Topic: Messages from mailing lists not reaching recipients

[Rob Bracken]

Problem:

I installed e-smith 5.5 at one of my clients recently, switching them from an MS SBS. They complain that since then, messages from external mailing lists are not reaching the recipients. Mail retrieval is by multi-drop.

I've looked at messages I've received from mailing lists. They have no "To:" field, but they do have an "Envelope-to:". The headers say that fetchmail retrieved a message for "postmaster". This is redirected to whoever is designated as postmaster, not the intended recipient of the message. Can I set up fetchmail to look at "Envelope-to"?

The fetchmail documentation says that "Envelope-to" isn't a standard header. Is it added by fetchmail, and if so, where does it get the info?

Hopefully,

Rob Bracken

[brian read]

Rob

This is a classic problem with multidrop.

Try specifying that the Envelope-to in the Server manager/Configuration/Email retrieval panel, "Sort method" and "Sort header" parameters.

If that doesn't work, then you must either go to ETRN mode (needs a change at your ISP as well), or deliver the mail directly by specifying your server in the MX records for your domain.

Cheers

Brian

[Nate]

What he said.  Problems with mailing lists is why we got rid of multidrop a few years ago.  I'm not a fan of multidrop anyway.  The best solution, IMO, is to just tell your ISP you want to deal with all your email and change the MX records for your domain as suggested above.

[Rob Bracken]

Many thanks, Brian & Nate.

We'll try using the "Envelope-to" field.

Rob Bracken