I'm having some serious frustration with postfix and would love some help. At this point I've followed several examples on the Linode docs but am still unable to receive ANY mail from an external sender. I can send mail from ssh but not receive it. I see nothing in the logs that indicates a mail coming in or even an attempt. Rather I am receiving bounces only hours or days after mails were sent. Bounces say or

I've tried to set up Postfix on Ubuntu using this tutorial http://library.linode.com/email/postfix/dovecot-mysql-ubuntu-10.04-lucid and also on Fedora 15 using this tutorial http://www.howtoforge.com/virtual-users-and-domains-with-postfix-courier-mysql-and-squirrelmail-fedora-15-x86_64 and the same thing happens. I can send but not receive.

If someone could possibly suggest something I would be extremely grateful as I've tried EVERYTHING to debug this but it's just not happening for me. Below are the postfix configs for each of the two sites.

I think I have the DNS right, but I am not using mail.example.com but a FQDN with an A record (but no MX record) for the FQDN. Also I noticed that "mail" does appear in the MX record and my A record is below mail in the A records.

Ubuntu postconf -n

alias_database = hash:/etc/aliases
alias_maps = hash:/etc/aliases
append_dot_mydomain = no
biff = no
broken_sasl_auth_clients = yes
config_directory = /etc/postfix
html_directory = /usr/share/doc/postfix/html
inet_interfaces = loopback-only
mailbox_size_limit = 0
message_size_limit = 30720000
mydestination = subname.example.com, localhost, localhost.localdomain
myhostname = subname.example.com
mynetworks = 127.0.0.0/8
proxy_read_maps = $local_recipient_maps $mydestination $virtual_alias_maps $virtual_alias_domains $virtual_mailbox_maps $virtual_mailbox_domains $relay_recipient_maps $relay_domains $canonical_maps $sender_canonical_maps $recipient_canonical_maps $relocated_maps $transport_maps $mynetworks $virtual_mailbox_limit_maps
readme_directory = /usr/share/doc/postfix
recipient_delimiter = +
relayhost = 
smtp_tls_session_cache_database = btree:${data_directory}/smtp_scache
smtpd_banner = $myhostname ESMTP $mail_name (Ubuntu)
smtpd_recipient_restrictions = permit_mynetworks, permit_sasl_authenticated, reject_unauth_destination
smtpd_sasl_auth_enable = yes
smtpd_sasl_authenticated_header = yes
smtpd_tls_auth_only = yes
smtpd_tls_cert_file = /etc/postfix/smtpd.cert
smtpd_tls_key_file = /etc/postfix/smtpd.key
smtpd_tls_session_cache_database = btree:${data_directory}/smtpd_scache
smtpd_use_tls = yes
virtual_alias_domains = 
virtual_alias_maps = proxy:mysql:/etc/postfix/mysql-virtual_forwardings.cf, mysql:/etc/postfix/mysql-virtual_email2email.cf
virtual_gid_maps = static:5000
virtual_mailbox_base = /home/vmail
virtual_mailbox_domains = proxy:mysql:/etc/postfix/mysql-virtual_domains.cf
virtual_mailbox_maps = proxy:mysql:/etc/postfix/mysql-virtual_mailboxes.cf
virtual_transport = dovecot
virtual_uid_maps = static:5000

Fedora postconf -n

alias_database = hash:/etc/aliases
alias_maps = hash:/etc/aliases
broken_sasl_auth_clients = yes
command_directory = /usr/sbin
config_directory = /etc/postfix
daemon_directory = /usr/libexec/postfix
data_directory = /var/lib/postfix
debug_peer_level = 2
html_directory = no
inet_interfaces = all
inet_protocols = all
mail_owner = postfix
mailq_path = /usr/bin/mailq.postfix
manpage_directory = /usr/share/man
message_size_limit = 30720000
mydestination = example.com, localhost, localhost.localdomain
myhostname = sub.example.com
mynetworks = 127.0.0.0/8
newaliases_path = /usr/bin/newaliases.postfix
proxy_read_maps = $local_recipient_maps $mydestination $virtual_alias_maps $virtual_alias_domains $virtual_mailbox_maps $virtual_mailbox_domains $relay_recipient_maps $relay_domains $canonical_maps $sender_canonical_maps $recipient_canonical_maps $relocated_maps $transport_maps $mynetworks $virtual_mailbox_limit_maps
queue_directory = /var/spool/postfix
readme_directory = /usr/share/doc/postfix-2.8.7/README_FILES
sample_directory = /usr/share/doc/postfix-2.8.7/samples
sendmail_path = /usr/sbin/sendmail.postfix
setgid_group = postdrop
smtpd_recipient_restrictions = permit_mynetworks, permit_sasl_authenticated, reject_unauth_destination
smtpd_sasl_auth_enable = yes
smtpd_sasl_authenticated_header = yes
smtpd_tls_cert_file = /etc/postfix/smtpd.cert
smtpd_tls_key_file = /etc/postfix/smtpd.key
smtpd_use_tls = yes
unknown_local_recipient_reject_code = 550
virtual_alias_domains = 
virtual_alias_maps = proxy:mysql:/etc/postfix/mysql-virtual_forwardings.cf, mysql:/etc/postfix/mysql-virtual_email2email.cf
virtual_gid_maps = static:5000
virtual_mailbox_base = /home/vmail
virtual_mailbox_domains = proxy:mysql:/etc/postfix/mysql-virtual_domains.cf
virtual_mailbox_maps = proxy:mysql:/etc/postfix/mysql-virtual_mailboxes.cf
virtual_uid_maps = static:5000

On the Ubuntu side, at least, inet-interfaces is set wrong for receiving inbound mail.

Quickest way to figure out what's wrong would be to post an example e-mail address that ought to work, then we can step through it from start to end to get the answer out. Otherwise, consider posting some logs or the output of "netstat -ntlp" and "iptables -L -n -v".

_________________

/* TODO: need to add signature to posts */

thanks a lot for taking a look!

Active Internet connections (only servers)
Proto Recv-Q Send-Q Local Address               Foreign Address             State       PID/Program name   
tcp        0      0 127.0.0.1:3306              0.0.0.0:*                   LISTEN      2642/mysqld         
tcp        0      0 0.0.0.0:22                  0.0.0.0:*                   LISTEN      2485/sshd           
tcp        0      0 0.0.0.0:25                  0.0.0.0:*                   LISTEN      1176/master         
tcp        0      0 :::995                      :::*                        LISTEN      1085/couriertcpd    
tcp        0      0 :::110                      :::*                        LISTEN      1079/couriertcpd    
tcp        0      0 :::143                      :::*                        LISTEN      1066/couriertcpd    
tcp        0      0 :::80                       :::*                        LISTEN      2311/httpd          
tcp        0      0 :::22                       :::*                        LISTEN      2485/sshd           
tcp        0      0 :::25                       :::*                        LISTEN      1176/master         
tcp        0      0 :::443                      :::*                        LISTEN      2311/httpd          
tcp        0      0 :::993                      :::*                        LISTEN      1073/couriertcpd    


Chain INPUT (policy ACCEPT 0 packets, 0 bytes)
 pkts bytes target     prot opt in     out     source               destination         
 475K  242M ACCEPT     all  --  *      *       0.0.0.0/0            0.0.0.0/0           state RELATED,ESTABLISHED 
   56  5180 ACCEPT     icmp --  *      *       0.0.0.0/0            0.0.0.0/0           
10093  446K ACCEPT     all  --  lo     *       0.0.0.0/0            0.0.0.0/0           
12811  768K ACCEPT     tcp  --  *      *       0.0.0.0/0            0.0.0.0/0           state NEW tcp dpt:22 
 4128  237K ACCEPT     tcp  --  *      *       0.0.0.0/0            0.0.0.0/0           state NEW tcp dpt:80 
  103  6476 ACCEPT     tcp  --  *      *       0.0.0.0/0            0.0.0.0/0           state NEW tcp dpt:443 
    2    96 ACCEPT     tcp  --  *      *       0.0.0.0/0            0.0.0.0/0           state NEW tcp dpt:8443 
 4028  209K REJECT     all  --  *      *       0.0.0.0/0            0.0.0.0/0           reject-with icmp-host-prohibited 

Chain FORWARD (policy ACCEPT 0 packets, 0 bytes)
 pkts bytes target     prot opt in     out     source               destination         
    0     0 REJECT     all  --  *      *       0.0.0.0/0            0.0.0.0/0           reject-with icmp-host-prohibited 

Chain OUTPUT (policy ACCEPT 424K packets, 85M bytes)
 pkts bytes target     prot opt in     out     source               destination         

log errors

httpd/error_log

sh: /usr/sbin/sendmail: No such file or directory

/var/log/maillog

Jan  1 03:26:39 example postfix/smtpd[20159]: fatal: open dictionary: expecting "type:name" form instead of "(i.e."
Jan  1 03:26:40 example postfix/master[17499]: warning: process /usr/libexec/postfix/smtpd pid 20159 exit status 1
Jan  1 03:26:40 example postfix/master[17499]: warning: /usr/libexec/postfix/smtpd: bad command startup -- throttling

I turned off local_recipient_maps which after finding these errors (it was somehow set to local_recipient_maps= (i.e. empty))
other than that I can't find anything relevant in the logs.
Is there some way to see a log of each attempted incoming mail somewhere?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proto Recv-Q Send-Q Local Address           Foreign Address         State       PID/Program name
tcp        0      0 0.0.0.0:993             0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN      11597/dovecot   
tcp        0      0 0.0.0.0:995             0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN      11597/dovecot   
tcp        0      0 127.0.0.1:3306          0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN      10531/mysqld    
tcp        0      0 127.0.0.1:587           0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN      11809/master    
tcp        0      0 0.0.0.0:110             0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN      11597/dovecot   
tcp        0      0 0.0.0.0:143             0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN      11597/dovecot   
tcp        0      0 0.0.0.0:22              0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN      9240/sshd       
tcp        0      0 127.0.0.1:25            0.0.0.0:*               LISTEN      11809/master    
tcp6       0      0 :::80                   :::*                    LISTEN      7444/apache2    
tcp6       0      0 :::22                   :::*                    LISTEN      9240/sshd       


Chain INPUT (policy ACCEPT 261K packets, 111M bytes)
 pkts bytes target     prot opt in     out     source               destination         

Chain FORWARD (policy ACCEPT 0 packets, 0 bytes)
 pkts bytes target     prot opt in     out     source               destination         

Chain OUTPUT (policy ACCEPT 225K packets, 39M bytes)
 pkts bytes target     prot opt in     out     source               destination
 

log errors

Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: resolve_clnt: `' -> `webmaster@example.com' -> transp=`virtual' host=`example.com' rcpt=`webmaster@example.com' flags= class=v$
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: ctable_locate: install entry key webmaster@example.com
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: extract_addr: in: webmaster@example.com, result: webmaster@example.com
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: >>> START Recipient address RESTRICTIONS <<<
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: generic_checks: name=permit_mynetworks
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: permit_mynetworks: solar.example.com 173.255.221.57
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: match_hostname: solar.example.com ~? 127.0.0.0/8
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: match_hostaddr: 173.255.221.57 ~? 127.0.0.0/8
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: match_list_match: solar.example.com: no match
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: match_list_match: 173.255.221.57: no match
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: generic_checks: name=permit_mynetworks status=0
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: generic_checks: name=permit_sasl_authenticated
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: generic_checks: name=permit_sasl_authenticated status=0
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: generic_checks: name=reject_unauth_destination
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: reject_unauth_destination: webmaster@example.com
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: permit_auth_destination: webmaster@example.com
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: ctable_locate: leave existing entry key webmaster@example.com
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: generic_checks: name=reject_unauth_destination status=0
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: >>> END Recipient address RESTRICTIONS <<<
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: >>> CHECKING RECIPIENT MAPS <<<
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: ctable_locate: leave existing entry key webmaster@example.com
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: maps_find: recipient_canonical_maps: webmaster@example.com: not found
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: match_string: example.com ~? mail.example.com
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: match_string: example.com ~? localhost
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: match_string: example.com ~? localhost.localdomain
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: match_list_match: example.com: no match
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: maps_find: recipient_canonical_maps: @example.com: not found
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: mail_addr_find: webmaster@example.com -> (not found)
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: maps_find: canonical_maps: webmaster@example.com: not found
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: match_string: example.com ~? mail.example.com
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: match_string: example.com ~? localhost
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: match_string: example.com ~? localhost.localdomain
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: match_list_match: example.com: no match
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: maps_find: canonical_maps: @example.com: not found
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: mail_addr_find: webmaster@example.com -> (not found)
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: connect to subsystem private/proxymap
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: send attr request = lookup
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: send attr table = mysql:/etc/postfix/mysql-virtual_forwardings.cf
Jan  2 08:46:38 example postfix/smtpd[31185]: send attr flags = 16448

OK, on the Fedora machine, you have port 25 blocked by your firewall. Allowing port 25 connections inbound (identical to the rules you have for ports 22, 80, etc) will get that going. (The icmp-host-prohibited response is being interpreted as "No route to host".)

On the Ubuntu machine, the firewall looks OK (i.e. completely open), but Postfix simply isn't listening on 0.0.0.0. Set inet_interfaces = all and you will probably start getting some mail!

Neither of these situations would let incoming mail appear in your mail log, since they're rejected at the network level.

I sent a couple test messages, which will spin around in my mail queue for awhile until they can be delivered.

_________________

/* TODO: need to add signature to posts */

thanks again for your help!

So I can't really figure out where to change my firewall settings. i looked at /etc/sysconfig/iptables but it says there not recommended to customize that file. do you have any recommendations? What tripped me up is 25 is listed as active in netstat and I wasn't aware that there is any default firewall on Fedora, because I didn't set one up.

I'll try the inet_interfaces = all on the ubuntu machine.

Thanks again for saving me here. this is my first time on linode!

I got your reply to Test #2! (Which means my mail is working, too. I'd forgotten that I set that up...)

I don't know too much about Fedora. However, with older RHELs, I recall there's a firewall tool in the "setup" command. It looks like the same is true with Fedora, and you can get there directly with "system-config-firewall". This might be out of date, though.

_________________

/* TODO: need to add signature to posts */

great that one's fixed, many thanks

i went ahead and just edited
and the port is now open, so i'm seeing the incoming messages in the log, but all incoming messages are still being rejected

my test email headers say

Diagnostic-Code: X-Postfix; mail for solar.example.com loops back to myself

the maillog hopefully tells something but i cant' quite figure it. i've done so many things to try and get it to work that i'm thinking of just rebuilding the server from scratch

Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/trivial-rewrite[10701]: warning: do not list domain example.com in BOTH mydestination and virtual_mailbox_domains
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: xsasl_cyrus_server_create: SASL service=smtp, realm=(null)
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: name_mask: noanonymous
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/cleanup[10707]: 2985CF518: message-id=<CADffLnt+xSogSDHVrpuE5QR17HJKZwUMAWuhmY_7mE-18QzFNg@mail.gmail.com>
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/qmgr[10686]: 2985CF518: from=<email1@gmail.com>, size=2085, nrcpt=1 (queue active)
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/trivial-rewrite[10701]: warning: do not list domain example.com in BOTH mydestination and virtual_mailbox_domains
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/cleanup[10707]: 484ABF519: message-id=<CADffLnt+xSogSDHVrpuE5QR17HJKZwUMAWuhmY_7mE-18QzFNg@mail.gmail.com>
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/local[10710]: 2985CF518: to=<webmaster@example.com>, relay=local, delay=0.21, delays=0.18/0.02/0/0.01, dsn=2.0.0, status=sent (forwarded as 484ABF519)
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/qmgr[10686]: 484ABF519: from=<email1@gmail.com>, size=2232, nrcpt=1 (queue active)
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/qmgr[10686]: 2985CF518: removed
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: < mail-gx0-f174.google.com[209.85.161.174]: EHLO mail-gx0-f174.google.com
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: > mail-gx0-f174.google.com[209.85.161.174]: 250-solar.example.com
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: > mail-gx0-f174.google.com[209.85.161.174]: 250-PIPELINING
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: > mail-gx0-f174.google.com[209.85.161.174]: 250-SIZE 30720000
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: > mail-gx0-f174.google.com[209.85.161.174]: 250-VRFY
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: > mail-gx0-f174.google.com[209.85.161.174]: 250-ETRN
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: > mail-gx0-f174.google.com[209.85.161.174]: 250-AUTH PLAIN LOGIN
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: match_list_match: mail-gx0-f174.google.com: no match
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: match_list_match: 209.85.161.174: no match
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: > mail-gx0-f174.google.com[209.85.161.174]: 250-AUTH=PLAIN LOGIN
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: > mail-gx0-f174.google.com[209.85.161.174]: 250-ENHANCEDSTATUSCODES
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: > mail-gx0-f174.google.com[209.85.161.174]: 250-8BITMIME
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: > mail-gx0-f174.google.com[209.85.161.174]: 250 DSN
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: < mail-gx0-f174.google.com[209.85.161.174]: MAIL FROM:<email1@gmail.com>
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: extract_addr: input: <email1@gmail.com>
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: smtpd_check_addr: addr=email1@gmail.com
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: connect to subsystem private/rewrite
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: send attr request = rewrite
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: send attr rule = local
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: send attr address = email1@gmail.com
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: private/rewrite socket: wanted attribute: flags
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: input attribute name: flags
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: input attribute value: 0
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: private/rewrite socket: wanted attribute: address
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: input attribute name: address
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: input attribute value: email1@gmail.com
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: private/rewrite socket: wanted attribute: (list terminator)
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: input attribute name: (end)
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: rewrite_clnt: local: email1@gmail.com -> email1@gmail.com
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: send attr request = resolve
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: send attr sender = 
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: send attr address = email1@gmail.com
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: private/rewrite socket: wanted attribute: flags
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtp[10711]: 484ABF519: to=<root@solar.example.com>, orig_to=<webmaster@example.com>, relay=none, delay=0.24, delays=0/0.02/0.22/0, dsn=5.4.6, status=bounced (mail for solar.example.com loops back to myself)
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/cleanup[10707]: 6D5D5F518: message-id=<CADffLnt+xSogSDHVrpuE5QR17HJKZwUMAWuhmY_7mE-18QzFNg@mail.gmail.com>
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/qmgr[10686]: 6D5D5F518: from=<email1@gmail.com>, size=2095, nrcpt=1 (queue active)
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/cleanup[10715]: 8B7C0F51C: message-id=<20120105212204.8B7C0F51C@solar.example.com>
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/bounce[10714]: 484ABF519: sender non-delivery notification: 8B7C0F51C
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/qmgr[10686]: 8B7C0F51C: from=<>, size=4229, nrcpt=1 (queue active)
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/smtp[10711]: 6D5D5F518: to=<webmaster@solar.example.com>, relay=none, delay=0.2, delays=0.2/0/0/0, dsn=5.4.6, status=bounced (mail for solar.example.com loops back to myself)
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/qmgr[10686]: 484ABF519: removed
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/cleanup[10707]: 8F0AFF519: message-id=<20120105212204.8F0AFF519@solar.example.com>
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/bounce[10714]: 6D5D5F518: sender non-delivery notification: 8F0AFF519
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/qmgr[10686]: 6D5D5F518: removed
Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/qmgr[10686]: 8F0AFF519: from=<>, size=4061, nrcpt=1 (queue active)
Jan  5 13:22:05 example postfix/smtp[10720]: 8F0AFF519: to=<email@gmail.com>, relay=gmail-smtp-in.l.google.com[74.125.53.26]:25, delay=0.8, delays=0.01/0.04/0.2/0.56, dsn=2.0.0, status=sent (250 2.0.0 OK 1325798525 x7si2082483pba.82)
Jan  5 13:22:05 example postfix/qmgr[10686]: 8F0AFF519: removed
Jan  5 13:22:05 example postfix/smtp[10719]: 8B7C0F51C: to=<email@gmail.com>, relay=gmail-smtp-in.l.google.com[74.125.53.26]:25, delay=1.2, delays=0.03/0.03/0.18/0.93, dsn=2.0.0, status=sent (250 2.0.0 OK 1325798525 l10si55558852pbj.233)
Jan  5 13:22:05 example postfix/qmgr[10686]: 8B7C0F51C: removed
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10695]: < mail-iy0-f171.google.com[209.85.210.171]: QUIT
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10695]: > mail-iy0-f171.google.com[209.85.210.171]: 221 2.0.0 Bye
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10695]: match_hostname: mail-iy0-f171.google.com ~? 127.0.0.0/8
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10695]: match_hostaddr: 209.85.210.171 ~? 127.0.0.0/8
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10695]: match_list_match: mail-iy0-f171.google.com: no match
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10695]: match_list_match: 209.85.210.171: no match
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10695]: send attr request = disconnect
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10695]: send attr ident = smtp:209.85.210.171
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10695]: private/anvil: wanted attribute: status
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10695]: input attribute name: status
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10695]: input attribute value: 0
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10695]: private/anvil: wanted attribute: (list terminator)
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10695]: input attribute name: (end)
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10695]: disconnect from mail-iy0-f171.google.com[209.85.210.171]
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10695]: master_notify: status 1
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10695]: connection closed
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10695]: auto_clnt_close: disconnect private/tlsmgr stream
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10695]: rewrite stream disconnect
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10695]: proxymap stream disconnect
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: < mail-gx0-f174.google.com[209.85.161.174]: QUIT
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: > mail-gx0-f174.google.com[209.85.161.174]: 221 2.0.0 Bye
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: match_hostname: mail-gx0-f174.google.com ~? 127.0.0.0/8
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: match_hostaddr: 209.85.161.174 ~? 127.0.0.0/8
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: match_list_match: mail-gx0-f174.google.com: no match
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: match_list_match: 209.85.161.174: no match
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: send attr request = disconnect
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: send attr ident = smtp:209.85.161.174
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: private/anvil: wanted attribute: status
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: input attribute name: status
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: input attribute value: 0
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: private/anvil: wanted attribute: (list terminator)
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: input attribute name: (end)
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: disconnect from mail-gx0-f174.google.com[209.85.161.174]
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: master_notify: status 1
Jan  5 13:22:34 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: connection closed
Jan  5 13:24:14 example postfix/smtpd[10695]: idle timeout -- exiting
Jan  5 13:24:14 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: auto_clnt_close: disconnect private/tlsmgr stream
Jan  5 13:24:14 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: rewrite stream disconnect
Jan  5 13:24:14 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: proxymap stream disconnect
Jan  5 13:24:14 example postfix/smtpd[10699]: idle timeout -- exiting

also i just noticed this in message log

Jan  5 12:56:15 example postfix/smtpd[10519]: sql_select option missing
Jan  5 12:56:15 example postfix/smtpd[10519]: auxpropfunc error no mechanism available

here is my smtpd.conf

pwcheck_method: saslauthd
 mech_list: plain login
 allow_plaintext: true
 auxprop_plugin: mysql
 sql_hostnames: 127.0.0.1
 sql_user: xxxx
 sql_passwd: xxxx
 sql_database: xxxx
 sql_select: select password from users where email = '%u'

so now it looks like i'm able to send and receive although i've yet to get any mails that bounced previously, only new incoming mails.

problem i think was a combination of the ports not being opened in iptables and my conf file settings for sasl

however, now i cannot for the life of me get IMAP or POP working so i can log in from an external mail client to retrieve mail. any tips on this? i'm using courier for imap obviously, not dovecot. also i just installed webmin to see if it can help, although it's my first time using it

thanx huge!

If the mails have bounced, they're gone unless the sender re-sends them.

The "loops back to myself" thing is probably because solar.example.com is listed in neither mydestination nor virtual_mailbox_domains, so the mail server doesn't think it is responsible for handling it. However, when it tries to figure out which mail server is responsible via DNS, it finds that it is. So, it refuses the message since it can't do anything with it.

There is another error that is a Problem:

Jan  5 13:22:04 example postfix/trivial-rewrite[10701]: warning: do not list domain example.com in BOTH mydestination and virtual_mailbox_domains

It is pretty much what it says it is: you can either use the virtual domain stuff for example.com, or the "traditional" stuff for example.com, but not both. You probably want the virtual domain stuff, so remove example.com from mydestination.

I don't know too much about Courier/Dovecot, alas... I do know that when you have a problem and install Webmin to help fix it, you now have two problems. Mail is enough of a pain without throwing another layer of pain on top of it.

_________________

/* TODO: need to add signature to posts */

Ok so I corrected the virtual domain and still nothing until... I restarted mysql and whadayaknow, I am able to get emails using IMAP and POP. However I am not able to send them. I put relayhost = (blank) and it looks like SMTP AUTH is not working. Any pointers there?

Mainly I'd like to be able to use relaying for mobile devices and as I understand it, SMTP AUTH will automatically whitelist an authenticated user to send mail for like 30 minutes after auth.


SIDENOTE - MYSQLD problem restarting
I should probably open another thread for this but, basically my mysql seems to be screwed up and I cannot restart mysqld. When I do 'service mysqld status' i get

Redirecting to /bin/systemctl  status mysqld.service
mysqld.service - MySQL database server
     Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/mysqld.service)
     Active: active (running) since Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:57:25 -0800; 22h ago
    Process: 28241 ExecStartPost=/usr/libexec/mysqld-wait-ready $MAINPID (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE)
    Process: 28068 ExecStart=/usr/bin/mysqld_safe --nowatch --basedir=/usr (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
    Process: 28053 ExecStartPre=/usr/libexec/mysqld-prepare-db-dir (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)

The only way I can restart mysqld is by killing the process and then 'service mysql start'

when i restart, the messages logs gives me a bunch of this

Jan  7 11:19:56 example systemd[1]: Unit mysqld.service entered failed state.
Jan  7 11:19:57 example systemd[1]: mysqld.service: control process exited, code=exited status=1
Jan  7 11:19:57 example systemd[1]: mysqld.service holdoff time over, scheduling restart.
Jan  7 11:19:57 example systemd[1]: Job pending for unit, delaying automatic restart.
Jan  7 11:19:57 example systemd[1]: Unit mysqld.service entered failed state.
Jan  7 11:19:57 example systemd[1]: mysqld.service start request repeated too quickly, refusing to start.