BINMAIL

Binmail is (in mail parlance) a local delivery agent. It takes mail items and delivers them into a local file (mailbox) in the standard UNIX mailbox format.

Binmails list of features is entensive. They incude:

Secure

Binmail is VERY careful about its arguments and any files it accesses.

Fast

Binmail avoids using temporary files (everything is done in memory). All file I/O uses large buffers to minimise system calls.

NFS Aware

Mailboxes access via NFS are not a problem (assuming your version of NFS works). Locking is NFS aware and binmail protects itself from NFS failure as much as possible. Binmail also understands that the super user may have less filesystem privilages than a normal user.

Multithread

Binmail will deliver to multiple mailboxes simultaneously using POSIX threads.

LMTP aware

Binmail may be driven completely by command line options but will also communicate with a MTA via the LMTP (Local Mail Transport Protocol). This allows extended error messages to be returned in the case of delivery failure.

Multiple delivery modes

Binmail will deliver mail items single threaded, multithreaded or multiprocess (fork for each delivery). The number of threads or child processes can be easily controlled by command line options.

Mail Filtering

Binmail implements mail filtering where the user can define rules for mail delivery, including deleting mail and delivering to alternate mailboxes. The filter rules are relatively extensive. A log can be generated of the filtering actions.

Home directory delivery

Mail can be delivered into a users home directory or into a central spool area. A user can choose hoem directory delivery even if the site default is delivery into a central area.

BINMAIL version 4 is currently in alpha testing. A beta release is expected in November 1999. If you would like to be part of the beta test program, email me.

Last modified December 20, 1998.