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postfix/virtual: bad command startup -- throttling

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M. Fioretti

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Jun 5, 2006, 10:50:42 AM6/5/06
to
Please accept my apologies if you already received this, and with a
wrong subject. I hit the wrong button...

Hello,

I am trying to configure postfix, on a Virtual Private Server, to
receive email for a few addresses at some domains (named
domain_1,2,3,4.net below) and ignore anything else. I am trying to
follow the recommendations at www.postfix.org/VIRTUAL_README.html
("separate domains, non-Unix accounts" section)

After I run "postmap /etc/postfix/vmailbox" and restart postfix I get
this error:

Jun 5 09:31:39 fm postfix/master[1372]: warning: process /usr/libexec/postfix/virtual pid 1379 exit status 1
Jun 5 09:31:39 fm postfix/master[1372]: warning: /usr/libexec/postfix/virtual: bad command startup -- throttling

I _have_ searched that error message with Google, but what I have
found are either threads which mention it but don't (AFAICT) provide a
solution or talk about misconfigured chroot jails, which is not my
case.

What is happening, and how can I fix it? postconf -n output is below.

TIA,
Marco

-bash-3.00# postconf -n
alias_database = hash:/etc/aliases
alias_maps = hash:/etc/aliases
command_directory = /usr/sbin
config_directory = /etc/postfix
daemon_directory = /usr/libexec/postfix
debug_peer_level = 2
html_directory = no
inet_interfaces = localhost
mail_owner = postfix
mailq_path = /usr/bin/mailq.postfix
manpage_directory = /usr/share/man
mydestination = $myhostname, localhost.$mydomain, localhost
mydomain = domain_1.net
myorigin = $mydomain
newaliases_path = /usr/bin/newaliases.postfix
queue_directory = /var/spool/postfix
readme_directory = /usr/share/doc/postfix-2.1.5/README_FILES
relayhost = smtp.my_vps.provider.com
sample_directory = /usr/share/doc/postfix-2.1.5/samples
sendmail_path = /usr/sbin/sendmail.postfix
setgid_group = postdrop
unknown_local_recipient_reject_code = 550
virtual_mailbox_base = /var/mail/vhosts
virtual_mailbox_domains = domain_1.net domain_2.net domain_3.net domain_4.net
virtual_mailbox_maps = hash: /etc/postfix/vmailbox

--
Marco Fioretti mfioretti, at the server mclink.it
Fedora Core 5 for low memory http://www.rule-project.org/

Human beings act intelligently only after they have exhausted the
alternatives -- Abba Eban

----- End forwarded message -----

--
Marco Fioretti mfioretti, at the server mclink.it
Fedora Core 3 for low memory http://www.rule-project.org/

Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds
discuss people. -- Admiral Hyman Rickover

Ralf Hildebrandt

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Jun 5, 2006, 10:48:25 AM6/5/06
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* M. Fioretti <mfio...@mclink.it>:

> Jun 5 09:31:39 fm postfix/master[1372]: warning: process /usr/libexec/postfix/virtual pid 1379 exit status 1

and before that?

--
Ralf Hildebrandt (Ralf.Hil...@charite.de) spam...@charite.de
Postfix - Einrichtung, Betrieb und Wartung Tel. +49 (0)30-450 570-155
http://www.postfix-buch.com
I am the "ILOVEGNU" signature virus. Just copy me to your signature.
This email was infected under the terms of the GNU General Public License.

M. Fioretti

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Jun 5, 2006, 11:07:02 AM6/5/06
to
On Mon, Jun 05, 2006 16:48:25 PM +0200, Ralf Hildebrandt (Ralf.Hil...@charite.de) wrote:
> * M. Fioretti <mfio...@mclink.it>:
>
> > Jun 5 09:31:39 fm postfix/master[1372]: warning: process /usr/libexec/postfix/virtual pid 1379 exit status 1
>
> and before that?

Oops, sorry, I lost the lines before. Here they are, right after restarting postfix:

Jun 5 11:01:13 fm postfix/master[1694]: daemon started -- version 2.1.5

several lines like this:

Jun 5 11:01:13 fm postfix/qmgr[1698]: 91E74C19A: from=<ro...@domain1.net>, size=693, nrcpt=1 (queue active)

and then:

Jun 5 11:01:13 fm postfix/virtual[1700]: fatal: open database .db: No such file or directory
Jun 5 11:01:15 fm postfix/master[1694]: warning: process /usr/libexec/postfix/virtual pid 1700 exit status 1
Jun 5 11:01:15 fm postfix/master[1694]: warning: /usr/libexec/postfix/virtual: bad command startup -- throttling


--
Marco Fioretti mfioretti, at the server mclink.it
Fedora Core 3 for low memory http://www.rule-project.org/

Don't think that a small group of dedicated individuals can't change
the world. it's the only thing that ever has. (read on /.)

Devdas Bhagat

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Jun 5, 2006, 11:05:24 AM6/5/06
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On 05/06/06 17:07 +0200, M. Fioretti wrote:
<snip>

>
> Jun 5 11:01:13 fm postfix/master[1694]: daemon started -- version 2.1.5
>
> several lines like this:
>
> Jun 5 11:01:13 fm postfix/qmgr[1698]: 91E74C19A: from=<ro...@domain1.net>, size=693, nrcpt=1 (queue active)
>
> and then:
>
> Jun 5 11:01:13 fm postfix/virtual[1700]: fatal: open database .db: No such file or directory
> Jun 5 11:01:15 fm postfix/master[1694]: warning: process /usr/libexec/postfix/virtual pid 1700 exit status 1
> Jun 5 11:01:15 fm postfix/master[1694]: warning: /usr/libexec/postfix/virtual: bad command startup -- throttling
>

Let me guess. You have
virtual_alias_maps = hash: /etc/postfix/virtual <=== note the space.

postconf -n is your friend.

Devdas Bhagat

Devdas Bhagat

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Jun 5, 2006, 11:06:35 AM6/5/06
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On 05/06/06 16:50 +0200, M. Fioretti wrote:
<snip>
> virtual_mailbox_maps = hash: /etc/postfix/vmailbox
^^^^^^^^^^
Ooops, just replied to your other mail. Correct diagnosis, wrong
parameter.
You want to remove the space there.

Devdas Bhagat

Ralf Hildebrandt

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Jun 5, 2006, 11:10:10 AM6/5/06
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* M. Fioretti <mfio...@mclink.it>:

> Jun 5 11:01:13 fm postfix/virtual[1700]: fatal: open database .db: No such file or directory
AHA. So, fix that :)
You probably have a typo in main.cf

--
Ralf Hildebrandt (Ralf.Hil...@charite.de) spam...@charite.de
Postfix - Einrichtung, Betrieb und Wartung Tel. +49 (0)30-450 570-155
http://www.postfix-buch.com

C is quirky, flawed, and an enormous success. -- Dennis M. Ritchie.

M. Fioretti

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Jun 5, 2006, 11:22:42 AM6/5/06
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On Mon, Jun 05, 2006 20:35:24 PM +0530, Devdas Bhagat (dev...@dvb.homelinux.org) wrote:

> Let me guess. You have
> virtual_alias_maps = hash: /etc/postfix/virtual <=== note the space.
>

Ouch. I had not noticed the space, for the simple reason that I had
*not* added such a line in main.cf: I had the impression, from the
howto I mentioned earlier, that such a map is not mandatory, so
/etc/postfix/virtual is still the comments-only, example file which is
installed with postfix. Now I will add a line there and retry, but any
info as to why it is mandatory to have it is appreciated.

Furthermore, does it only have to point to local mailboxes, or I can
also write in /etc/postfix/virtual something like

postm...@domain1.net a-valid-external-email-address

Thanks,
Marco


--
Marco Fioretti mfioretti, at the server mclink.it
Fedora Core 3 for low memory http://www.rule-project.org/

Perhaps the moderate position is the most radical of all. That is, if
you want to get something done that works for everybody.
Doc Searls, The Radical Middle

M. Fioretti

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Jun 5, 2006, 11:36:18 AM6/5/06
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On Mon, Jun 05, 2006 16:50:42 PM +0200, io (mfio...@mclink.it) wrote:

> After I run "postmap /etc/postfix/vmailbox" and restart postfix I get
> this error:
>
> Jun 5 09:31:39 fm postfix/master[1372]: warning: process /usr/libexec/postfix/virtual pid 1379 exit status 1
> Jun 5 09:31:39 fm postfix/master[1372]: warning: /usr/libexec/postfix/virtual: bad command startup -- throttling
>

...
> virtual_mailbox_maps = hash: /etc/postfix/vmailbox

OK, this is the status: removing the space after "hash:" in the line
above does fix this particular problem. The fact that there is nothing
in /etc/postfix/virtual doesn't seem to have anything at all with this
warning.

Now I have finally started to generate new errors :-), but that's
matter for another thread.

Thanks everybody!

Marco

--
Marco Fioretti mfioretti, at the server mclink.it
Fedora Core 5 for low memory http://www.rule-project.org/

I love humanity, it's people I can't stand Linus Van Pelt, Peanuts

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