Re: [cobalt-developers] Replacing sendmail

[Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Robert G. Fisher" wrote:

> On Tue, Jul 25, 2000 at 11:49:05PM -0700, Jeff Lasman wrote:
> > > As for giving you an answer, you really haven't given nearly enough
> > > information about what the current condition is when sendmail goes
> > > to rejecting connections.
> >
> > Actually, I have, but not on this list.  I posted top, ps-aux and mqueue
> > info on several other lists, and have yet to get a definitive answer; I
> > really didn't think this was the right list for the discussion; I only
> > mentioned it in passing.
> 
> Actually, that's still not enough information.  You're only giving
> snapshots, to track the problem -- you need to be a little more active.
> top is only good for tracking what's using alot of memory or CPU
> -- so long as someone's watching the terminal.
> 
> What is the full 'command line' option for sendmail when this happens
> (try ps auxw ;)?

This was now some time ago, so I don't have an answer.  But presuming
you're talking about the instance of sendmail that should be accepting
connections, it's whatever the RaQ3 starts it with.

> Is there only one instance of sendmail being run when this happens?

There's only the one entry that's accepting connections; that was
started by the RaQ at startup, in other words.

There are plenty of instances sending email; as I've said before in
various places (and no, I'm not blaming you for not reading all those
places, only explaining), I really think that's the problem.

> What entries, if any are being placed in the log file?

None at all.

> If you do a netstat -an, how many connections do you see either
> in the ESTABLISHED or FIN_WAIT state to port 25?

Should it happen again, and should I be notified immediately after it
happens (usually there's a delay of an hour or more <frown>), I'll run
netstat and find out.

> If you do 'nc <box> 25' (or use telnet if netcat isn't installed) what
> response do you get?

Using telnet I get a connection refused; I don't remember the details; I
only did this the first time the problem existed.

> Often following those steps will give you information on where
> it's failing.

If it should happen again, and should I be notified early enough in the
cycle, maybe I can get better information.

I'm beginning to think (having read various replies from various lists)
that sendmail will shut down accepting connections if it's sending too
much email <frown>.

That's why the 500/hour limitation we've installed.  So far I've
received no complaints since the client set the throttle.

> Again, how does your mailing list software handle it.  If it is
> connecting to SMTP rather than calling sendmail directly it could
> easily cause this on it's own.

I really don't remember which it's doing, but I do know it's switchable;
which should I set it for?  Calling sendmail?  I think so, but what's
your input?  I do want to make sure it's set optimally.

> > what the client is willing to pay for.
> 
> Gotcha, no consulting for free egh -- not even to satisfy a geeks
> share of curiosity?  :).

Depends how deep I want to go, how deep the customer wants me to go, and
how little else I have to at the moment.

Jeff
-- 
Jeff Lasman <jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
nobaloney.net
P. O. Box 52672
Riverside, CA  92517
voice: (909) 787-8589  *  fax: (909) 782-0205