail loop) unless steps are taken to prevent this. +Testing the condition is one way to prevent this. You could +use, for example + + +if $message_body contains "this is spam" and not error_message +then fail text "spam is not wanted here" endif + + +though of course that might let through unwanted bounce messages. The +alternative is clever checking of the body and/or headers to detect bounces +generated by the filter. + + +The interpretation of a system filter file ceases after a +, +, or command is obeyed. However, any deliveries that were +set up earlier in the filter file are honoured, so you can use a sequence such +as + + +mail ... +freeze + + +to send a specified message when the system filter is freezing (or deferring or +failing) a message. The normal deliveries for the message do not, of course, +take place. + +
+
+Adding and removing headers in a system filter + + +header lines +adding; in system filter + + +header lines +removing; in system filter + + +filter +header lines; adding/removing + +Two filter commands that are available only in system filters are: + + +headers add <string> +headers remove <string> + + +The argument for the is a string that is expanded and then +added to the end of the message’s headers. It is the responsibility of the +filter maintainer to make sure it conforms to RFC 2822 syntax. Leading white +space is ignored, and if the string is otherwise empty, or if the expansion is +forced to fail, the command has no effect. + + +You can use \n within the string, followed by white space, to specify +continued header lines. More than one header may be added in one command by +including \n within the string without any following white space. For +example: + + +headers add "X-header-1: ....\n \ + continuation of X-header-1 ...\n\ + X-header-2: ...." + + +Note that the header line continuation white space after the first newline must +be placed before the backslash that continues the input string, because white +space after input continuations is ignored. + + +The argument for is a colon-separated list of header names. +This command applies only to those headers that are stored with the message; +those that are added at delivery time (such as Envelope-To: and +Return-Path:) cannot be removed by this means. If there is more than one +header with the same name, they are all removed. + + +The command in a system filter makes an immediate change to the set +of header lines that was received with the message (with possible additions +from ACL processing). Subsequent commands in the system filter operate on the +modified set, which also forms the basis for subsequent message delivery. +Unless further modified during routing or transporting, this set of headers is +used for all recipients of the message. + + +During routing and transporting, the variables that refer to the contents of +header lines refer only to those lines that are in this set. Thus, header lines +that are added by a system filter are visible to users’ filter files and to all +routers and transports. This contrasts with the manipulation of header lines by +routers and transports, which is not immediate, but which instead is saved up +until the message is actually being written (see section +). + + +If the message is not delivered at the first attempt, header lines that were +added by the system filter are stored with the message, and so are still +present at the next delivery attempt. Header lines that were removed are still +present, but marked deleted so that they are not transported with the +message. For this reason, it is usual to make the command +conditional on so that the set of header lines is not +modified more than once. + + +Because header modification in a system filter acts immediately, you have to +use an indirect approach if you want to modify the contents of a header line. +For example: + + +headers add "Old-Subject: $h_subject:" +headers remove "Subject" +headers add "Subject: new subject (was: $h_old-subject:)" +headers remove "Old-Subject" + +
+
+Setting an errors address in a system filter + + +envelope sender + +In a system filter, if a command is followed by + + +errors_to <some address> + + +in order to change the envelope sender (and hence the error reporting) for that +delivery, any address may be specified. (In a user filter, only the current +user’s address can be set.) For example, if some mail is being monitored, you +might use + + +unseen deliver monitor@spying.example errors_to root@local.example + + +to take a copy which would not be sent back to the normal error reporting +address if its delivery failed. + +
+
+Per-address filtering + + +$domain + + +$local_part + +In contrast to the system filter, which is run just once per message for each +delivery attempt, it is also possible to set up a system-wide filtering +operation that runs once for each recipient address. In this case, variables +such as $local_part and $domain can be used, and indeed, the choice of +filter file could be made dependent on them. This is an example of a router +which implements such a filter: + + +central_filter: + check_local_user + driver = redirect + domains = +local_domains + file = /central/filters/$local_part + no_verify + allow_filter + allow_freeze + + +The filter is run in a separate process under its own uid. Therefore, either + must be set (as above), in which case the filter is run as +the local user, or the option must be used to specify which user to +use. If both are set, overrides. + + +Care should be taken to ensure that none of the commands in the filter file +specify a significant delivery if the message is to go on to be delivered to +its intended recipient. The router will not then claim to have dealt with the +address, so it will be passed on to subsequent routers to be delivered in the +normal way. + + + + +
+ + + +Message processing + + +message +general processing + +Exim performs various transformations on the sender and recipient addresses of +all messages that it handles, and also on the messages’ header lines. Some of +these are optional and configurable, while others always take place. All of +this processing, except rewriting as a result of routing, and the addition or +removal of header lines while delivering, happens when a message is received, +before it is placed on Exim’s queue. + + +Some of the automatic processing takes place by default only for +locally-originated messages. This adjective is used to describe messages +that are not received over TCP/IP, but instead are passed to an Exim process on +its standard input. This includes the interactive local SMTP case that is +set up by the command line option. + + +Note: Messages received over TCP/IP on the loopback interface (127.0.0.1 +or ::1) are not considered to be locally-originated. Exim does not treat the +loopback interface specially in any way. + + +If you want the loopback interface to be treated specially, you must ensure +that there are appropriate entries in your ACLs. + +
+Submission mode for non-local messages + + +message +submission + + +submission mode + +Processing that happens automatically for locally-originated messages (unless + is set) can also be requested for messages that are +received over TCP/IP. The term submission mode is used to describe this +state. Submission mode is set by the modifier + + +control = submission + + +in a MAIL, RCPT, or pre-data ACL for an incoming message (see sections + and ). This makes Exim treat the message as +a local submission, and is normally used when the source of the message is +known to be an MUA running on a client host (as opposed to an MTA). For +example, to set submission mode for messages originating on the IPv4 loopback +interface, you could include the following in the MAIL ACL: + + +warn hosts = 127.0.0.1 + control = submission + + + + submission option + +There are some options that can be used when setting submission mode. A slash +is used to separate options. For example: + + +control = submission/sender_retain + + +Specifying has the effect of setting +true and false for the current incoming message. The first +of these allows an existing Sender: header in the message to remain, and +the second suppresses the check to ensure that From: matches the +authenticated sender. With this setting, Exim still fixes up messages by adding +Date: and Message-ID: header lines if they are missing, but makes no +attempt to check sender authenticity in header lines. + + +When is not set, a submission mode setting may specify a +domain to be used when generating a From: or Sender: header line. For +example: + + +control = submission/domain=some.domain + + +The domain may be empty. How this value is used is described in sections + and . There is also a option +that allows you to specify the user’s full name for inclusion in a created +Sender: or From: header line. For example: + + +accept authenticated = * + control = submission/domain=wonderland.example/\ + name=${lookup {$authenticated_id} \ + lsearch {/etc/exim/namelist}} + + +Because the name may contain any characters, including slashes, the +option must be given last. The remainder of the string is used as the name. For +the example above, if /etc/exim/namelist contains: + + +bigegg: Humpty Dumpty + + +then when the sender has authenticated as bigegg, the generated Sender: +line would be: + + +Sender: Humpty Dumpty <bigegg@wonderland.example> + + + +return path +in submission mode + +By default, submission mode forces the return path to the same address as is +used to create the Sender: header. However, if is +specified, the return path is also left unchanged. + + +Note: The changes caused by submission mode take effect after the predata +ACL. This means that any sender checks performed before the fix-ups use the +untrusted sender address specified by the user, not the trusted sender address +specified by submission mode. Although this might be slightly unexpected, it +does mean that you can configure ACL checks to spot that a user is trying to +spoof another’s address. + +
+
+Line endings + + +line endings + + +carriage return + + +linefeed + +RFC 2821 specifies that CRLF (two characters: carriage-return, followed by +linefeed) is the line ending for messages transmitted over the Internet using +SMTP over TCP/IP. However, within individual operating systems, different +conventions are used. For example, Unix-like systems use just LF, but others +use CRLF or just CR. + + +Exim was designed for Unix-like systems, and internally, it stores messages +using the system’s convention of a single LF as a line terminator. When +receiving a message, all line endings are translated to this standard format. +Originally, it was thought that programs that passed messages directly to an +MTA within an operating system would use that system’s convention. Experience +has shown that this is not the case; for example, there are Unix applications +that use CRLF in this circumstance. For this reason, and for compatibility with +other MTAs, the way Exim handles line endings for all messages is now as +follows: + + + + +LF not preceded by CR is treated as a line ending. + + + + +CR is treated as a line ending; if it is immediately followed by LF, the LF +is ignored. + + + + +The sequence CR, dot, CR does not terminate an incoming SMTP message, +nor a local message in the state where a line containing only a dot is a +terminator. + + + + +If a bare CR is encountered within a header line, an extra space is added after +the line terminator so as not to end the header line. The reasoning behind this +is that bare CRs in header lines are most likely either to be mistakes, or +people trying to play silly games. + + + + +If the first header line received in a message ends with CRLF, a subsequent +bare LF in a header line is treated in the same way as a bare CR in a header +line. + + + +
+
+Unqualified addresses + + +unqualified addresses + + +address +qualification + +By default, Exim expects every envelope address it receives from an external +host to be fully qualified. Unqualified addresses cause negative responses to +SMTP commands. However, because SMTP is used as a means of transporting +messages from MUAs running on personal workstations, there is sometimes a +requirement to accept unqualified addresses from specific hosts or IP networks. + + +Exim has two options that separately control which hosts may send unqualified +sender or recipient addresses in SMTP commands, namely + and . In both +cases, if an unqualified address is accepted, it is qualified by adding the +value of or , as appropriate. + + + + + + + + +Unqualified addresses in header lines are automatically qualified for messages +that are locally originated, unless the option is given on the command +line. For messages received over SMTP, unqualified addresses in header lines +are qualified only if unqualified addresses are permitted in SMTP commands. In +other words, such qualification is also controlled by + and , + +
+
+The UUCP From line + + +From line + + +UUCP +From line + + +sender +address + + + + + + + + +envelope sender + + +Sendmail compatibility +From line + +Messages that have come from UUCP (and some other applications) often begin +with a line containing the envelope sender and a timestamp, following the word +From. Examples of two common formats are: + + +From a.oakley@berlin.mus Fri Jan 5 12:35 GMT 1996 +From f.butler@berlin.mus Fri, 7 Jan 97 14:00:00 GMT + + +This line precedes the RFC 2822 header lines. For compatibility with Sendmail, +Exim recognizes such lines at the start of messages that are submitted to it +via the command line (that is, on the standard input). It does not recognize +such lines in incoming SMTP messages, unless the sending host matches + or the option was used for a local message +and is set. The recognition is controlled by a +regular expression that is defined by the option, whose +default value matches the two common cases shown above and puts the address +that follows From into $1. + + + +numerical variables ($1 $2 etc) +in From line handling + +When the caller of Exim for a non-SMTP message that contains a From line is +a trusted user, the message’s sender address is constructed by expanding the +contents of , whose default value is $1. This is +then parsed as an RFC 2822 address. If there is no domain, the local part is +qualified with unless it is the empty string. However, if +the command line option is used, it overrides the From line. + + +If the caller of Exim is not trusted, the From line is recognized, but the +sender address is not changed. This is also the case for incoming SMTP messages +that are permitted to contain From lines. + + +Only one From line is recognized. If there is more than one, the second is +treated as a data line that starts the body of the message, as it is not valid +as a header line. This also happens if a From line is present in an +incoming SMTP message from a source that is not permitted to send them. + +
+
+Resent- header lines + + + header lines + + +header lines +Resent- + +RFC 2822 makes provision for sets of header lines starting with the string +Resent- to be added to a message when it is resent by the original +recipient to somebody else. These headers are Resent-Date:, +Resent-From:, Resent-Sender:, Resent-To:, Resent-Cc:, +Resent-Bcc: and Resent-Message-ID:. The RFC says: + +
+ +Resent fields are strictly informational. They MUST NOT be used in the normal +processing of replies or other such automatic actions on messages. + +
+ +This leaves things a bit vague as far as other processing actions such as +address rewriting are concerned. Exim treats header lines as +follows: + + + + +A Resent-From: line that just contains the login id of the submitting user +is automatically rewritten in the same way as From: (see below). + + + + +If there’s a rewriting rule for a particular header line, it is also applied to + header lines of the same type. For example, a rule that rewrites +From: also rewrites Resent-From:. + + + + +For local messages, if Sender: is removed on input, Resent-Sender: is +also removed. + + + + +For a locally-submitted message, +if there are any header lines but no Resent-Date:, +Resent-From:, or Resent-Message-Id:, they are added as necessary. It is +the contents of Resent-Message-Id: (rather than Message-Id:) which are +included in log lines in this case. + + + + +The logic for adding Sender: is duplicated for Resent-Sender: when any + header lines are present. + + + +
+
+The Auto-Submitted: header line + +Whenever Exim generates an autoreply, a bounce, or a delay warning message, it +includes the header line: + + +Auto-Submitted: auto-replied + +
+
+The Bcc: header line + + +Bcc: header line + +If Exim is called with the option, to take recipient addresses from a +message’s header, it removes any Bcc: header line that may exist (after +extracting its addresses). If is not present on the command line, any +existing Bcc: is not removed. + +
+
+The Date: header line + + +Date: header line + + +header lines +Date: + +If a locally-generated or submission-mode message has no Date: header line, +Exim adds one, using the current date and time, unless the + control has been specified. + +
+
+The Delivery-date: header line + + +Delivery-date: header line + + + + +Delivery-date: header lines are not part of the standard RFC 2822 header +set. Exim can be configured to add them to the final delivery of messages. (See +the generic transport option.) They should not be present +in messages in transit. If the configuration option is +set (the default), Exim removes Delivery-date: header lines from incoming +messages. + +
+
+The Envelope-to: header line + + +Envelope-to: header line + + +header lines +Envelope-to: + + + + +Envelope-to: header lines are not part of the standard RFC 2822 header set. +Exim can be configured to add them to the final delivery of messages. (See the +generic transport option.) They should not be present in +messages in transit. If the configuration option is set +(the default), Exim removes Envelope-to: header lines from incoming +messages. + +
+
+The From: header line + + +From: header line + + +header lines +From: + + +Sendmail compatibility +From line + + +message +submission + + +submission mode + +If a submission-mode message does not contain a From: header line, Exim +adds one if either of the following conditions is true: + + + + +The envelope sender address is not empty (that is, this is not a bounce +message). The added header line copies the envelope sender address. + + + + + +$authenticated_id + +The SMTP session is authenticated and $authenticated_id is not empty. + + + + + +$qualify_domain + +If no domain is specified by the submission control, the local part is +$authenticated_id and the domain is $qualify_domain. + + + + +If a non-empty domain is specified by the submission control, the local +part is $authenticated_id, and the domain is the specified domain. + + + + +If an empty domain is specified by the submission control, +$authenticated_id is assumed to be the complete address. + + + + + + +A non-empty envelope sender takes precedence. + + +If a locally-generated incoming message does not contain a From: header +line, and the control is not set, Exim adds one +containing the sender’s address. The calling user’s login name and full name +are used to construct the address, as described in section . +They are obtained from the password data by calling getpwuid() (but see the + configuration option). The address is qualified with +. + + +For compatibility with Sendmail, if an incoming, non-SMTP message has a +From: header line containing just the unqualified login name of the calling +user, this is replaced by an address containing the user’s login name and full +name as described in section . + +
+
+The Message-ID: header line + + +Message-ID: header line + + +header lines +Message-ID: + + +message +submission + + + + +If a locally-generated or submission-mode incoming message does not contain a +Message-ID: or Resent-Message-ID: header line, and the + control is not set, Exim adds a suitable header line +to the message. If there are any Resent-: headers in the message, it +creates Resent-Message-ID:. The id is constructed from Exim’s internal +message id, preceded by the letter E to ensure it starts with a letter, and +followed by @ and the primary host name. Additional information can be included +in this header line by setting the and/or + options. + +
+
+The Received: header line + + +Received: header line + + +header lines +Received: + +A Received: header line is added at the start of every message. The +contents are defined by the configuration option, and +Exim automatically adds a semicolon and a timestamp to the configured string. + + +The Received: header is generated as soon as the message’s header lines +have been received. At this stage, the timestamp in the Received: header +line is the time that the message started to be received. This is the value +that is seen by the DATA ACL and by the local_scan() function. + + +Once a message is accepted, the timestamp in the Received: header line is +changed to the time of acceptance, which is (apart from a small delay while the +-H spool file is written) the earliest time at which delivery could start. + +
+
+The References: header line + + +References: header line + + +header lines +References: + +Messages created by the autoreply transport include a References: +header line. This is constructed according to the rules that are described in +section 3.64 of RFC 2822 (which states that replies should contain such a +header line), and section 3.14 of RFC 3834 (which states that automatic +responses are not different in this respect). However, because some mail +processing software does not cope well with very long header lines, no more +than 12 message IDs are copied from the References: header line in the +incoming message. If there are more than 12, the first one and then the final +11 are copied, before adding the message ID of the incoming message. + +
+
+The Return-path: header line + + +Return-path: header line + + +header lines +Return-path: + + + + +Return-path: header lines are defined as something an MTA may insert when +it does the final delivery of messages. (See the generic +transport option.) Therefore, they should not be present in messages in +transit. If the configuration option is set (the +default), Exim removes Return-path: header lines from incoming messages. + +
+
+The Sender: header line + + +Sender: header line + + +message +submission + + +header lines +Sender: + +For a locally-originated message from an untrusted user, Exim may remove an +existing Sender: header line, and it may add a new one. You can modify +these actions by setting the option true, the + option false, or by using the +control setting. + + +When a local message is received from an untrusted user and + is true (the default), and the +control has not been set, a check is made to see if the address given in the +From: header line is the correct (local) sender of the message. The address +that is expected has the login name as the local part and the value of + as the domain. Prefixes and suffixes for the local part can +be permitted by setting and +appropriately. If From: does not contain the correct sender, a Sender: +line is added to the message. + + +If you set false, this checking does not occur. However, +the removal of an existing Sender: line still happens, unless you also set + to be true. It is not possible to set both of these +options true at the same time. + + + +submission mode + +By default, no processing of Sender: header lines is done for messages +received over TCP/IP or for messages submitted by trusted users. However, when +a message is received over TCP/IP in submission mode, and is +not specified on the submission control, the following processing takes place: + + + +$authenticated_id + +First, any existing Sender: lines are removed. Then, if the SMTP session is +authenticated, and $authenticated_id is not empty, a sender address is +created as follows: + + + + + +$qualify_domain + +If no domain is specified by the submission control, the local part is +$authenticated_id and the domain is $qualify_domain. + + + + +If a non-empty domain is specified by the submission control, the local part +is $authenticated_id, and the domain is the specified domain. + + + + +If an empty domain is specified by the submission control, +$authenticated_id is assumed to be the complete address. + + + + +This address is compared with the address in the From: header line. If they +are different, a Sender: header line containing the created address is +added. Prefixes and suffixes for the local part in From: can be permitted +by setting and appropriately. + + + +return path +created from Sender: + +Note: Whenever a Sender: header line is created, the return path for +the message (the envelope sender address) is changed to be the same address, +except in the case of submission mode when is specified. + +
+
+Adding and removing header lines in routers and transports + + +header lines +adding; in router or transport + + +header lines +removing; in router or transport + +When a message is delivered, the addition and removal of header lines can be +specified in a system filter, or on any of the routers and transports that +process the message. Section contains details about +modifying headers in a system filter. Header lines can also be added in an ACL +as a message is received (see section ). + + +In contrast to what happens in a system filter, header modifications that are +specified on routers and transports apply only to the particular recipient +addresses that are being processed by those routers and transports. These +changes do not actually take place until a copy of the message is being +transported. Therefore, they do not affect the basic set of header lines, and +they do not affect the values of the variables that refer to header lines. + + +Note: In particular, this means that any expansions in the configuration of +the transport cannot refer to the modified header lines, because such +expansions all occur before the message is actually transported. + + +For both routers and transports, the argument of a +option must be in the form of one or more RFC 2822 header lines, separated by +newlines (coded as \n). For example: + + +headers_add = X-added-header: added by $primary_hostname\n\ + X-added-second: another added header line + + +Exim does not check the syntax of these added header lines. + + +Multiple options for a single router or transport can be +specified; the values will append to a single list of header lines. +Each header-line is separately expanded. + + +The argument of a option must consist of a colon-separated +list of header names. This is confusing, because header names themselves are +often terminated by colons. In this case, the colons are the list separators, +not part of the names. For example: + + +headers_remove = return-receipt-to:acknowledge-to + + +Multiple options for a single router or transport can be +specified; the arguments will append to a single header-names list. +Each item is separately expanded. +Note that colons in complex expansions which are used to +form all or part of a list +will act as list separators. + + +When or is specified on a router, +items are expanded at routing time, +and then associated with all addresses that are +accepted by that router, and also with any new addresses that it generates. If +an address passes through several routers as a result of aliasing or +forwarding, the changes are cumulative. + + + + + +However, this does not apply to multiple routers that result from the use of +the option. Any header modifications that were specified by the +unseen router or its predecessors apply only to the unseen delivery. + + +Addresses that end up with different or +settings cannot be delivered together in a batch, so a transport is always +dealing with a set of addresses that have the same header-processing +requirements. + + +The transport starts by writing the original set of header lines that arrived +with the message, possibly modified by the system filter. As it writes out +these lines, it consults the list of header names that were attached to the +recipient address(es) by options in routers, and it also +consults the transport’s own option. Header lines whose +names are on either of these lists are not written out. If there are multiple +instances of any listed header, they are all skipped. + + +After the remaining original header lines have been written, new header +lines that were specified by routers’ options are written, in +the order in which they were attached to the address. These are followed by any +header lines specified by the transport’s option. + + +This way of handling header line modifications in routers and transports has +the following consequences: + + + + +The original set of header lines, possibly modified by the system filter, +remains visible, in the sense that the $header_xxx variables refer +to it, at all times. + + + + +Header lines that are added by a router’s + option are not accessible by means of the $header_xxx +expansion syntax in subsequent routers or the transport. + + + + +Conversely, header lines that are specified for removal by +in a router remain visible to subsequent routers and the transport. + + + + +Headers added to an address by in a router cannot be removed by +a later router or by a transport. + + + + +An added header can refer to the contents of an original header that is to be +removed, even it has the same name as the added header. For example: + + +headers_remove = subject +headers_add = Subject: new subject (was: $h_subject:) + + + + +Warning: The and options cannot be used +for a redirect router that has the option set. + +
+
+Constructed addresses + + +address +constructed + + +constructed address + +When Exim constructs a sender address for a locally-generated message, it uses +the form + + +<user name>  <login@qualify_domain> + + +For example: + + +Zaphod Beeblebrox <zaphod@end.univ.example> + + +The user name is obtained from the command line option if set, or +otherwise by looking up the calling user by getpwuid() and extracting the +gecos field from the password entry. If the gecos field contains an +ampersand character, this is replaced by the login name with the first letter +upper cased, as is conventional in a number of operating systems. See the + option for a way to tailor the handling of the gecos field. +The option can be used to specify user names in cases when +there is no password file entry. + + + +RFC 2047 + +In all cases, the user name is made to conform to RFC 2822 by quoting all or +parts of it if necessary. In addition, if it contains any non-printing +characters, it is encoded as described in RFC 2047, which defines a way of +including non-ASCII characters in header lines. The value of the + option specifies the name of the encoding that is used (the +characters are assumed to be in this encoding). The setting of + controls whether characters with the top bit set (that +is, with codes greater than 127) count as printing characters or not. + +
+
+Case of local parts + + +case of local parts + + +local part +case of + +RFC 2822 states that the case of letters in the local parts of addresses cannot +be assumed to be non-significant. Exim preserves the case of local parts of +addresses, but by default it uses a lower-cased form when it is routing, +because on most Unix systems, usernames are in lower case and case-insensitive +routing is required. However, any particular router can be made to use the +original case for local parts by setting the generic +router option. + + + +mixed-case login names + +If you must have mixed-case user names on your system, the best way to proceed, +assuming you want case-independent handling of incoming email, is to set up +your first router to convert incoming local parts in your domains to the +correct case by means of a file lookup. For example: + + +correct_case: + driver = redirect + domains = +local_domains + data = ${lookup{$local_part}cdb\ + {/etc/usercased.cdb}{$value}fail}\ + @$domain + + +For this router, the local part is forced to lower case by the default action +( is not set). The lower-cased local part is used to look +up a new local part in the correct case. If you then set +on any subsequent routers which process your domains, they will operate on +local parts with the correct case in a case-sensitive manner. + +
+
+Dots in local parts + + +dot +in local part + + +local part +dots in + +RFC 2822 forbids empty components in local parts. That is, an unquoted local +part may not begin or end with a dot, nor have two consecutive dots in the +middle. However, it seems that many MTAs do not enforce this, so Exim permits +empty components for compatibility. + +
+
+Rewriting addresses + + +rewriting +addresses + +Rewriting of sender and recipient addresses, and addresses in headers, can +happen automatically, or as the result of configuration options, as described +in chapter . The headers that may be affected by this are +Bcc:, Cc:, From:, Reply-To:, Sender:, and To:. + + +Automatic rewriting includes qualification, as mentioned above. The other case +in which it can happen is when an incomplete non-local domain is given. The +routing process may cause this to be expanded into the full domain name. For +example, a header such as + + +To: hare@teaparty + + +might get rewritten as + + +To: hare@teaparty.wonderland.fict.example + + +Rewriting as a result of routing is the one kind of message processing that +does not happen at input time, as it cannot be done until the address has +been routed. + + +Strictly, one should not do any deliveries of a message until all its +addresses have been routed, in case any of the headers get changed as a +result of routing. However, doing this in practice would hold up many +deliveries for unreasonable amounts of time, just because one address could not +immediately be routed. Exim therefore does not delay other deliveries when +routing of one or more addresses is deferred. + + +
+ + + +SMTP processing + + +SMTP +processing details + + +LMTP +processing details + +Exim supports a number of different ways of using the SMTP protocol, and its +LMTP variant, which is an interactive protocol for transferring messages into a +closed mail store application. This chapter contains details of how SMTP is +processed. For incoming mail, the following are available: + + + + +SMTP over TCP/IP (Exim daemon or inetd); + + + + +SMTP over the standard input and output (the option); + + + + +Batched SMTP on the standard input (the option). + + + + +For mail delivery, the following are available: + + + + +SMTP over TCP/IP (the smtp transport); + + + + +LMTP over TCP/IP (the smtp transport with the option set to +lmtp); + + + + +LMTP over a pipe to a process running in the local host (the lmtp +transport); + + + + +Batched SMTP to a file or pipe (the appendfile and pipe transports with +the option set). + + + + +Batched SMTP is the name for a process in which batches of messages are +stored in or read from files (or pipes), in a format in which SMTP commands are +used to contain the envelope information. + +
+Outgoing SMTP and LMTP over TCP/IP + + +SMTP +outgoing over TCP/IP + + +outgoing SMTP over TCP/IP + + +LMTP +over TCP/IP + + +outgoing LMTP over TCP/IP + + +EHLO + + +HELO + + +SIZE option on MAIL command + +Outgoing SMTP and LMTP over TCP/IP is implemented by the smtp transport. +The option selects which protocol is to be used, but the actual +processing is the same in both cases. + + +If, in response to its EHLO command, Exim is told that the SIZE +parameter is supported, it adds SIZE=<n> to each subsequent MAIL +command. The value of <n> is the message size plus the value of the + option (default 1024) to allow for additions to the message +such as per-transport header lines, or changes made in a + +transport +filter + + +filter +transport filter + +transport filter. If is set negative, the use of SIZE is +suppressed. + + +If the remote server advertises support for PIPELINING, Exim uses the +pipelining extension to SMTP (RFC 2197) to reduce the number of TCP/IP packets +required for the transaction. + + +If the remote server advertises support for the STARTTLS command, and Exim +was built to support TLS encryption, it tries to start a TLS session unless the +server matches . See chapter for more details. +Either a match in that or apply when the transport +is called for verification. + + +If the remote server advertises support for the AUTH command, Exim scans +the authenticators configuration for any suitable client settings, as described +in chapter . + + + +carriage return + + +linefeed + +Responses from the remote host are supposed to be terminated by CR followed by +LF. However, there are known to be hosts that do not send CR characters, so in +order to be able to interwork with such hosts, Exim treats LF on its own as a +line terminator. + + +If a message contains a number of different addresses, all those with the same +characteristics (for example, the same envelope sender) that resolve to the +same set of hosts, in the same order, are sent in a single SMTP transaction, +even if they are for different domains, unless there are more than the setting +of the s option in the smtp transport allows, in which case +they are split into groups containing no more than s addresses +each. If is greater than one, such groups may be sent +in parallel sessions. The order of hosts with identical MX values is not +significant when checking whether addresses can be batched in this way. + + +When the smtp transport suffers a temporary failure that is not +message-related, Exim updates its transport-specific database, which contains +records indexed by host name that remember which messages are waiting for each +particular host. It also updates the retry database with new retry times. + + + +hints database +retry keys + +Exim’s retry hints are based on host name plus IP address, so if one address of +a multi-homed host is broken, it will soon be skipped most of the time. +See the next section for more detail about error handling. + + + +SMTP +passed connection + + +SMTP +batching over TCP/IP + +When a message is successfully delivered over a TCP/IP SMTP connection, Exim +looks in the hints database for the transport to see if there are any queued +messages waiting for the host to which it is connected. If it finds one, it +creates a new Exim process using the option (which can only be used by +a process running as root or the Exim user) and passes the TCP/IP socket to it +so that it can deliver another message using the same socket. The new process +does only those deliveries that are routed to the connected host, and may in +turn pass the socket on to a third process, and so on. + + +The option of the smtp transport can be used to +limit the number of messages sent down a single TCP/IP connection. + + + +asterisk +after IP address + +The second and subsequent messages delivered down an existing connection are +identified in the main log by the addition of an asterisk after the closing +square bracket of the IP address. + +
+
+Errors in outgoing SMTP + + +error +in outgoing SMTP + + +SMTP +errors in outgoing + + +host +error + +Three different kinds of error are recognized for outgoing SMTP: host errors, +message errors, and recipient errors. + + + +Host errors + + +A host error is not associated with a particular message or with a +particular recipient of a message. The host errors are: + + + + +Connection refused or timed out, + + + + +Any error response code on connection, + + + + +Any error response code to EHLO or HELO, + + + + +Loss of connection at any time, except after ., + + + + +I/O errors at any time, + + + + +Timeouts during the session, other than in response to MAIL, RCPT or +the . at the end of the data. + + + + +For a host error, a permanent error response on connection, or in response to +EHLO, causes all addresses routed to the host to be failed. Any other host +error causes all addresses to be deferred, and retry data to be created for the +host. It is not tried again, for any message, until its retry time arrives. If +the current set of addresses are not all delivered in this run (to some +alternative host), the message is added to the list of those waiting for this +host, so if it is still undelivered when a subsequent successful delivery is +made to the host, it will be sent down the same SMTP connection. + + + +Message errors + + + +message +error + +A message error is associated with a particular message when sent to a +particular host, but not with a particular recipient of the message. The +message errors are: + + + + +Any error response code to MAIL, DATA, or the . that terminates +the data, + + + + +Timeout after MAIL, + + + + +Timeout or loss of connection after the . that terminates the data. A +timeout after the DATA command itself is treated as a host error, as is loss of +connection at any other time. + + + + +For a message error, a permanent error response (5xx) causes all addresses +to be failed, and a delivery error report to be returned to the sender. A +temporary error response (4xx), or one of the timeouts, causes all +addresses to be deferred. Retry data is not created for the host, but instead, +a retry record for the combination of host plus message id is created. The +message is not added to the list of those waiting for this host. This ensures +that the failing message will not be sent to this host again until the retry +time arrives. However, other messages that are routed to the host are not +affected, so if it is some property of the message that is causing the error, +it will not stop the delivery of other mail. + + +If the remote host specified support for the SIZE parameter in its response +to EHLO, Exim adds SIZE=nnn to the MAIL command, so an +over-large message will cause a message error because the error arrives as a +response to MAIL. + + + +Recipient errors + + + +recipient +error + +A recipient error is associated with a particular recipient of a message. The +recipient errors are: + + + + +Any error response to RCPT, + + + + +Timeout after RCPT. + + + + +For a recipient error, a permanent error response (5xx) causes the +recipient address to be failed, and a bounce message to be returned to the +sender. A temporary error response (4xx) or a timeout causes the failing +address to be deferred, and routing retry data to be created for it. This is +used to delay processing of the address in subsequent queue runs, until its +routing retry time arrives. This applies to all messages, but because it +operates only in queue runs, one attempt will be made to deliver a new message +to the failing address before the delay starts to operate. This ensures that, +if the failure is really related to the message rather than the recipient +(message too big for this recipient is a possible example), other messages +have a chance of getting delivered. If a delivery to the address does succeed, +the retry information gets cleared, so all stuck messages get tried again, and +the retry clock is reset. + + +The message is not added to the list of those waiting for this host. Use of the +host for other messages is unaffected, and except in the case of a timeout, +other recipients are processed independently, and may be successfully delivered +in the current SMTP session. After a timeout it is of course impossible to +proceed with the session, so all addresses get deferred. However, those other +than the one that failed do not suffer any subsequent retry delays. Therefore, +if one recipient is causing trouble, the others have a chance of getting +through when a subsequent delivery attempt occurs before the failing +recipient’s retry time. + + + + +In all cases, if there are other hosts (or IP addresses) available for the +current set of addresses (for example, from multiple MX records), they are +tried in this run for any undelivered addresses, subject of course to their +own retry data. In other words, recipient error retry data does not take effect +until the next delivery attempt. + + +Some hosts have been observed to give temporary error responses to every +MAIL command at certain times (insufficient space has been seen). It +would be nice if such circumstances could be recognized, and defer data for the +host itself created, but this is not possible within the current Exim design. +What actually happens is that retry data for every (host, message) combination +is created. + + +The reason that timeouts after MAIL and RCPT are treated specially is that +these can sometimes arise as a result of the remote host’s verification +procedures. Exim makes this assumption, and treats them as if a temporary error +response had been received. A timeout after . is treated specially because +it is known that some broken implementations fail to recognize the end of the +message if the last character of the last line is a binary zero. Thus, it is +helpful to treat this case as a message error. + + +Timeouts at other times are treated as host errors, assuming a problem with the +host, or the connection to it. If a timeout after MAIL, RCPT, +or . is really a connection problem, the assumption is that at the next try +the timeout is likely to occur at some other point in the dialogue, causing it +then to be treated as a host error. + + +There is experimental evidence that some MTAs drop the connection after the +terminating . if they do not like the contents of the message for some +reason, in contravention of the RFC, which indicates that a 5xx response +should be given. That is why Exim treats this case as a message rather than a +host error, in order not to delay other messages to the same host. + +
+
+Incoming SMTP messages over TCP/IP + + +SMTP +incoming over TCP/IP + + +incoming SMTP over TCP/IP + + +inetd + + +daemon + +Incoming SMTP messages can be accepted in one of two ways: by running a +listening daemon, or by using inetd. In the latter case, the entry in +/etc/inetd.conf should be like this: + + +smtp stream tcp nowait exim /opt/exim/bin/exim in.exim -bs + + +Exim distinguishes between this case and the case of a locally running user +agent using the option by checking whether or not the standard input is +a socket. When it is, either the port must be privileged (less than 1024), or +the caller must be root or the Exim user. If any other user passes a socket +with an unprivileged port number, Exim prints a message on the standard error +stream and exits with an error code. + + +By default, Exim does not make a log entry when a remote host connects or +disconnects (either via the daemon or inetd), unless the disconnection is +unexpected. It can be made to write such log entries by setting the + log selector. + + + +carriage return + + +linefeed + +Commands from the remote host are supposed to be terminated by CR followed by +LF. However, there are known to be hosts that do not send CR characters. In +order to be able to interwork with such hosts, Exim treats LF on its own as a +line terminator. +Furthermore, because common code is used for receiving messages from all +sources, a CR on its own is also interpreted as a line terminator. However, the +sequence CR, dot, CR does not terminate incoming SMTP data. + + + +EHLO +invalid data + + +HELO +invalid data + +One area that sometimes gives rise to problems concerns the EHLO or +HELO commands. Some clients send syntactically invalid versions of these +commands, which Exim rejects by default. (This is nothing to do with verifying +the data that is sent, so is not relevant.) You can tell +Exim not to apply a syntax check by setting to +match the broken hosts that send invalid commands. + + + +SIZE option on MAIL command + + +MAIL +SIZE option + +The amount of disk space available is checked whenever SIZE is received on +a MAIL command, independently of whether or + is configured, unless is set +false. A temporary error is given if there is not enough space. If + is set, the check is for that amount of space plus the +value given with SIZE, that is, it checks that the addition of the incoming +message will not reduce the space below the threshold. + + +When a message is successfully received, Exim includes the local message id in +its response to the final . that terminates the data. If the remote host +logs this text it can help with tracing what has happened to a message. + + +The Exim daemon can limit the number of simultaneous incoming connections it is +prepared to handle (see the option). It can also limit the +number of simultaneous incoming connections from a single remote host (see the + option). Additional connection attempts are +rejected using the SMTP temporary error code 421. + + +The Exim daemon does not rely on the SIGCHLD signal to detect when a +subprocess has finished, as this can get lost at busy times. Instead, it looks +for completed subprocesses every time it wakes up. Provided there are other +things happening (new incoming calls, starts of queue runs), completed +processes will be noticed and tidied away. On very quiet systems you may +sometimes see a defunct Exim process hanging about. This is not a problem; +it will be noticed when the daemon next wakes up. + + +When running as a daemon, Exim can reserve some SMTP slots for specific hosts, +and can also be set up to reject SMTP calls from non-reserved hosts at times of +high system load – for details see the , +, and options. The load check +applies in both the daemon and inetd cases. + + +Exim normally starts a delivery process for each message received, though this +can be varied by means of the command line option and the +, , and options. The +number of simultaneously running delivery processes started in this way from +SMTP input can be limited by the and + options. When either limit is reached, +subsequently received messages are just put on the input queue without starting +a delivery process. + + +The controls that involve counts of incoming SMTP calls (, +, ) are not available when Exim is +started up from the inetd daemon, because in that case each connection is +handled by an entirely independent Exim process. Control by load average is, +however, available with inetd. + + +Exim can be configured to verify addresses in incoming SMTP commands as they +are received. See chapter for details. It can also be configured +to rewrite addresses at this time – before any syntax checking is done. See +section . + + +Exim can also be configured to limit the rate at which a client host submits +MAIL and RCPT commands in a single SMTP session. See the + option. + +
+
+Unrecognized SMTP commands + + +SMTP +unrecognized commands + +If Exim receives more than unrecognized SMTP +commands during a single SMTP connection, it drops the connection after sending +the error response to the last command. The default value for + is 3. This is a defence against some kinds of +abuse that subvert web servers into making connections to SMTP ports; in these +circumstances, a number of non-SMTP lines are sent first. + +
+
+Syntax and protocol errors in SMTP commands + + +SMTP +syntax errors + + +SMTP +protocol errors + +A syntax error is detected if an SMTP command is recognized, but there is +something syntactically wrong with its data, for example, a malformed email +address in a RCPT command. Protocol errors include invalid command +sequencing such as RCPT before MAIL. If Exim receives more than + such commands during a single SMTP connection, it +drops the connection after sending the error response to the last command. The +default value for is 3. This is a defence against +broken clients that loop sending bad commands (yes, it has been seen). + +
+
+Use of non-mail SMTP commands + + +SMTP +non-mail commands + +The non-mail SMTP commands are those other than MAIL, RCPT, and +DATA. Exim counts such commands, and drops the connection if there are too +many of them in a single SMTP session. This action catches some +denial-of-service attempts and things like repeated failing AUTHs, or a mad +client looping sending EHLO. The global option +defines what too many means. Its default value is 10. + + +When a new message is expected, one occurrence of RSET is not counted. This +allows a client to send one RSET between messages (this is not necessary, +but some clients do it). Exim also allows one uncounted occurrence of HELO +or EHLO, and one occurrence of STARTTLS between messages. After +starting up a TLS session, another EHLO is expected, and so it too is not +counted. + + +The first occurrence of AUTH in a connection, or immediately following +STARTTLS is also not counted. Otherwise, all commands other than MAIL, +RCPT, DATA, and QUIT are counted. + + +You can control which hosts are subject to the limit set by + by setting +. The default value is *, which makes +the limit apply to all hosts. This option means that you can exclude any +specific badly-behaved hosts that you have to live with. + +
+
+The VRFY and EXPN commands + +When Exim receives a VRFY or EXPN command on a TCP/IP connection, it +runs the ACL specified by or (as +appropriate) in order to decide whether the command should be accepted or not. + + + +VRFY +processing + +When no ACL is defined for VRFY, or if it rejects without +setting an explicit response code, the command is accepted +(with a 252 SMTP response code) +in order to support awkward clients that do a VRFY before every RCPT. +When VRFY is accepted, it runs exactly the same code as when Exim is +called with the option, and returns 250/451/550 +SMTP response codes. + + + +EXPN +processing + +If no ACL for EXPN is defined, the command is rejected. +When EXPN is accepted, a single-level expansion of the address is done. +EXPN is treated as an address test (similar to the option) rather +than a verification (the option). If an unqualified local part is given +as the argument to EXPN, it is qualified with . Rejections +of VRFY and EXPN commands are logged on the main and reject logs, and +VRFY verification failures are logged on the main log for consistency with +RCPT failures. + +
+
+The ETRN command + + +ETRN +processing + +RFC 1985 describes an SMTP command called ETRN that is designed to +overcome the security problems of the TURN command (which has fallen into +disuse). When Exim receives an ETRN command on a TCP/IP connection, it runs +the ACL specified by in order to decide whether the command +should be accepted or not. If no ACL is defined, the command is rejected. + + +The ETRN command is concerned with releasing messages that are awaiting +delivery to certain hosts. As Exim does not organize its message queue by host, +the only form of ETRN that is supported by default is the one where the +text starts with the # prefix, in which case the remainder of the text is +specific to the SMTP server. A valid ETRN command causes a run of Exim with +the option to happen, with the remainder of the ETRN text as its +argument. For example, + + +ETRN #brigadoon + + +runs the command + + +exim -R brigadoon + + +which causes a delivery attempt on all messages with undelivered addresses +containing the text brigadoon. When is set (the +default), Exim prevents the simultaneous execution of more than one queue run +for the same argument string as a result of an ETRN command. This stops +a misbehaving client from starting more than one queue runner at once. + + + +hints database +ETRN serialization + +Exim implements the serialization by means of a hints database in which a +record is written whenever a process is started by ETRN, and deleted when +the process completes. However, Exim does not keep the SMTP session waiting for +the ETRN process to complete. Once ETRN is accepted, the client is sent +a success return code. Obviously there is scope for hints records to get +left lying around if there is a system or program crash. To guard against this, +Exim ignores any records that are more than six hours old. + + + + + +For more control over what ETRN does, the option can +used. This specifies a command that is run whenever ETRN is received, +whatever the form of its argument. For +example: + + +smtp_etrn_command = /etc/etrn_command $domain \ + $sender_host_address + + + +$domain + +The string is split up into arguments which are independently expanded. The +expansion variable $domain is set to the argument of the ETRN command, +and no syntax checking is done on the contents of this argument. Exim does not +wait for the command to complete, so its status code is not checked. Exim runs +under its own uid and gid when receiving incoming SMTP, so it is not possible +for it to change them before running the command. + +
+
+Incoming local SMTP + + +SMTP +local incoming + +Some user agents use SMTP to pass messages to their local MTA using the +standard input and output, as opposed to passing the envelope on the command +line and writing the message to the standard input. This is supported by the + option. This form of SMTP is handled in the same way as incoming +messages over TCP/IP (including the use of ACLs), except that the envelope +sender given in a MAIL command is ignored unless the caller is trusted. In +an ACL you can detect this form of SMTP input by testing for an empty host +identification. It is common to have this as the first line in the ACL that +runs for RCPT commands: + + +accept hosts = : + + +This accepts SMTP messages from local processes without doing any other tests. + +
+
+Outgoing batched SMTP + + +SMTP +batched outgoing + + +batched SMTP output + +Both the appendfile and pipe transports can be used for handling +batched SMTP. Each has an option called which causes messages to +be output in BSMTP format. No SMTP responses are possible for this form of +delivery. All it is doing is using SMTP commands as a way of transmitting the +envelope along with the message. + + +The message is written to the file or pipe preceded by the SMTP commands +MAIL and RCPT, and followed by a line containing a single dot. Lines in +the message that start with a dot have an extra dot added. The SMTP command +HELO is not normally used. If it is required, the option +can be used to specify it. + + +Because appendfile and pipe are both local transports, they accept only +one recipient address at a time by default. However, you can arrange for them +to handle several addresses at once by setting the option. When +this is done for BSMTP, messages may contain multiple RCPT commands. See +chapter for more details. + + + +$host + +When one or more addresses are routed to a BSMTP transport by a router that +sets up a host list, the name of the first host on the list is available to the +transport in the variable $host. Here is an example of such a transport and +router: + + +begin routers +route_append: + driver = manualroute + transport = smtp_appendfile + route_list = domain.example batch.host.example + +begin transports +smtp_appendfile: + driver = appendfile + directory = /var/bsmtp/$host + batch_max = 1000 + use_bsmtp + user = exim + + +This causes messages addressed to domain.example to be written in BSMTP +format to /var/bsmtp/batch.host.example, with only a single copy of each +message (unless there are more than 1000 recipients). + +
+
+Incoming batched SMTP + + +SMTP +batched incoming + + +batched SMTP input + +The command line option causes Exim to accept one or more messages by +reading SMTP on the standard input, but to generate no responses. If the caller +is trusted, the senders in the MAIL commands are believed; otherwise the +sender is always the caller of Exim. Unqualified senders and receivers are not +rejected (there seems little point) but instead just get qualified. HELO +and EHLO act as RSET; VRFY, EXPN, ETRN and HELP, act +as NOOP; QUIT quits. + + +Minimal policy checking is done for BSMTP input. Only the non-SMTP +ACL is run in the same way as for non-SMTP local input. + + +If an error is detected while reading a message, including a missing . at +the end, Exim gives up immediately. It writes details of the error to the +standard output in a stylized way that the calling program should be able to +make some use of automatically, for example: + + +554 Unexpected end of file +Transaction started in line 10 +Error detected in line 14 + + +It writes a more verbose version, for human consumption, to the standard error +file, for example: + + +An error was detected while processing a file of BSMTP input. +The error message was: + +501 '>' missing at end of address + +The SMTP transaction started in line 10. +The error was detected in line 12. +The SMTP command at fault was: + +rcpt to:<malformed@in.com.plete + +1 previous message was successfully processed. +The rest of the batch was abandoned. + + +The return code from Exim is zero only if there were no errors. It is 1 if some +messages were accepted before an error was detected, and 2 if no messages were +accepted. + + + +
+ + + +Customizing bounce and warning messages +Customizing messages + +When a message fails to be delivered, or remains in the queue for more than a +configured amount of time, Exim sends a message to the original sender, or +to an alternative configured address. The text of these messages is built into +the code of Exim, but it is possible to change it, either by adding a single +string, or by replacing each of the paragraphs by text supplied in a file. + + +The From: and To: header lines are automatically generated; you can +cause a Reply-To: line to be added by setting the +option. Exim also adds the line + + +Auto-Submitted: auto-generated + + +to all warning and bounce messages, + +
+Customizing bounce messages + + +customizing +bounce message + + +bounce message +customizing + +If is set, its contents are included in the default +message immediately after This message was created automatically by mail +delivery software. The string is not expanded. It is not used if + is set. + + +When is set, it must point to a template file for +constructing error messages. The file consists of a series of text items, +separated by lines consisting of exactly four asterisks. If the file cannot be +opened, default text is used and a message is written to the main and panic +logs. If any text item in the file is empty, default text is used for that +item. + + + +$bounce_recipient + + +$bounce_return_size_limit + +Each item of text that is read from the file is expanded, and there are two +expansion variables which can be of use here: $bounce_recipient is set to +the recipient of an error message while it is being created, and +$bounce_return_size_limit contains the value of the +option, rounded to a whole number. + + +The items must appear in the file in the following order: + + + + +The first item is included in the headers, and should include at least a +Subject: header. Exim does not check the syntax of these headers. + + + + +The second item forms the start of the error message. After it, Exim lists the +failing addresses with their error messages. + + + + +The third item is used to introduce any text from pipe transports that is to be +returned to the sender. It is omitted if there is no such text. + + + + +The fourth, fifth and sixth items will be ignored and may be empty. +The fields exist for back-compatibility + + + + +The default state ( unset) is equivalent to the +following file, in which the sixth item is empty. The Subject: and some +other lines have been split in order to fit them on the page: + + +Subject: Mail delivery failed + ${if eq{$sender_address}{$bounce_recipient} + {: returning message to sender}} +**** +This message was created automatically by mail delivery software. + +A message ${if eq{$sender_address}{$bounce_recipient} + {that you sent }{sent by + +<$sender_address> + +}}could not be delivered to all of its recipients. +This is a permanent error. The following address(es) failed: +**** +The following text was generated during the delivery attempt(s): +**** +------ This is a copy of the message, including all the headers. + ------ +**** +------ The body of the message is $message_size characters long; + only the first +------ $bounce_return_size_limit or so are included here. +**** + +
+
+Customizing warning messages + + +customizing +warning message + + +warning of delay +customizing the message + +The option can be pointed at a template file for use when +warnings about message delays are created. In this case there are only three +text sections: + + + + +The first item is included in the headers, and should include at least a +Subject: header. Exim does not check the syntax of these headers. + + + + +The second item forms the start of the warning message. After it, Exim lists +the delayed addresses. + + + + +The third item then ends the message. + + + + +The default state is equivalent to the following file, except that some lines +have been split here, in order to fit them on the page: + + +Subject: Warning: message $message_exim_id delayed + $warn_message_delay +**** +This message was created automatically by mail delivery software. + +A message ${if eq{$sender_address}{$warn_message_recipients} +{that you sent }{sent by + +<$sender_address> + +}}has not been delivered to all of its recipients after +more than $warn_message_delay in the queue on $primary_hostname. + +The message identifier is: $message_exim_id +The subject of the message is: $h_subject +The date of the message is: $h_date + +The following address(es) have not yet been delivered: +**** +No action is required on your part. Delivery attempts will +continue for some time, and this warning may be repeated at +intervals if the message remains undelivered. Eventually the +mail delivery software will give up, and when that happens, +the message will be returned to you. + + + +$warn_message_delay + + +$warn_message_recipients + +However, in the default state the subject and date lines are omitted if no +appropriate headers exist. During the expansion of this file, +$warn_message_delay is set to the delay time in one of the forms <n> +minutes or <n> hours, and $warn_message_recipients contains a list +of recipients for the warning message. There may be more than one if there are +multiple addresses with different settings on the routers that +handled them. + +
+ + + +Some common configuration settings + +This chapter discusses some configuration settings that seem to be fairly +common. More examples and discussion can be found in the Exim book. + +
+Sending mail to a smart host + + +smart host +example router + +If you want to send all mail for non-local domains to a smart host, you +should replace the default dnslookup router with a router which does the +routing explicitly: + + +send_to_smart_host: + driver = manualroute + route_list = !+local_domains smart.host.name + transport = remote_smtp + + +You can use the smart host’s IP address instead of the name if you wish. +If you are using Exim only to submit messages to a smart host, and not for +receiving incoming messages, you can arrange for it to do the submission +synchronously by setting the option (see chapter +). + +
+
+Using Exim to handle mailing lists + + +mailing lists + +Exim can be used to run simple mailing lists, but for large and/or complicated +requirements, the use of additional specialized mailing list software such as +Majordomo or Mailman is recommended. + + +The redirect router can be used to handle mailing lists where each list +is maintained in a separate file, which can therefore be managed by an +independent manager. The router option can be used to run these +lists in a separate domain from normal mail. For example: + + +lists: + driver = redirect + domains = lists.example + file = /usr/lists/$local_part + forbid_pipe + forbid_file + errors_to = $local_part-request@lists.example + no_more + + +This router is skipped for domains other than lists.example. For addresses +in that domain, it looks for a file that matches the local part. If there is no +such file, the router declines, but because is set, no subsequent +routers are tried, and so the whole delivery fails. + + +The and options prevent a local part from being +expanded into a filename or a pipe delivery, which is usually inappropriate in +a mailing list. + + + + + +The option specifies that any delivery errors caused by addresses +taken from a mailing list are to be sent to the given address rather than the +original sender of the message. However, before acting on this, Exim verifies +the error address, and ignores it if verification fails. + + +For example, using the configuration above, mail sent to +dicts@lists.example is passed on to those addresses contained in +/usr/lists/dicts, with error reports directed to +dicts-request@lists.example, provided that this address can be verified. +There could be a file called /usr/lists/dicts-request containing +the address(es) of this particular list’s manager(s), but other approaches, +such as setting up an earlier router (possibly using the +or options) to handle addresses of the form +xxx or request, are also possible. + +
+
+Syntax errors in mailing lists + + +mailing lists +syntax errors in + +If an entry in redirection data contains a syntax error, Exim normally defers +delivery of the original address. That means that a syntax error in a mailing +list holds up all deliveries to the list. This may not be appropriate when a +list is being maintained automatically from data supplied by users, and the +addresses are not rigorously checked. + + +If the option is set, the redirect router just skips +entries that fail to parse, noting the incident in the log. If in addition + is set to a verifiable address, a message is sent to it +whenever a broken address is skipped. It is usually appropriate to set + to the same address as . + +
+
+Re-expansion of mailing lists + + +mailing lists +re-expansion of + +Exim remembers every individual address to which a message has been delivered, +in order to avoid duplication, but it normally stores only the original +recipient addresses with a message. If all the deliveries to a mailing list +cannot be done at the first attempt, the mailing list is re-expanded when the +delivery is next tried. This means that alterations to the list are taken into +account at each delivery attempt, so addresses that have been added to +the list since the message arrived will therefore receive a copy of the +message, even though it pre-dates their subscription. + + +If this behaviour is felt to be undesirable, the option can be set +on the redirect router. If this is done, any addresses generated by the +router that fail to deliver at the first attempt are added to the message as +top level addresses, and the parent address that generated them is marked +delivered. Thus, expansion of the mailing list does not happen again at the +subsequent delivery attempts. The disadvantage of this is that if any of the +failing addresses are incorrect, correcting them in the file has no effect on +pre-existing messages. + + +The original top-level address is remembered with each of the generated +addresses, and is output in any log messages. However, any intermediate parent +addresses are not recorded. This makes a difference to the log only if the + selector is set, but for mailing lists there is normally only +one level of expansion anyway. + +
+
+Closed mailing lists + + +mailing lists +closed + +The examples so far have assumed open mailing lists, to which anybody may +send mail. It is also possible to set up closed lists, where mail is accepted +from specified senders only. This is done by making use of the generic + option to restrict the router that handles the list. + + +The following example uses the same file as a list of recipients and as a list +of permitted senders. It requires three routers: + + +lists_request: + driver = redirect + domains = lists.example + local_part_suffix = -request + file = /usr/lists/$local_part$local_part_suffix + no_more + +lists_post: + driver = redirect + domains = lists.example + senders = ${if exists {/usr/lists/$local_part}\ + {lsearch;/usr/lists/$local_part}{*}} + file = /usr/lists/$local_part + forbid_pipe + forbid_file + errors_to = $local_part-request@lists.example + no_more + +lists_closed: + driver = redirect + domains = lists.example + allow_fail + data = :fail: $local_part@lists.example is a closed mailing list + + +All three routers have the same setting, so for any other domains, +they are all skipped. The first router runs only if the local part ends in +. It handles messages to the list manager(s) by means of an open +mailing list. + + +The second router runs only if the precondition is satisfied. It +checks for the existence of a list that corresponds to the local part, and then +checks that the sender is on the list by means of a linear search. It is +necessary to check for the existence of the file before trying to search it, +because otherwise Exim thinks there is a configuration error. If the file does +not exist, the expansion of is *, which matches all senders. This +means that the router runs, but because there is no list, declines, and + ensures that no further routers are run. The address fails with an +unrouteable address error. + + +The third router runs only if the second router is skipped, which happens when +a mailing list exists, but the sender is not on it. This router forcibly fails +the address, giving a suitable error message. + +
+
+Variable Envelope Return Paths (VERP) + + +VERP + + +Variable Envelope Return Paths + + +envelope sender + +Variable Envelope Return Paths – see https://cr.yp.to/proto/verp.txt – +are a way of helping mailing list administrators discover which subscription +address is the cause of a particular delivery failure. The idea is to encode +the original recipient address in the outgoing envelope sender address, so that +if the message is forwarded by another host and then subsequently bounces, the +original recipient can be extracted from the recipient address of the bounce. + + + + + + + + +Envelope sender addresses can be modified by Exim using two different +facilities: the option on a router (as shown in previous mailing +list examples), or the option on a transport. The second of +these is effective only if the message is successfully delivered to another +host; it is not used for errors detected on the local host (see the description +of in chapter ). Here is an example +of the use of to implement VERP on an smtp transport: + + +verp_smtp: + driver = smtp + max_rcpt = 1 + return_path = \ + ${if match {$return_path}{^(.+?)-request@your.dom.example\$}\ + {$1-request+$local_part=$domain@your.dom.example}fail} + + +This has the effect of rewriting the return path (envelope sender) on outgoing +SMTP messages, if the local part of the original return path ends in +-request, and the domain is your.dom.example. The rewriting inserts the +local part and domain of the recipient into the return path. Suppose, for +example, that a message whose return path has been set to +somelist-request@your.dom.example is sent to +subscriber@other.dom.example. In the transport, the return path is +rewritten as + + +somelist-request+subscriber=other.dom.example@your.dom.example + + + +$local_part + +For this to work, you must tell Exim to send multiple copies of messages that +have more than one recipient, so that each copy has just one recipient. This is +achieved by setting to 1. Without this, a single copy of a message +might be sent to several different recipients in the same domain, in which case +$local_part is not available in the transport, because it is not unique. + + +Unless your host is doing nothing but mailing list deliveries, you should +probably use a separate transport for the VERP deliveries, so as not to use +extra resources in making one-per-recipient copies for other deliveries. This +can easily be done by expanding the option in the router: + + +dnslookup: + driver = dnslookup + domains = ! +local_domains + transport = \ + ${if match {$return_path}{^(.+?)-request@your.dom.example\$}\ + {verp_smtp}{remote_smtp}} + no_more + + +If you want to change the return path using in a router instead +of using in the transport, you need to set on all +routers that handle mailing list addresses. This will ensure that all delivery +errors, including those detected on the local host, are sent to the VERP +address. + + +On a host that does no local deliveries and has no manual routing, only the +dnslookup router needs to be changed. A special transport is not needed for +SMTP deliveries. Every mailing list recipient has its own return path value, +and so Exim must hand them to the transport one at a time. Here is an example +of a dnslookup router that implements VERP: + + +verp_dnslookup: + driver = dnslookup + domains = ! +local_domains + transport = remote_smtp + errors_to = \ + ${if match {$return_path}{^(.+?)-request@your.dom.example\$}} + {$1-request+$local_part=$domain@your.dom.example}fail} + no_more + + +Before you start sending out messages with VERPed return paths, you must also +configure Exim to accept the bounce messages that come back to those paths. +Typically this is done by setting a option for a +router, and using this to route the messages to wherever you want to handle +them. + + +The overhead incurred in using VERP depends very much on the size of the +message, the number of recipient addresses that resolve to the same remote +host, and the speed of the connection over which the message is being sent. If +a lot of addresses resolve to the same host and the connection is slow, sending +a separate copy of the message for each address may take substantially longer +than sending a single copy with many recipients (for which VERP cannot be +used). + +
+
+Virtual domains + + +virtual domains + + +domain +virtual + +The phrase virtual domain is unfortunately used with two rather different +meanings: + + + + +A domain for which there are no real mailboxes; all valid local parts are +aliases for other email addresses. Common examples are organizational +top-level domains and vanity domains. + + + + +One of a number of independent domains that are all handled by the same host, +with mailboxes on that host, but where the mailbox owners do not necessarily +have login accounts on that host. + + + + +The first usage is probably more common, and does seem more virtual than +the second. This kind of domain can be handled in Exim with a straightforward +aliasing router. One approach is to create a separate alias file for each +virtual domain. Exim can test for the existence of the alias file to determine +whether the domain exists. The dsearch lookup type is useful here, leading +to a router of this form: + + +virtual: + driver = redirect + domains = dsearch;/etc/mail/virtual + data = ${lookup{$local_part}lsearch{/etc/mail/virtual/$domain}} + no_more + + +The option specifies that the router is to be skipped, unless there +is a file in the /etc/mail/virtual directory whose name is the same as the +domain that is being processed. When the router runs, it looks up the local +part in the file to find a new address (or list of addresses). The +setting ensures that if the lookup fails (leading to being an empty +string), Exim gives up on the address without trying any subsequent routers. + + +This one router can handle all the virtual domains because the alias filenames +follow a fixed pattern. Permissions can be arranged so that appropriate people +can edit the different alias files. A successful aliasing operation results in +a new envelope recipient address, which is then routed from scratch. + + +The other kind of virtual domain can also be handled in a straightforward +way. One approach is to create a file for each domain containing a list of +valid local parts, and use it in a router like this: + + +my_domains: + driver = accept + domains = dsearch;/etc/mail/domains + local_parts = lsearch;/etc/mail/domains/$domain + transport = my_mailboxes + + +The address is accepted if there is a file for the domain, and the local part +can be found in the file. The option is used to check for the +file’s existence because is tested before the +option (see section ). You cannot use , +because that option is tested after . The transport is as +follows: + + +my_mailboxes: + driver = appendfile + file = /var/mail/$domain/$local_part + user = mail + + +This uses a directory of mailboxes for each domain. The setting is +required, to specify which uid is to be used for writing to the mailboxes. + + +The configuration shown here is just one example of how you might support this +requirement. There are many other ways this kind of configuration can be set +up, for example, by using a database instead of separate files to hold all the +information about the domains. + +
+
+Multiple user mailboxes + + +multiple mailboxes + + +mailbox +multiple + + +local part +prefix + + +local part +suffix + +Heavy email users often want to operate with multiple mailboxes, into which +incoming mail is automatically sorted. A popular way of handling this is to +allow users to use multiple sender addresses, so that replies can easily be +identified. Users are permitted to add prefixes or suffixes to their local +parts for this purpose. The wildcard facility of the generic router options + and can be used for this. For +example, consider this router: + + +userforward: + driver = redirect + check_local_user + file = $home/.forward + local_part_suffix = -* + local_part_suffix_optional + allow_filter + + + +$local_part_suffix + +It runs a user’s .forward file for all local parts of the form +username-*. Within the filter file the user can distinguish different +cases by testing the variable $local_part_suffix. For example: + + +if $local_part_suffix contains -special then +save /home/$local_part/Mail/special +endif + + +If the filter file does not exist, or does not deal with such addresses, they +fall through to subsequent routers, and, assuming no subsequent use of the + option is made, they presumably fail. Thus, users have +control over which suffixes are valid. + + +Alternatively, a suffix can be used to trigger the use of a different +.forward file – which is the way a similar facility is implemented in +another MTA: + + +userforward: + driver = redirect + check_local_user + file = $home/.forward$local_part_suffix + local_part_suffix = -* + local_part_suffix_optional + allow_filter + + +If there is no suffix, .forward is used; if the suffix is -special, for +example, .forward-special is used. Once again, if the appropriate file +does not exist, or does not deal with the address, it is passed on to +subsequent routers, which could, if required, look for an unqualified +.forward file to use as a default. + +
+
+Simplified vacation processing + + +vacation processing + +The traditional way of running the vacation program is for a user to set up +a pipe command in a .forward file +(see section for syntax details). +This is prone to error by inexperienced users. There are two features of Exim +that can be used to make this process simpler for users: + + + + +A local part prefix such as vacation- can be specified on a router which +can cause the message to be delivered directly to the vacation program, or +alternatively can use Exim’s autoreply transport. The contents of a user’s +.forward file are then much simpler. For example: + + +spqr, vacation-spqr + + + + +The generic router option can be used to trigger a +vacation delivery by checking for the existence of a certain file in the +user’s home directory. The generic option should also be used, to +ensure that the original delivery also proceeds. In this case, all the user has +to do is to create a file called, say, .vacation, containing a vacation +message. + + + + +Another advantage of both these methods is that they both work even when the +use of arbitrary pipes by users is locked out. + +
+
+Taking copies of mail + + +message +copying every + +Some installations have policies that require archive copies of all messages to +be made. A single copy of each message can easily be taken by an appropriate +command in a system filter, which could, for example, use a different file for +each day’s messages. + + +There is also a shadow transport mechanism that can be used to take copies of +messages that are successfully delivered by local transports, one copy per +delivery. This could be used, inter alia, to implement automatic +notification of delivery by sites that insist on doing such things. + +
+
+Intermittently connected hosts + + +intermittently connected hosts + +It has become quite common (because it is cheaper) for hosts to connect to the +Internet periodically rather than remain connected all the time. The normal +arrangement is that mail for such hosts accumulates on a system that is +permanently connected. + + +Exim was designed for use on permanently connected hosts, and so it is not +particularly well-suited to use in an intermittently connected environment. +Nevertheless there are some features that can be used. + +
+
+Exim on the upstream server host + +It is tempting to arrange for incoming mail for the intermittently connected +host to remain in Exim’s queue until the client connects. However, this +approach does not scale very well. Two different kinds of waiting message are +being mixed up in the same queue – those that cannot be delivered because of +some temporary problem, and those that are waiting for their destination host +to connect. This makes it hard to manage the queue, as well as wasting +resources, because each queue runner scans the entire queue. + + +A better approach is to separate off those messages that are waiting for an +intermittently connected host. This can be done by delivering these messages +into local files in batch SMTP, mailstore, or other envelope-preserving +format, from where they are transmitted by other software when their +destination connects. This makes it easy to collect all the mail for one host +in a single directory, and to apply local timeout rules on a per-message basis +if required. + + +On a very small scale, leaving the mail on Exim’s queue can be made to work. If +you are doing this, you should configure Exim with a long retry period for the +intermittent host. For example: + + +cheshire.wonderland.fict.example * F,5d,24h + + +This stops a lot of failed delivery attempts from occurring, but Exim remembers +which messages it has queued up for that host. Once the intermittent host comes +online, forcing delivery of one message (either by using the or +options, or by using the ETRN SMTP command (see section ) +causes all the queued up messages to be delivered, often down a single SMTP +connection. While the host remains connected, any new messages get delivered +immediately. + + +If the connecting hosts do not have fixed IP addresses, that is, if a host is +issued with a different IP address each time it connects, Exim’s retry +mechanisms on the holding host get confused, because the IP address is normally +used as part of the key string for holding retry information. This can be +avoided by unsetting on the smtp transport. +Since this has disadvantages for permanently connected hosts, it is best to +arrange a separate transport for the intermittently connected ones. + +
+
+Exim on the intermittently connected client host + +The value of should probably be +increased, or even set to zero (that is, disabled) on the intermittently +connected host, so that all incoming messages down a single connection get +delivered immediately. + + + +SMTP +passed connection + + +SMTP +multiple deliveries + + +multiple SMTP deliveries + +Mail waiting to be sent from an intermittently connected host will probably +not have been routed, because without a connection DNS lookups are not +possible. This means that if a normal queue run is done at connection time, +each message is likely to be sent in a separate SMTP session. This can be +avoided by starting the queue run with a command line option beginning with + instead of . In this case, the queue is scanned twice. In the +first pass, routing is done but no deliveries take place. The second pass is a +normal queue run; since all the messages have been previously routed, those +destined for the same host are likely to get sent as multiple deliveries in a +single SMTP connection. + +
+ + + +Using Exim as a non-queueing client +Exim as a non-queueing client + + +client, non-queueing + + +smart host +suppressing queueing + +On a personal computer, it is a common requirement for all +email to be sent to a smart host. There are plenty of MUAs that can be +configured to operate that way, for all the popular operating systems. +However, there are some MUAs for Unix-like systems that cannot be so +configured: they submit messages using the command line interface of +/usr/sbin/sendmail. Furthermore, utility programs such as cron submit +messages this way. + + +If the personal computer runs continuously, there is no problem, because it can +run a conventional MTA that handles delivery to the smart host, and deal with +any delays via its queueing mechanism. However, if the computer does not run +continuously or runs different operating systems at different times, queueing +email is not desirable. + + +There is therefore a requirement for something that can provide the +/usr/sbin/sendmail interface but deliver messages to a smart host without +any queueing or retrying facilities. Furthermore, the delivery to the smart +host should be synchronous, so that if it fails, the sending MUA is immediately +informed. In other words, we want something that extends an MUA that submits +to a local MTA via the command line so that it behaves like one that submits +to a remote smart host using TCP/SMTP. + + +There are a number of applications (for example, there is one called ssmtp) +that do this job. However, people have found them to be lacking in various +ways. For instance, you might want to allow aliasing and forwarding to be done +before sending a message to the smart host. + + +Exim already had the necessary infrastructure for doing this job. Just a few +tweaks were needed to make it behave as required, though it is somewhat of an +overkill to use a fully-featured MTA for this purpose. + + + + + +There is a Boolean global option called , defaulting false. +Setting true causes Exim to run in a special mode where it +assumes that it is being used to wrap a command-line MUA in the manner +just described. As well as setting , you also need to provide a +compatible router and transport configuration. Typically there will be just one +router and one transport, sending everything to a smart host. + + +When run in MUA wrapping mode, the behaviour of Exim changes in the +following ways: + + + + +A daemon cannot be run, nor will Exim accept incoming messages from inetd. +In other words, the only way to submit messages is via the command line. + + + + +Each message is synchronously delivered as soon as it is received ( is +assumed). All queueing options (, , + in an ACL, etc.) are quietly ignored. The Exim reception process +does not finish until the delivery attempt is complete. If the delivery is +successful, a zero return code is given. + + + + +Address redirection is permitted, but the final routing for all addresses must +be to the same remote transport, and to the same list of hosts. Furthermore, +the return address (envelope sender) must be the same for all recipients, as +must any added or deleted header lines. In other words, it must be possible to +deliver the message in a single SMTP transaction, however many recipients there +are. + + + + +If these conditions are not met, or if routing any address results in a +failure or defer status, or if Exim is unable to deliver all the recipients +successfully to one of the smart hosts, delivery of the entire message fails. + + + + +Because no queueing is allowed, all failures are treated as permanent; there +is no distinction between 4xx and 5xx SMTP response codes from the +smart host. Furthermore, because only a single yes/no response can be given to +the caller, it is not possible to deliver to some recipients and not others. If +there is an error (temporary or permanent) for any recipient, all are failed. + + + + +If more than one smart host is listed, Exim will try another host after a +connection failure or a timeout, in the normal way. However, if this kind of +failure happens for all the hosts, the delivery fails. + + + + +When delivery fails, an error message is written to the standard error stream +(as well as to Exim’s log), and Exim exits to the caller with a return code +value 1. The message is expunged from Exim’s spool files. No bounce messages +are ever generated. + + + + +No retry data is maintained, and any retry rules are ignored. + + + + +A number of Exim options are overridden: is forced +true, in the smtp transport is forced to unlimited, + is forced to one, and fallback hosts are ignored. + + + + +The overall effect is that Exim makes a single synchronous attempt to deliver +the message, failing if there is any kind of problem. Because no local +deliveries are done and no daemon can be run, Exim does not need root +privilege. It should be possible to run it setuid to exim instead of setuid +to root. See section for a general discussion about +the advantages and disadvantages of running without root privilege. + + + + +Log files + + +log +general description + + +log +types of + +Exim writes three different logs, referred to as the main log, the reject log, +and the panic log: + + + + + +main log + +The main log records the arrival of each message and each delivery in a single +line in each case. The format is as compact as possible, in an attempt to keep +down the size of log files. Two-character flag sequences make it easy to pick +out these lines. A number of other events are recorded in the main log. Some of +them are optional, in which case the option controls whether +they are included or not. A Perl script called eximstats, which does simple +analysis of main log files, is provided in the Exim distribution (see section +). + + + + + +reject log + +The reject log records information from messages that are rejected as a result +of a configuration option (that is, for policy reasons). +The first line of each rejection is a copy of the line that is also written to +the main log. Then, if the message’s header has been read at the time the log +is written, its contents are written to this log. Only the original header +lines are available; header lines added by ACLs are not logged. You can use the +reject log to check that your policy controls are working correctly; on a busy +host this may be easier than scanning the main log for rejection messages. You +can suppress the writing of the reject log by setting +false. + + + + + +panic log + + +system log + +When certain serious errors occur, Exim writes entries to its panic log. If the +error is sufficiently disastrous, Exim bombs out afterwards. Panic log entries +are usually written to the main log as well, but can get lost amid the mass of +other entries. The panic log should be empty under normal circumstances. It is +therefore a good idea to check it (or to have a cron script check it) +regularly, in order to become aware of any problems. When Exim cannot open its +panic log, it tries as a last resort to write to the system log (syslog). This +is opened with LOG_PID+LOG_CONS and the facility code of LOG_MAIL. The +message itself is written at priority LOG_CRIT. + + + + +Every log line starts with a timestamp, in the format shown in the following +example. Note that many of the examples shown in this chapter are line-wrapped. +In the log file, this would be all on one line: + + +2001-09-16 16:09:47 SMTP connection from [127.0.0.1] closed + by QUIT + + +By default, the timestamps are in the local timezone. There are two +ways of changing this: + + + + +You can set the option to a different time zone; in particular, if +you set + + +timezone = UTC + + +the timestamps will be in UTC (aka GMT). + + + + +If you set true, the time zone is added to the timestamp, for +example: + + +2003-04-25 11:17:07 +0100 Start queue run: pid=12762 + + + + + +log +process ids in + + +pid (process id) +in log lines + +Exim does not include its process id in log lines by default, but you can +request that it does so by specifying the pid log selector (see section +). When this is set, the process id is output, in square +brackets, immediately after the time and date. + +
+Where the logs are written + + +log +destination + + +log +to file + + +log +to syslog + + +syslog + +The logs may be written to local files, or to syslog, or both. However, it +should be noted that many syslog implementations use UDP as a transport, and +are therefore unreliable in the sense that messages are not guaranteed to +arrive at the loghost, nor is the ordering of messages necessarily maintained. +It has also been reported that on large log files (tens of megabytes) you may +need to tweak syslog to prevent it syncing the file with each write – on +Linux this has been seen to make syslog take 90% plus of CPU time. + + +The destination for Exim’s logs is configured by setting LOG_FILE_PATH in +Local/Makefile or by setting in the runtime +configuration. This latter string is expanded, so it can contain, for example, +references to the host name: + + +log_file_path = /var/log/$primary_hostname/exim_%slog + + +It is generally advisable, however, to set the string in Local/Makefile +rather than at runtime, because then the setting is available right from the +start of Exim’s execution. Otherwise, if there’s something it wants to log +before it has read the configuration file (for example, an error in the +configuration file) it will not use the path you want, and may not be able to +log at all. + + +The value of LOG_FILE_PATH or is a colon-separated +list, currently limited to at most two items. This is one option where the +facility for changing a list separator may not be used. The list must always be +colon-separated. If an item in the list is syslog then syslog is used; +otherwise the item must either be an absolute path, containing %s at the +point where main, reject, or panic is to be inserted, or be empty, +implying the use of a default path. + + +When Exim encounters an empty item in the list, it searches the list defined by +LOG_FILE_PATH, and uses the first item it finds that is neither empty nor +syslog. This means that an empty item in can be used to +mean use the path specified at build time. It no such item exists, log +files are written in the log subdirectory of the spool directory. This is +equivalent to the setting: + + +log_file_path = $spool_directory/log/%slog + + +If you do not specify anything at build time or runtime, +or if you unset the option at runtime (i.e. log_file_path = ), +that is where the logs are written. + + +A log file path may also contain %D or %M if datestamped log filenames +are in use – see section below. + + +Here are some examples of possible settings: + + +LOG_FILE_PATH=syslog syslog only +LOG_FILE_PATH=:syslog syslog and default path +LOG_FILE_PATH=syslog : /usr/log/exim_%s syslog and specified path +LOG_FILE_PATH=/usr/log/exim_%s specified path only + + +If there are more than two paths in the list, the first is used and a panic +error is logged. + +
+
+Logging to local files that are periodically <quote>cycled</quote> + + +log +cycling local files + + +cycling logs + + +exicyclog + + +log +local files; writing to + +Some operating systems provide centralized and standardized methods for cycling +log files. For those that do not, a utility script called exicyclog is +provided (see section ). This renames and compresses the +main and reject logs each time it is called. The maximum number of old logs to +keep can be set. It is suggested this script is run as a daily cron job. + + +An Exim delivery process opens the main log when it first needs to write to it, +and it keeps the file open in case subsequent entries are required – for +example, if a number of different deliveries are being done for the same +message. However, remote SMTP deliveries can take a long time, and this means +that the file may be kept open long after it is renamed if exicyclog or +something similar is being used to rename log files on a regular basis. To +ensure that a switch of log files is noticed as soon as possible, Exim calls +stat() on the main log’s name before reusing an open file, and if the file +does not exist, or its inode has changed, the old file is closed and Exim +tries to open the main log from scratch. Thus, an old log file may remain open +for quite some time, but no Exim processes should write to it once it has been +renamed. + +
+
+Datestamped log files + + +log +datestamped files + +Instead of cycling the main and reject log files by renaming them +periodically, some sites like to use files whose names contain a datestamp, +for example, mainlog-20031225. The datestamp is in the form yyyymmdd or +yyyymm. Exim has support for this way of working. It is enabled by setting +the option to a path that includes %D or %M at the +point where the datestamp is required. For example: + + +log_file_path = /var/spool/exim/log/%slog-%D +log_file_path = /var/log/exim-%s-%D.log +log_file_path = /var/spool/exim/log/%D-%slog +log_file_path = /var/log/exim/%s.%M + + +As before, %s is replaced by main or reject; the following are +examples of names generated by the above examples: + + +/var/spool/exim/log/mainlog-20021225 +/var/log/exim-reject-20021225.log +/var/spool/exim/log/20021225-mainlog +/var/log/exim/main.200212 + + +When this form of log file is specified, Exim automatically switches to new +files at midnight. It does not make any attempt to compress old logs; you +will need to write your own script if you require this. You should not +run exicyclog with this form of logging. + + +The location of the panic log is also determined by , but it +is not datestamped, because rotation of the panic log does not make sense. +When generating the name of the panic log, %D or %M are removed from +the string. In addition, if it immediately follows a slash, a following +non-alphanumeric character is removed; otherwise a preceding non-alphanumeric +character is removed. Thus, the four examples above would give these panic +log names: + + +/var/spool/exim/log/paniclog +/var/log/exim-panic.log +/var/spool/exim/log/paniclog +/var/log/exim/panic + +
+
+Logging to syslog + + +log +syslog; writing to + +The use of syslog does not change what Exim logs or the format of its messages, +except in one respect. If is set false, the timestamps on +Exim’s log lines are omitted when these lines are sent to syslog. Apart from +that, the same strings are written to syslog as to log files. The syslog +facility is set to LOG_MAIL, and the program name to exim +by default, but you can change these by setting the and + options, respectively. If Exim was compiled with +SYSLOG_LOG_PID set in Local/Makefile (this is the default in +src/EDITME), then, on systems that permit it (all except ULTRIX), the +LOG_PID flag is set so that the syslog() call adds the pid as well as +the time and host name to each line. +The three log streams are mapped onto syslog priorities as follows: + + + + +mainlog is mapped to LOG_INFO + + + + +rejectlog is mapped to LOG_NOTICE + + + + +paniclog is mapped to LOG_ALERT + + + + +Many log lines are written to both mainlog and rejectlog, and some are +written to both mainlog and paniclog, so there will be duplicates if +these are routed by syslog to the same place. You can suppress this duplication +by setting false. + + +Exim’s log lines can sometimes be very long, and some of its rejectlog +entries contain multiple lines when headers are included. To cope with both +these cases, entries written to syslog are split into separate syslog() +calls at each internal newline, and also after a maximum of +870 data characters. (This allows for a total syslog line length of 1024, when +additions such as timestamps are added.) If you are running a syslog +replacement that can handle lines longer than the 1024 characters allowed by +RFC 3164, you should set + + +SYSLOG_LONG_LINES=yes + + +in Local/Makefile before building Exim. That stops Exim from splitting long +lines, but it still splits at internal newlines in reject log entries. + + +To make it easy to re-assemble split lines later, each component of a split +entry starts with a string of the form [<n>/<m>] or [<n>\<m>] +where <n> is the component number and <m> is the total number of +components in the entry. The / delimiter is used when the line was split +because it was too long; if it was split because of an internal newline, the \ +delimiter is used. For example, supposing the length limit to be 50 instead of +870, the following would be the result of a typical rejection message to +mainlog (LOG_INFO), each line in addition being preceded by the time, host +name, and pid as added by syslog: + + +[1/5] 2002-09-16 16:09:43 16RdAL-0006pc-00 rejected from +[2/5] [127.0.0.1] (ph10): syntax error in 'From' header +[3/5] when scanning for sender: missing or malformed lo +[4/5] cal part in "<>" (envelope sender is <ph10@cam.exa +[5/5] mple>) + + +The same error might cause the following lines to be written to rejectlog +(LOG_NOTICE): + + +[1/18] 2002-09-16 16:09:43 16RdAL-0006pc-00 rejected fro +[2/18] m [127.0.0.1] (ph10): syntax error in 'From' head +[3/18] er when scanning for sender: missing or malformed +[4/18] local part in "<>" (envelope sender is <ph10@cam +[5\18] .example>) +[6\18] Recipients: ph10@some.domain.cam.example +[7\18] P Received: from [127.0.0.1] (ident=ph10) +[8\18] by xxxxx.cam.example with smtp (Exim 4.00) +[9\18] id 16RdAL-0006pc-00 +[10/18] for ph10@cam.example; Mon, 16 Sep 2002 16: +[11\18] 09:43 +0100 +[12\18] F From: <> +[13\18] Subject: this is a test header +[18\18] X-something: this is another header +[15/18] I Message-Id: <E16RdAL-0006pc-00@xxxxx.cam.examp +[16\18] le> +[17\18] B Bcc: +[18/18] Date: Mon, 16 Sep 2002 16:09:43 +0100 + + +Log lines that are neither too long nor contain newlines are written to syslog +without modification. + + +If only syslog is being used, the Exim monitor is unable to provide a log tail +display, unless syslog is routing mainlog to a file on the local host and +the environment variable EXIMON_LOG_FILE_PATH is set to tell the monitor +where it is. + +
+
+Log line flags + +One line is written to the main log for each message received, and for each +successful, unsuccessful, and delayed delivery. These lines can readily be +picked out by the distinctive two-character flags that immediately follow the +timestamp. The flags are: + + +<= message arrival +(= message fakereject +=> normal message delivery +-> additional address in same delivery +>> cutthrough message delivery +*> delivery suppressed by +** delivery failed; address bounced +== delivery deferred; temporary problem + +
+
+Logging message reception + + +log +reception line + +The format of the single-line entry in the main log that is written for every +message received is shown in the basic example below, which is split over +several lines in order to fit it on the page: + + +2002-10-31 08:57:53 16ZCW1-0005MB-00 <= kryten@dwarf.fict.example + H=mailer.fict.example [192.168.123.123] U=exim + P=smtp S=5678 id=<incoming message id> + + +The address immediately following <= is the envelope sender address. A +bounce message is shown with the sender address <>, and if it is locally +generated, this is followed by an item of the form + + +R=<message id> + + +which is a reference to the message that caused the bounce to be sent. + + + +HELO + + +EHLO + +For messages from other hosts, the H and U fields identify the remote host and +record the RFC 1413 identity of the user that sent the message, if one was +received. The number given in square brackets is the IP address of the sending +host. If there is a single, unparenthesized host name in the H field, as +above, it has been verified to correspond to the IP address (see the + option). If the name is in parentheses, it was the name quoted +by the remote host in the SMTP HELO or EHLO command, and has not been +verified. If verification yields a different name to that given for HELO or +EHLO, the verified name appears first, followed by the HELO or EHLO +name in parentheses. + + +Misconfigured hosts (and mail forgers) sometimes put an IP address, with or +without brackets, in the HELO or EHLO command, leading to entries in +the log containing text like these examples: + + +H=(10.21.32.43) [192.168.8.34] +H=([10.21.32.43]) [192.168.8.34] + + +This can be confusing. Only the final address in square brackets can be relied +on. + + +For locally generated messages (that is, messages not received over TCP/IP), +the H field is omitted, and the U field contains the login name of the caller +of Exim. + + + +authentication +logging + + +AUTH +logging + +For all messages, the P field specifies the protocol used to receive the +message. This is the value that is stored in $received_protocol. In the case +of incoming SMTP messages, the value indicates whether or not any SMTP +extensions (ESMTP), encryption, or authentication were used. If the SMTP +session was encrypted, there is an additional X field that records the cipher +suite that was used. + + + +log +protocol + +The protocol is set to esmtpsa or esmtpa for messages received from +hosts that have authenticated themselves using the SMTP AUTH command. The first +value is used when the SMTP connection was encrypted (secure). In this case +there is an additional item A= followed by the name of the authenticator that +was used. If an authenticated identification was set up by the authenticator’s + option, this is logged too, separated by a colon from the +authenticator name. + + + +size +of message + +The id field records the existing message id, if present. The size of the +received message is given by the S field. When the message is delivered, +headers may be removed or added, so that the size of delivered copies of the +message may not correspond with this value (and indeed may be different to each +other). + + +The option can be used to request the logging of additional +data when a message is received. See section below. + +
+
+Logging deliveries + + +log +delivery line + +The format of the single-line entry in the main log that is written for every +delivery is shown in one of the examples below, for local and remote +deliveries, respectively. Each example has been split into multiple lines in order +to fit it on the page: + + +2002-10-31 08:59:13 16ZCW1-0005MB-00 => marv + <marv@hitch.fict.example> R=localuser T=local_delivery +2002-10-31 09:00:10 16ZCW1-0005MB-00 => + monk@holistic.fict.example R=dnslookup T=remote_smtp + H=holistic.fict.example [192.168.234.234] + + +For ordinary local deliveries, the original address is given in angle brackets +after the final delivery address, which might be a pipe or a file. If +intermediate address(es) exist between the original and the final address, the +last of these is given in parentheses after the final address. The R and T +fields record the router and transport that were used to process the address. + + +If SMTP AUTH was used for the delivery there is an additional item A= +followed by the name of the authenticator that was used. +If an authenticated identification was set up by the authenticator’s +option, this is logged too, separated by a colon from the authenticator name. + + +If a shadow transport was run after a successful local delivery, the log line +for the successful delivery has an item added on the end, of the form + + +ST=<shadow transport name> + + +If the shadow transport did not succeed, the error message is put in +parentheses afterwards. + + + +asterisk +after IP address + +When more than one address is included in a single delivery (for example, two +SMTP RCPT commands in one transaction) the second and subsequent addresses are +flagged with -> instead of =>. When two or more messages are delivered +down a single SMTP connection, an asterisk follows the IP address in the log +lines for the second and subsequent messages. +When two or more messages are delivered down a single TLS connection, the +DNS and some TLS-related information logged for the first message delivered +will not be present in the log lines for the second and subsequent messages. +TLS cipher information is still available. + + + +delivery +cutthrough; logging + + +cutthrough +logging + +When delivery is done in cutthrough mode it is flagged with >> and the log +line precedes the reception line, since cutthrough waits for a possible +rejection from the destination in case it can reject the sourced item. + + +The generation of a reply message by a filter file gets logged as a +delivery to the addressee, preceded by >. + + +The option can be used to request the logging of additional +data when a message is delivered. See section below. + +
+
+Discarded deliveries + + +discarded messages + + +message +discarded + + +delivery +discarded; logging + +When a message is discarded as a result of the command seen finish being +obeyed in a filter file which generates no deliveries, a log entry of the form + + +2002-12-10 00:50:49 16auJc-0001UB-00 => discarded + <low.club@bridge.example> R=userforward + + +is written, to record why no deliveries are logged. When a message is discarded +because it is aliased to :blackhole: the log line is like this: + + +1999-03-02 09:44:33 10HmaX-0005vi-00 => :blackhole: + <hole@nowhere.example> R=blackhole_router + +
+
+Deferred deliveries + +When a delivery is deferred, a line of the following form is logged: + + +2002-12-19 16:20:23 16aiQz-0002Q5-00 == marvin@endrest.example + R=dnslookup T=smtp defer (146): Connection refused + + +In the case of remote deliveries, the error is the one that was given for the +last IP address that was tried. Details of individual SMTP failures are also +written to the log, so the above line would be preceded by something like + + +2002-12-19 16:20:23 16aiQz-0002Q5-00 Failed to connect to + mail1.endrest.example [192.168.239.239]: Connection refused + + +When a deferred address is skipped because its retry time has not been reached, +a message is written to the log, but this can be suppressed by setting an +appropriate value in . + +
+
+Delivery failures + + +delivery +failure; logging + +If a delivery fails because an address cannot be routed, a line of the +following form is logged: + + +1995-12-19 16:20:23 0tRiQz-0002Q5-00 ** jim@trek99.example + <jim@trek99.example>: unknown mail domain + + +If a delivery fails at transport time, the router and transport are shown, and +the response from the remote host is included, as in this example: + + +2002-07-11 07:14:17 17SXDU-000189-00 ** ace400@pb.example + R=dnslookup T=remote_smtp: SMTP error from remote mailer + after pipelined RCPT TO:<ace400@pb.example>: host + pbmail3.py.example [192.168.63.111]: 553 5.3.0 + <ace400@pb.example>...Addressee unknown + + +The word pipelined indicates that the SMTP PIPELINING extension was being +used. See in the smtp transport for a way of +disabling PIPELINING. The log lines for all forms of delivery failure are +flagged with **. + +
+
+Fake deliveries + + +delivery +fake; logging + +If a delivery does not actually take place because the option has been +used to suppress it, a normal delivery line is written to the log, except that +=> is replaced by *>. + +
+
+Completion + +A line of the form + + +2002-10-31 09:00:11 16ZCW1-0005MB-00 Completed + + +is written to the main log when a message is about to be removed from the spool +at the end of its processing. + +
+
+Summary of Fields in Log Lines + + +log +summary of fields + +A summary of the field identifiers that are used in log lines is shown in +the following table: + + +A authenticator name (and optional id and sender) +C SMTP confirmation on delivery + command list for no mail in SMTP session +CV certificate verification status +D duration of no mail in SMTP session +DKIM domain verified in incoming message +DN distinguished name from peer certificate +DS DNSSEC secured lookups +DT on => lines: time taken for a delivery +F sender address (on delivery lines) +H host name and IP address +I local interface used +id message id for incoming message +K CHUNKING extension used +L on <= and => lines: PIPELINING extension used +M8S 8BITMIME status for incoming message +P on <= lines: protocol used + on => and ** lines: return path +PRDR PRDR extension used +PRX on <= and => lines: proxy address +Q alternate queue name +QT on => lines: time spent on queue so far + on Completed lines: time spent on queue +R on <= lines: reference for local bounce + on => >> ** and == lines: router name +RT on <= lines: time taken for reception +S size of message in bytes +SNI server name indication from TLS client hello +ST shadow transport name +T on <= lines: message subject (topic) +TFO connection took advantage of TCP Fast Open + on => ** and == lines: transport name +U local user or RFC 1413 identity +X TLS cipher suite + +
+
+Other log entries + +Various other types of log entry are written from time to time. Most should be +self-explanatory. Among the more common are: + + + + + +retry +time not reached + +retry time not reached  An address previously suffered a temporary error +during routing or local delivery, and the time to retry has not yet arrived. +This message is not written to an individual message log file unless it happens +during the first delivery attempt. + + + + +retry time not reached for any host  An address previously suffered +temporary errors during remote delivery, and the retry time has not yet arrived +for any of the hosts to which it is routed. + + + + + +spool directory +file locked + +spool file locked  An attempt to deliver a message cannot proceed because +some other Exim process is already working on the message. This can be quite +common if queue running processes are started at frequent intervals. The +exiwhat utility script can be used to find out what Exim processes are +doing. + + + + + +error +ignored + +error ignored  There are several circumstances that give rise to this +message: + + + + +Exim failed to deliver a bounce message whose age was greater than +. The bounce was discarded. + + + + +A filter file set up a delivery using the noerror option, and the delivery +failed. The delivery was discarded. + + + + +A delivery set up by a router configured with + + + errors_to = <> + + +failed. The delivery was discarded. + + + + + + + +DKIM +log line + +DKIM: d=  Verbose results of a DKIM verification attempt, if enabled for +logging and the message has a DKIM signature header. + + + +
+
+Reducing or increasing what is logged + + +log +selectors + +By setting the global option, you can disable some of Exim’s +default logging, or you can request additional logging. The value of + is made up of names preceded by plus or minus characters. For +example: + + +log_selector = +arguments -retry_defer + + +The list of optional log items is in the following table, with the default +selection marked by asterisks: + + + 8bitmime received 8BITMIME status +*acl_warn_skipped skipped statement in ACL + address_rewrite address rewriting + all_parents all parents in => lines + arguments command line arguments +*connection_reject connection rejections +*delay_delivery immediate delivery delayed + deliver_time time taken to perform delivery + delivery_size add S=nnn to => lines +*dkim DKIM verified domain on <= lines + dkim_verbose separate full DKIM verification result line, per signature +*dnslist_defer defers of DNS list (aka RBL) lookups + dnssec DNSSEC secured lookups +*etrn ETRN commands +*host_lookup_failed as it says + ident_timeout timeout for ident connection + incoming_interface local interface on <= and => lines + incoming_port remote port on <= lines +*lost_incoming_connection as it says (includes timeouts) + millisec millisecond timestamps and RT,QT,DT,D times + outgoing_interface local interface on => lines + outgoing_port add remote port to => lines +*queue_run start and end queue runs + queue_time time on queue for one recipient + queue_time_overall time on queue for whole message + pid Exim process id + pipelining PIPELINING use, on <= and => lines + proxy proxy address on <= and => lines + receive_time time taken to receive message + received_recipients recipients on <= lines + received_sender sender on <= lines +*rejected_header header contents on reject log +*retry_defer retry time not reached + return_path_on_delivery put return path on => and ** lines + sender_on_delivery add sender to => lines +*sender_verify_fail sender verification failures +*size_reject rejection because too big +*skip_delivery delivery skipped in a queue run +*smtp_confirmation SMTP confirmation on => lines + smtp_connection incoming SMTP connections + smtp_incomplete_transaction incomplete SMTP transactions + smtp_mailauth AUTH argument to MAIL commands + smtp_no_mail session with no MAIL commands + smtp_protocol_error SMTP protocol errors + smtp_syntax_error SMTP syntax errors + subject contents of Subject: on <= lines +*tls_certificate_verified certificate verification status +*tls_cipher TLS cipher suite on <= and => lines + tls_peerdn TLS peer DN on <= and => lines + tls_sni TLS SNI on <= lines + unknown_in_list DNS lookup failed in list match + + all all of the above + + +See also the main configuration option, +section + + +More details on each of these items follows: + + + + + +8BITMIME + + +log +8BITMIME + +: This causes Exim to log any 8BITMIME status of received messages, +which may help in tracking down interoperability issues with ancient MTAs +that are not 8bit clean. This is added to the <= line, tagged with +M8S= and a value of 0, 7 or 8, corresponding to "not given", +7BIT and 8BITMIME respectively. + + + + + + ACL verb +log when skipping + +: When an ACL statement is skipped because one of +its conditions cannot be evaluated, a log line to this effect is written if +this log selector is set. + + + + + +log +rewriting + + +rewriting +logging + +: This applies both to global rewrites and per-transport +rewrites, but not to rewrites in filters run as an unprivileged user (because +such users cannot access the log). + + + + + +log +full parentage + +: Normally only the original and final addresses are logged on +delivery lines; with this selector, intermediate parents are given in +parentheses between them. + + + + + +log +Exim arguments + + +Exim arguments, logging + +: This causes Exim to write the arguments with which it was called +to the main log, preceded by the current working directory. This is a debugging +feature, added to make it easier to find out how certain MUAs call +/usr/sbin/sendmail. The logging does not happen if Exim has given up root +privilege because it was called with the or options. Arguments +that are empty or that contain white space are quoted. Non-printing characters +are shown as escape sequences. This facility cannot log unrecognized arguments, +because the arguments are checked before the configuration file is read. The +only way to log such cases is to interpose a script such as util/logargs.sh +between the caller and Exim. + + + + + +log +connection rejections + +: A log entry is written whenever an incoming SMTP +connection is rejected, for whatever reason. + + + + + +log +delayed delivery + + +delayed delivery, logging + +: A log entry is written whenever a delivery process is not +started for an incoming message because the load is too high or too many +messages were received on one connection. Logging does not occur if no delivery +process is started because is set or was used. + + + + + +log +delivery duration + +: For each delivery, the amount of real time it has taken to +perform the actual delivery is logged as DT=<time>, for example, DT=1s. +If millisecond logging is enabled, short times will be shown with greater +precision, eg. DT=0.304s. + + + + + +log +message size on delivery + + +size +of message + +: For each delivery, the size of message delivered is added to +the => line, tagged with S=. + + + + + +log +DKIM verification + + +DKIM +verification logging + +: For message acceptance log lines, when an DKIM signature in the header +verifies successfully a tag of DKIM is added, with one of the verified domains. + + + + + +log +DKIM verification + + +DKIM +verification logging + +: A log entry is written for each attempted DKIM verification. + + + + + +log +dnslist defer + + +DNS list +logging defer + + +black list (DNS) + +: A log entry is written if an attempt to look up a host in a +DNS black list suffers a temporary error. + + + + + +log +dnssec + + +dnssec +logging + +: For message acceptance and (attempted) delivery log lines, when +dns lookups gave secure results a tag of DS is added. +For acceptance this covers the reverse and forward lookups for host name verification. +It does not cover helo-name verification. +For delivery this covers the SRV, MX, A and/or AAAA lookups. + + + + + +log +ETRN commands + + +ETRN +logging + +: Every valid ETRN command that is received is logged, before the ACL +is run to determine whether or not it is actually accepted. An invalid ETRN +command, or one received within a message transaction is not logged by this +selector (see and ). + + + + + +log +host lookup failure + +: When a lookup of a host’s IP addresses fails to find +any addresses, or when a lookup of an IP address fails to find a host name, a +log line is written. This logging does not apply to direct DNS lookups when +routing email addresses, but it does apply to byname lookups. + + + + + +log +ident timeout + + +RFC 1413 +logging timeout + +: A log line is written whenever an attempt to connect to a +client’s ident port times out. + + + + + +log +incoming interface + + +log +local interface + + +log +local address and port + + +TCP/IP +logging local address and port + + +interface +logging + +: The interface on which a message was received is added +to the <= line as an IP address in square brackets, tagged by I= and +followed by a colon and the port number. The local interface and port are also +added to other SMTP log lines, for example, SMTP connection from, to +rejection lines, and (despite the name) to outgoing => and -> lines. +The latter can be disabled by turning off the option. + + + + + +log +incoming proxy address + + +proxy +logging proxy address + + +TCP/IP +logging proxy address + +: The internal (closest to the system running Exim) IP address +of the proxy, tagged by PRX=, on the <= line for a message accepted +on a proxied connection +or the => line for a message delivered on a proxied connection. +See for more information. + + + + + +log +incoming remote port + + +port +logging remote + + +TCP/IP +logging incoming remote port + + +$sender_fullhost + + +$sender_rcvhost + +: The remote port number from which a message was received is +added to log entries and Received: header lines, following the IP address +in square brackets, and separated from it by a colon. This is implemented by +changing the value that is put in the $sender_fullhost and +$sender_rcvhost variables. Recording the remote port number has become more +important with the widening use of NAT (see RFC 2505). + + + + + +log +dropped connection + +: A log line is written when an incoming SMTP +connection is unexpectedly dropped. + + + + + +log +millisecond timestamps + + +millisecond +logging + + +timestamps +millisecond, in logs + +: Timestamps have a period and three decimal places of finer granularity +appended to the seconds value. + + + + + +log +outgoing interface + + +log +local interface + + +log +local address and port + + +TCP/IP +logging local address and port + + +interface +logging + +: If is turned on, then the +interface on which a message was sent is added to delivery lines as an I= tag +followed by IP address in square brackets. You can disable this by turning +off the option. + + + + + +log +outgoing remote port + + +port +logging outgoing remote + + +TCP/IP +logging outgoing remote port + +: The remote port number is added to delivery log lines (those +containing => tags) following the IP address. +The local port is also added if and + are both enabled. +This option is not included in the default setting, because for most ordinary +configurations, the remote port number is always 25 (the SMTP port), and the +local port is a random ephemeral port. + + + + + +log +process ids in + + +pid (process id) +in log lines + +: The current process id is added to every log line, in square brackets, +immediately after the time and date. + + + + + +log +pipelining + + +pipelining +logging outgoing + +: A field is added to delivery and accept +log lines when the ESMTP PIPELINING extension was used. +The field is a single "L". + + +On accept lines, where PIPELINING was offered but not used by the client, +the field has a minus appended. + + + + + +log +queue run + + +queue runner +logging + +: The start and end of every queue run are logged. + + + + + +log +queue time + +: The amount of time the message has been in the queue on the +local host is logged as QT=<time> on delivery (=>) lines, for example, +QT=3m45s. The clock starts when Exim starts to receive the message, so it +includes reception time as well as the delivery time for the current address. +This means that it may be longer than the difference between the arrival and +delivery log line times, because the arrival log line is not written until the +message has been successfully received. +If millisecond logging is enabled, short times will be shown with greater +precision, eg. QT=1.578s. + + + + +: The amount of time the message has been in the queue on +the local host is logged as QT=<time> on Completed lines, for +example, QT=3m45s. The clock starts when Exim starts to receive the +message, so it includes reception time as well as the total delivery time. + + + + + +log +receive duration + +: For each message, the amount of real time it has taken to +perform the reception is logged as RT=<time>, for example, RT=1s. +If millisecond logging is enabled, short times will be shown with greater +precision, eg. RT=0.204s. + + + + + +log +recipients + +: The recipients of a message are listed in the main log +as soon as the message is received. The list appears at the end of the log line +that is written when a message is received, preceded by the word for. The +addresses are listed after they have been qualified, but before any rewriting +has taken place. +Recipients that were discarded by an ACL for MAIL or RCPT do not appear +in the list. + + + + + +log +sender reception + +: The unrewritten original sender of a message is added to +the end of the log line that records the message’s arrival, after the word +from (before the recipients if is also set). + + + + + +log +header lines for rejection + +: If a message’s header has been received at the time a +rejection is written to the reject log, the complete header is added to the +log. Header logging can be turned off individually for messages that are +rejected by the local_scan() function (see section ). + + + + + +log +retry defer + +: A log line is written if a delivery is deferred because a +retry time has not yet been reached. However, this retry time not reached +message is always omitted from individual message logs after the first delivery +attempt. + + + + + +log +return path + +: The return path that is being transmitted with +the message is included in delivery and bounce lines, using the tag P=. +This is omitted if no delivery actually happens, for example, if routing fails, +or if delivery is to /dev/null or to :blackhole:. + + + + + +log +sender on delivery + +: The message’s sender address is added to every delivery +and bounce line, tagged by F= (for from). +This is the original sender that was received with the message; it is not +necessarily the same as the outgoing return path. + + + + + +log +sender verify failure + +: If this selector is unset, the separate log line that +gives details of a sender verification failure is not written. Log lines for +the rejection of SMTP commands contain just sender verify failed, so some +detail is lost. + + + + + +log +size rejection + +: A log line is written whenever a message is rejected because +it is too big. + + + + + +log +frozen messages; skipped + + +frozen messages +logging skipping + +: A log line is written whenever a message is skipped during a +queue run because it is frozen or because another process is already delivering +it. + +spool file is locked + +The message that is written is spool file is locked. + + + + + +log +smtp confirmation + + +SMTP +logging confirmation + + +LMTP +logging confirmation + +: The response to the final . in the SMTP or LMTP dialogue for +outgoing messages is added to delivery log lines in the form C=<text>. +A number of MTAs (including Exim) return an identifying string in this +response. + + + + + +log +SMTP connections + + +SMTP +logging connections + +: A log line is written whenever an incoming SMTP connection is +established or closed, unless the connection is from a host that matches +. (In contrast, applies +only when the closure is unexpected.) This applies to connections from local +processes that use as well as to TCP/IP connections. If a connection is +dropped in the middle of a message, a log line is always written, whether or +not this selector is set, but otherwise nothing is written at the start and end +of connections unless this selector is enabled. + + +For TCP/IP connections to an Exim daemon, the current number of connections is +included in the log message for each new connection, but note that the count is +reset if the daemon is restarted. +Also, because connections are closed (and the closure is logged) in +subprocesses, the count may not include connections that have been closed but +whose termination the daemon has not yet noticed. Thus, while it is possible to +match up the opening and closing of connections in the log, the value of the +logged counts may not be entirely accurate. + + + + + +log +SMTP transaction; incomplete + + +SMTP +logging incomplete transactions + +: When a mail transaction is aborted by +RSET, QUIT, loss of connection, or otherwise, the incident is logged, +and the message sender plus any accepted recipients are included in the log +line. This can provide evidence of dictionary attacks. + + + + + +log +non-MAIL SMTP sessions + + +MAIL +logging session without + +: A line is written to the main log whenever an accepted SMTP +connection terminates without having issued a MAIL command. This includes both +the case when the connection is dropped, and the case when QUIT is used. It +does not include cases where the connection is rejected right at the start (by +an ACL, or because there are too many connections, or whatever). These cases +already have their own log lines. + + +The log line that is written contains the identity of the client in the usual +way, followed by D= and a time, which records the duration of the connection. +If the connection was authenticated, this fact is logged exactly as it is for +an incoming message, with an A= item. If the connection was encrypted, CV=, +DN=, and X= items may appear as they do for an incoming message, controlled by +the same logging options. + + +Finally, if any SMTP commands were issued during the connection, a C= item +is added to the line, listing the commands that were used. For example, + + +C=EHLO,QUIT + + +shows that the client issued QUIT straight after EHLO. If there were fewer +than 20 commands, they are all listed. If there were more than 20 commands, +the last 20 are listed, preceded by .... However, with the default +setting of 10 for , the connection will in any case +have been aborted before 20 non-mail commands are processed. + + + + +: A third subfield with the authenticated sender, +colon-separated, is appended to the A= item for a message arrival or delivery +log line, if an AUTH argument to the SMTP MAIL command (see ) +was accepted or used. + + + + + +log +SMTP protocol error + + +SMTP +logging protocol error + +: A log line is written for every SMTP protocol error +encountered. Exim does not have perfect detection of all protocol errors +because of transmission delays and the use of pipelining. If PIPELINING has +been advertised to a client, an Exim server assumes that the client will use +it, and therefore it does not count expected errors (for example, RCPT +received after rejecting MAIL) as protocol errors. + + + + + +SMTP +logging syntax errors + + +SMTP +syntax errors; logging + + +SMTP +unknown command; logging + + +log +unknown SMTP command + + +log +SMTP syntax error + +: A log line is written for every SMTP syntax error +encountered. An unrecognized command is treated as a syntax error. For an +external connection, the host identity is given; for an internal connection +using the sender identification (normally the calling user) is given. + + + + + +log +subject + + +subject, logging + +: The subject of the message is added to the arrival log line, +preceded by T= (T for topic, since S is already used for size). +Any MIME words in the subject are decoded. The option +specifies whether characters with values greater than 127 should be logged +unchanged, or whether they should be rendered as escape sequences. + + + + + +log +certificate verification + + +log +DANE + + +DANE +logging + +: An extra item is added to <= and => log lines +when TLS is in use. The item is CV=yes if the peer’s certificate was +verified +using a CA trust anchor, +CA=dane if using a DNS trust anchor, +and CV=no if not. + + + + + +log +TLS cipher + + +TLS +logging cipher + +: When a message is sent or received over an encrypted +connection, the cipher suite used is added to the log line, preceded by X=. + + + + + +log +TLS peer DN + + +TLS +logging peer DN + +: When a message is sent or received over an encrypted +connection, and a certificate is supplied by the remote host, the peer DN is +added to the log line, preceded by DN=. + + + + + +log +TLS SNI + + +TLS +logging SNI + +: When a message is received over an encrypted connection, and +the remote host provided the Server Name Indication extension, the SNI is +added to the log line, preceded by SNI=. + + + + + +log +DNS failure in list + +: This setting causes a log entry to be written when the +result of a list match is failure because a DNS lookup failed. + + + +
+
+Message log + + +message +log file for + + +log +message log; description of + + +msglog directory + + + + +In addition to the general log files, Exim writes a log file for each message +that it handles. The names of these per-message logs are the message ids, and +they are kept in the msglog sub-directory of the spool directory. Each +message log contains copies of the log lines that apply to the message. This +makes it easier to inspect the status of an individual message without having +to search the main log. A message log is deleted when processing of the message +is complete, unless is set, but this should be used +only with great care because they can fill up your disk very quickly. + + +On a heavily loaded system, it may be desirable to disable the use of +per-message logs, in order to reduce disk I/O. This can be done by setting the + option false. + + +
+ + + +Exim utilities + + +utilities + +A number of utility scripts and programs are supplied with Exim and are +described in this chapter. There is also the Exim Monitor, which is covered in +the next chapter. The utilities described here are: + + + + + + + + +     +exiwhat +list what Exim processes are doing + + +     +exiqgrep +grep the queue + + +     +exiqsumm +summarize the queue + + +     +exigrep +search the main log + + +     +exipick +select messages on various criteria + + +     +exicyclog +cycle (rotate) log files + + +     +eximstats +extract statistics from the log + + +     +exim_checkaccess +check address acceptance from given IP + + +     +exim_dbmbuild +build a DBM file + + +     +exinext +extract retry information + + +     +exim_dumpdb +dump a hints database + + +     +exim_tidydb +clean up a hints database + + +     +exim_fixdb +patch a hints database + + +     +exim_lock +lock a mailbox file + + + + + +Another utility that might be of use to sites with many MTAs is Tom Kistner’s +exilog. It provides log visualizations across multiple Exim servers. See +https://duncanthrax.net/exilog/ for details. + +
+Finding out what Exim processes are doing (exiwhat) + + +exiwhat + + +process, querying + + +SIGUSR1 + +On operating systems that can restart a system call after receiving a signal +(most modern OS), an Exim process responds to the SIGUSR1 signal by writing +a line describing what it is doing to the file exim-process.info in the +Exim spool directory. The exiwhat script sends the signal to all Exim +processes it can find, having first emptied the file. It then waits for one +second to allow the Exim processes to react before displaying the results. In +order to run exiwhat successfully you have to have sufficient privilege to +send the signal to the Exim processes, so it is normally run as root. + + +Warning: This is not an efficient process. It is intended for occasional +use by system administrators. It is not sensible, for example, to set up a +script that sends SIGUSR1 signals to Exim processes at short intervals. + + +Unfortunately, the ps command that exiwhat uses to find Exim processes +varies in different operating systems. Not only are different options used, +but the format of the output is different. For this reason, there are some +system configuration options that configure exactly how exiwhat works. If +it doesn’t seem to be working for you, check the following compile-time +options: + + +EXIWHAT_PS_CMD the command for running ps +EXIWHAT_PS_ARG the argument for ps +EXIWHAT_EGREP_ARG the argument for egrep to select from ps output +EXIWHAT_KILL_ARG the argument for the kill command + + +An example of typical output from exiwhat is + + +164 daemon: -q1h, listening on port 25 +10483 running queue: waiting for 0tAycK-0002ij-00 (10492) +10492 delivering 0tAycK-0002ij-00 to mail.ref.example + [10.19.42.42] (editor@ref.example) +10592 handling incoming call from [192.168.243.242] +10628 accepting a local non-SMTP message + + +The first number in the output line is the process number. The third line has +been split here, in order to fit it on the page. + +
+
+Selective queue listing (exiqgrep) + + +exiqgrep + + +queue +grepping + +This utility is a Perl script contributed by Matt Hubbard. It runs + + +exim -bpu + + +or (in case -a switch is specified) + + +exim -bp + + +The -C option is used to specify an alternate exim.conf which might +contain alternate exim configuration the queue management might be using. + + +to obtain a queue listing, and then greps the output to select messages +that match given criteria. The following selection options are available: + + + +-f <regex> + + +Match the sender address using a case-insensitive search. The field that is +tested is enclosed in angle brackets, so you can test for bounce messages with + + +exiqgrep -f '^<>$' + + + +-r <regex> + + +Match a recipient address using a case-insensitive search. The field that is +tested is not enclosed in angle brackets. + + + +-s <regex> + + +Match against the size field. + + + +-y <seconds> + + +Match messages that are younger than the given time. + + + +-o <seconds> + + +Match messages that are older than the given time. + + + +-z + + +Match only frozen messages. + + + +-x + + +Match only non-frozen messages. + + + + +The following options control the format of the output: + + + +-c + + +Display only the count of matching messages. + + + +-l + + +Long format – display the full message information as output by Exim. This is +the default. + + + +-i + + +Display message ids only. + + + +-b + + +Brief format – one line per message. + + + +-R + + +Display messages in reverse order. + + + +-a + + +Include delivered recipients in queue listing. + + + + +There is one more option, , which outputs a list of options. + +
+
+Summarizing the queue (exiqsumm) + + +exiqsumm + + +queue +summary + +The exiqsumm utility is a Perl script which reads the output of exim +-bp and produces a summary of the messages in the queue. Thus, you use it by +running a command such as + + +exim -bp | exiqsumm + + +The output consists of one line for each domain that has messages waiting for +it, as in the following example: + + +3 2322 74m 66m msn.com.example + + +Each line lists the number of pending deliveries for a domain, their total +volume, and the length of time that the oldest and the newest messages have +been waiting. Note that the number of pending deliveries is greater than the +number of messages when messages have more than one recipient. + + +A summary line is output at the end. By default the output is sorted on the +domain name, but exiqsumm has the options and , which cause +the output to be sorted by oldest message and by count of messages, +respectively. There are also three options that split the messages for each +domain into two or more subcounts: separates bounce messages, +separates frozen messages, and separates messages according to their +sender. + + +The output of exim -bp contains the original addresses in the message, so +this also applies to the output from exiqsumm. No domains from addresses +generated by aliasing or forwarding are included (unless the +option of the redirect router has been used to convert them into top +level addresses). + +
+
+Extracting specific information from the log (exigrep) + + +exigrep + + +log +extracts; grepping for + +The exigrep utility is a Perl script that searches one or more main log +files for entries that match a given pattern. When it finds a match, it +extracts all the log entries for the relevant message, not just those that +match the pattern. Thus, exigrep can extract complete log entries for a +given message, or all mail for a given user, or for a given host, for example. +The input files can be in Exim log format or syslog format. +If a matching log line is not associated with a specific message, it is +included in exigrep’s output without any additional lines. The usage is: + + +exigrep [-t<n>] [-I] [-l] [-M] [-v] <pattern> [<log file>] ... + + +If no log filenames are given on the command line, the standard input is read. + + +The argument specifies a number of seconds. It adds an additional +condition for message selection. Messages that are complete are shown only if +they spent more than <n> seconds in the queue. + + +By default, exigrep does case-insensitive matching. The option +makes it case-sensitive. This may give a performance improvement when searching +large log files. Without , the Perl pattern matches use Perl’s /i +option; with they do not. In both cases it is possible to change the +case sensitivity within the pattern by using (?i) or (?-i). + + +The option means literal, that is, treat all characters in the +pattern as standing for themselves. Otherwise the pattern must be a Perl +regular expression. + + +The option inverts the matching condition. That is, a line is selected +if it does not match the pattern. + + +The options means related messages. exigrep will show messages +that are generated as a result/response to a message that exigrep matched +normally. + + +Example of : +user_a sends a message to user_b, which generates a bounce back to user_b. If +exigrep is used to search for user_a, only the first message will be +displayed. But if exigrep is used to search for user_b, the first and +the second (bounce) message will be displayed. Using with exigrep +when searching for user_a will show both messages since the bounce is +related to or a result of the first message that was found by the +search term. + + +If the location of a zcat command is known from the definition of +ZCAT_COMMAND in Local/Makefile, exigrep automatically passes any file +whose name ends in COMPRESS_SUFFIX through zcat as it searches it. +If the ZCAT_COMMAND is not executable, exigrep tries to use +autodetection of some well known compression extensions. + +
+
+Selecting messages by various criteria (exipick) + + +exipick + +John Jetmore’s exipick utility is included in the Exim distribution. It +lists messages from the queue according to a variety of criteria. For details +of exipick’s facilities, run exipick with +the option. + +
+
+Cycling log files (exicyclog) + + +log +cycling local files + + +cycling logs + + +exicyclog + +The exicyclog script can be used to cycle (rotate) mainlog and +rejectlog files. This is not necessary if only syslog is being used, or if +you are using log files with datestamps in their names (see section +). Some operating systems have their own standard mechanisms +for log cycling, and these can be used instead of exicyclog if preferred. +There are two command line options for exicyclog: + + + + + <count> specifies the number of log files to keep, overriding the +default that is set when Exim is built. The default default is 10. + + + + + <path> specifies the log file path, in the same format as Exim’s + option (for example, /var/log/exim_%slog), again +overriding the script’s default, which is to find the setting from Exim’s +configuration. + + + + +Each time exicyclog is run the filenames get shuffled down by one. If +the main log filename is mainlog (the default) then when exicyclog is +run mainlog becomes mainlog.01, the previous mainlog.01 becomes +mainlog.02 and so on, up to the limit that is set in the script or by the + option. Log files whose numbers exceed the limit are discarded. Reject +logs are handled similarly. + + +If the limit is greater than 99, the script uses 3-digit numbers such as +mainlog.001, mainlog.002, etc. If you change from a number less than 99 +to one that is greater, or vice versa, you will have to fix the names of +any existing log files. + + +If no mainlog file exists, the script does nothing. Files that drop off +the end are deleted. All files with numbers greater than 01 are compressed, +using a compression command which is configured by the COMPRESS_COMMAND +setting in Local/Makefile. It is usual to run exicyclog daily from a +root entry of the form + + +1 0 * * * su exim -c /usr/exim/bin/exicyclog + + +assuming you have used the name exim for the Exim user. You can run +exicyclog as root if you wish, but there is no need. + +
+
+Mail statistics (eximstats) + + +statistics + + +eximstats + +A Perl script called eximstats is provided for extracting statistical +information from log files. The output is either plain text, or HTML. + + +The eximstats script has been hacked about quite a bit over time. The +latest version is the result of some extensive revision by Steve Campbell. A +lot of information is given by default, but there are options for suppressing +various parts of it. Following any options, the arguments to the script are a +list of files, which should be main log files. For example: + + +eximstats -nr /var/spool/exim/log/mainlog.01 + + +By default, eximstats extracts information about the number and volume of +messages received from or delivered to various hosts. The information is sorted +both by message count and by volume, and the top fifty hosts in each category +are listed on the standard output. Similar information, based on email +addresses or domains instead of hosts can be requested by means of various +options. For messages delivered and received locally, similar statistics are +also produced per user. + + +The output also includes total counts and statistics about delivery errors, and +histograms showing the number of messages received and deliveries made in each +hour of the day. A delivery with more than one address in its envelope (for +example, an SMTP transaction with more than one RCPT command) is counted +as a single delivery by eximstats. + + +Though normally more deliveries than receipts are reported (as messages may +have multiple recipients), it is possible for eximstats to report more +messages received than delivered, even though the queue is empty at the start +and end of the period in question. If an incoming message contains no valid +recipients, no deliveries are recorded for it. A bounce message is handled as +an entirely separate message. + + +eximstats always outputs a grand total summary giving the volume and number +of messages received and deliveries made, and the number of hosts involved in +each case. It also outputs the number of messages that were delayed (that is, +not completely delivered at the first attempt), and the number that had at +least one address that failed. + + +The remainder of the output is in sections that can be independently disabled +or modified by various options. It consists of a summary of deliveries by +transport, histograms of messages received and delivered per time interval +(default per hour), information about the time messages spent in the queue, +a list of relayed messages, lists of the top fifty sending hosts, local +senders, destination hosts, and destination local users by count and by volume, +and a list of delivery errors that occurred. + + +The relay information lists messages that were actually relayed, that is, they +came from a remote host and were directly delivered to some other remote host, +without being processed (for example, for aliasing or forwarding) locally. + + +There are quite a few options for eximstats to control exactly what it +outputs. These are documented in the Perl script itself, and can be extracted +by running the command perldoc on the script. For example: + + +perldoc /usr/exim/bin/eximstats + +
+
+Checking access policy (exim_checkaccess) + + +exim_checkaccess + + +policy control +checking access + + +checking access + +The command line argument allows you to run a fake SMTP session with +debugging output, in order to check what Exim is doing when it is applying +policy controls to incoming SMTP mail. However, not everybody is sufficiently +familiar with the SMTP protocol to be able to make full use of , and +sometimes you just want to answer the question Does this address have +access? without bothering with any further details. + + +The exim_checkaccess utility is a packaged version of . It takes +two arguments, an IP address and an email address: + + +exim_checkaccess 10.9.8.7 A.User@a.domain.example + + +The utility runs a call to Exim with the option, to test whether the +given email address would be accepted in a RCPT command in a TCP/IP +connection from the host with the given IP address. The output of the utility +is either the word accepted, or the SMTP error response, for example: + + +Rejected: +550 Relay not permitted + + +When running this test, the utility uses <> as the envelope sender address +for the MAIL command, but you can change this by providing additional +options. These are passed directly to the Exim command. For example, to specify +that the test is to be run with the sender address himself@there.example +you can use: + + +exim_checkaccess 10.9.8.7 A.User@a.domain.example \ + -f himself@there.example + + +Note that these additional Exim command line items must be given after the two +mandatory arguments. + + +Because the uses , it does not perform callouts +while running its checks. You can run checks that include callouts by using +, but this is not yet available in a packaged form. + +
+
+Making DBM files (exim_dbmbuild) + + +DBM +building dbm files + + +building DBM files + + +exim_dbmbuild + + +lower casing + + +binary zero +in lookup key + +The exim_dbmbuild program reads an input file containing keys and data in +the format used by the lsearch lookup (see section +). It writes a DBM file using the lower-cased alias +names as keys and the remainder of the information as data. The lower-casing +can be prevented by calling the program with the option. + + +A terminating zero is included as part of the key string. This is expected by +the dbm lookup type. However, if the option is given, +exim_dbmbuild creates files without terminating zeroes in either the key +strings or the data strings. The dbmnz lookup type can be used with such +files. + + +The program requires two arguments: the name of the input file (which can be a +single hyphen to indicate the standard input), and the name of the output file. +It creates the output under a temporary name, and then renames it if all went +well. + + + +USE_DB + +If the native DB interface is in use (USE_DB is set in a compile-time +configuration file – this is common in free versions of Unix) the two +filenames must be different, because in this mode the Berkeley DB functions +create a single output file using exactly the name given. For example, + + +exim_dbmbuild /etc/aliases /etc/aliases.db + + +reads the system alias file and creates a DBM version of it in +/etc/aliases.db. + + +In systems that use the ndbm routines (mostly proprietary versions of +Unix), two files are used, with the suffixes .dir and .pag. In this +environment, the suffixes are added to the second argument of +exim_dbmbuild, so it can be the same as the first. This is also the case +when the Berkeley functions are used in compatibility mode (though this is not +recommended), because in that case it adds a .db suffix to the filename. + + +If a duplicate key is encountered, the program outputs a warning, and when it +finishes, its return code is 1 rather than zero, unless the +option is used. By default, only the first of a set of duplicates is used – +this makes it compatible with lsearch lookups. There is an option + which causes it to use the data for the last duplicate instead. +There is also an option , which stops it listing duplicate keys to +. For other errors, where it doesn’t actually make a new file, the +return code is 2. + +
+
+Finding individual retry times (exinext) + + +retry +times + + +exinext + +A utility called exinext (mostly a Perl script) provides the ability to +fish specific information out of the retry database. Given a mail domain (or a +complete address), it looks up the hosts for that domain, and outputs any retry +information for the hosts or for the domain. At present, the retry information +is obtained by running exim_dumpdb (see below) and post-processing the +output. For example: + + +$ exinext piglet@milne.fict.example +kanga.milne.example:192.168.8.1 error 146: Connection refused + first failed: 21-Feb-1996 14:57:34 + last tried: 21-Feb-1996 14:57:34 + next try at: 21-Feb-1996 15:02:34 +roo.milne.example:192.168.8.3 error 146: Connection refused + first failed: 20-Jan-1996 13:12:08 + last tried: 21-Feb-1996 11:42:03 + next try at: 21-Feb-1996 19:42:03 + past final cutoff time + + +You can also give exinext a local part, without a domain, and it +will give any retry information for that local part in your default domain. +A message id can be used to obtain retry information pertaining to a specific +message. This exists only when an attempt to deliver a message to a remote host +suffers a message-specific error (see section ). +exinext is not particularly efficient, but then it is not expected to be +run very often. + + +The exinext utility calls Exim to find out information such as the location +of the spool directory. The utility has and options, which are +passed on to the exim commands. The first specifies an alternate Exim +configuration file, and the second sets macros for use within the configuration +file. These features are mainly to help in testing, but might also be useful in +environments where more than one configuration file is in use. + +
+
+Hints database maintenance + + +hints database +maintenance + + +maintaining Exim’s hints database + +Three utility programs are provided for maintaining the DBM files that Exim +uses to contain its delivery hint information. Each program requires two +arguments. The first specifies the name of Exim’s spool directory, and the +second is the name of the database it is to operate on. These are as follows: + + + + +retry: the database of retry information + + + + +wait-<transport name>: databases of information about messages waiting +for remote hosts + + + + +callout: the callout cache + + + + +ratelimit: the data for implementing the ratelimit ACL condition + + + + +misc: other hints data + + + + +The misc database is used for + + + + +Serializing ETRN runs (when is set) + + + + +Serializing delivery to a specific host (when is set in an +smtp transport) + + + + +Limiting the concurrency of specific transports (when is set +in a transport) + + + +
+
+exim_dumpdb + + +exim_dumpdb + +The entire contents of a database are written to the standard output by the +exim_dumpdb program, which has no options or arguments other than the +spool and database names. For example, to dump the retry database: + + +exim_dumpdb /var/spool/exim retry + + +Two lines of output are produced for each entry: + + +T:mail.ref.example:192.168.242.242 146 77 Connection refused +31-Oct-1995 12:00:12 02-Nov-1995 12:21:39 02-Nov-1995 20:21:39 * + + +The first item on the first line is the key of the record. It starts with one +of the letters R, or T, depending on whether it refers to a routing or +transport retry. For a local delivery, the next part is the local address; for +a remote delivery it is the name of the remote host, followed by its failing IP +address (unless is set false on the smtp +transport). If the remote port is not the standard one (port 25), it is added +to the IP address. Then there follows an error code, an additional error code, +and a textual description of the error. + + +The three times on the second line are the time of first failure, the time of +the last delivery attempt, and the computed time for the next attempt. The line +ends with an asterisk if the cutoff time for the last retry rule has been +exceeded. + + +Each output line from exim_dumpdb for the wait-xxx databases +consists of a host name followed by a list of ids for messages that are or were +waiting to be delivered to that host. If there are a very large number for any +one host, continuation records, with a sequence number added to the host name, +may be seen. The data in these records is often out of date, because a message +may be routed to several alternative hosts, and Exim makes no effort to keep +cross-references. + +
+
+exim_tidydb + + +exim_tidydb + +The exim_tidydb utility program is used to tidy up the contents of a hints +database. If run with no options, it removes all records that are more than 30 +days old. The age is calculated from the date and time that the record was last +updated. Note that, in the case of the retry database, it is not the time +since the first delivery failure. Information about a host that has been down +for more than 30 days will remain in the database, provided that the record is +updated sufficiently often. + + +The cutoff date can be altered by means of the option, which must be +followed by a time. For example, to remove all records older than a week from +the retry database: + + +exim_tidydb -t 7d /var/spool/exim retry + + +Both the wait-xxx and retry databases contain items that involve +message ids. In the former these appear as data in records keyed by host – +they were messages that were waiting for that host – and in the latter they +are the keys for retry information for messages that have suffered certain +types of error. When exim_tidydb is run, a check is made to ensure that +message ids in database records are those of messages that are still on the +queue. Message ids for messages that no longer exist are removed from +wait-xxx records, and if this leaves any records empty, they are deleted. +For the retry database, records whose keys are non-existent message ids are +removed. The exim_tidydb utility outputs comments on the standard output +whenever it removes information from the database. + + +Certain records are automatically removed by Exim when they are no longer +needed, but others are not. For example, if all the MX hosts for a domain are +down, a retry record is created for each one. If the primary MX host comes back +first, its record is removed when Exim successfully delivers to it, but the +records for the others remain because Exim has not tried to use those hosts. + + +It is important, therefore, to run exim_tidydb periodically on all the +hints databases. You should do this at a quiet time of day, because it requires +a database to be locked (and therefore inaccessible to Exim) while it does its +work. Removing records from a DBM file does not normally make the file smaller, +but all the common DBM libraries are able to re-use the space that is released. +After an initial phase of increasing in size, the databases normally reach a +point at which they no longer get any bigger, as long as they are regularly +tidied. + + +Warning: If you never run exim_tidydb, the space used by the hints +databases is likely to keep on increasing. + +
+
+exim_fixdb + + +exim_fixdb + +The exim_fixdb program is a utility for interactively modifying databases. +Its main use is for testing Exim, but it might also be occasionally useful for +getting round problems in a live system. It has no options, and its interface +is somewhat crude. On entry, it prompts for input with a right angle-bracket. A +key of a database record can then be entered, and the data for that record is +displayed. + + +If d is typed at the next prompt, the entire record is deleted. For all +except the retry database, that is the only operation that can be carried +out. For the retry database, each field is output preceded by a number, and +data for individual fields can be changed by typing the field number followed +by new data, for example: + + +> 4 951102:1000 + + +resets the time of the next delivery attempt. Time values are given as a +sequence of digit pairs for year, month, day, hour, and minute. Colons can be +used as optional separators. + +
+
+Mailbox maintenance (exim_lock) + + +mailbox +maintenance + + +exim_lock + + +locking mailboxes + +The exim_lock utility locks a mailbox file using the same algorithm as +Exim. For a discussion of locking issues, see section . +Exim_lock can be used to prevent any modification of a mailbox by Exim or +a user agent while investigating a problem. The utility requires the name of +the file as its first argument. If the locking is successful, the second +argument is run as a command (using C’s system() function); if there is no +second argument, the value of the SHELL environment variable is used; if this +is unset or empty, /bin/sh is run. When the command finishes, the mailbox +is unlocked and the utility ends. The following options are available: + + + + + + +Use fcntl() locking on the open mailbox. + + + + + + +Use flock() locking on the open mailbox, provided the operating system +supports it. + + + + + + +This must be followed by a number, which is a number of seconds; it sets the +interval to sleep between retries (default 3). + + + + + + +Create a lock file before opening the mailbox. + + + + + + +Lock the mailbox using MBX rules. + + + + + + +Suppress verification output. + + + + + + +This must be followed by a number; it sets the number of times to try to get +the lock (default 10). + + + + + + +This option causes to restore the modified and read times to the +locked file before exiting. This allows you to access a locked mailbox (for +example, to take a backup copy) without disturbing the times that the user +subsequently sees. + + + + + + +This must be followed by a number, which is a number of seconds; it sets a +timeout to be used with a blocking fcntl() lock. If it is not set (the +default), a non-blocking call is used. + + + + + + +Generate verbose output. + + + + +If none of , , or are given, the +default is to create a lock file and also to use fcntl() locking on the +mailbox, which is the same as Exim’s default. The use of or + requires that the file be writeable; the use of +requires that the directory containing the file be writeable. Locking by lock +file does not last forever; Exim assumes that a lock file is expired if it is +more than 30 minutes old. + + +The option can be used with either or both of or +. It assumes by default. MBX locking causes a shared lock +to be taken out on the open mailbox, and an exclusive lock on the file +/tmp/.n.m where n and m are the device number and inode +number of the mailbox file. When the locking is released, if an exclusive lock +can be obtained for the mailbox, the file in /tmp is deleted. + + +The default output contains verification of the locking that takes place. The + option causes some additional information to be given. The option +suppresses all output except error messages. + + +A command such as + + +exim_lock /var/spool/mail/spqr + + +runs an interactive shell while the file is locked, whereas + + +exim_lock -q /var/spool/mail/spqr <<End +<some commands> +End + + +runs a specific non-interactive sequence of commands while the file is locked, +suppressing all verification output. A single command can be run by a command +such as + + +exim_lock -q /var/spool/mail/spqr \ + "cp /var/spool/mail/spqr /some/where" + + +Note that if a command is supplied, it must be entirely contained within the +second argument – hence the quotes. + + +
+ + + +The Exim monitor + + +Exim monitor +description + + +X-windows + + +eximon + + +Local/eximon.conf + + +exim_monitor/EDITME + +The Exim monitor is an application which displays in an X window information +about the state of Exim’s queue and what Exim is doing. An admin user can +perform certain operations on messages from this GUI interface; however all +such facilities are also available from the command line, and indeed, the +monitor itself makes use of the command line to perform any actions requested. + +
+Running the monitor + +The monitor is started by running the script called eximon. This is a shell +script that sets up a number of environment variables, and then runs the +binary called eximon.bin. The default appearance of the monitor window can +be changed by editing the Local/eximon.conf file created by editing +exim_monitor/EDITME. Comments in that file describe what the various +parameters are for. + + +The parameters that get built into the eximon script can be overridden for +a particular invocation by setting up environment variables of the same names, +preceded by EXIMON_. For example, a shell command such as + + +EXIMON_LOG_DEPTH=400 eximon + + +(in a Bourne-compatible shell) runs eximon with an overriding setting of +the LOG_DEPTH parameter. If EXIMON_LOG_FILE_PATH is set in the environment, it +overrides the Exim log file configuration. This makes it possible to have +eximon tailing log data that is written to syslog, provided that MAIL.INFO +syslog messages are routed to a file on the local host. + + +X resources can be used to change the appearance of the window in the normal +way. For example, a resource setting of the form + + +Eximon*background: gray94 + + +changes the colour of the background to light grey rather than white. The +stripcharts are drawn with both the data lines and the reference lines in +black. This means that the reference lines are not visible when on top of the +data. However, their colour can be changed by setting a resource called +highlight (an odd name, but that’s what the Athena stripchart widget uses). +For example, if your X server is running Unix, you could set up lighter +reference lines in the stripcharts by obeying + + +xrdb -merge <<End +Eximon*highlight: gray +End + + + +admin user + +In order to see the contents of messages in the queue, and to operate on them, +eximon must either be run as root or by an admin user. + + +The command-line parameters of eximon are passed to eximon.bin and may +contain X11 resource parameters interpreted by the X11 library. In addition, +if the first parameter starts with the string "gdb" then it is removed and the +binary is invoked under gdb (the parameter is used as the gdb command-name, so +versioned variants of gdb can be invoked). + + +The monitor’s window is divided into three parts. The first contains one or +more stripcharts and two action buttons, the second contains a tail of the +main log file, and the third is a display of the queue of messages awaiting +delivery, with two more action buttons. The following sections describe these +different parts of the display. + +
+
+The stripcharts + + +stripchart + +The first stripchart is always a count of messages in the queue. Its name can +be configured by setting QUEUE_STRIPCHART_NAME in the +Local/eximon.conf file. The remaining stripcharts are defined in the +configuration script by regular expression matches on log file entries, making +it possible to display, for example, counts of messages delivered to certain +hosts or using certain transports. The supplied defaults display counts of +received and delivered messages, and of local and SMTP deliveries. The default +period between stripchart updates is one minute; this can be adjusted by a +parameter in the Local/eximon.conf file. + + +The stripchart displays rescale themselves automatically as the value they are +displaying changes. There are always 10 horizontal lines in each chart; the +title string indicates the value of each division when it is greater than one. +For example, x2 means that each division represents a value of 2. + + +It is also possible to have a stripchart which shows the percentage fullness of +a particular disk partition, which is useful when local deliveries are confined +to a single partition. + + + + function + +This relies on the availability of the statvfs() function or equivalent in +the operating system. Most, but not all versions of Unix that support Exim have +this. For this particular stripchart, the top of the chart always represents +100%, and the scale is given as x10%. This chart is configured by setting +SIZE_STRIPCHART and (optionally) SIZE_STRIPCHART_NAME in the +Local/eximon.conf file. + +
+
+Main action buttons + + +size +of monitor window + + +Exim monitor +window size + + +window size + +Below the stripcharts there is an action button for quitting the monitor. Next +to this is another button marked Size. They are placed here so that +shrinking the window to its default minimum size leaves just the queue count +stripchart and these two buttons visible. Pressing the Size button causes +the window to expand to its maximum size, unless it is already at the maximum, +in which case it is reduced to its minimum. + + +When expanding to the maximum, if the window cannot be fully seen where it +currently is, it is moved back to where it was the last time it was at full +size. When it is expanding from its minimum size, the old position is +remembered, and next time it is reduced to the minimum it is moved back there. + + +The idea is that you can keep a reduced window just showing one or two +stripcharts at a convenient place on your screen, easily expand it to show +the full window when required, and just as easily put it back to what it was. +The idea is copied from what the twm window manager does for its +f.fullzoom action. The minimum size of the window can be changed by setting +the MIN_HEIGHT and MIN_WIDTH values in Local/eximon.conf. + + +Normally, the monitor starts up with the window at its full size, but it can be +built so that it starts up with the window at its smallest size, by setting +START_SMALL=yes in Local/eximon.conf. + +
+
+The log display + + +log +tail of; in monitor + +The second section of the window is an area in which a display of the tail of +the main log is maintained. +To save space on the screen, the timestamp on each log line is shortened by +removing the date and, if is set, the timezone. +The log tail is not available when the only destination for logging data is +syslog, unless the syslog lines are routed to a local file whose name is passed +to eximon via the EXIMON_LOG_FILE_PATH environment variable. + + +The log sub-window has a scroll bar at its lefthand side which can be used to +move back to look at earlier text, and the up and down arrow keys also have a +scrolling effect. The amount of log that is kept depends on the setting of +LOG_BUFFER in Local/eximon.conf, which specifies the amount of memory +to use. When this is full, the earlier 50% of data is discarded – this is +much more efficient than throwing it away line by line. The sub-window also has +a horizontal scroll bar for accessing the ends of long log lines. This is the +only means of horizontal scrolling; the right and left arrow keys are not +available. Text can be cut from this part of the window using the mouse in the +normal way. The size of this subwindow is controlled by parameters in the +configuration file Local/eximon.conf. + + +Searches of the text in the log window can be carried out by means of the ^R +and ^S keystrokes, which default to a reverse and a forward search, +respectively. The search covers only the text that is displayed in the window. +It cannot go further back up the log. + + +The point from which the search starts is indicated by a caret marker. This is +normally at the end of the text in the window, but can be positioned explicitly +by pointing and clicking with the left mouse button, and is moved automatically +by a successful search. If new text arrives in the window when it is scrolled +back, the caret remains where it is, but if the window is not scrolled back, +the caret is moved to the end of the new text. + + +Pressing ^R or ^S pops up a window into which the search text can be typed. +There are buttons for selecting forward or reverse searching, for carrying out +the search, and for cancelling. If the Search button is pressed, the search +happens and the window remains so that further searches can be done. If the +Return key is pressed, a single search is done and the window is closed. If +^C is typed the search is cancelled. + + +The searching facility is implemented using the facilities of the Athena text +widget. By default this pops up a window containing both search and +replace options. In order to suppress the unwanted replace portion for +eximon, a modified version of the widget is distributed with Exim. +However, the linkers in BSDI and HP-UX seem unable to handle an externally +provided version of when the remaining parts of the text widget +come from the standard libraries. The compile-time option EXIMON_TEXTPOP can be +unset to cut out the modified , making it possible to build Eximon +on these systems, at the expense of having unwanted items in the search popup +window. + +
+
+The queue display + + +queue +display in monitor + +The bottom section of the monitor window contains a list of all messages that +are in the queue, which includes those currently being received or delivered, +as well as those awaiting delivery. The size of this subwindow is controlled by +parameters in the configuration file Local/eximon.conf, and the frequency +at which it is updated is controlled by another parameter in the same file – +the default is 5 minutes, since queue scans can be quite expensive. However, +there is an Update action button just above the display which can be used +to force an update of the queue display at any time. + + +When a host is down for some time, a lot of pending mail can build up for it, +and this can make it hard to deal with other messages in the queue. To help +with this situation there is a button next to Update called Hide. If +pressed, a dialogue box called Hide addresses ending with is put up. If you +type anything in here and press Return, the text is added to a chain of +such texts, and if every undelivered address in a message matches at least one +of the texts, the message is not displayed. + + +If there is an address that does not match any of the texts, all the addresses +are displayed as normal. The matching happens on the ends of addresses so, for +example, cam.ac.uk specifies all addresses in Cambridge, while +xxx@foo.com.example specifies just one specific address. When any hiding +has been set up, a button called Unhide is displayed. If pressed, it +cancels all hiding. Also, to ensure that hidden messages do not get forgotten, +a hide request is automatically cancelled after one hour. + + +While the dialogue box is displayed, you can’t press any buttons or do anything +else to the monitor window. For this reason, if you want to cut text from the +queue display to use in the dialogue box, you have to do the cutting before +pressing the Hide button. + + +The queue display contains, for each unhidden queued message, the length of +time it has been in the queue, the size of the message, the message id, the +message sender, and the first undelivered recipient, all on one line. If it is +a bounce message, the sender is shown as <>. If there is more than one +recipient to which the message has not yet been delivered, subsequent ones are +listed on additional lines, up to a maximum configured number, following which +an ellipsis is displayed. Recipients that have already received the message are +not shown. + + + +frozen messages +display + +If a message is frozen, an asterisk is displayed at the left-hand side. + + +The queue display has a vertical scroll bar, and can also be scrolled by means +of the arrow keys. Text can be cut from it using the mouse in the normal way. +The text searching facilities, as described above for the log window, are also +available, but the caret is always moved to the end of the text when the queue +display is updated. + +
+
+The queue menu + + +queue +menu in monitor + +If the key is held down and the left button is clicked when the mouse +pointer is over the text for any message, an action menu pops up, and the first +line of the queue display for the message is highlighted. This does not affect +any selected text. + + +If you want to use some other event for popping up the menu, you can set the +MENU_EVENT parameter in Local/eximon.conf to change the default, or +set EXIMON_MENU_EVENT in the environment before starting the monitor. The +value set in this parameter is a standard X event description. For example, to +run eximon using rather than you could use + + +EXIMON_MENU_EVENT='Ctrl<Btn1Down>' eximon + + +The title of the menu is the message id, and it contains entries which act as +follows: + + + + +message log: The contents of the message log for the message are displayed +in a new text window. + + + + +headers: Information from the spool file that contains the envelope +information and headers is displayed in a new text window. See chapter + for a description of the format of spool files. + + + + +body: The contents of the spool file containing the body of the message are +displayed in a new text window. There is a default limit of 20,000 bytes to the +amount of data displayed. This can be changed by setting the BODY_MAX +option at compile time, or the EXIMON_BODY_MAX option at runtime. + + + + +deliver message: A call to Exim is made using the option to request +delivery of the message. This causes an automatic thaw if the message is +frozen. The option is also set, and the output from Exim is displayed in +a new text window. The delivery is run in a separate process, to avoid holding +up the monitor while the delivery proceeds. + + + + +freeze message: A call to Exim is made using the option to request +that the message be frozen. + + + + + +thawing messages + + +unfreezing messages + + +frozen messages +thawing + +thaw message: A call to Exim is made using the option to request +that the message be thawed. + + + + + +delivery +forcing failure + +give up on msg: A call to Exim is made using the option to request +that Exim gives up trying to deliver the message. A bounce message is generated +for any remaining undelivered addresses. + + + + +remove message: A call to Exim is made using the option to request +that the message be deleted from the system without generating a bounce +message. + + + + +add recipient: A dialog box is displayed into which a recipient address can +be typed. If the address is not qualified and the QUALIFY_DOMAIN parameter +is set in Local/eximon.conf, the address is qualified with that domain. +Otherwise it must be entered as a fully qualified address. Pressing RETURN +causes a call to Exim to be made using the option to request that an +additional recipient be added to the message, unless the entry box is empty, in +which case no action is taken. + + + + +mark delivered: A dialog box is displayed into which a recipient address +can be typed. If the address is not qualified and the QUALIFY_DOMAIN parameter +is set in Local/eximon.conf, the address is qualified with that domain. +Otherwise it must be entered as a fully qualified address. Pressing RETURN +causes a call to Exim to be made using the option to mark the given +recipient address as already delivered, unless the entry box is empty, in which +case no action is taken. + + + + +mark all delivered: A call to Exim is made using the option to +mark all recipient addresses as already delivered. + + + + +edit sender: A dialog box is displayed initialized with the current +sender’s address. Pressing RETURN causes a call to Exim to be made using the + option to replace the sender address, unless the entry box is empty, +in which case no action is taken. If you want to set an empty sender (as in +bounce messages), you must specify it as <>. Otherwise, if the address is +not qualified and the QUALIFY_DOMAIN parameter is set in Local/eximon.conf, +the address is qualified with that domain. + + + + +When a delivery is forced, a window showing the output is displayed. In +other cases when a call to Exim is made, if there is any output from Exim (in +particular, if the command fails) a window containing the command and the +output is displayed. Otherwise, the results of the action are normally apparent +from the log and queue displays. However, if you set ACTION_OUTPUT=yes in +Local/eximon.conf, a window showing the Exim command is always opened, even +if no output is generated. + + +The queue display is automatically updated for actions such as freezing and +thawing, unless ACTION_QUEUE_UPDATE=no has been set in +Local/eximon.conf. In this case the Update button has to be used to +force an update of the display after one of these actions. + + +In any text window that is displayed as result of a menu action, the normal +cut-and-paste facility is available, and searching can be carried out using ^R +and ^S, as described above for the log tail window. + + +
+ + + +Security considerations + + +security +discussion of + +This chapter discusses a number of issues concerned with security, some of +which are also covered in other parts of this manual. + + +For reasons that this author does not understand, some people have promoted +Exim as a particularly secure mailer. Perhaps it is because of the +existence of this chapter in the documentation. However, the intent of the +chapter is simply to describe the way Exim works in relation to certain +security concerns, not to make any specific claims about the effectiveness of +its security as compared with other MTAs. + + +What follows is a description of the way Exim is supposed to be. Best efforts +have been made to try to ensure that the code agrees with the theory, but an +absence of bugs can never be guaranteed. Any that are reported will get fixed +as soon as possible. + +
+Building a more <quote>hardened</quote> Exim + + +security +build-time features + +There are a number of build-time options that can be set in Local/Makefile +to create Exim binaries that are harder to attack, in particular by a rogue +Exim administrator who does not have the root password, or by someone who has +penetrated the Exim (but not the root) account. These options are as follows: + + + + +ALT_CONFIG_PREFIX can be set to a string that is required to match the +start of any filenames used with the option. When it is set, these +filenames are also not allowed to contain the sequence /../. (However, if +the value of the option is identical to the value of CONFIGURE_FILE in +Local/Makefile, Exim ignores and proceeds as usual.) There is no +default setting for . + + +If the permitted configuration files are confined to a directory to +which only root has access, this guards against someone who has broken +into the Exim account from running a privileged Exim with an arbitrary +configuration file, and using it to break into other accounts. + + + + +If a non-trusted configuration file (i.e. not the default configuration file +or one which is trusted by virtue of being listed in the TRUSTED_CONFIG_LIST +file) is specified with , or if macros are given with (but see +the next item), then root privilege is retained only if the caller of Exim is +root. This locks out the possibility of testing a configuration using +right through message reception and delivery, even if the caller is root. The +reception works, but by that time, Exim is running as the Exim user, so when +it re-execs to regain privilege for the delivery, the use of causes +privilege to be lost. However, root can test reception and delivery using two +separate commands. + + + + +The WHITELIST_D_MACROS build option declares some macros to be safe to override +with if the real uid is one of root, the Exim run-time user or the +CONFIGURE_OWNER, if defined. The potential impact of this option is limited by +requiring the run-time value supplied to to match a regex that errs on +the restrictive side. Requiring build-time selection of safe macros is onerous +but this option is intended solely as a transition mechanism to permit +previously-working configurations to continue to work after release 4.73. + + + + +If DISABLE_D_OPTION is defined, the use of the command line option +is disabled. + + + + +FIXED_NEVER_USERS can be set to a colon-separated list of users that are +never to be used for any deliveries. This is like the runtime +option, but it cannot be overridden; the runtime option adds additional users +to the list. The default setting is root; this prevents a non-root user who +is permitted to modify the runtime file from using Exim as a way to get root. + + + +
+
+Root privilege + + +setuid + + +root privilege + +The Exim binary is normally setuid to root, which means that it gains root +privilege (runs as root) when it starts execution. In some special cases (for +example, when the daemon is not in use and there are no local deliveries), it +may be possible to run Exim setuid to some user other than root. This is +discussed in the next section. However, in most installations, root privilege +is required for two things: + + + + +To set up a socket connected to the standard SMTP port (25) when initialising +the listening daemon. If Exim is run from inetd, this privileged action is +not required. + + + + +To be able to change uid and gid in order to read users’ .forward files and +perform local deliveries as the receiving user or as specified in the +configuration. + + + + +It is not necessary to be root to do any of the other things Exim does, such as +receiving messages and delivering them externally over SMTP, and it is +obviously more secure if Exim does not run as root except when necessary. +For this reason, a user and group for Exim to use must be defined in +Local/Makefile. These are known as the Exim user and the Exim +group. Their values can be changed by the runtime configuration, though this +is not recommended. Often a user called exim is used, but some sites use +mail or another user name altogether. + + +Exim uses setuid() whenever it gives up root privilege. This is a permanent +abdication; the process cannot regain root afterwards. Prior to release 4.00, +seteuid() was used in some circumstances, but this is no longer the case. + + +After a new Exim process has interpreted its command line options, it changes +uid and gid in the following cases: + + + + + + + + + + +If the option is used to specify an alternate configuration file, or if +the option is used to define macro values for the configuration, and the +calling process is not running as root, the uid and gid are changed to those of +the calling process. +However, if DISABLE_D_OPTION is defined in Local/Makefile, the +option may not be used at all. +If WHITELIST_D_MACROS is defined in Local/Makefile, then some macro values +can be supplied if the calling process is running as root, the Exim run-time +user or CONFIGURE_OWNER, if defined. + + + + + + + + + + + + + +If the expansion test option () or one of the filter testing options +( or ) are used, the uid and gid are changed to those of the +calling process. + + + + +If the process is not a daemon process or a queue runner process or a delivery +process or a process for testing address routing (started with ), the +uid and gid are changed to the Exim user and group. This means that Exim always +runs under its own uid and gid when receiving messages. This also applies when +testing address verification + + + + + + +(the option) and testing incoming message policy controls (the +option). + + + + +For a daemon, queue runner, delivery, or address testing process, the uid +remains as root at this stage, but the gid is changed to the Exim group. + + + + +The processes that initially retain root privilege behave as follows: + + + + +A daemon process changes the gid to the Exim group and the uid to the Exim +user after setting up one or more listening sockets. The initgroups() +function is called, so that if the Exim user is in any additional groups, they +will be used during message reception. + + + + +A queue runner process retains root privilege throughout its execution. Its +job is to fork a controlled sequence of delivery processes. + + + + +A delivery process retains root privilege throughout most of its execution, +but any actual deliveries (that is, the transports themselves) are run in +subprocesses which always change to a non-root uid and gid. For local +deliveries this is typically the uid and gid of the owner of the mailbox; for +remote deliveries, the Exim uid and gid are used. Once all the delivery +subprocesses have been run, a delivery process changes to the Exim uid and gid +while doing post-delivery tidying up such as updating the retry database and +generating bounce and warning messages. + + +While the recipient addresses in a message are being routed, the delivery +process runs as root. However, if a user’s filter file has to be processed, +this is done in a subprocess that runs under the individual user’s uid and +gid. A system filter is run as root unless is set. + + + + +A process that is testing addresses (the option) runs as root so that +the routing is done in the same environment as a message delivery. + + + +
+
+Running Exim without privilege + + +privilege, running without + + +unprivileged running + + +root privilege +running without + +Some installations like to run Exim in an unprivileged state for more of its +operation, for added security. Support for this mode of operation is provided +by the global option . When this is set, the uid and +gid are changed to the Exim user and group at the start of a delivery process +(and also queue runner and address testing processes). This means that address +routing is no longer run as root, and the deliveries themselves cannot change +to any other uid. + + + +SIGHUP + + +daemon +restarting + +Leaving the binary setuid to root, but setting means +that the daemon can still be started in the usual way, and it can respond +correctly to SIGHUP because the re-invocation regains root privilege. + + +An alternative approach is to make Exim setuid to the Exim user and also setgid +to the Exim group. If you do this, the daemon must be started from a root +process. (Calling Exim from a root process makes it behave in the way it does +when it is setuid root.) However, the daemon cannot restart itself after a +SIGHUP signal because it cannot regain privilege. + + +It is still useful to set in this case, because it +stops Exim from trying to re-invoke itself to do a delivery after a message has +been received. Such a re-invocation is a waste of resources because it has no +effect. + + +If restarting the daemon is not an issue (for example, if is +set, or inetd is being used instead of a daemon), having the binary setuid +to the Exim user seems a clean approach, but there is one complication: + + +In this style of operation, Exim is running with the real uid and gid set to +those of the calling process, and the effective uid/gid set to Exim’s values. +Ideally, any association with the calling process’ uid/gid should be dropped, +that is, the real uid/gid should be reset to the effective values so as to +discard any privileges that the caller may have. While some operating systems +have a function that permits this action for a non-root effective uid, quite a +number of them do not. Because of this lack of standardization, Exim does not +address this problem at this time. + + +For this reason, the recommended approach for mostly unprivileged running +is to keep the Exim binary setuid to root, and to set +. This also has the advantage of allowing a daemon to +be used in the most straightforward way. + + +If you configure Exim not to run delivery processes as root, there are a +number of restrictions on what you can do: + + + + +You can deliver only as the Exim user/group. You should explicitly use the + and options to override routers or local transports that +normally deliver as the recipient. This makes sure that configurations that +work in this mode function the same way in normal mode. Any implicit or +explicit specification of another user causes an error. + + + + +Use of .forward files is severely restricted, such that it is usually +not worthwhile to include them in the configuration. + + + + +Users who wish to use .forward would have to make their home directory and +the file itself accessible to the Exim user. Pipe and append-to-file entries, +and their equivalents in Exim filters, cannot be used. While they could be +enabled in the Exim user’s name, that would be insecure and not very useful. + + + + +Unless the local user mailboxes are all owned by the Exim user (possible in +some POP3 or IMAP-only environments): + + + + +They must be owned by the Exim group and be writeable by that group. This +implies you must set in the appendfile configuration, as well as the +mode of the mailbox files themselves. + + + + +You must set , since most or all of the files will not be +owned by the Exim user. + + + + +You must set , because Exim cannot set the owner correctly +on a newly created mailbox when unprivileged. This also implies that new +mailboxes need to be created manually. + + + + + + +These restrictions severely restrict what can be done in local deliveries. +However, there are no restrictions on remote deliveries. If you are running a +gateway host that does no local deliveries, setting +gives more security at essentially no cost. + + +If you are using the facility (see chapter +), is forced to be true. + +
+
+Delivering to local files + +Full details of the checks applied by appendfile before it writes to a file +are given in chapter . + +
+
+Running local commands + + +security +local commands + + +security +command injection attacks + +There are a number of ways in which an administrator can configure Exim to run +commands based upon received, untrustworthy, data. Further, in some +configurations a user who can control a .forward file can also arrange to +run commands. Configuration to check includes, but is not limited to: + + + + +Use of in the pipe transport: various forms of shell command +injection may be possible with this option present. It is dangerous and should +be used only with considerable caution. Consider constraints which whitelist +allowed characters in a variable which is to be used in a pipe transport that +has enabled. + + + + +A number of options such as , , + and so forth which restrict facilities available to +.forward files in a redirect router. If Exim is running on a central mail +hub to which ordinary users do not have shell access, but home directories are +NFS mounted (for instance) then administrators should review the list of these +forbid options available, and should bear in mind that the options that may +need forbidding can change as new features are added between releases. + + + + +The expansion item does not use a shell by default, but +administrators can configure use of /bin/sh as part of the command. +Such invocations should be viewed with prejudicial suspicion. + + + + +Administrators who use embedded Perl are advised to explore how Perl’s +taint checking might apply to their usage. + + + + +Use of is somewhat analogous to shell’s eval builtin and +administrators are well advised to view its use with suspicion, in case (for +instance) it allows a local-part to contain embedded Exim directives. + + + + +Use of and friends becomes more dangerous if +Exim was built with EXPAND_LISTMATCH_RHS defined: the second string in +each can reference arbitrary lists and files, rather than just being a list +of opaque strings. +The EXPAND_LISTMATCH_RHS option was added and set false by default because of +real-world security vulnerabilities caused by its use with untrustworthy data +injected in, for SQL injection attacks. +Consider the use of the expansion condition instead. + + + +
+
+Trust in configuration data + + +security +data sources + + +security +regular expressions + + +regular expressions +security + + +PCRE +security + +If configuration data for Exim can come from untrustworthy sources, there +are some issues to be aware of: + + + + +Use of may provide a path for shell injection attacks. + + + + +Letting untrusted data provide a regular expression is unwise. + + + + +Using to apply a fixed regular expression against untrusted +data may result in pathological behaviour within PCRE. Be aware of what +"backtracking" means and consider options for being more strict with a regular +expression. Avenues to explore include limiting what can match (avoiding . +when [a-z0-9] or other character class will do), use of atomic grouping and +possessive quantifiers or just not using regular expressions against untrusted +data. + + + + +It can be important to correctly use , + and <lookup-type> expansion +items to ensure that data is correctly constructed. + + + + +Some lookups might return multiple results, even though normal usage is only +expected to yield one result. + + + +
+
+IPv4 source routing + + +source routing +in IP packets + + +IP source routing + +Many operating systems suppress IP source-routed packets in the kernel, but +some cannot be made to do this, so Exim does its own check. It logs incoming +IPv4 source-routed TCP calls, and then drops them. Things are all different in +IPv6. No special checking is currently done. + +
+
+The VRFY, EXPN, and ETRN commands in SMTP + +Support for these SMTP commands is disabled by default. If required, they can +be enabled by defining suitable ACLs. + +
+
+Privileged users + + +trusted users + + +admin user + + +privileged user + + +user +trusted + + +user +admin + +Exim recognizes two sets of users with special privileges. Trusted users are +able to submit new messages to Exim locally, but supply their own sender +addresses and information about a sending host. For other users submitting +local messages, Exim sets up the sender address from the uid, and doesn’t +permit a remote host to be specified. + + + + + +However, an untrusted user is permitted to use the command line option +in the special form to indicate that a delivery failure for the +message should not cause an error report. This affects the message’s envelope, +but it does not affect the Sender: header. Untrusted users may also be +permitted to use specific forms of address with the option by setting +the option. + + +Trusted users are used to run processes that receive mail messages from some +other mail domain and pass them on to Exim for delivery either locally, or over +the Internet. Exim trusts a caller that is running as root, as the Exim user, +as any user listed in the configuration option, or under any +group listed in the option. + + +Admin users are permitted to do things to the messages on Exim’s queue. They +can freeze or thaw messages, cause them to be returned to their senders, remove +them entirely, or modify them in various ways. In addition, admin users can run +the Exim monitor and see all the information it is capable of providing, which +includes the contents of files on the spool. + + + + + + + + +By default, the use of the and options to cause Exim to attempt +delivery of messages on its queue is restricted to admin users. This +restriction can be relaxed by setting the option. +Similarly, the use of (and its variants) to list the contents of the +queue is also restricted to admin users. This restriction can be relaxed by +setting . + + +Exim recognizes an admin user if the calling process is running as root or as +the Exim user or if any of the groups associated with the calling process is +the Exim group. It is not necessary actually to be running under the Exim +group. However, if admin users who are not root or the Exim user are to access +the contents of files on the spool via the Exim monitor (which runs +unprivileged), Exim must be built to allow group read access to its spool +files. + + +By default, regular users are trusted to perform basic testing and +introspection commands, as themselves. This setting can be tightened by +setting the option. +This affects most of the checking options, +such as and anything else . + +
+
+Spool files + + +spool directory +files + +Exim’s spool directory and everything it contains is owned by the Exim user and +set to the Exim group. The mode for spool files is defined in the +Local/Makefile configuration file, and defaults to 0640. This means that +any user who is a member of the Exim group can access these files. + +
+
+Use of argv[0] + +Exim examines the last component of , and if it matches one of a set +of specific strings, Exim assumes certain options. For example, calling Exim +with the last component of set to rsmtp is exactly equivalent +to calling it with the option . There are no security implications in +this. + +
+
+Use of %f formatting + +The only use made of %f by Exim is in formatting load average values. These +are actually stored in integer variables as 1000 times the load average. +Consequently, their range is limited and so therefore is the length of the +converted output. + +
+
+Embedded Exim path + +Exim uses its own path name, which is embedded in the code, only when it needs +to re-exec in order to regain root privilege. Therefore, it is not root when it +does so. If some bug allowed the path to get overwritten, it would lead to an +arbitrary program’s being run as exim, not as root. + +
+
+Dynamic module directory + +Any dynamically loadable modules must be installed into the directory +defined in LOOKUP_MODULE_DIR in Local/Makefile for Exim to permit +loading it. + +
+
+Use of sprintf() + + +sprintf() + +A large number of occurrences of sprintf in the code are actually calls to +string_sprintf(), a function that returns the result in malloc’d store. +The intermediate formatting is done into a large fixed buffer by a function +that runs through the format string itself, and checks the length of each +conversion before performing it, thus preventing buffer overruns. + + +The remaining uses of sprintf() happen in controlled circumstances where +the output buffer is known to be sufficiently long to contain the converted +string. + +
+
+Use of debug_printf() and log_write() + +Arbitrary strings are passed to both these functions, but they do their +formatting by calling the function string_vformat(), which runs through +the format string itself, and checks the length of each conversion. + +
+
+Use of strcat() and strcpy() + +These are used only in cases where the output buffer is known to be large +enough to hold the result. + + +
+ + + +Format of spool files + + +format +spool files + + +spool directory +format of files + + +spool files +format of + + +spool files +editing + +A message on Exim’s queue consists of two files, whose names are the message id +followed by -D and -H, respectively. The data portion of the message is kept in +the -D file on its own. The message’s envelope, status, and headers are all +kept in the -H file, whose format is described in this chapter. Each of these +two files contains the final component of its own name as its first line. This +is insurance against disk crashes where the directory is lost but the files +themselves are recoverable. + + +The file formats may be changed, or new formats added, at any release. +Spool files are not intended as an interface to other programs +and should not be used as such. + + +Some people are tempted into editing -D files in order to modify messages. You +need to be extremely careful if you do this; it is not recommended and you are +on your own if you do it. Here are some of the pitfalls: + + + + +You must ensure that Exim does not try to deliver the message while you are +fiddling with it. The safest way is to take out a write lock on the -D file, +which is what Exim itself does, using fcntl(). If you update the file in +place, the lock will be retained. If you write a new file and rename it, the +lock will be lost at the instant of rename. + + + + + +$body_linecount + +If you change the number of lines in the file, the value of +$body_linecount, which is stored in the -H file, will be incorrect and can +cause incomplete transmission of messages or undeliverable messages. + + + + +If the message is in MIME format, you must take care not to break it. + + + + +If the message is cryptographically signed, any change will invalidate the +signature. + + + + +All in all, modifying -D files is fraught with danger. + + +Files whose names end with -J may also be seen in the input directory (or +its subdirectories when is set). These are journal +files, used to record addresses to which the message has been delivered during +the course of a delivery attempt. If there are still undelivered recipients at +the end, the -H file is updated, and the -J file is deleted. If, however, there +is some kind of crash (for example, a power outage) before this happens, the -J +file remains in existence. When Exim next processes the message, it notices the +-J file and uses it to update the -H file before starting the next delivery +attempt. + + +Files whose names end with -K or .eml may also be seen in the spool. +These are temporaries used for DKIM or malware processing, when that is used. +They should be tidied up by normal operations; any old ones are probably +relics of crashes and can be removed. + +
+Format of the -H file + + +uid (user id) +in spool file + + +gid (group id) +in spool file + +The second line of the -H file contains the login name for the uid of the +process that called Exim to read the message, followed by the numerical uid and +gid. For a locally generated message, this is normally the user who sent the +message. For a message received over TCP/IP via the daemon, it is +normally the Exim user. + + +The third line of the file contains the address of the message’s sender as +transmitted in the envelope, contained in angle brackets. The sender address is +empty for bounce messages. For incoming SMTP mail, the sender address is given +in the MAIL command. For locally generated mail, the sender address is +created by Exim from the login name of the current user and the configured +. However, this can be overridden by the option or a +leading From  line if the caller is trusted, or if the supplied address is +<> or an address that matches . + + +The fourth line contains two numbers. The first is the time that the message +was received, in the conventional Unix form – the number of seconds since the +start of the epoch. The second number is a count of the number of messages +warning of delayed delivery that have been sent to the sender. + + +There follow a number of lines starting with a hyphen. These can appear in any +order, and are omitted when not relevant: + + + + <number> <length> + + +This item is obsolete, and is not generated from Exim release 4.61 onwards; + and are used instead. However, is still +recognized, to provide backward compatibility. In the old format, a line of +this form is present for every ACL variable that is not empty. The number +identifies the variable; the x variables are numbered 0–9 and +the x variables are numbered 10–19. The length is the length of +the data string for the variable. The string itself starts at the beginning of +the next line, and is followed by a newline character. It may contain internal +newlines. + + + + <rest-of-name> <length> + + +A line of this form is present for every ACL connection variable that is +defined. Note that there is a space between and the rest of the name. +The length is the length of the data string for the variable. The string itself +starts at the beginning of the next line, and is followed by a newline +character. It may contain internal newlines. + + + + <rest-of-name> <length> + + +A line of this form is present for every ACL message variable that is defined. +Note that there is a space between and the rest of the name. The +length is the length of the data string for the variable. The string itself +starts at the beginning of the next line, and is followed by a newline +character. It may contain internal newlines. + + + + <hostname> + + +This is present if, when the message was received over SMTP, the value of +$smtp_active_hostname was different to the value of $primary_hostname. + + + + + + +This is present if unqualified recipient addresses are permitted in header +lines (to stop such addresses from being qualified if rewriting occurs at +transport time). Local messages that were input using and remote +messages from hosts that match set this flag. + + + + + + +This is present if unqualified sender addresses are permitted in header lines +(to stop such addresses from being qualified if rewriting occurs at transport +time). Local messages that were input using and remote messages from +hosts that match set this flag. + + + + <text> + + +The id information for a message received on an authenticated SMTP connection +– the value of the $authenticated_id variable. + + + + <address> + + +The address of an authenticated sender – the value of the +$authenticated_sender variable. + + + + <number> + + +This records the number of lines in the body of the message, and is +present unless is. + + + + <number> + + +This records the number of binary zero bytes in the body of the message, and is +present if the number is greater than zero. + + + + + + +This is written when a new message is first added to the spool. When the spool +file is updated after a deferral, it is omitted. + + + + <time> + + + +frozen messages +spool data + +The message is frozen, and the freezing happened at <time>. + + + + <text> + + +This records the host name as specified by a remote host in a HELO or EHLO +command. + + + + <address>.<port> + + +This records the IP address of the host from which the message was received and +the remote port number that was used. It is omitted for locally generated +messages. + + + + <text> + + +If the message was received on an authenticated SMTP connection, this records +the name of the authenticator – the value of the +$sender_host_authenticated variable. + + + + + + +This is present if an attempt to look up the sending host’s name from its IP +address failed. It corresponds to the $host_lookup_failed variable. + + + + <text> + + + +reverse DNS lookup + + +DNS +reverse lookup + +This records the name of the remote host from which the message was received, +if the host name was looked up from the IP address when the message was being +received. It is not present if no reverse lookup was done. + + + + <text> + + +For locally submitted messages, this records the login of the originating user, +unless it was a trusted user and the option was used to specify an +ident value. For messages received over TCP/IP, this records the ident string +supplied by the remote host, if any. + + + + <address>.<port> + + +This records the IP address of the local interface and the port number through +which a message was received from a remote host. It is omitted for locally +generated messages. + + + + + + +The message is from a local sender. + + + + + + +The message is a locally-generated bounce message. + + + + <string> + + +This records the data string that was returned by the local_scan() function +when the message was received – the value of the $local_scan_data +variable. It is omitted if no data was returned. + + + + + + +The message was frozen but has been thawed manually, that is, by an explicit +Exim command rather than via the auto-thaw process. + + + + + + +A testing delivery process was started using the option to suppress any +actual deliveries, but delivery was deferred. At any further delivery attempts, + is assumed. + + + + + + +This records the value of the $received_protocol variable, which contains +the name of the protocol by which the message was received. + + + + + + +The envelope sender of this message was set by an untrusted local caller (used +to ensure that the caller is displayed in queue listings). + + + + <number> + + +If a message was scanned by SpamAssassin, this is present. It records the value +of $spam_score_int. + + + + + + +The -D file for this message is in wire-format (for ESMTP CHUNKING) +rather than Unix-format. +The line-ending is CRLF rather than newline. +There is still, however, no leading-dot-stuffing. + + + + + + +A TLS certificate was received from the client that sent this message, and the +certificate was verified by the server. + + + + <cipher name> + + +When the message was received over an encrypted connection, this records the +name of the cipher suite that was used. + + + + <peer DN> + + +When the message was received over an encrypted connection, and a certificate +was received from the client, this records the Distinguished Name from that +certificate. + + + + +Following the options there is a list of those addresses to which the message +is not to be delivered. This set of addresses is initialized from the command +line when the option is used and +is set; otherwise it starts out empty. Whenever a successful delivery is made, +the address is added to this set. The addresses are kept internally as a +balanced binary tree, and it is a representation of that tree which is written +to the spool file. If an address is expanded via an alias or forward file, the +original address is added to the tree when deliveries to all its child +addresses are complete. + + +If the tree is empty, there is a single line in the spool file containing just +the text XX. Otherwise, each line consists of two letters, which are either +Y or N, followed by an address. The address is the value for the node of the +tree, and the letters indicate whether the node has a left branch and/or a +right branch attached to it, respectively. If branches exist, they immediately +follow. Here is an example of a three-node tree: + + +YY darcy@austen.fict.example +NN alice@wonderland.fict.example +NN editor@thesaurus.ref.example + + +After the non-recipients tree, there is a list of the message’s recipients. +This is a simple list, preceded by a count. It includes all the original +recipients of the message, including those to whom the message has already been +delivered. In the simplest case, the list contains one address per line. For +example: + + +4 +editor@thesaurus.ref.example +darcy@austen.fict.example +rdo@foundation +alice@wonderland.fict.example + + +However, when a child address has been added to the top-level addresses as a +result of the use of the option on a redirect router, each +line is of the following form: + + +<top-level address> <errors_to address> <length>,<parent number>#<flag bits> + + +The 01 flag bit indicates the presence of the three other fields that follow +the top-level address. Other bits may be used in future to support additional +fields. The <parent number> is the offset in the recipients list of the +original parent of the one time address. The first two fields are the +envelope sender that is associated with this address and its length. If the +length is zero, there is no special envelope sender (there are then two space +characters in the line). A non-empty field can arise from a redirect router +that has an setting. + + +A blank line separates the envelope and status information from the headers +which follow. A header may occupy several lines of the file, and to save effort +when reading it in, each header is preceded by a number and an identifying +character. The number is the number of characters in the header, including any +embedded newlines and the terminating newline. The character is one of the +following: + + + + + + + +<blank> +header in which Exim has no special interest + + +B +Bcc: header + + +C +Cc: header + + +F +From: header + + +I +Message-id: header + + +P +Received: header – P for postmark + + +R +Reply-To: header + + +S +Sender: header + + +T +To: header + + +* +replaced or deleted header + + + + + +Deleted or replaced (rewritten) headers remain in the spool file for debugging +purposes. They are not transmitted when the message is delivered. Here is a +typical set of headers: + + +111P Received: by hobbit.fict.example with local (Exim 4.00) +id 14y9EI-00026G-00; Fri, 11 May 2001 10:28:59 +0100 +049 Message-Id: <E14y9EI-00026G-00@hobbit.fict.example> +038* X-rewrote-sender: bb@hobbit.fict.example +042* From: Bilbo Baggins <bb@hobbit.fict.example> +049F From: Bilbo Baggins <B.Baggins@hobbit.fict.example> +099* To: alice@wonderland.fict.example, rdo@foundation, +darcy@austen.fict.example, editor@thesaurus.ref.example +104T To: alice@wonderland.fict.example, rdo@foundation.example, +darcy@austen.fict.example, editor@thesaurus.ref.example +038 Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 10:28:59 +0100 + + +The asterisked headers indicate that the envelope sender, From: header, and +To: header have been rewritten, the last one because routing expanded the +unqualified domain foundation. + + + + +
+
+Format of the -D file + +The data file is traditionally in Unix-standard format: lines are ended with +an ASCII newline character. +However, when the main option is used some -D files +can have an alternate format. +This is flagged by a line in the corresponding -H file. +The -D file lines (not including the first name-component line) are +suitable for direct copying to the wire when transmitting using the +ESMTP CHUNKING option, meaning lower processing overhead. +Lines are terminated with an ASCII CRLF pair. +There is no dot-stuffing (and no dot-termination). + +
+ + + +DKIM and SPF +DKIM and SPF Support + + +DKIM + + +
+DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) + +DKIM is a mechanism by which messages sent by some entity can be provably +linked to a domain which that entity controls. It permits reputation to +be tracked on a per-domain basis, rather than merely upon source IP address. +DKIM is documented in RFC 6376. + + +As DKIM relies on the message being unchanged in transit, messages handled +by a mailing-list (which traditionally adds to the message) will not match +any original DKIM signature. + + +DKIM support is compiled into Exim by default if TLS support is present. +It can be disabled by setting DISABLE_DKIM=yes in Local/Makefile. + + +Exim’s DKIM implementation allows for + + + + +Signing outgoing messages: This function is implemented in the SMTP transport. +It can co-exist with all other Exim features +(including transport filters) +except cutthrough delivery. + + + + +Verifying signatures in incoming messages: This is implemented by an additional +ACL (acl_smtp_dkim), which can be called several times per message, with +different signature contexts. + + + + +In typical Exim style, the verification implementation does not include any +default "policy". Instead it enables you to build your own policy using +Exim’s standard controls. + + +Please note that verification of DKIM signatures in incoming mail is turned +on by default for logging (in the <= line) purposes. + + +Additional log detail can be enabled using the log_selector. +When set, for each signature in incoming email, +exim will log a line displaying the most important signature details, and the +signature status. Here is an example (with line-breaks added for clarity): + + +2009-09-09 10:22:28 1MlIRf-0003LU-U3 DKIM: + d=facebookmail.com s=q1-2009b + c=relaxed/relaxed a=rsa-sha1 + i=@facebookmail.com t=1252484542 [verification succeeded] + + +You might want to turn off DKIM verification processing entirely for internal +or relay mail sources. To do that, set the ACL +control modifier. This should typically be done in the RCPT ACL, at points +where you accept mail from relay sources (internal hosts or authenticated +senders). + +
+
+Signing outgoing messages + + +DKIM +signing + + + +For signing to be usable you must have published a DKIM record in DNS. +Note that RFC 8301 says: + + +rsa-sha1 MUST NOT be used for signing or verifying. + +Signers MUST use RSA keys of at least 1024 bits for all keys. +Signers SHOULD use RSA keys of at least 2048 bits. + + +Note also that the key content (the ’p=’ field) +in the DNS record is different between RSA and EC keys; +for the former it is the base64 of the ASN.1 for the RSA public key +(equivalent to the private-key .pem with the header/trailer stripped) +but for EC keys it is the base64 of the pure key; no ASN.1 wrapping. + + +Signing is enabled by setting private options on the SMTP transport. +These options take (expandable) strings as arguments. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string +Default: list† + + + + + +The domain(s) you want to sign with. +After expansion, this can be a list. +Each element in turn is put into the expansion variable +while expanding the remaining signing options. +If it is empty after expansion, DKIM signing is not done, +and no error will result even if is set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string +Default: list† + + + + + +This sets the key selector string. +After expansion, which can use $dkim_domain, this can be a list. +Each element in turn is put in the expansion +variable which may be used in the +option along with . +If the option is empty after expansion, DKIM signing is not done for this domain, +and no error will result even if is set. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This sets the private key to use. +You can use the and + expansion variables to determine the private key to use. +The result can either + + + + +be a valid RSA private key in ASCII armor (.pem file), including line breaks + + + + +with GnuTLS 3.6.0 or OpenSSL 1.1.1 or later, +be a valid Ed25519 private key (same format as above) + + + + +start with a slash, in which case it is treated as a file that contains +the private key + + + + +be "0", "false" or the empty string, in which case the message will not +be signed. This case will not result in an error, even if +is set. + + + + +To generate keys under OpenSSL: + + +openssl genrsa -out dkim_rsa.private 2048 +openssl rsa -in dkim_rsa.private -out /dev/stdout -pubout -outform PEM + + +Take the base-64 lines from the output of the second command, concatenated, +for the DNS TXT record. +See section 3.6 of RFC6376 for the record specification. + + +Under GnuTLS: + + +certtool --generate-privkey --rsa --bits=2048 --password='' -8 --outfile=dkim_rsa.private +certtool --load-privkey=dkim_rsa.private --pubkey-info + + +Note that RFC 8301 says: + + +Signers MUST use RSA keys of at least 1024 bits for all keys. +Signers SHOULD use RSA keys of at least 2048 bits. + + +Support for EC keys is being developed under +https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/draft-ietf-dcrup-dkim-crypto/. +They are considerably smaller than RSA keys for equivalent protection. +As they are a recent development, users should consider dual-signing +(by setting a list of selectors, and an expansion for this option) +for some transition period. +The "_CRYPTO_SIGN_ED25519" macro will be defined if support is present +for EC keys. + + +OpenSSL 1.1.1 and GnuTLS 3.6.0 can create Ed25519 private keys: + + +openssl genpkey -algorithm ed25519 -out dkim_ed25519.private +certtool --generate-privkey --key-type=ed25519 --outfile=dkim_ed25519.private + + +To produce the required public key value for a DNS record: + + +openssl pkey -outform DER -pubout -in dkim_ed25519.private | tail -c +13 | base64 +certtool --load_privkey=dkim_ed25519.private --pubkey_info --outder | tail -c +13 | base64 + + +Note that the format +of Ed25519 keys in DNS has not yet been decided; this release supports +both of the leading candidates at this time, a future release will +probably drop support for whichever proposal loses. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: sha256 + + + + + +Can be set to any one of the supported hash methods, which are: + + + + +sha1 – should not be used, is old and insecure + + + + +sha256 – the default + + + + +sha512 – possibly more secure but less well supported + + + + +Note that RFC 8301 says: + + +rsa-sha1 MUST NOT be used for signing or verifying. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +If set after expansion, the value is used to set an "i=" tag in +the signing header. The DKIM standards restrict the permissible +syntax of this optional tag to a mail address, with possibly-empty +local part, an @, and a domain identical to or subdomain of the "d=" +tag value. Note that Exim does not check the value. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option sets the canonicalization method used when signing a message. +The DKIM RFC currently supports two methods: "simple" and "relaxed". +The option defaults to "relaxed" when unset. Note: the current implementation +only supports signing with the same canonicalization method for both headers and body. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option defines how Exim behaves when signing a message that +should be signed fails for some reason. When the expansion evaluates to +either "1" or "true", Exim will defer. Otherwise Exim will send the message +unsigned. You can use the and expansion +variables here. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: string† +Default: see below + + + + + +If set, this option must expand to a colon-separated +list of header names. +Headers with these names, or the absence or such a header, will be included +in the message signature. +When unspecified, the header names listed in RFC4871 will be used, +whether or not each header is present in the message. +The default list is available for the expansion in the macro +"_DKIM_SIGN_HEADERS". + + +If a name is repeated, multiple headers by that name (or the absence thereof) +will be signed. The textually later headers in the headers part of the +message are signed first, if there are multiples. + + +A name can be prefixed with either an ’=’ or a ’+’ character. +If an ’=’ prefix is used, all headers that are present with this name +will be signed. +If a ’+’ prefix if used, all headers that are present with this name +will be signed, and one signature added for a missing header with the +name will be appended. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Use: smtp +Type: integer† +Default: unset + + + + + +This option controls the inclusion of timestamp information in the signature. +If not set, no such information will be included. +Otherwise, must be an unsigned number giving an offset in seconds from the current time +for the expiry tag +(eg. 1209600 for two weeks); +both creation (t=) and expiry (x=) tags will be included. + + +RFC 6376 lists these tags as RECOMMENDED. + +
+
+Verifying DKIM signatures in incoming mail + + +DKIM +verification + + + +Verification of DKIM signatures in SMTP incoming email is done for all +messages for which an ACL control has not been set. + +authentication +expansion item + +Performing verification sets up information used by the +$authresults expansion item. + + +The + ACL, which can examine and modify them. +By default, this ACL is called once for each +syntactically(!) correct signature in the incoming message. +A missing ACL definition defaults to accept. +If any ACL call does not accept, the message is not accepted. +If a cutthrough delivery was in progress for the message, that is +summarily dropped (having wasted the transmission effort). + + +To evaluate the verification result in the ACL +a large number of expansion variables +containing the signature status and its details are set up during the +runtime of the ACL. + + +Calling the ACL only for existing signatures is not sufficient to build +more advanced policies. For that reason, the global option +, and a global expansion variable + exist. + + +The global option can be set to a colon-separated +list of DKIM domains or identities for which the ACL is +called. It is expanded when the message has been received. At this point, +the expansion variable already contains a colon-separated +list of signer domains and identities for the message. When + is not specified in the main configuration, +it defaults as: + + +dkim_verify_signers = $dkim_signers + + +This leads to the default behaviour of calling for each +DKIM signature in the message. Current DKIM verifiers may want to explicitly +call the ACL for known domains or identities. This would be achieved as follows: + + +dkim_verify_signers = paypal.com:ebay.com:$dkim_signers + + +This would result in always being called for "paypal.com" +and "ebay.com", plus all domains and identities that have signatures in the message. +You can also be more creative in constructing your policy. For example: + + +dkim_verify_signers = $sender_address_domain:$dkim_signers + + +If a domain or identity is listed several times in the (expanded) value of +, the ACL is only called once for that domain or identity. + + +If multiple signatures match a domain (or identity), the ACL is called once +for each matching signature. + + +Inside the , the following expansion variables are +available (from most to least important): + + + + + + +The signer that is being evaluated in this ACL run. This can be a domain or +an identity. This is one of the list items from the expanded main option + (see above). + + + + + + +Within the DKIM ACL, +a string describing the general status of the signature. One of + + + + +: There is no signature in the message for the current domain or +identity (as reflected by ). + + + + +: The signature could not be verified due to a processing error. +More detail is available in . + + + + +: Verification of the signature failed. More detail is +available in . + + + + +: The signature passed verification. It is valid. + + + + +This variable can be overwritten using an ACL ’set’ modifier. +This might, for instance, be done to enforce a policy restriction on +hash-method or key-size: + + + warn condition = ${if eq {$dkim_verify_status}{pass}} + condition = ${if eq {${length_3:$dkim_algo}}{rsa}} + condition = ${if or {{eq {$dkim_algo}{rsa-sha1}} \ + {< {$dkim_key_length}{1024}}}} + logwrite = NOTE: forcing DKIM verify fail (was pass) + set dkim_verify_status = fail + set dkim_verify_reason = hash too weak or key too short + + +So long as a DKIM ACL is defined (it need do no more than accept), +after all the DKIM ACL runs have completed, the value becomes a +colon-separated list of the values after each run. +This is maintained for the mime, prdr and data ACLs. + + + + + + +A string giving a little bit more detail when is either +"fail" or "invalid". One of + + + + + (when ="invalid"): The public +key for the domain could not be retrieved. This may be a temporary problem. + + + + + (when ="invalid"): The public key +record for the domain is syntactically invalid. + + + + + (when ="fail"): The calculated +body hash does not match the one specified in the signature header. This +means that the message body was modified in transit. + + + + + (when ="fail"): The signature +could not be verified. This may mean that headers were modified, +re-written or otherwise changed in a way which is incompatible with +DKIM verification. It may of course also mean that the signature is forged. + + + + +This variable can be overwritten, with any value, using an ACL ’set’ modifier. + + + + + + +The signing domain. IMPORTANT: This variable is only populated if there is +an actual signature in the message for the current domain or identity (as +reflected by ). + + + + + + +The signing identity, if present. IMPORTANT: This variable is only populated +if there is an actual signature in the message for the current domain or +identity (as reflected by ). + + + + + + +The key record selector string. + + + + + + +The algorithm used. One of ’rsa-sha1’ or ’rsa-sha256’. +If running under GnuTLS 3.6.0 or OpenSSL 1.1.1 or later, +may also be ’ed25519-sha256’. +The "_CRYPTO_SIGN_ED25519" macro will be defined if support is present +for EC keys. + + +Note that RFC 8301 says: + + +rsa-sha1 MUST NOT be used for signing or verifying. + +DKIM signatures identified as having been signed with historic +algorithms (currently, rsa-sha1) have permanently failed evaluation + + +To enforce this you must have a DKIM ACL which checks this variable +and overwrites the $dkim_verify_status variable as discussed above. + + + + + + +The body canonicalization method. One of ’relaxed’ or ’simple’. + + + + + + +The header canonicalization method. One of ’relaxed’ or ’simple’. + + + + + + +A transcript of headers and their values which are included in the signature +(copied from the ’z=’ tag of the signature). +Note that RFC6376 requires that verification fail if the From: header is +not included in the signature. Exim does not enforce this; sites wishing +strict enforcement should code the check explicitly. + + + + + + +The number of signed body bytes. If zero ("0"), the body is unsigned. If no +limit was set by the signer, "9999999999999" is returned. This makes sure +that this variable always expands to an integer value. + + +Note: The presence of the signature tag specifying a signing body length +is one possible route to spoofing of valid DKIM signatures. +A paranoid implementation might wish to regard signature where this variable +shows less than the "no limit" return as being invalid. + + + + + + +UNIX timestamp reflecting the date and time when the signature was created. +When this was not specified by the signer, "0" is returned. + + + + + + +UNIX timestamp reflecting the date and time when the signer wants the +signature to be treated as "expired". When this was not specified by the +signer, "9999999999999" is returned. This makes it possible to do useful +integer size comparisons against this value. +Note that Exim does not check this value. + + + + + + +A colon-separated list of names of headers included in the signature. + + + + + + +"1" if the key record has the "testing" flag set, "0" if not. + + + + + + +"1" if the key record forbids subdomaining, "0" otherwise. + + + + + + +Service type (tag s=) from the key record. Defaults to "*" if not specified +in the key record. + + + + + + +Key granularity (tag g=) from the key record. Defaults to "*" if not specified +in the key record. + + + + + + +Notes from the key record (tag n=). + + + + + + +Number of bits in the key. + + +Note that RFC 8301 says: + + +Verifiers MUST NOT consider signatures using RSA keys of +less than 1024 bits as valid signatures. + + +To enforce this you must have a DKIM ACL which checks this variable +and overwrites the $dkim_verify_status variable as discussed above. +As EC keys are much smaller, the check should only do this for RSA keys. + + + + +In addition, two ACL conditions are provided: + + + + + + +ACL condition that checks a colon-separated list of domains or identities +for a match against the domain or identity that the ACL is currently verifying +(reflected by ). This is typically used to restrict an ACL +verb to a group of domains or identities. For example: + + +# Warn when Mail purportedly from GMail has no gmail signature +warn log_message = GMail sender without gmail.com DKIM signature + sender_domains = gmail.com + dkim_signers = gmail.com + dkim_status = none + + +Note that the above does not check for a total lack of DKIM signing; +for that check for empty $h_DKIM-Signature: in the data ACL. + + + + + + +ACL condition that checks a colon-separated list of possible DKIM verification +results against the actual result of verification. This is typically used +to restrict an ACL verb to a list of verification outcomes, for example: + + +deny message = Mail from Paypal with invalid/missing signature + sender_domains = paypal.com:paypal.de + dkim_signers = paypal.com:paypal.de + dkim_status = none:invalid:fail + + +The possible status keywords are: ’none’,’invalid’,’fail’ and ’pass’. Please +see the documentation of the expansion variable above +for more information of what they mean. + + + +
+
+SPF (Sender Policy Framework) + + +SPF +verification + + + +SPF is a mechanism whereby a domain may assert which IP addresses may transmit +messages with its domain in the envelope from, documented by RFC 7208. +For more information on SPF see http://www.openspf.org. + + +Messages sent by a system not authorised will fail checking of such assertions. +This includes retransmissions done by traditional forwarders. + + +SPF verification support is built into Exim if SUPPORT_SPF=yes is set in +Local/Makefile. The support uses the libspf2 library +https://www.libspf2.org/. +There is no Exim involvement in the transmission of messages; +publishing certain DNS records is all that is required. + + +For verification, an ACL condition and an expansion lookup are provided. + +authentication +expansion item + +Performing verification sets up information used by the +$authresults expansion item. + + + +SPF +ACL condition + + +ACL +spf condition + +The ACL condition "spf" can be used at or after the MAIL ACL. +It takes as an argument a list of strings giving the outcome of the SPF check, +and will succeed for any matching outcome. +Valid strings are: + + + + + + +The SPF check passed, the sending host is positively verified by SPF. + + + + + + +The SPF check failed, the sending host is NOT allowed to send mail for the +domain in the envelope-from address. + + + + + + +The SPF check failed, but the queried domain can’t absolutely confirm that this +is a forgery. + + + + + + +The queried domain does not publish SPF records. + + + + + + +The SPF check returned a "neutral" state. This means the queried domain has +published a SPF record, but wants to allow outside servers to send mail under +its domain as well. This should be treated like "none". + + + + + + +This indicates a syntax error in the SPF record of the queried domain. +You may deny messages when this occurs. + + + + + + +This indicates a temporary error during all processing, including Exim’s +SPF processing. You may defer messages when this occurs. + + + + +You can prefix each string with an exclamation mark to invert +its meaning, for example "!fail" will match all results but +"fail". The string list is evaluated left-to-right, in a +short-circuit fashion. + + +Example: + + +deny spf = fail + message = $sender_host_address is not allowed to send mail from \ + ${if def:sender_address_domain \ + {$sender_address_domain}{$sender_helo_name}}. \ + Please see http://www.openspf.org/Why?scope=\ + ${if def:sender_address_domain {mfrom}{helo}};\ + identity=${if def:sender_address_domain \ + {$sender_address}{$sender_helo_name}};\ + ip=$sender_host_address + + +When the spf condition has run, it sets up several expansion +variables: + + + +SPF +verification variables + + + + +$spf_header_comment + + + +$spf_header_comment + + This contains a human-readable string describing the outcome + of the SPF check. You can add it to a custom header or use + it for logging purposes. + + + +$spf_received + + + +$spf_received + + This contains a complete Received-SPF: header that can be + added to the message. Please note that according to the SPF + draft, this header must be added at the top of the header + list. Please see section 10 on how you can do this. + + + Note: in case of "Best-guess" (see below), the convention is + to put this string in a header called X-SPF-Guess: instead. + + + +$spf_result + + + +$spf_result + + This contains the outcome of the SPF check in string form, + one of pass, fail, softfail, none, neutral, permerror or + temperror. + + + +$spf_result_guessed + + + +$spf_result_guessed + + This boolean is true only if a best-guess operation was used + and required in order to obtain a result. + + + +$spf_smtp_comment + + + +$spf_smtp_comment + + This contains a string that can be used in a SMTP response + to the calling party. Useful for "fail". + + + + + +SPF +ACL condition + + +ACL +spf_guess condition + + +SPF +best guess + +In addition to SPF, you can also perform checks for so-called +"Best-guess". Strictly speaking, "Best-guess" is not standard +SPF, but it is supported by the same framework that enables SPF +capability. +Refer to http://www.openspf.org/FAQ/Best_guess_record +for a description of what it means. + + +To access this feature, simply use the spf_guess condition in place +of the spf one. For example: + + +deny spf_guess = fail + message = $sender_host_address doesn't look trustworthy to me + + +In case you decide to reject messages based on this check, you +should note that although it uses the same framework, "Best-guess" +is not SPF, and therefore you should not mention SPF at all in your +reject message. + + +When the spf_guess condition has run, it sets up the same expansion +variables as when spf condition is run, described above. + + +Additionally, since Best-guess is not standardized, you may redefine +what "Best-guess" means to you by redefining the main configuration + option. +For example, the following: + + +spf_guess = v=spf1 a/16 mx/16 ptr ?all + + +would relax host matching rules to a broader network range. + + + +SPF +lookup expansion + + +lookup +spf + +A lookup expansion is also available. It takes an email +address as the key and an IP address as the database: + + + ${lookup {username@domain} spf {ip.ip.ip.ip}} + + +The lookup will return the same result strings as can appear in +$spf_result (pass,fail,softfail,neutral,none,err_perm,err_temp). +Currently, only IPv4 addresses are supported. + +
+ + + +Proxies +Proxy support + + +proxy support + + +proxy +access via + + + +A proxy is an intermediate system through which communication is passed. +Proxies may provide a security, availability or load-distribution function. + +
+Inbound proxies + + +proxy +inbound + + +proxy +server side + + +proxy +Proxy protocol + + +Proxy protocol +proxy + + + +Exim has support for receiving inbound SMTP connections via a proxy +that uses Proxy Protocol to speak to it. +To include this support, include SUPPORT_PROXY=yes +in Local/Makefile. + + +It was built on the HAProxy specification, found at +https://www.haproxy.org/download/1.8/doc/proxy-protocol.txt. + + +The purpose of this facility is so that an application load balancer, +such as HAProxy, can sit in front of several Exim servers +to distribute load. +Exim uses the local protocol communication with the proxy to obtain +the remote SMTP system IP address and port information. +There is no logging if a host passes or +fails Proxy Protocol negotiation, but it can easily be determined and +recorded in an ACL (example is below). + + +Use of a proxy is enabled by setting the +main configuration option to a hostlist; connections from these +hosts will use Proxy Protocol. +Exim supports both version 1 and version 2 of the Proxy Protocol and +automatically determines which version is in use. + + +The Proxy Protocol header is the first data received on a TCP connection +and is inserted before any TLS-on-connect handshake from the client; Exim +negotiates TLS between Exim-as-server and the remote client, not between +Exim and the proxy server. + + +The following expansion variables are usable +(internal and external here refer to the interfaces +of the proxy): + + +proxy_external_address IP of host being proxied or IP of remote interface of proxy +proxy_external_port Port of host being proxied or Port on remote interface of proxy +proxy_local_address IP of proxy server inbound or IP of local interface of proxy +proxy_local_port Port of proxy server inbound or Port on local interface of proxy +proxy_session boolean: SMTP connection via proxy + + +If $proxy_session is set but $proxy_external_address is empty +there was a protocol error. + + +Since the real connections are all coming from the proxy, and the +per host connection tracking is done before Proxy Protocol is +evaluated, must be set high enough to +handle all of the parallel volume you expect per inbound proxy. +With the option set so high, you lose the ability +to protect your server from many connections from one IP. +In order to prevent your server from overload, you +need to add a per connection ratelimit to your connect ACL. +A possible solution is: + + + # Set max number of connections per host + LIMIT = 5 + # Or do some kind of IP lookup in a flat file or database + # LIMIT = ${lookup{$sender_host_address}iplsearch{/etc/exim/proxy_limits}} + + defer message = Too many connections from this IP right now + ratelimit = LIMIT / 5s / per_conn / strict + +
+
+Outbound proxies + + +proxy +outbound + + +proxy +client side + + +proxy +SOCKS + + +SOCKS +proxy + +Exim has support for sending outbound SMTP via a proxy +using a protocol called SOCKS5 (defined by RFC1928). +The support can be optionally included by defining SUPPORT_SOCKS=yes in +Local/Makefile. + + +Use of a proxy is enabled by setting the option +on an smtp transport. +The option value is expanded and should then be a list +(colon-separated by default) of proxy specifiers. +Each proxy specifier is a list +(space-separated by default) where the initial element +is an IP address and any subsequent elements are options. + + +Options are a string <name>=<value>. +The list of options is in the following table: + + +auth authentication method +name authentication username +pass authentication password +port tcp port +tmo connection timeout +pri priority +weight selection bias + + +More details on each of these options follows: + + + + + +authentication +to proxy + + +proxy +authentication + +: Either none (default) or name. +Using name selects username/password authentication per RFC 1929 +for access to the proxy. +Default is none. + + + + +: sets the username for the name authentication method. +Default is empty. + + + + +: sets the password for the name authentication method. +Default is empty. + + + + +: the TCP port number to use for the connection to the proxy. +Default is 1080. + + + + +: sets a connection timeout in seconds for this proxy. +Default is 5. + + + + +: specifies a priority for the proxy within the list, +higher values being tried first. +The default priority is 1. + + + + +: specifies a selection bias. +Within a priority set servers are queried in a random fashion, +weighted by this value. +The default value for selection bias is 1. + + + + +Proxies from the list are tried according to their priority +and weight settings until one responds. The timeout for the +overall connection applies to the set of proxied attempts. + +
+
+Logging + +To log the (local) IP of a proxy in the incoming or delivery logline, +add +proxy to the option. +This will add a component tagged with PRX= to the line. + +
+ + + +Internationalisation +Internationalisation" + + +internationalisation +email address + + +EAI + + +i18n + + +utf8 +mail name handling + + + +Exim has support for Internationalised mail names. +To include this it must be built with SUPPORT_I18N and the libidn library. +Standards supported are RFCs 2060, 5890, 6530 and 6533. + + +If Exim is built with SUPPORT_I18N_2008 (in addition to SUPPORT_I18N, not +instead of it) then IDNA2008 is supported; this adds an extra library +requirement, upon libidn2. + +
+MTA operations + + +SMTPUTF8 +ESMTP option + +The main configuration option specifies +a host list. If this matches the sending host and +accept_8bitmime is true (the default) then the ESMTP option +SMTPUTF8 will be advertised. + + +If the sender specifies the SMTPUTF8 option on a MAIL command +international handling for the message is enabled and +the expansion variable $message_smtputf8 will have value TRUE. + + +The option is set to true for this +message. All DNS lookups are converted to a-label form +whatever the setting of +when Exim is built with SUPPORT_I18N. + + +Both localparts and domain are maintained as the original +UTF-8 form internally; any comparison or regular-expression use will +require appropriate care. Filenames created, eg. by +the appendfile transport, will have UTF-8 names. + + +HELO names sent by the smtp transport will have any UTF-8 +components expanded to a-label form, +and any certificate name checks will be done using the a-label +form of the name. + + + +log +protocol + + +SMTPUTF8 +logging + + +i18n +logging + +Log lines and Received-by: header lines will acquire a "utf8" +prefix on the protocol element, eg. utf8esmtp. + + +The following expansion operators can be used: + + +${utf8_domain_to_alabel:str} +${utf8_domain_from_alabel:str} +${utf8_localpart_to_alabel:str} +${utf8_localpart_from_alabel:str} + + + +utf8 +address downconversion + + +i18n +utf8 address downconversion + +The RCPT ACL +may use the following modifier: + + +control = utf8_downconvert +control = utf8_downconvert/<value> + + +This sets a flag requiring that addresses are converted to +a-label form before smtp delivery, for use in a +Message Submission Agent context. +If a value is appended it may be: + + +1 (default) mandatory downconversion +0 no downconversion +-1 if SMTPUTF8 not supported by destination host + + +If mua_wrapper is set, the utf8_downconvert control +is initially set to -1. + + +The smtp transport has an option . +If set it must expand to one of the three values described above, +and it overrides any previously set value. + + +There is no explicit support for VRFY and EXPN. +Configurations supporting these should inspect +$smtp_command_argument for an SMTPUTF8 argument. + + +There is no support for LMTP on Unix sockets. +Using the "lmtp" protocol option on an smtp transport, +for LMTP over TCP, should work as expected. + + +There is no support for DSN unitext handling, +and no provision for converting logging from or to UTF-8. + +
+
+MDA operations + +To aid in constructing names suitable for IMAP folders +the following expansion operator can be used: + + +${imapfolder {<string>} {<sep>} {<specials>}} + + +The string is converted from the charset specified by +the "headers charset" command (in a filter file) +or main configuration option (otherwise), +to the +modified UTF-7 encoding specified by RFC 2060, +with the following exception: All occurrences of <sep> +(which has to be a single character) +are replaced with periods ("."), and all periods and slashes that are not +<sep> and are not in the <specials> string are BASE64 encoded. + + +The third argument can be omitted, defaulting to an empty string. +The second argument can be omitted, defaulting to "/". + + +This is the encoding used by Courier for Maildir names on disk, and followed +by many other IMAP servers. + + +Examples: + + +${imapfolder {Foo/Bar}} yields Foo.Bar +${imapfolder {Foo/Bar}{.}{/}} yields Foo&AC8-Bar +${imapfolder {Räksmörgås}} yields R&AOQ-ksm&APY-rg&AOU-s + + +Note that the source charset setting is vital, and also that characters +must be representable in UTF-16. + +
+ + + +Events +Events + + +events + + + +The events mechanism in Exim can be used to intercept processing at a number +of points. It was originally invented to give a way to do customised logging +actions (for example, to a database) but can also be used to modify some +processing actions. + + +Most installations will never need to use Events. +The support can be left out of a build by defining DISABLE_EVENT=yes +in Local/Makefile. + + +There are two major classes of events: main and transport. +The main configuration option controls reception events; +a transport option controls delivery events. + + +Both options are a string which is expanded when the event fires. +An example might look like: + +logging +custom + + + +event_action = ${if eq {msg:delivery}{$event_name} \ +{${lookup pgsql {SELECT * FROM record_Delivery( \ + '${quote_pgsql:$sender_address_domain}',\ + '${quote_pgsql:${lc:$sender_address_local_part}}', \ + '${quote_pgsql:$domain}', \ + '${quote_pgsql:${lc:$local_part}}', \ + '${quote_pgsql:$host_address}', \ + '${quote_pgsql:${lc:$host}}', \ + '${quote_pgsql:$message_exim_id}')}} \ +} {}} + + +Events have names which correspond to the point in process at which they fire. +The name is placed in the variable $event_name and the event action +expansion must check this, as it will be called for every possible event type. + + +The current list of events is: + + +dane:fail after transport per connection +msg:complete after main per message +msg:delivery after transport per recipient +msg:rcpt:host:defer after transport per recipient per host +msg:rcpt:defer after transport per recipient +msg:host:defer after transport per attempt +msg:fail:delivery after transport per recipient +msg:fail:internal after main per recipient +tcp:connect before transport per connection +tcp:close after transport per connection +tls:cert before both per certificate in verification chain +smtp:connect after transport per connection + + +New event types may be added in future. + + +The event name is a colon-separated list, defining the type of +event in a tree of possibilities. It may be used as a list +or just matched on as a whole. There will be no spaces in the name. + + +The second column in the table above describes whether the event fires +before or after the action is associates with. Those which fire before +can be used to affect that action (more on this below). + + +The third column in the table above says what section of the configuration +should define the event action. + + +An additional variable, $event_data, is filled with information varying +with the event type: + + +dane:fail failure reason +msg:delivery smtp confirmation message +msg:fail:internal failure reason +msg:fail:delivery smtp error message +msg:rcpt:host:defer error string +msg:rcpt:defer error string +msg:host:defer error string +tls:cert verification chain depth +smtp:connect smtp banner + + +The :defer events populate one extra variable: $event_defer_errno. + + +For complex operations an ACL expansion can be used in +however due to the multiple contexts that Exim operates in during +the course of its processing: + + + + +variables set in transport events will not be visible outside that +transport call + + + + +acl_m variables in a server context are lost on a new connection, +and after smtp helo/ehlo/mail/starttls/rset commands + + + + +Using an ACL expansion with the logwrite modifier can be +a useful way of writing to the main log. + + +The expansion of the event_action option should normally +return an empty string. Should it return anything else the +following will be forced: + + +tcp:connect do not connect +tls:cert refuse verification +smtp:connect close connection + + +All other message types ignore the result string, and +no other use is made of it. + + +For a tcp:connect event, if the connection is being made to a proxy +then the address and port variables will be that of the proxy and not +the target system. + + +For tls:cert events, if GnuTLS is in use this will trigger only per +chain element received on the connection. +For OpenSSL it will trigger for every chain element including those +loaded locally. + + + + +Adding new drivers or lookup types +Adding drivers or lookups + + +adding drivers + + +new drivers, adding + + +drivers +adding new + +The following actions have to be taken in order to add a new router, transport, +authenticator, or lookup type to Exim: + + + + +Choose a name for the driver or lookup type that does not conflict with any +existing name; I will use newdriver in what follows. + + + + +Add to src/EDITME the line: + + +<type>_NEWDRIVER=yes + + +where <type> is ROUTER, TRANSPORT, AUTH, or LOOKUP. If the +code is not to be included in the binary by default, comment this line out. You +should also add any relevant comments about the driver or lookup type. + + + + +Add to src/config.h.defaults the line: + + +#define <type>_NEWDRIVER + + + + +Edit src/drtables.c, adding conditional code to pull in the private header +and create a table entry as is done for all the other drivers and lookup types. + + + + +Edit scripts/lookups-Makefile if this is a new lookup; there is a for-loop +near the bottom, ranging the name_mod variable over a list of all lookups. +Add your NEWDRIVER to that list. +As long as the dynamic module would be named newdriver.so, you can use the +simple form that most lookups have. + + + + +Edit Makefile in the appropriate sub-directory (src/routers, +src/transports, src/auths, or src/lookups); add a line for the new +driver or lookup type and add it to the definition of OBJ. + + + + +Edit OS/Makefile-Base adding a .o file for the predefined-macros, to the +definition of OBJ_MACRO. Add a set of line to do the compile also. + + + + +Create newdriver.h and newdriver.c in the appropriate sub-directory of +src. + + + + +Edit scripts/MakeLinks and add commands to link the .h and .c files +as for other drivers and lookups. + + + + +Then all you need to do is write the code! A good way to start is to make a +proforma by copying an existing module of the same type, globally changing all +occurrences of the name, and cutting out most of the code. Note that any +options you create must be listed in alphabetical order, because the tables are +searched using a binary chop procedure. + + +There is a README file in each of the sub-directories of src describing +the interface that is expected. + + + + + +Options index + + + +Variables index + + + +Concept index + + + -- 2.30.2