Please ask Debian-specific questions on this list and not on the general Exim
lists.
-.section "Exim training" "SECID4"
-.cindex "training courses"
-Training courses in Cambridge (UK) used to be run annually by the author of
-Exim, before he retired. At the time of writing, there are no plans to run
-further Exim courses in Cambridge. However, if that changes, relevant
-information will be posted at &url(http://www-tus.csx.cam.ac.uk/courses/exim/).
-
.section "Bug reports" "SECID5"
.cindex "bug reports"
.cindex "reporting bugs"
.cindex "distribution" "ftp site"
The master ftp site for the Exim distribution is
.display
-&*ftp://ftp.csx.cam.ac.uk/pub/software/email/exim*&
-.endd
-This is mirrored by
-.display
&*ftp://ftp.exim.org/pub/exim*&
.endd
The file references that follow are relative to the &_exim_& directories at
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).
+.new
+It is not valid if the &%spool_files_wireformat%& option is used.
+.wen
.vitem &$message_age$&
.cindex "message" "age of"
separates the body from the header. Newlines are included in the count. See
also &$message_size$&, &$body_linecount$&, and &$body_zerocount$&.
+.new
+If the spool file is wireformat
+(see the &%spool_files_wireformat%& main option)
+the CRLF line-terminators are included in the count.
+.wen
+
.vitem &$message_exim_id$&
.vindex "&$message_exim_id$&"
When a message is being received or delivered, this variable contains the
In the MAIL and RCPT ACLs, the value is zero because at that stage the
message has not yet been received.
+.new
+This variable is not valid if the &%spool_files_wireformat%& option is used.
+.wen
+
.vitem &$message_size$&
.cindex "size" "of message"
.cindex "message" "size"
.row &%message_body_visible%& "how much to show in &$message_body$&"
.row &%mua_wrapper%& "run in &""MUA wrapper""& mode"
.row &%print_topbitchars%& "top-bit characters are printing"
+.row &%spool_wireformat%& "use wire-format spool data files when possible"
.row &%timezone%& "force time zone"
.endtable
.section "Privilege controls" "SECID98"
.table2
.row &%admin_groups%& "groups that are Exim admin users"
+.row &%commandline_checks_require_admin%& "require admin for various checks"
.row &%deliver_drop_privilege%& "drop root for delivery processes"
.row &%local_from_check%& "insert &'Sender:'& if necessary"
.row &%local_from_prefix%& "for testing &'From:'& for local sender"
these hosts.
Hosts may use the BDAT command as an alternate to DATA.
+.new
+.option commandline_checks_require_admin main boolean &`false`&
+.cindex "restricting access to features"
+This option restricts various basic checking features to require an
+administrative user.
+This affects most of the &%-b*%& options, such as &%-be%&.
+.wen
+
.option debug_store main boolean &`false`&
.cindex debugging "memory corruption"
.cindex memory debugging
.option prod_requires_admin main boolean true
+.cindex "restricting access to features"
.oindex "&%-M%&"
.oindex "&%-R%&"
.oindex "&%-q%&"
The &%-M%&, &%-R%&, and &%-q%& command-line options require the caller to be an
admin user unless &%prod_requires_admin%& is set false. See also
-&%queue_list_requires_admin%&.
+&%queue_list_requires_admin%& and &%commandline_checks_require_admin%&.
.option qualify_domain main string "see below"
.option queue_list_requires_admin main boolean true
+.cindex "restricting access to features"
.oindex "&%-bp%&"
The &%-bp%& command-line option, which lists the messages that are on the
queue, requires the caller to be an admin user unless
-&%queue_list_requires_admin%& is set false. See also &%prod_requires_admin%&.
+&%queue_list_requires_admin%& is set false.
+See also &%prod_requires_admin%& and &%commandline_checks_require_admin%&.
.option queue_only main boolean false
By using this option to override the compiled-in path, it is possible to run
tests of Exim without using the standard spool.
+.new
+.option spool_wireformat main boolean false
+.cindex "spool directory" "file formats"
+If this option is set, Exim may for some messages use an alternate 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 EMSTP CHUNKING
+option.
+
+The following variables will not have useful values:
+.code
+$max_received_linelength
+$body_linecount
+$body_zerocount
+.endd
+
+Users of the local_scan() API (see &<<CHAPlocalscan>>&),
+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 potential different format.
+
+Using any of the ACL conditions noted will negate the reception benefit
+(as a Unix-mbox-format file is contructed for them).
+The transimssion benefit is maintained.
+.wen
+
.option sqlite_lock_timeout main time 5s
.cindex "sqlite lookup type" "lock timeout"
This option controls the timeout that the &(sqlite)& lookup uses when trying to
.option forbid_blackhole redirect boolean false
+.cindex "restricting access to features"
+.cindex "filter" "locking out certain features"
If this option is true, the &':blackhole:'& item may not appear in a
redirection list.
.option forbid_exim_filter redirect boolean false
+.cindex "restricting access to features"
+.cindex "filter" "locking out certain features"
If this option is set true, only Sieve filters are permitted when
&%allow_filter%& is true.
.option forbid_file redirect boolean false
+.cindex "restricting access to features"
.cindex "delivery" "to file; forbidding"
+.cindex "filter" "locking out certain features"
.cindex "Sieve filter" "forbidding delivery to a file"
.cindex "Sieve filter" "&""keep""& facility; disabling"
If this option is true, this router may not generate a new address that
.option forbid_filter_dlfunc redirect boolean false
+.cindex "restricting access to features"
.cindex "filter" "locking out certain features"
If this option is true, string expansions in Exim filters are not allowed to
make use of the &%dlfunc%& expansion facility to run dynamically loaded
functions.
.option forbid_filter_existstest redirect boolean false
+.cindex "restricting access to features"
+.cindex "filter" "locking out certain features"
.cindex "expansion" "statting a file"
If this option is true, string expansions in Exim filters are not allowed to
make use of the &%exists%& condition or the &%stat%& expansion item.
.option forbid_filter_logwrite redirect boolean false
+.cindex "restricting access to features"
+.cindex "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'
.option forbid_filter_lookup redirect boolean false
+.cindex "restricting access to features"
+.cindex "filter" "locking out certain features"
If this option is true, string expansions in Exim filter files are not allowed
to make use of &%lookup%& items.
.option forbid_filter_perl redirect boolean false
+.cindex "restricting access to features"
+.cindex "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.
.option forbid_filter_readfile redirect boolean false
+.cindex "restricting access to features"
+.cindex "filter" "locking out certain features"
If this option is true, string expansions in Exim filter files are not allowed
to make use of &%readfile%& items.
.option forbid_filter_readsocket redirect boolean false
+.cindex "restricting access to features"
+.cindex "filter" "locking out certain features"
If this option is true, string expansions in Exim filter files are not allowed
to make use of &%readsocket%& items.
.option forbid_filter_reply redirect boolean false
+.cindex "restricting access to features"
+.cindex "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
.option forbid_filter_run redirect boolean false
+.cindex "restricting access to features"
+.cindex "filter" "locking out certain features"
If this option is true, string expansions in Exim filter files are not allowed
to make use of &%run%& items.
.option forbid_include redirect boolean false
+.cindex "restricting access to features"
+.cindex "filter" "locking out certain features"
If this option is true, items of the form
.code
:include:<path name>
.option forbid_pipe redirect boolean false
+.cindex "restricting access to features"
+.cindex "filter" "locking out certain features"
.cindex "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
.option forbid_sieve_filter redirect boolean false
+.cindex "restricting access to features"
+.cindex "filter" "locking out certain features"
If this option is set true, only Exim filters are permitted when
&%allow_filter%& is true.
of the message. Its value must not be zero. See also &%final_timeout%&.
-.option dkim_domain smtp string&!! unset
+.option dkim_domain smtp string list&!! unset
.option dkim_selector smtp string&!! unset
.option dkim_private_key smtp string&!! unset
.option dkim_canon smtp string&!! unset
"SECTmulmessam"
.cindex "multiple SMTP deliveries with TLS"
.cindex "TLS" "multiple message deliveries"
+.new
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, Exim shuts down an existing TLS
-session before passing the socket to a new process. The new process may then
+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
+&%hosts_noproxy_tls%& option on the &(smtp)& transport. If the host matches
+this list the proxy process descibed above is not used; instead Exim
+.wen
+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.
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.
+.new
+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.
+.wen
All the usual ACLs are called; if one results in the message being
rejected, all effort spent in delivery (including the costs on
.vlist
.vitem &*int&~body_linecount*&
This variable contains the number of lines in the message's body.
+.new
+It is not valid if the &%spool_files_wireformat%& option is used.
+.wen
.vitem &*int&~body_zerocount*&
This variable contains the number of binary zero bytes in the message's body.
+.new
+It is not valid if the &%spool_files_wireformat%& option is used.
+.wen
.vitem &*unsigned&~int&~debug_selector*&
This variable is set to zero when no debugging is taking place. Otherwise, it
&`I `& local interface used
&`K `& CHUNKING extension used
&`id `& message id for incoming message
+&`M8S `& 8BITMIME status for incoming message
&`P `& on &`<=`& lines: protocol used
&` `& on &`=>`& and &`**`& lines: return path
&`PRDR`& PRDR extension used
unprivileged), Exim must be built to allow group read access to its spool
files.
+.new
+By default, regular users are trusted to perform basic testing and
+introspection commands, as themselves. This setting can be tightened by
+setting the &%commandline_checks_require_admin%& option.
+This affects most of the checking options,
+such as &%-be%& and anything else &%-b*%&.
+.wen
.section "Spool files" "SECID275"
-J file and uses it to update the -H file before starting the next delivery
attempt.
+.new
+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.
+.wen
+
.section "Format of the -H file" "SECID282"
.cindex "uid (user id)" "in spool file"
.cindex "gid (group id)" "in spool file"
&$authenticated_sender$& variable.
.vitem "&%-body_linecount%&&~<&'number'&>"
-This records the number of lines in the body of the message, and is always
-present.
+This records the number of lines in the body of the message, and is
+present unless &%-spool_file_wireformat%& is.
.vitem "&%-body_zerocount%&&~<&'number'&>"
This records the number of binary zero bytes in the body of the message, and is
If a message was scanned by SpamAssassin, this is present. It records the value
of &$spam_score_int$&.
+.new
+.vitem &%-spool_file_wireformat%&
+The -D file for this message is in wire-format (for ESMTP CHUNKING)
+rather than Unix-format.
+The line-ending is CRLF rather than newline.
+There is still, however, no leading-dot-stuffing.
+.wen
+
.vitem &%-tls_certificate_verified%&
A TLS certificate was received from the client that sent this message, and the
certificate was verified by the server.
.ecindex IIDforspo2
.ecindex IIDforspo3
+.new
+.section "Format of the -D file" "SECID282a"
+The data file is traditionally in Unix-standard format: lines are ended with
+an ASCII newline character.
+However, when the &%spool_wireformat%& main option is used some -D files
+can have an alternate format.
+This is flagged by a &%-spool_file_wireformat%& line in the corresponding -H file.
+The -D file lines (not including the first name-component line) are
+suitable for direct copying to the wire when transmitting using the
+ESMTP CHUNKING option, meaning lower processing overhead.
+Lines are terminated with an ASCII CRLF pair.
+There is no dot-stuffing (and no dot-termination).
+.wen
+
. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Signing is enabled by setting private options on the SMTP transport.
These options take (expandable) strings as arguments.
-.option dkim_domain smtp string&!! unset
-MANDATORY:
-The domain you want to sign with. The result of this expanded
-option is put into the &%$dkim_domain%& expansion variable.
+.option dkim_domain smtp string list&!! unset
+The domain(s) you want to sign with.
+.new
+After expansion, this can be a list.
+Each element in turn is put into the &%$dkim_domain%& expansion variable
+while expanding the remaining signing options.
+.wen
If it is empty after expansion, DKIM signing is not done.
.option dkim_selector smtp string&!! unset
-MANDATORY:
-This sets the key selector string. You can use the &%$dkim_domain%& expansion
-variable to look up a matching selector. The result is put in the expansion
+This sets the key selector string.
+You can use the &%$dkim_domain%& expansion variable to look up a matching selector.
+The result is put in the expansion
variable &%$dkim_selector%& which may be used in the &%dkim_private_key%&
option along with &%$dkim_domain%&.
+If the option is empty after expansion, DKIM signing is not done.
.option dkim_private_key smtp string&!! unset
-MANDATORY:
-This sets the private key to use. You can use the &%$dkim_domain%& and
+This sets the private key to use.
+You can use the &%$dkim_domain%& and
&%$dkim_selector%& expansion variables to determine the private key to use.
The result can either
.ilist
be signed. This case will not result in an error, even if &%dkim_strict%&
is set.
.endlist
+If the option is empty after expansion, DKIM signing is not done.
.option dkim_canon smtp string&!! unset
-OPTIONAL:
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 using the same canonicalization method for both headers and body.
.option dkim_strict smtp string&!! unset
-OPTIONAL:
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
variables here.
.option dkim_sign_headers smtp string&!! unset
-OPTIONAL:
-When set, this option must expand to (or be specified as) a colon-separated
+If set, this option must expand to (or be specified as) a colon-separated
list of header names. Headers with these names will be included in the message
-signature. When unspecified, the header names recommended in RFC4871 will be
-used.
+signature.
+When unspecified, the header names recommended in RFC4871 will be used.
.section "Verifying DKIM signatures in incoming mail" "SECID514"