Funky "From" heading in email, when run thru crontab

[Ratzie]

I have a script that emails me when there is a problem, every thing works fine, but it gives a funky from.

I run this script thru root's crontab, that does ...
00 07 * * 6 su user1 -c /home/user1/scripts/backup/transfer_file.sh

I use mailx, so I can send an a attachment.

When I get the email, in the from heading
SCP id for transfer of DB

Yes, I am running a command that scp's a file, in the transfer_file.sh

Where does it pick up this wonky wording...
SCP id for transfer of DB

[Tony Contratto · Accepted solution]

Hi,

My guess would be that it is coming from the comment field for the user in /etc/passwd.

-Tony

[Ratzie]

You are right, but does it have to read the comments field in the passwd file?

[RAC_1]

Post scipt please.

Also what is the user1 entry in /etc/passwd? Particularly Description field.

Anil

[Sanjay_6]

Hi,

Though you are running this as part of root cron job, you are doing a su as user1, so effectively the user running the job is user1.

While emailing the name of the user1 specified in the /etc/passwd file is added and the from would show as

some_name

Login as root, do a su - user1 and now send yourself an email and you'll know.

Hope this helps.

Regds

[RAC_1]

Yes it reads the password file.

In your script try as follows.

mailx -r "xxx" -s "whatever" mail_id

Now it should say mail from
xxx@hostname

Anil