POP Server mailboxes

Wed, 20 Jun 2001 07:19:07 -0700

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the "t" for a file means that the file or executable image is saved in
memory (or paged to swap) even after the process has ended. This helps in
faster startup when the process is restarted. 

When applied to a directory, the "t" means that a user can only delete files
that they own or that they have specific write access to. This is different
than the default which allows a user to delete files that they do not have
explicit write access but which reside in directories that they do have
write access to. 

I don't know enough about POP email setup to know what permissions you need.
Does a special user (e.g. a mail process) own the files within
/var/spool/mail? If so, then it would make sense that no one but that
special user should have access to delete files within it. 

I've looked in a couple of different places and I can't see a reference to
"T" permission. I'd be interested to see what that's about.

Cheers, Kirt

> -----Original Message-----
> From: AZ Pete [mailto:az_pete@ieee-cas.org]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 10:18 PM
> To: plug-discuss@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us
> Subject: POP Server mailboxes
> 
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> I've set up a pop3 server on a machine and all is working ok. 
>  I am able to 
> download my mail using an email client from a couple Windows 
> test boxes.
> I am, however, receiving the following error in the maillog 
> whenever I 
> retrieve mail:
> 
> 'Mailbox vulnerable - directory /var/spool/mail must have 
> 1777 protection.'
> 
> In reading the chmod man page this would give permissions of 
> rwxrwxrwt.
> The 't'  means "save program text on swap device."
> 
> In one of my Linux books it mentions a capital T, which means 
> the sticky 
> bit is set.
> A small 't' would result if world sticky bit is set along 
> with world execute.
> 
> Does anyone have any clarification as to what the lower case 
> 't' permission 
> actually does?
> Do I need to apply it to the /var/spool/mail directory as the 
> pop3 error 
> message indicates?
> Or is it simply one of those 'nag' errors where I can leave it be?
> 
> Any help would be appreciated.
> Thanks,
> Peter 
> ________________________________________________
> See http://PLUG.phoenix.az.us/navigator-mail.shtml if your 
> mail doesn't post to the list quickly and you use Netscape to 
> write mail.
> 
> PLUG-discuss mailing list  -  PLUG-discuss@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us
> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss
> 

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charset=3DUS-ASCII">
<META NAME=3D"Generator" CONTENT=3D"MS Exchange Server version =
5.5.2653.12">
<TITLE>RE: POP Server mailboxes</TITLE>
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<BODY>

the &quot;t&quot; for a file means that the file or =
executable image is saved in memory (or paged to swap) even after the =
process has ended. This helps in faster startup when the process is =
restarted.

When applied to a directory, the &quot;t&quot; means =
that a user can only delete files that they own or that they have =
specific write access to. This is different than the default which =
allows a user to delete files that they do not have explicit write =
access but which reside in directories that they do have write access =
to.

I don't know enough about POP email setup to know =
what permissions you need. Does a special user (e.g. a mail process) =
own the files within /var/spool/mail? If so, then it would make sense =
that no one but that special user should have access to delete files =
within it.

I've looked in a couple of different places and I =
can't see a reference to &quot;T&quot; permission. I'd be interested to =
see what that's about.

<P><FONT SIZE=3D2>Cheers, Kirt</FONT>
</P>

&gt; -----Original Message-----
 &gt; From: AZ Pete [<A =
HREF=3D"mailto:az_pete@ieee-cas.org">mailto:az_pete@ieee-cas.org</A>]</F=
ONT>
 &gt; Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 10:18 PM
 &gt; To: =
plug-discuss@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us
 &gt; Subject: POP Server mailboxes
 &gt; 
 &gt; 
 &gt; Hi all,
 &gt; 
 &gt; I've set up a pop3 server on a machine and all =
is working ok. 
 &gt;&nbsp; I am able to 
 &gt; download my mail using an email client from a =
couple Windows 
 &gt; test boxes.
 &gt; I am, however, receiving the following error in =
the maillog 
 &gt; whenever I 
 &gt; retrieve mail:
 &gt; 
 &gt; 'Mailbox vulnerable - directory /var/spool/mail =
must have 
 &gt; 1777 protection.'
 &gt; 
 &gt; In reading the chmod man page this would give =
permissions of 
 &gt; rwxrwxrwt.
 &gt; The 't'&nbsp; means &quot;save program text on =
swap device.&quot;
 &gt; 
 &gt; In one of my Linux books it mentions a capital =
T, which means 
 &gt; the sticky 
 &gt; bit is set.
 &gt; A small 't' would result if world sticky bit is =
set along 
 &gt; with world execute.
 &gt; 
 &gt; Does anyone have any clarification as to what =
the lower case 
 &gt; 't' permission 
 &gt; actually does?
 &gt; Do I need to apply it to the /var/spool/mail =
directory as the 
 &gt; pop3 error 
 &gt; message indicates?
 &gt; Or is it simply one of those 'nag' errors where =
I can leave it be?
 &gt; 
 &gt; Any help would be appreciated.
 &gt; Thanks,
 &gt; Peter 
 &gt; =
________________________________________________
 &gt; See <A =
HREF=3D"http://PLUG.phoenix.az.us/navigator-mail.shtml" =
TARGET=3D"_blank">http://PLUG.phoenix.az.us/navigator-mail.shtml</A> if =
your 
 &gt; mail doesn't post to the list quickly and you =
use Netscape to 
 &gt; write mail.
 &gt; 
 &gt; PLUG-discuss mailing list&nbsp; -&nbsp; =
PLUG-discuss@lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us
 &gt; <A =
HREF=3D"http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss" =
TARGET=3D"_blank">http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-=
discuss</A>
 &gt;

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