mail aliases "include" mail list

[Martha Mueller]

Sorry, I've GOT to learn to use the mouse.

Anyway, my question is concerning the mail aliases concept of using a file to contain a mail list, rather than using a list of names directly defined within the aliases.db

I have the following in the aliases file:

test_mail : ":include:/tmp/mail_test_list"

which contains a list of email addresses and works quite well. Are there any limits to the size of this file? My understanding is that the only restriction is on the size of each line, needs to be less than 1024 bytes. Does anyone else use this concept to pump out thousands of mail messages? We have a subscription list that would run into the thousands.

Thank you.

[Bill Thorsteinson]

I have send the following recommened when the list
size exceeds the capability of
the server:

mylist: mylista, mylistb, ...

mylista :inlcude:/etc/mylist/mystlista
mylistb :include:/etc/mylist/mylistb
...

[Martha Mueller]

Yes, that is exactly what I am using. However, the question is whether there is any limit to the size of the file that is called.

[Berlene Herren · Accepted solution]

No, there is no limit for the number (other than available virtual memory on your machine), but at least if you use a "dbm" alias map there
is a rather low limit for the total *length* of entry - around 1kB (for hash or btree I believe the limit, if there even is one, is sufficiently
high to be considered as infinite). In any case it is normally better to use an :include:/path/to/file type of alias if you have a very long list of recipients.

(thanks, Per!)

Berlene

[Martha Mueller]

OK, Thanks.