####[ How-Do-I Documents ]######################################
Sub : MTA based mailing list
How-Do-I set up a simple mailing list, with utilities available
on a default Linux box ?
################################################################
1 Introduction
1.1 There may be situations wherin, within your own network
or to any system permanently connected to the internet,
you would like to have a small mailing list going, so
that if you post to one common address, all the people
on the common mailing list receive the mail ...
1.2 This type of situation is common where there are proj-
ects where a few people have to communicate frequently.
2 Solution.
2.1 One way is to install, a full blown mailing list mana-
gement program such as majordomo. However, for a small
project with a limited number of members, a normally
configured MTA like sendmail, exim or postfix is ade-
quate.
3 Setting up the mailing list
3.1 By all probabilities you have one of the above MTAs on
your box, and in running order. To confirm that the
MTA daemon is running in the background, check with:
$netstat -a | grep smtp
3.2 If you get the "LISTEN" response things are okay. Else
you need to set up your MTA first, and have it running
in the background.
3.3 Suppose your system is called "aedes.net" and the list
name is "hackers" the address for your mailing list
would be .
3.4 If your box (aedes.net) has an IP address and is perm-
anently connected to the internet, you would be able
to have anybody on the internet on your hook up ... If
not, you are restricted to intranet mailing only.
4 Editing aliases file
4.1 The location of the aliases file within the /etc dir
may vary from system to system and from MTA to MTA.
4.2 To find where it is located, do:
$locate aliases
4.3 Once located (usually in /etc/mail/ or /etc/), su to
root and go to that dir. Edit that file manually. Go
to the end of file and add:
-------------------
# The Local mailing list
hackers:
boss, # Local user no @ needed
yourself,
tom@someplace.org, # remote users
joe@somewhere.net # over internet
[Note : No comma at the end]
-------------------
4.4 Now to make these aliases "active", you need to run
the following command:
MTA Command
~~~ ~~~~~~~
sendmail newaliases
Postfix postaliases /etc/aliases
exim [Nothjing to be done]
4.5 That is about all there is to it. Your mailing list
is ready. Send a test mail to hackers@aedes.net, and
you will find that the mail has been sent to all the
addressees on the list created by you !
4.6 Adding, changing or deleting addresses is a matter of
re-editing the aliases file and repeating the above
steps.
Simple ?
5 Kudos and Brickbats
5.1 This document is released under GNU/ GPL licence. You are
free to use and distribute this without any encumberances
5.2 Any kudos and brickbats should be directed at:
USM Bish
20 Dec 2000