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diff --git a/doc/mailman-install.tex b/doc/mailman-install.tex new file mode 100644 index 00000000..0c6aa2ad --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/mailman-install.tex @@ -0,0 +1,1134 @@ +\documentclass{howto} + +\title{GNU Mailman - Installation Manual} +\author{Barry Warsaw} +\authoraddress{\email{barry(at)python.org}} + +\date{\today} +\release{2.1} % software release, not documentation +\setreleaseinfo{} % empty for final release +\setshortversion{2.1} % major.minor only for software + +\begin{document} + +\maketitle + +% This makes the Abstract go on a separate page in the HTML version; +% if a copyright notice is used, it should go immediately after this. +% +\ifhtml +\chapter*{Front Matter\label{front}} +\fi + +\begin{abstract} +\noindent +This document describes how to install GNU Mailman on a POSIX-based system +such as \UNIX{}, MacOSX, or GNU/Linux. It will cover basic installation +instructions, as well as guidelines for integrating Mailman with your web and +mail servers. + +The GNU Mailman website is at \url{http://www.list.org} +\end{abstract} + +% The ugly "%begin{latexonly}" pseudo-environment supresses the table +% of contents for HTML generation. +% +%begin{latexonly} +\tableofcontents +%end{latexonly} + + +\section{Installation Requirements} + +GNU Mailman works on most POSIX-based systems such as \UNIX{}, MacOSX, or +GNU/Linux. It does not currently work on Windows. You must have a mail +server that you can send messages to, and a web server that supports the +CGI/1.1 API. \ulink{Apache}{http://httpd.apache.org} makes a fine choice for +web server, and mail servers such as +\ulink{Postfix}{http://www.postfix.org}, +\ulink{Exim}{http://www.exim.org}, +\ulink{Sendmail}{http://www.sendmail.org}, and +\ulink{qmail}{http://cr.yp.to/qmail.html} should +work just fine. + +To install Mailman from source, you will need an ANSI C compiler to build +Mailman's security wrappers. The +\ulink{GNU C compiler gcc}{http://gcc.gnu.org} 2.8.1 or later is known +to work well. + +You must have the \ulink{Python}{http://www.python.org} interpreter installed +somewhere on your system. Mailman 2.1 requires Python 2.1 or newer, although +Python 2.3 or newer is recommended. + +\section{Setting up your system} + +Before installing Mailman, you need to prepare your system by adding certain +users and groups. You will need to have root privileges to perform the steps +in this section. + +\subsection{Adding the group and user} + +Mailman requires a unique user and group name which will own its files, and +under which its processes will run. Mailman's basic security is based on +group ownership permissions, so it's important to get this step +right\footnote{You will be able to check and repair your permissions after +installation is complete.}. Typically, you will add a new user and a new +group, both called \code{mailman}. The \code{mailman} user must be a member +of the \code{mailman} group. Mailman will be installed under the +\code{mailman} user and group, with the set-group-id (setgid) bit enabled. + +If these names are already in use, you can choose different user and group +names, as long as you remember these when you run \program{configure}. If you +choose a different unique user name, you will have to specify this with +\program{configure}'s \longprogramopt{with-username} option, and if you choose +a different group name, you will have to specify this with +\program{configure}'s \longprogramopt{with-groupname} option. + +On Linux systems, you can use the following commands to create these +accounts. Check your system's manual pages for details: + +\begin{verbatim} + % groupadd mailman + % useradd -c''GNU Mailman'' -s /no/shell -d /no/home -g mailman mailman +\end{verbatim} + +\subsection{Creating the installation directory\label{create-install-dir}} +Typically, Mailman is installed into a single directory, which includes both +the Mailman source code and the run-time list and archive data. It is +possible to split the static program files from the variable data files and +install them in separate directories. This section will describe the +available options. + +The default is to install all of Mailman to +\file{/usr/local/mailman}\footnote{This is the default for Mailman 2.1. +Earlier versions of Mailman installed everything under \file{/home/mailman} by +default.}. You can change this base installation directory (referred to here +as \var{\$prefix}) by specifying the directory with the +\longprogramopt{prefix} \program{configure} option. If you're upgrading from +a previous version of Mailman, you may want to use the \longprogramopt{prefix} +option unless you move your mailing lists. + +\begin{notice}[warning] +You cannot install Mailman on a filesystem that is mounted with the +\code{nosuid} option. This will break Mailman, which relies on setgid +programs for its security. If this describes your environment, simply install +Mailman in a location that allows setgid programs. +\end{notice} + +Make sure the installation directory is set to group \code{mailman} (or +whatever you're going to specify with \longprogramopt{with-groupname}) and has +the setgid bit set\footnote{BSD users should see the \ref{bsd-issues} section +for additional information.}. You probably also want to guarantee that this +directory is readable and executable by everyone. For example, these shell +commands will accomplish this: + +\begin{verbatim} + % cd $prefix + % chgrp mailman . + % chmod a+rx,g+ws . +\end{verbatim} + +You are now ready to configure and install the Mailman software. + +\section{Building and installing\label{building}} + +\subsection{Running \program{configure}} + +Before you can install Mailman, you must run \program{configure} to set +various installation options your system might need. + +\begin{notice}[note] +Take special note of the \longprogramopt{with-mail-gid} and +\longprogramopt{with-cgi-gid} options below. You will probably need to use +these. +\end{notice} + +You should \strong{not} be root while performing the steps in this section. +Do them under your own login, or whatever account you typically use to install +software. You do not need to do these steps as user \code{mailman}, but you +could. However, make sure that the login used is a member of the +\code{mailman} group as that that group has write permissions to the +\var{\$prefix} directory made in the previous step. You must also have +permission to create a setgid file in the file system where it resides (NFS +and other mounts can be configured to inhibit setgid settings). + +If you've installed other GNU software, you should be familiar with the +\program{configure} script. Usually you can just \program{cd} to the +directory you unpacked the Mailman source tarball into, and run +\program{configure} with no arguments: + +\begin{verbatim} + % cd mailman-<version> + % ./configure + % make install +\end{verbatim} + +The following options allow you to customize your Mailman +installation. + +\begin{description} +\item[\longprogramopt{prefix}=\var{dir}] + Standard GNU configure option which changes the base directory that + Mailman is installed into. By default \var{\$prefix} is + \file{/usr/local/mailman}. This directory must already exist, and be set + up as described in \ref{create-install-dir}. + +\item[\longprogramopt{exec-prefix}=\var{dir}] + Standard GNU configure option which lets you specify a different + installation directory for architecture dependent binaries. + +\item[\longprogramopt{with-var-prefix}=\var{dir}] + Store mutable data under \var{dir} instead of under the \var{\$prefix} or + \var{\$exec_prefix}. Examples of such data include the list archives and + list settings database. + +\item[\longprogramopt{with-python}=\file{/path/to/python}] + Specify an alternative Python interpreter to use for the wrapper programs. + The default is to use the interpreter found first on your shell's + \var{\$PATH}. + +\item[\longprogramopt{with-username}=\var{username-or-uid}] + Specify a different username than \code{mailman}. The value of this + option can be an integer user id or a user name. Be sure your + \var{\$prefix} directory is owned by this user. + +\item[\longprogramopt{with-groupname}=\var{groupname-or-gid}] + Specify a different groupname than \code{mailman}. The value of this + option can be an integer group id or a group name. Be sure your + \var{\$prefix} directory is group-owned by this group. + +\item[\longprogramopt{with-mail-gid}=\var{group-or-groups}] + Specify an alternative group for running scripts via the mail wrapper. + \var{group-or-groups} can be a list of one or more integer group ids or + symbolic group names. The first value in the list that resolves to an + existing group is used. By default, the value is the list \code{mailman}, + \code{other}, \code{mail}, and \code{daemon}. + + \begin{notice}[note] + This is highly system dependent and you must get this right, because the + group id is compiled into the mail wrapper program for added security. On + systems using \program{sendmail}, the \file{sendmail.cf} configuration + file designates the group id of \program{sendmail} processes using the + \var{DefaultUser} option. (If commented out, it still may be indicating + the default...) + \end{notice} + + Check your mail server's documentation and configuration files to find the + right value for this switch. + +\item[\longprogramopt{with-cgi-gid}=\var{group-or-groups}] + Specify an alternative group for running scripts via the CGI wrapper. + \var{group-or-groups} can be a list of one or more integer group ids or + symbolic group names. The first value in the list that resolves to an + existing group is used. By default, the value is the the list + \code{www}, \code{www-data}, and \code{nobody}. + + \begin{notice}[note] + The proper value for this is dependent on your web server configuration. + You must get this right, because the group id is compiled into the CGI + wrapper program for added security, and no Mailman CGI scripts will run if + this is incorrect. + \end{notice} + + If you're using Apache, check the values for the \var{Group} option in + your \file{httpd.conf} file. + +\item[\longprogramopt{with-cgi-ext}=\var{extension}] + Specify an extension for cgi-bin programs. The CGI wrappers placed in + \file{\var{\$prefix}/cgi-bin} will have this extension (some web servers + require an extension). \var{extension} must include the leading dot. + +\item[\longprogramopt{with-mailhost}=\var{hostname}] + Specify the fully qualified host name part for outgoing email. After the + installation is complete, this value can be overriden in + \file{\var{\$prefix}/Mailman/mm_cfg.py}. + +\item[\longprogramopt{with-urlhost}=\var{hostname}] + Specify the fully qualified host name part of urls. After the + installation is complete, this value can be overriden in + \file{\var{\$prefix}/Mailman/mm_cfg.py}. + +\item[\longprogramopt{with-gcc}=no] + Don't use gcc, even if it is found. In this case, \program{cc} must be + found on your \var{\$PATH}. + +\end{description} + +\subsection{Make and install} + +Once you've run \program{configure}, you can simply run \program{make}, then +\program{make install} to build and install Mailman. + +\section{Check your installation} + +After you've run \program{make install}, you should check that your +installation has all the correct permissions and group ownerships by running +the \program{check_perms} script. First change to the installation +(i.e. \var{\$prefix}) directory, then run the \program{bin/check_perms} +program. Don't try to run bin/check_perms from the source directory; it will +only run from the installation directory. + +If this reports no problems, then it's very likely <wink> that your +installation is set up correctly. If it reports problems, then you can either +fix them manually, re-run the installation, or use \program{bin/check_perms} +to fix the problems (probably the easiest solution): + +\begin{itemize} +\item You need to become the user that did the installation, and that owns all + the files in \var{\$prefix}, or root. + +\item Run \program{bin/check_perms -f} + +\item Repeat previous step until no more errors are reported! +\end{itemize} + +\section{Setting up your web server} + +Congratulations! You've installed the Mailman software. To get everything +running you need to hook Mailman up to both your web server and your mail +system. + +If you plan on running your mail and web servers on different machines, +sharing Mailman installations via NFS, be sure that the clocks on those two +machines are synchronized closely. You might take a look at the file +\file{Mailman/LockFile.py}; the constant \var{CLOCK_SLOP} helps the locking +mechanism compensate for clock skew in this type of environment. + +This section describes some of the things you need to do to connect Mailman's +web interface to your web server. The instructions here are somewhat geared +toward the Apache web server, so you should consult your web server +documentation for details. + +You must configure your web server to enable CGI script permission in the +\file{\var{\$prefix}/cgi-bin} to run CGI scripts. The line you should add +might look something like the following, with the real absolute directory +substituted for \var{\$prefix}, of course: + +\begin{verbatim} + Exec /mailman/* $prefix/cgi-bin/* +\end{verbatim} +% $ - emacs turd + + or: + +\begin{verbatim} + ScriptAlias /mailman/ $prefix/cgi-bin/ +\end{verbatim} +% $ - emacs turd + +\begin{notice}[warning] +You want to be very sure that the user id under which your CGI scripts run is +\strong{not} in the \code{mailman} group you created above, otherwise private +archives will be accessible to anyone. +\end{notice} + +Copy the Mailman, Python, and GNU logos to a location accessible to your web +server. E.g. with Apache, you've usually got an \file{icons} directory that +you can drop the images into. For example: + +\begin{verbatim} + % cp $prefix/icons/*.{jpg,png} /path/to/apache/icons +\end{verbatim} + +You then want to add a line to your \file{\var{\$prefix}/Mailman/mm_cfg.py} +file which sets the base URL for the logos. For example: + +\begin{verbatim} + IMAGE_LOGOS = '/images/' +\end{verbatim} + +The default value for \var{IMAGE_LOGOS} is \file{/icons/}. Read the comment +in \file{Defaults.py.in} for details. + +Configure your web server to point to the Pipermail public mailing list +archives. For example, in Apache: + +\begin{verbatim} + Alias /pipermail/ $varprefix/archives/public/ +\end{verbatim} +% $ - emacs turd + +where \var{\$varprefix} is usually \var{\$prefix} unless you've used the +\longprogramopt{with-var-prefix} option to \program{configure}. Also be +sure to configure your web server to follow symbolic links in this directory, +otherwise public Pipermail archives won't be accessible. For Apache users, +consult the \var{FollowSymLinks} option. + +If you're going to be supporting internationalized public archives, you will +probably want to turn off any default charset directive for the Pipermail +directory, otherwise your multilingual archive pages won't show up correctly. +Here's an example for Apache, based on the standard installation directories: + +\begin{verbatim} + <Directory "/usr/local/mailman/archives/public/"> + AddDefaultCharset Off + </Directory> +\end{verbatim} + +Now restart your web server. + +\section{Setting up your mail server\label{mail-server}} + +This section describes some of the things you need to do to connect Mailman's +email interface to your mail server. The instructions here are different for +each mail server; if your mail server is not described in the following +subsections, try to generalize from the existing documentation, and consider +contributing documentation updates to the Mailman developers. + +\subsection{Using the Postfix mail server} + +Mailman should work pretty much out of the box with a standard Postfix +installation. It has been tested with various Postfix versions up to and +including Postfix 2.1.5. + +By default, Postfix treats \code{-owner} and \code{-request} addresses +specially. Since you want Postfix to deliver such messages to Mailman, you +should turn off this option by adding this to your \file{main.cf} file: + +\begin{verbatim} + owner_request_special = no +\end{verbatim} + +In order to support Mailman's optional VERP delivery, you will want to disable +\code{luser_relay} (the default) and you will want to set +\code{recipient_delimiter} for extended address semantics. You should comment +out any \code{luser_relay} value in your \file{main.cf} and just go with the +defaults. Also, add this to your \file{main.cf} file: + +\begin{verbatim} + recipient_delimiter = + +\end{verbatim} + +Using \samp{+} as the delimiter works well with the default values for +\var{VERP_FORMAT} and \var{VERP_REGEXP} in \file{Defaults.py}. + +When attempting to deliver a message to a non-existent local address, Postfix +may return a 450 error code. Since this is a transient error code, Mailman +will continue to attempt to deliver the message for +\var{DELIVERY_RETRY_PERIOD} -- 5 days by default. You might want to set +Postfix up so that it returns permanent error codes for non-existent local +users by adding the following to your \file{main.cf} file: + +\begin{verbatim} + unknown_local_recipient_reject_code = 550 +\end{verbatim} + +Finally, if you are using Postfix-style virtual domains, read the section on +virtual domain support below. + +\subsubsection{Integrating Postfix and Mailman} + +You can integrate Postfix and Mailman such that when new lists are created, or +lists are removed, Postfix's alias database will be automatically updated. +The following are the steps you need to take to make this work. + +In the description below, we assume that you've installed Mailman in the +default location, i.e. \file{/usr/local/mailman}. If that's not the case, +adjust the instructions according to your use of \program{configure}'s +\longprogramopt{prefix} and \longprogramopt{with-var-prefix} options. + +\begin{notice}[note] +If you are using virtual domains and you want Mailman to honor your virtual +domains, read the \ref{postfix-virtual} section below first! +\end{notice} + +\begin{itemize} +\item Add this to the bottom of the \file{\var{\$prefix}/Mailman/mm_cfg.py} + file: + + \begin{verbatim} + MTA = 'Postfix' + \end{verbatim} + + The MTA variable names a module in the \file{Mailman/MTA} directory + which contains the mail server-specific functions to be executed when a + list is created or removed. + +\item Look at the \file{Defaults.py} file for the variables + \var{POSTFIX_ALIAS_CMD} and \var{POSTFIX_MAP_CMD} command. Make sure + these point to your \program{postalias} and \program{postmap} programs + respectively. Remember that if you need to make changes, do it in + \file{mm_cfg.py}. + +\item Run the \program{bin/genaliases} script to initialize your + \file{aliases} file. + + \begin{verbatim} + % cd /usr/local/mailman + % bin/genaliases + \end{verbatim} + + Make sure that the owner of the \file{data/aliases} and + \file{data/aliases.db} file is \code{mailman} and that the group owner + for those files is \code{mailman}, or whatever user and group you used + in the configure command: + + \begin{verbatim} + % su + % chown mailman:mailman data/aliases* + \end{verbatim} + +\item Hack your Postfix's \file{main.cf} file to include the following path in + your \var{alias_maps} variable: + + \begin{verbatim} + /usr/local/mailman/data/aliases + \end{verbatim} + + Note that there should be no trailing \code{.db}. Do not include this + in your \var{alias_database} variable. This is because you do not want + Postfix's \program{newaliases} command to modify Mailman's + \file{aliases.db} file, but you do want Postfix to consult + \file{aliases.db} when looking for local addresses. + + You probably want to use a \code{hash:} style database for this entry. + Here's an example: + + \begin{verbatim} + alias_maps = hash:/etc/postfix/aliases, + hash:/usr/local/mailman/data/aliases + \end{verbatim} + +\item When you configure Mailman, use the + \longprogramopt{with-mail-gid=mailman} switch; this will be the default + if you configured Mailman after adding the \code{mailman} owner. + Because the owner of the \file{aliases.db} file is \code{mailman}, + Postfix will execute Mailman's wrapper program as uid and gid + \code{mailman}. + +\end{itemize} + +That's it! One caveat: when you add or remove a list, the \file{aliases.db} +file will updated, but it will not automatically run \program{postfix reload}. +This is because you need to be root to run this and suid-root scripts are not +secure. The only effect of this is that it will take about a minute for +Postfix to notice the change to the \file{aliases.db} file and update its +tables. + +\subsubsection{Virtual domains\label{postfix-virtual}} + +Postfix 2.0 supports ``virtual alias domains'', essentially what used to be +called ``Postfix-style virtual domains'' in earlier Postfix versions. To make +virtual alias domains work with Mailman, you need to do some setup in both +Postfix and Mailman. Mailman will write all virtual alias mappings to a file +called, by default, \file{/usr/local/mailman/data/virtual-mailman}. It will +also use \program{postmap} to create the \program{virtual-mailman.db} file +that Postfix will actually use. + +First, you need to set up the Postfix virtual alias domains as described in +the Postfix documentation (see Postfix's \code{virtual(5)} manpage). Note +that it's your responsibility to include the \code{virtual-alias.domain +anything} line as described manpage; Mailman will not include this line in +\file{virtual-mailman}. You are highly encouraged to make sure your virtual +alias domains are working properly before integrating with Mailman. + +Next, add a path to Postfix's \var{virtual_alias_maps} variable, pointing to +the virtual-mailman file, e.g.: + +\begin{verbatim} + virtual_alias_maps = <your normal virtual alias files>, + hash:/usr/local/mailman/data/virtual-mailman +\end{verbatim} + +assuming you've installed Mailman in the default location. If you're using an +older version of Postfix which doesn't have the \var{virtual_alias_maps} +variable, use the \var{virtual_maps} variable instead. + +Next, in your \file{mm_cfg.py} file, you will want to set the variable +\var{POSTFIX_STYLE_VIRTUAL_DOMAINS} to the list of virtual domains that Mailman +should update. This may not be all of the virtual alias domains that your +Postfix installation supports! The values in this list will be matched +against the \var{host_name} attribute of mailing lists objects, and must be an +exact match. + +Here's an example. Say that Postfix is configured to handle the virtual +domains \code{dom1.ain}, \code{dom2.ain}, and \code{dom3.ain}, and further +that in your \file{main.cf} file you've got the following settings: + +\begin{verbatim} + myhostname = mail.dom1.ain + mydomain = dom1.ain + mydestination = $myhostname, localhost.$mydomain + virtual_alias_maps = + hash:/some/path/to/virtual-dom1, + hash:/some/path/to/virtual-dom2, + hash:/some/path/to/virtual-dom2 +\end{verbatim} + +If in your \file{virtual-dom1} file, you've got the following lines: + +\begin{verbatim} + dom1.ain IGNORE + @dom1.ain @mail.dom1.ain +\end{verbatim} + +this tells Postfix to deliver anything addressed to \code{dom1.ain} to the +same mailbox at \code{mail.dom1.com}, its default destination. + +In this case you would not include \code{dom1.ain} in +\var{POSTFIX_STYLE_VIRTUAL_DOMAINS} because otherwise Mailman will write +entries for mailing lists in the dom1.ain domain as + +\begin{verbatim} + mylist@dom1.ain mylist + mylist-request@dom1.ain mylist-request + # and so on... +\end{verbatim} + +The more specific entries trump your more general entries, thus breaking the +delivery of any \code{dom1.ain} mailing list. + +However, you would include \code{dom2.ain} and \code{dom3.ain} in +\file{mm_cfg.py}: + +\begin{verbatim} + POSTFIX_STYLE_VIRTUAL_DOMAINS = ['dom2.ain', 'dom3.ain'] +\end{verbatim} + +Now, any list that Mailman creates in either of those two domains, will have +the correct entries written to \file{/usr/local/mailman/data/virtual-mailman}. + +As above with the \file{data/aliases*} files, you want to make sure that both +\file{data/virtual-mailman} and \file{data/virtual-mailman.db} are user and +group owned by \code{mailman}. + +\subsubsection{An alternative approach} + +Fil \email{fil@rezo.net} has an alternative approach based on virtual maps and +regular expressions, as described at: + +\begin{itemize} +\item (French) \url{http://listes.rezo.net/comment.php} +\item (English) \url{http://listes.rezo.net/how.php} +\end{itemize} + +This is a good (and simpler) alternative if you don't mind exposing an +additional hostname in the domain part of the addresses people will use to +contact your list. I.e. if people should use \code{mylist@lists.dom.ain} +instead of \code{mylist@dom.ain}. + +\subsection{Using the Exim mail server} + +\subsection{Using the Sendmail mail server} + +\begin{notice}[warning] +You may be tempted to set the \var{DELIVERY_MODULE} configuration variable in +\file{mm_cfg.py} to \code{'Sendmail'} when using the Sendmail mail server. +\strong{Don't}. The \file{Sendmail.py} module is misnamed -- it's really a +command line based message handoff scheme as opposed to the SMTP scheme used +in \file{SMTPDirect.py} (the default). \file{Sendmail.py} has known security +holes and is provided as a proof-of-concept only\footnote{In fact, in later +versions of Mailman, this module is explicitly sabotaged. You have to know +what you're doing in order to re-enable it.}. If you are having problems +using \file{SMTPDirect.py} fix those instead of using \file{Sendmail.py}, or +you may open your system up to security exploits. +\end{notice} + +\subsubsection{Sendmail ``smrsh'' compatibility} + +Many newer versions of Sendmail come with a restricted execution utility +called ``smrsh'', which limits the executables that Sendmail will allow to be +used as mail programs. You need to explicitly allow Mailman's wrapper program +to be used with smrsh or Mailman will not work. If mail is not getting +delivered to Mailman's wrapper program and you're getting an ``operating +system error'' in your mail syslog, this could be your problem. + +One good way of enabling this is: + +\begin{itemize} + \item Find out where your Sendmail executes its smrsh wrapper + + \begin{verbatim} + % grep smrsh /etc/mail/sendmail.cf + \end{verbatim} + + \item Figure out where smrsh expects symlinks for allowable mail + programs. At the very beginning of the following output you will + see a full path to some directory, e.g. \file{/var/adm/sm.bin} or + similar: + + \begin{verbatim} + % strings $path_to_smrsh | less + \end{verbatim} + + \item cd into \file{/var/adm/sm.bin}, or where ever it happens to reside + on your system -- alternatives include \file{/etc/smrsh}, + \file{/var/smrsh} and \file{/usr/local/smrsh}. + + \begin{verbatim} + % cd /var/adm/sm.bin + \end{verbatim} + + \item Create a symbolic link to Mailman's wrapper program: + + \begin{verbatim} + % ln -s /usr/local/mailman/mail/mailman mailman + \end{verbatim} +\end{itemize} + +\subsubsection{Integrating Sendmail and Mailman} + +David Champion has contributed a recipe for more closely integrating Sendmail +and Mailman, such that Sendmail will automatically recognize and deliver to +new mailing lists as they are created, without having to manually edit alias +tables. + +In the \file{contrib} directory of Mailman's source distribution, you will +find four files: + +\begin{itemize} +\item \file{mm-handler.readme} - an explanation of how to set everything up +\item \file{mm-handler} - the mail delivery agent (MDA) +\item \file{mailman.mc} - a toy configuration file sample +\item \file{virtusertable} - a sample for RFC 2142 address exceptions +\end{itemize} + +\subsubsection{Performance notes} + +One of the surest performance killers for Sendmail users is when Sendmail is +configured to synchronously verify the recipient's host via DNS. If it does +this for messages posted to it from Mailman, you will get horrible +performance. Since Mailman usually connects via \code{localhost} +(i.e. 127.0.0.1) to the SMTP port of Sendmail, you should be sure to configure +Sendmail to \strong{not} do DNS verification synchronously for localhost +connections. + +\subsection{Using the Qmail mail server} + +\subsection{Create a site-wide mailing list} + +After you have completed the integration of Mailman and your mail server, you +need to create a ``site-wide'' mailing list. This is the one that password +reminders will appear to come from, and it is required for proper Mailman +operation. Usually this should be a list called \code{mailman}, but if you +need to change this, be sure to change the \var{MAILMAN_SITE_LIST} variable in +\file{mm_cfg.py}. You can create the site list with this command, following +the prompts: + +\begin{verbatim} + % bin/newlist mailman +\end{verbatim} + +Now configure your site list. There is a convenient template for a generic +site list in the installation directory, under \file{data/sitelist.cfg} which +can help you with this. You should review the configuration options in the +template, but note that any options not named in the \file{sitelist.cfg} file +won't be changed. + +The template can be applied to your site list by +running: + +\begin{verbatim} + % bin/config_list -i data/sitelist.cfg mailman +\end{verbatim} + +After applying the \file{sitelist.cfg} options, be sure you review the +site list's configuration via the admin pages. + +You should also subscribe yourself to the site list. + +\section{Setting up cron} + +Several Mailman features occur on a regular schedule, so you must set up +\program{cron} to run the right programs at the right time\footnote{Note that +if you're upgrading from a previous version of Mailman, you'll want to install +the new crontab, but be careful if you're running multiple Mailman +installations on your site! Changing the crontab could mess with other +parallel Mailman installations.}. + +If your version of crontab supports the \programopt{-u} option, you must be +root to do this next step. Add \file{\var{\$prefix}/cron/crontab.in} as a +crontab entry by executing these commands: + +\begin{verbatim} + % cd $prefix/cron + % crontab -u mailman crontab.in +\end{verbatim} + +If you used the \longprogramopt{with-username} option, use that user name +instead of \code{mailman} for the \programopt{-u} argument value. If your +crontab does not support the \programopt{-u} option, try these commands: + +\begin{verbatim} + % cd $prefix/cron + % su - mailman + % crontab crontab.in +\end{verbatim} + +\section{Starting the Mailman qrunner} + +Mailman depends on a process called the ``qrunner'' to delivery all +email messages it sees. You must start the qrunner by executing the following +command from the \var{\$prefix} directory: + +\begin{verbatim} + % bin/mailmanctl start +\end{verbatim} + +You probably want to start Mailman every time you reboot your system. Exactly +how to do this depends on your operating system. If your OS supports the +\program{chkconfig} command (e.g. RedHat and Mandrake Linuxes) you can +do the following (as root, from the Mailman install directory): + +\begin{verbatim} + % cp scripts/mailman /etc/init.d/mailman + % chkconfig --add mailman +\end{verbatim} + +Note that \file{/etc/init.d} may be \file{/etc/rc.d/init.d} on some systems. + +On Gentoo Linux, you can do the following: + +\begin{verbatim} + % cp scripts/mailman /etc/init.d/mailman + % rc-update add mailman default +\end{verbatim} + +On Debian, you probably want to use: + +\begin{verbatim} + % update-rc.d mailman defaults +\end{verbatim} + +For \UNIX{}es that don't support \program{chkconfig}, you might try the +following set of commands: + +\begin{verbatim} + % cp scripts/mailman /etc/init.d/mailman + % cp misc/mailman /etc/init.d + % cd /etc/rc.d/rc0.d + % ln -s ../init.d/mailman K12mailman + % cd ../rc1.d + % ln -s ../init.d/mailman K12mailman + % cd ../rc2.d + % ln -s ../init.d/mailman S98mailman + % cd ../rc3.d + % ln -s ../init.d/mailman S98mailman + % cd ../rc4.d + % ln -s ../init.d/mailman S98mailman + % cd ../rc5.d + % ln -s ../init.d/mailman S98mailman + % cd ../rc6.d + % ln -s ../init.d/mailman K12mailman +\end{verbatim} + +\section{Check the hostname settings} + +You should check the values for \var{DEFAULT_EMAIL_HOST} and +\var{DEFAULT_URL_HOST} in \file{Defaults.py}. Make any necessary changes in +the \file{mm_cfg.py} file, \strong{not} in the \file{mm_cfg.py} file. If you +change either of these two values, you'll want to add the following afterwards +in the \file{mm_cfg.py} file: + +\begin{verbatim} + add_virtualhost(DEFAULT_URL_HOST, DEFAULT_EMAIL_HOST) +\end{verbatim} + +You will want to run the \program{bin/fix_url.py} to change the domain of any +existing lists. + +\section{Customizing Mailman\label{customizing}} + +Now that Mailman is all set up, there are a few site-wide configurations you +can make before you start creating mailing lists. You should do these steps +using the account you installed Mailman under in the \ref{building} section. + +\begin{itemize} +\item The file \file{\var{\$prefix/Mailman/Defaults.py}} contains a number of + defaults for your installation. If any of these are incorrect, override + them in \file{\var{\$prefix}/Mailman/mm_cfg.py}, \strong{not} in the + \file{Defaults.py} file! See the comments in \file{Defaults.py} for + details. Once a list is created, editing many of these variables will + have no effect. At that point, you'll need to configure your lists + through the web administration interface or through the command line + scripts \program{bin/withlist} and \program{bin/config_list}. + + The install process will never overwrite an existing \file{mm_cfg.py} + file so you can freely make changes to this file. + + \begin{notice}[note] + Do \strong{not} change the \var{HOME_DIR} or \var{MAILMAN_DIR} + variables. These are set automatically by the \program{configure} + script, and you will break your Mailman installation by if you change + these. + \end{notice} +\item Create the site password. Use this command: + +\begin{verbatim} + % $prefix/bin/mmsitepass <your-site-password> +\end{verbatim} + + This password can be used anywhere that individual user or mailing list + administrator passwords are required, giving the mailman site + administrator the ability to adjust these things when necessary. + + You may also want to create a password for the site-wide ``list creator'' + role. The list creator is someone other than the site administrator who + has privileges to create and remove lists through the web interface. Use + the \programopt{-c} option to \program{mmsitepass} to set this. + +\end{itemize} + +\section{Create your first mailing list} + +For more detailed information about using Mailman, including creating and +configuring mailing lists, see the Mailman List Adminstration Manual. These +instructions provide a quick guide to creating your first mailing list via the +web interface: + +\begin{itemize} +\item Start by visiting the url \code{http://my.dom.ain/mailman/create}. + +\item Fill out the form as described in the on-screen instructions, and in the + ``List creator's password'' field, type the password you entered in + section \ref{customizing}. Type your own email address for the + ``Initial list owner address'', and select ``Yes'' to notify the list + administrator. + +\item Click on the ``Create List'' button. + +\item Check your email for a message from Mailman informing you that your new + mailing list was created. + +\item Now visit the list's administration page, either by following the link + on the confirmation web page or clicking on the link from the email + Mailman just sent you. Typically the url will be something like + \code{http://my.dom.ain/mailman/admin/mylist}. + +\item Type in the list's password and click on ``Let me in...'' + +\item Click on ``Membership Management'' and then on ``Mass Subscription''. + +\item Enter your email address in the big text field, and click on ``Submit + Your Changes''. + +\item Now go to your email and send a message to \code{mylist@my.dom.ain}. + Within a minute or two you should see your message reflected back to you + via Mailman. +\end{itemize} + +Congratulations! You've just set up and tested your first Mailman mailing +list. If you had any problems along the way, please see the +\ref{troubleshooting} section. + +\section{Troubleshooting\label{troubleshooting}} + +If you encounter problems with running Mailman, first check the question and +answer section below. If your problem is not covered there, check the +\ulink{online help}{http://www.list.org/help.html}, including the +\ulink{FAQ}{http://www.list.org/faq.html} and the +\ulink{interactive FAQ wizard}{http://www.python.org/cgi-bin/faqw-mm.py}. + +Also check for errors in your syslog files, your mail and web server log files +and in Mailman's \file{\var{\$prefix}/logs/error} file. If you're still +having problems, you should send a message to the +\email{mailman-users@python.org} mailing list\footnote{You must subscribe to +this mailing list in order to post to it, but the mailing list's archives are +publicly visible.}; see +\url{http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/mailman-users} for more +information. + +Be sure to including information on your operating system, which version of +Python you're using, and which version of Mailman you're installing. + +Here is a list of some common questions and answers: + +\begin{itemize} + +\item \strong{Problem:} All Mailman web pages give a 404 File not found + error. + + \strong{Solution:} Your web server has not been set up properly for + handling Mailman's CGI programs. Make sure you have: + + \begin{enumerate} + \item configured the web server to give permissions to + \file{\var{\$prefix}/cgi-bin} + + \item restarted the web server properly. + \end{enumerate} + + Consult your web server's documentation for instructions on how to do + check these issues. + +\item \strong{Problem:} All Mailman web pages give an "Internal Server + Error". + + \strong{Solution:} The likely problem is that you are using the wrong + user or group for the CGI scripts. Check your web server's log files. + If you see a line like + + \begin{verbatim} + Attempt to exec script with invalid gid 51, expected 99 + \end{verbatim} + + you will need to reinstall Mailman, specifying the proper CGI group id, + as described in the \label{building} section. + +\item \strong{Problem:} I send mail to the list, and get back mail saying the + list is not found! + + \strong{Solution:} You probably didn't add the necessary aliases to the + system alias database, or you didn't properly integration Mailman with + your mail server. Perhaps you didn't update the alias database, or your + system requires you to run \program{newaliases} explicitly. Refer to + your server specific instructions in the \ref{mail-server} section. + +\item \strong{Problem:} I send mail to the list, and get back mail saying, + ``unknown mailer error''. + + \strong{Solution:} The likely problem is that you are using the wrong + user or group id for the mail wrappers. Check your mail server's log + files; if you see a line like + + \begin{verbatim} + Attempt to exec script with invalid gid 51, expected 99 + \end{verbatim} + + you will need to reinstall Mailman, specifying the proper mail group id + as described in the \label{building} section. + +\item \strong{Problem:} I use Postfix as my mail server and the mail wrapper + programs are logging complaints about the wrong GID. + + \strong{Solution:} Make sure the \file{\var{\$prefix}/data/aliases.db} + file is user owned by \code{mailman} (or whatever user name you used + in the \program{configure} command). If this file is not user owned by + \code{mailman}, Postfix will not run the mail programs as the correct + user. + +\item \strong{Problem:} I use Sendmail as my mail server, and when I send mail + to the list, I get back mail saying, ``sh: mailman not available for + sendmail programs''. + + \strong{Solution:} Your system uses the Sendmail restricted shell + (smrsh). You need to configure smrsh by creating a symbolic link from + the mail wrapper (\file{\var{\$prefix}/mail/mailman}) to the directory + identifying executables allowed to run under smrsh. + + Some common names for this directory are \file{/var/admin/sm.bin}, + \file{/usr/admin/sm.bin} or \file{/etc/smrsh}. + + Note that on Debian Linux, the system makes \file{/usr/lib/sm.bin}, + which is wrong, you will need to create the directory + \file{/usr/admin/sm.bin} and add the link there. Note further any + aliases \program{newaliases} spits out will need to be adjusted to point + to the secure link to the wrapper. + +\item \strong{Problem:} I messed up when I called \program{configure}. How + do I clean things up and re-install? + + \strong{Solution:} + + \begin{verbatim} + % make clean + % ./configure --with-the-right-options + % make install + \end{verbatim} + +\end{itemize} + +\section{Platform and operating system notes} + +Generally, Mailman runs on any POSIX-based system, such as Solaris, the +various BSD variants, Linux systems, MacOSX, and other generic \UNIX{} +systems. It doesn't run on Windows. For the most part, the generic +instructions given in this document should be sufficient to get Mailman +working on any supported platform. Some operating systems have additional +recommended installation or configuration instructions. + +\subsection{GNU/Linux issues} + +Linux seems to be the most popular platform for running Mailman. Here are +some hints on getting Mailman to run on Linux: + +\begin{itemize} +\item If you are getting errors with hard link creations and/or you are using + a special secure kernel (securelinux/openwall/grsecurity), see the file + \file{contrib/README.check_perms_grsecurity} in the Mailman source + distribution. + + Note that if you are using Linux Mandrake in secure mode, you are + probably concerned by this. + +\item Apparently Mandrake 9.0 changed the permissions on gcc, so if you build + as the \code{mailman} user, you need to be sure \code{mailman} is in the + \code{cctools} group. + +\item If you installed Python from your Linux distribution's package manager + (e.g. .rpms for Redhat-derived systems or .deb for Debian), you must + install the ``development'' package of Python, or you may not get + everything you need. + + For example, using Python 2.2 on Debian, you will need to install the + \code{python2.2-dev} package. On Redhat, you probably need the + \code{python2-devel} package. + + If you install Python from source, you should be fine. + + One symptom of this problem, although for unknown reasons, is that you + might get an error such as this during your install: + + \begin{verbatim} + Traceback (most recent call last): + File "bin/update", line 44, in ? + import paths + ImportError: No module named paths + make: *** [update] Error 1 + \end{verbatim} + + If this happens, install the Python development package and try + \program{configure} and \program{make install} again. Or install the + latest version of Python from source, available from + \url{http://www.python.org}. + + This problem can manifest itself in other Linux distributions in + different ways, although usually it appears as \code{ImportErrors}. +\end{itemize} + +\subsection{BSD issues\label{bsd-issues}} + +Vivek Khera writes that some BSDs do nightly security scans for setuid file +changes. setgid directories also come up on the scan when they change. Also, +the setgid bit is not necessary on BSD systems because group ownership is +automatically inherited on files created in directories. On other \UNIX{}es, +this only happens when the directory has the setgid bit turned on. + +To install without turning on the setgid bit on directories, simply pass in +the \var{DIRSETGID} variable to \program{make}, after you've run +\program{configure}: + +\begin{verbatim} + % make DIRSETGID=: install +\end{verbatim} + +This disables the \program{chmod g+s} command on installed directories. + +\subsection{MacOSX issues} + +Many people run Mailman on MacOSX. Here are some pointers that have been +collected on getting Mailman to run on MacOSX. + +\begin{itemize} +\item Jaguar (MacOSX 10.2) comes with Python 2.2. While this isn't the very + latest stable version of Python, it ought to be sufficient to run + Mailman 2.1. + +\item David B. O'Donnell has a web page describing his configuration of + Mailman 2.0.13 and Postfix on MacOSX Server. + + \url{http://www.afp548.com/Articles/mail/python-mailman.html} + +\item Kathleen Webb posted her experiences in getting Mailman running on + Jaguar using Sendmail. + + \url{http://mail.python.org/pipermail/mailman-users/2002-October/022944.html} + +\item Panther server (MacOSX 10.3) comes with Mailman; Apple has a tech + document about a problem you might encounter running Mailman on Mac OS X + Server 10.3: + + \url{http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107889} +\end{itemize} + +\end{document} |