Problems

We've occasionally had a problem when MailScanner stops processing mail - the incoming copy of postfix accepts it but it doesn't get delivered to the end user.

If this is happening then the MRTG chart showing files in the incoming queue will show a growing number. Another quick check is to look at the contents of the /var/spool/postfix/hold directory; log in and then type:

ls -lR /var/spool/postfix/hold | more

If all is well, you should see no more than a few files listed; repeat the process a minute later and you'll see a different list. If there's a problem then stopping and starting MailScanner might start mail flowing again although on a couple of occasions we've had to restart the server.

You can tell if the queue is being cleared quite easily; suppose that it's now 08:30 on 14 June. This command:

ls -lR /var/spool/postfix/hold | grep "Jun 14 08" 

will show the files with a date stamp of Jun 14 and a time stamp between 08:00 and 08:59. You would expect to see some of these files - they're current.

ls -lR /var/spool/postfix/hold | grep "Jun 14 06" 

would show files delivered into the system between 06:00 and 06:59; you shouldn't see any of these if the system is working - they would be nearly 2 hours old. If you have had a problem with delivery then you will see such a list of files but repeating the command a few minutes later should see it shrinking in size if delivery is now taking place.