SYNOPSIS
postsuper [-psv] [-c config_dir] [-d queue_id]
[-h queue_id] [-H queue_id]
[-r queue_id] [directory ...]
DESCRIPTION
The postsuper command does maintenance jobs on the Postfix queue. Use
of the command is restricted to the superuser. See the postqueue com-
mand for unprivileged queue operations such as listing or flushing the
mail queue.
By default, postsuper performs the operations requested with the -s and
-p command-line options on all Postfix queue directories - this
includes the incoming, active and deferred directories with mail files
and the bounce, defer, trace and flush directories with log files.
Options:
-c config_dir
The main.cf configuration file is in the named directory instead
of the default configuration directory. See also the MAIL_CONFIG
environment setting below.
-d queue_id
Delete one message with the named queue ID from the named mail
queue(s) (default: hold, incoming, active and deferred). If a
queue_id of - is specified, the program reads queue IDs from
standard input. For example, to delete all mail from or to
user@example.com:
mailq | tail +2 | awk 'BEGIN { RS = "" } \
/ user@example\.com$/ { print $1 } \
' | tr -d '*!' | postsuper -d -
Specify -d ALL to remove all messages; for example, specify -d
ALL deferred to delete mail in the deferred queue. As a safety
measure, the word ALL must be specified in upper case.
Warning: Postfix queue IDs are reused. There is a very small
possibility that postsuper deletes the wrong message file when
it is executed while the Postfix mail system is delivering mail.
The scenario is as follows:
1) The Postfix queue manager deletes the message that post-
super is asked to delete, because Postfix is finished
with the message (it is delivered, or it is returned to
the sender).
2) New mail arrives, and the new message is given the same
queue ID as the message that postsuper is supposed to
delete. The probability for reusing a deleted queue ID
Specify -h ALL to hold all messages; for example, specify -h ALL
deferred to hold mail in the deferred queue. As a safety mea-
sure, the word ALL must be specified in upper case.
Note: while mail is "on hold" it will not expire when its time
in the queue exceeds the maximal_queue_lifetime or
bounce_queue_lifetime setting. It becomes subject to expiration
after it is released from "hold".
-H queue_id
Release mail that was put "on hold". Move one message with the
named queue ID from the named mail queue(s) (default: hold) to
the deferred queue. If a queue_id of - is specified, the pro-
gram reads queue IDs from standard input.
Specify -H ALL to release all mail that is "on hold". As a
safety measure, the word ALL must be specified in upper case.
-p Purge old temporary files that are left over after system or
software crashes.
-r queue_id
Requeue the message with the named queue ID from the named mail
queue(s) (default: hold, incoming, active and deferred). To
requeue multiple messages, specify multiple -r command-line
options. Alternatively, if a queue_id of - is specified, the
program reads queue IDs from standard input.
Specify -r ALL to requeue all messages. As a safety measure, the
word ALL must be specified in upper case.
A requeued message is moved to the maildrop queue, from where it
is copied by the pickup daemon to a new file whose name is guar-
anteed to match the new queue file inode number. The new queue
file is subjected again to mail address rewriting and substitu-
tion. This is useful when rewriting rules or virtual mappings
have changed.
Warning: Postfix queue IDs are reused. There is a very small
possibility that postsuper requeues the wrong message file when
it is executed while the Postfix mail system is running, but no
harm should be done.
-s Structure check and structure repair. This should be done once
before Postfix startup.
o Rename files whose name does not match the message file
inode number. This operation is necessary after restoring
a mail queue from a different machine, or from backup
media.
o Move queue files that are in the wrong place in the file
stream and to syslogd(8).
ENVIRONMENT
MAIL_CONFIG
Directory with the main.cf file.
BUGS
Mail that is not sanitized by Postfix (i.e. mail in the maildrop queue)
cannot be placed "on hold".
CONFIGURATION PARAMETERS
The following main.cf parameters are especially relevant to this pro-
gram. The text below provides only a parameter summary. See post-
conf(5) for more details including examples.
config_directory (see 'postconf -d' output)
The default location of the Postfix main.cf and master.cf con-
figuration files.
hash_queue_depth (1)
The number of subdirectory levels for queue directories listed
with the hash_queue_names parameter.
hash_queue_names (see 'postconf -d' output)
The names of queue directories that are split across multiple
subdirectory levels.
queue_directory (see 'postconf -d' output)
The location of the Postfix top-level queue directory.
syslog_facility (mail)
The syslog facility of Postfix logging.
syslog_name (postfix)
The mail system name that is prepended to the process name in
syslog records, so that "smtpd" becomes, for example, "post-
fix/smtpd".
SEE ALSO
sendmail(1), Sendmail-compatible user interface
postqueue(1), unprivileged queue operations
LICENSE
The Secure Mailer license must be distributed with this software.
AUTHOR(S)
Wietse Venema
IBM T.J. Watson Research
P.O. Box 704
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, USA
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