This HowTo explains setting up Mailman for adminstration of mailinglists.
At first, install the needed package:
# apt-get update && apt-get install mailman
In /etc/mailman/mm_cfg.py you have to set the following values like this:
DEFAULT_URL_PATTERN = 'http://%s/' DEFAULT_EMAIL_HOST = 'yourdomain.com' <-- insert your hostname here DEFAULT_URL_HOST = 'lists.yourdomain.com' <-- dito
and you have to enable Postfix as MTA:
MTA=Postfix
At the end of /etc/mailman/mm_cfg.py add something like this:
#------------------------------------------------------------- # Postfix virtual domains, Mailman should update POSTFIX_STYLE_VIRTUAL_DOMAINS = ['yourdomain.com','anotherdomain.org']
You have to specify in this variable every domain you want to use for mailing lists.
Display your Postfix configuration:
postconf | grep my
and check if $myorigin is part of $mydestination. If it is, then you can skip the next point. If it is not, then you need the following fix to get it working…
You only need this fix if $myorigin is not part of $mydestination in your Postfix configuration; if it is, just skip this point!
We will create the localPostfix MTA out of the Postfix MTA. So first copy:
# cd /usr/lib/mailman/Mailman/MTA/ # cp Postfix.py localPostfix.py
Then modify the newly created MTA:
def _addvirtual(mlist, fp):
...
# Set up the mailman-loop address
loopaddr = Utils.get_site_email(mlist.host_name, extra='loop')
loopdest = '%s@localhost' % Utils.ParseEmail(loopaddr)[0] <-- add: '%s@localhost' %
...
# Now add all the standard alias entries
for k, v in makealiases(listname):
fqdnaddr = '%s@%s' % (k, hostname)
localaddr = '%s@localhost' % k <-- add this line
# Format the text file nicely
print >> fp, fqdnaddr, ((fieldsz - len(k)) * ' '), localaddr <-- change k to localaddr
# Finish the text file stanza
...
def _check_for_virtual_loopaddr(mlist, filename):
loopaddr = Utils.get_site_email(mlist.host_name, extra='loop')
loopdest = '%s@localhost' % Utils.ParseEmail(loopaddr)[0] <-- add: '%s@localhost' %
And finally enable it in /etc/mailman/mm_cfg.py:
MTA=localPostfix
Mailman requires a default mailing list called mailman. This creates the files /var/lib/mailman/data/aliases and /var/lib/mailman/data/virtual-mailman. So type:
# newlist mailman Enter the email address of the person running the list: you@yourdomain.com Initial mailman password: Hit enter to notify mailing owner...
The email address should be yours. Later you should subscribe to this site list. The notification mail will only be sent once mailman is started.
Now configure your site list. There is a convenient template for a generic site list in the installation directory which can help you with this. The template can be applied to your site list by running:
# config_list -i /var/lib/mailman/data/sitelist.cfg mailman
Before starting Mailman, it is wise to check the permissions.
# check_perms
If you encounter some warnings, you can fix them by running:
# check_perms -f
There may still be some wrong GIDs in /var/lib/mailman, so if you still get warning from check_perms after running it with -f type:
# cd /var/lib/mailman # chgrp list -R bin cgi-bin cron icons locks logs mail Mailman pythonlib scripts templates
The first is the site password which can be used anywhere a password is required in the system. The site password will get you into the administration page for any list, and it can be used to log in as any user. Think root for a Unix system, so pick this password wisely! To set the site password, use this command:
# mmsitepass
The second password is a site-wide list creator password. You can use this to delegate the ability to create new mailing lists without providing all the privileges of the site password. Of course, the owner of the site password can also create new mailing lists, but the list creator password is limited to just that special role. To set the list creator password, use this command:
# mmsitepass -c
It is okay not to set a list creator password, but you probably do want a site password.
Now we are able to start Mailman.
# /etc/init.d/mailman start
Your notification mail is sent.
In /etc/postfix/main.cf apply the following changes:
alias_maps = hash:/etc/aliases, <-- add comma
hash:/var/lib/mailman/data/aliases <-- add this line
...
local_recipient_maps = unix:passwd.byname $alias_maps <-- change $alias_database back to default $alias_maps
...
virtual_alias_maps = hash:/etc/postfix/ispcp/aliases, <-- add comma
hash:/var/lib/mailman/data/virtual-mailman <-- add this line
...
# Mailman parameters <-- add this line
unknown_local_recipient_reject_code = 550 <-- dito
owner_request_special = no <-- dito
mailman_destination_recipient_limit = 1 <-- dito
Reload the Postfix daemon:
# /etc/init.d/postfix reload
Mailman is controlled over a web interface. It's run on the apache webserver, so we have to add a new vhost there. Create the file /etc/apache2/sites-available/02_mailman.conf and insert the following:
<VirtualHost xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:80> <-- insert your IP here
ServerAdmin webmaster@yourdomain.com <-- insert your domain here
DocumentRoot /usr/lib/cgi-bin/mailman/
DirectoryIndex listinfo index.html
ServerName lists.yourdomain.com <-- dito
ErrorLog /var/log/apache2/lists.yourdomain.com-error.log <-- dito
CustomLog /var/log/apache2/lists.yourdomain.com-access.log combined <-- dito
Alias /pipermail /var/lib/mailman/archives/public/
Alias /images/mailman /usr/share/images/mailman/
<Directory /var/lib/mailman/archives/>
Options Indexes FollowSymLinks
AllowOverride None
</Directory>
ScriptAlias /admin /usr/lib/cgi-bin/mailman/admin
ScriptAlias /admindb /usr/lib/cgi-bin/mailman/admindb
ScriptAlias /confirm /usr/lib/cgi-bin/mailman/confirm
ScriptAlias /create /usr/lib/cgi-bin/mailman/create
ScriptAlias /edithtml /usr/lib/cgi-bin/mailman/edithtml
ScriptAlias /listinfo /usr/lib/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo
ScriptAlias /options /usr/lib/cgi-bin/mailman/options
ScriptAlias /private /usr/lib/cgi-bin/mailman/private
ScriptAlias /rmlist /usr/lib/cgi-bin/mailman/rmlist
ScriptAlias /roster /usr/lib/cgi-bin/mailman/roster
ScriptAlias /subscribe /usr/lib/cgi-bin/mailman/subscribe
</VirtualHost>
Now activate the new vhost:
# a2ensite 02_mailman.conf
After all this, you have to reload the apache configuration:
# /etc/init.d/apache2 reload
Now you can create a mailing list from the command line (or the web interface if you prefer):
# newlist --emailhost=yourdomain.com Name of the mailing list: test Enter the email address of the person running the list: you@yourdomain.com Initial mailman password: Hit enter to notify mailing owner...
Attention: Mailman identifies mailing lists only with the part in front of the @-sign. So you can't create two lists test@abc.com and test@xyz.com, Mailman will only accept one test-list. You'll see that mailman handles these lists without the domain ending.
You can administrate your mailing lists now on:
For more information, have a look at: