How to enable sendmail.

[Shawn Miller_2]

I have my sendmail.cf file configured but when I run /sbin/init.d/sendmail start I get this as a response:

Sendmail server is disabled, You cannot start it manually using sendmail script.

I am assuming there is some simple step I am missing.

Thanks for your help.

[RAC_1 · Accepted solution]

/etc/rc.config.d/mailservs

Modify the above file and set the variable to 1

Anil

[Steven E. Protter]

Your question is phrased interestingly.

1) You can run a sendmail script even with the sendmail daemon shut. All you have to do is give the full path to the binary and any sendmail script will work.

Rule of thumb: With the daemon disabled you disable inbound mail, not outbound mail. All tools, such as elm or mail will work and if networking is set up at least attempt to get mail off the box.

Many people leave the sendmail daemon disabled because they don't want inbound mail traffic and the daemon can be used to push outbound smtp traffic by people who are the opposite of nice.

The actual solution to the question as phrased is to fix the sendmail script and give it the full path of sendmail. The daemon need not be touched or activated.

To find the binary:

whence sendmail

Take the output and put it in your sendmail script.

SEP