Manual Pages for UNIX Darwin command on man master

MASTER(8) MASTER(8)

NAME

master - Postfix master process

SYNOPSIS

mmaasstteerr [-DDttvv] [-cc configdir]

[-ee exittime]

DESCRIPTION

The mmaasstteerr daemon is the resident process that runs Postfix daemons on demand: daemons to send or receive messages via the network, daemons to deliver mail locally, etc. These daemons are created on demand up to a configurable maximum number per service. Postfix daemons terminate voluntarily, either after being idle for a configurable amount of time, or after having serviced a configurable

number of requests. Exceptions to this rule are the resident queue man-

ager and the resident address verification server.

The behavior of the mmaasstteerr daemon is controlled by the mmaasstteerr..ccff con-

figuration file. The table specifies zero or more servers in the UUNNIIXX

or IINNEETT domain, or servers that take requests from a FIFO. Precise con-

figuration details are given in the mmaasstteerr..ccff file, and in the manual pages of the respective daemons. Options:

-cc configdir

Read the mmaaiinn..ccff and mmaasstteerr..ccff configuration files in the named directory instead of the default configuration directory.

-ee exittime

Terminate the master process after exittime seconds. Child pro-

cesses terminate at their convenience.

-DD After initialization, run a debugger on the master process. The

debugging command is specified with the ddeebbuuggggeerrccoommmmaanndd in the mmaaiinn..ccff global configuration file.

-tt Test mode. Return a zero exit status when the mmaasstteerr..ppiidd lock

file does not exist or when that file is not locked. This is evidence that the mmaasstteerr daemon is not running.

-vv Enable verbose logging for debugging purposes. This option is

passed on to child processes. Multiple -vv options make the soft-

ware increasingly verbose. Signals: SSIIGGHHUUPP Upon receipt of a HHUUPP signal (e.g., after ppoossttffiixx rreellooaadd), the

master process re-reads its configuration files. If a service

has been removed from the mmaasstteerr..ccff file, its running processes are terminated immediately. Otherwise, running processes are allowed to terminate as soon as is convenient, so that changes in configuration settings affect only new service requests. SSIIGGTTEERRMM Upon receipt of a TTEERRMM signal (e.g., after ppoossttffiixx aabboorrtt), the

master process passes the signal on to its child processes and

terminates. This is useful for an emergency shutdown. Normally

one would terminate only the master (ppoossttffiixx ssttoopp) and allow

running processes to finish what they are doing. DIAGNOSTICS Problems are reported to ssyyssllooggdd(8). ENVIRONMENT MMAAIILLDDEEBBUUGG After initialization, start a debugger as specified with the

ddeebbuuggggeerrccoommmmaanndd configuration parameter in the mmaaiinn..ccff configu-

ration file. MMAAIILLCCOONNFFIIGG Directory with Postfix configuration files. CCOONNFFIIGGUURRAATTIIOONN PPAARRAAMMEETTEERRSS

Unlike most Postfix daemon processes, the master(8) server does not

automatically pick up changes to mmaaiinn..ccff. Changes to mmaasstteerr..ccff are never picked up automatically. Use the ppoossttffiixx rreellooaadd command after a configuration change. RREESSOOUURRCCEE AANNDD RRAATTEE CCOONNTTRROOLLSS ddaaeemmoonnttiimmeeoouutt ((1188000000ss)) How much time a Postfix daemon process may take to handle a

request before it is terminated by a built-in watchdog timer.

ddeeffaauullttpprroocceesssslliimmiitt ((110000))

The default maximal number of Postfix child processes that pro-

vide a given service. mmaaxxiiddllee ((110000ss)) The maximum amount of time that an idle Postfix daemon process waits for the next service request before exiting. mmaaxxuussee ((110000))

The maximal number of connection requests before a Postfix dae-

mon process terminates. sseerrvviicceetthhrroottttlleettiimmee ((6600ss))

How long the Postfix master(8) waits before forking a server

that appears to be malfunctioning. MMIISSCCEELLLLAANNEEOOUUSS CCOONNTTRROOLLSS

ccoonnffiiggddiirreeccttoorryy ((sseeee ''ppoossttccoonnff -dd'' oouuttppuutt))

The default location of the Postfix main.cf and master.cf con-

figuration files.

ddaaeemmoonnddiirreeccttoorryy ((sseeee ''ppoossttccoonnff -dd'' oouuttppuutt))

The directory with Postfix support programs and daemon programs. ddeebbuuggggeerrccoommmmaanndd ((eemmppttyy)) The external command to execute when a Postfix daemon program is

invoked with the -D option.

iinneettiinntteerrffaacceess ((aallll)) The network interface addresses that this mail system receives mail on.

iimmppoorrtteennvviirroonnmmeenntt ((sseeee ''ppoossttccoonnff -dd'' oouuttppuutt))

The list of environment parameters that a Postfix process will

import from a non-Postfix parent process.

mmaaiilloowwnneerr ((ppoossttffiixx)) The UNIX system account that owns the Postfix queue and most Postfix daemon processes.

pprroocceessssiidd ((rreeaadd-oonnllyy))

The process ID of a Postfix command or daemon process.

pprroocceessssnnaammee ((rreeaadd-oonnllyy))

The process name of a Postfix command or daemon process.

qquueeuueeddiirreeccttoorryy ((sseeee ''ppoossttccoonnff -dd'' oouuttppuutt))

The location of the Postfix top-level queue directory.

ssyyssllooggffaacciilliittyy ((mmaaiill)) The syslog facility of Postfix logging. ssyyssllooggnnaammee ((ppoossttffiixx)) The mail system name that is prepended to the process name in

syslog records, so that "smtpd" becomes, for example, "post-

fix/smtpd". FILES /etc/postfix/main.cf, global configuration file.