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POSTSUPER(1) POSTSUPER(1)
<b>NAME</b>
postsuper - Postfix superintendent
<b>SYNOPSIS</b>
<b>postsuper</b> [<b>-psSv</b>]
[<b>-c</b> <i>config</i><b>_</b><i>dir</i>] [<b>-d</b> <i>queue</i><b>_</b><i>id</i>]
[<b>-e</b> <i>queue</i><b>_</b><i>id</i>] [<b>-f</b> <i>queue</i><b>_</b><i>id</i>]
[<b>-h</b> <i>queue</i><b>_</b><i>id</i>] [<b>-H</b> <i>queue</i><b>_</b><i>id</i>]
[<b>-r</b> <i>queue</i><b>_</b><i>id</i>] [<i>directory ...</i>]
<b>DESCRIPTION</b>
The <a href="postsuper.1.html"><b>postsuper</b>(1)</a> command does maintenance jobs on the Postfix queue.
Use of the command is restricted to the superuser. See the
<a href="postqueue.1.html"><b>postqueue</b>(1)</a> command for unprivileged queue operations such as listing
or flushing the mail queue.
By default, <a href="postsuper.1.html"><b>postsuper</b>(1)</a> performs the operations requested with the <b>-s</b>
and <b>-p</b> command-line options on all Postfix queue directories - this
includes the <b>incoming</b>, <b>active</b>, <b>deferred</b>, and <b>hold</b> directories with mes-
sage files and the <b>bounce</b>, <b>defer</b>, <b>trace</b> and <b>flush</b> directories with log
files.
Options:
<b>-c</b> <i>config</i><b>_</b><i>dir</i>
The <a href="postconf.5.html"><b>main.cf</b></a> configuration file is in the named directory instead
of the default configuration directory. See also the MAIL_CONFIG
environment setting below.
<b>-d</b> <i>queue</i><b>_</b><i>id</i>
Delete one message with the named queue ID from the named mail
queue(s) (default: <b>hold</b>, <b>incoming</b>, <b>active</b> and <b>deferred</b>).
To delete multiple files, specify the <b>-d</b> option multiple times,
or specify a <i>queue</i><b>_</b><i>id</i> of <b>-</b> to read queue IDs from standard
input. For example, to delete all mail with exactly one recipi-
ent <b>user@example.com</b>:
postqueue -j | jq -r '
# See JSON OBJECT FORMAT section in the <a href="postqueue.1.html">postqueue(1)</a> manpage
select(.recipients[0].address == "user@example.com")
| select(.recipients[1].address == null)
| .queue_id
' | postsuper -d -
(note the "jq -r" option), or the historical form:
mailq | tail -n +2 | grep -v '^ *(' | awk 'BEGIN { RS = "" }
# $7=sender, $8=recipient1, $9=recipient2
{ if ($8 == "user@example.com" && $9 == "")
print $1 }
' | tr -d '*!' | postsuper -d -
Specify "<b>-d ALL</b>" to remove all messages; for example, specify
"<b>-d ALL deferred</b>" to delete all mail in the <b>deferred</b> queue. As
a safety measure, the word <b>ALL</b> must be specified in upper case.
Warning: Postfix queue IDs are reused (always with Postfix <=
2.8; and with Postfix >= 2.9 when <a href="postconf.5.html#enable_long_queue_ids">enable_long_queue_ids</a>=no).
There is a very small possibility that postsuper deletes the
wrong message file when it is executed while the Postfix mail
system is delivering mail.
The scenario is as follows:
1) The Postfix queue manager deletes the message that <a href="postsuper.1.html"><b>post-</b></a>
<a href="postsuper.1.html"><b>super</b>(1)</a> is asked to delete, because Postfix is finished
with the message (it is delivered, or it is returned to
the sender).
2) New mail arrives, and the new message is given the same
queue ID as the message that <a href="postsuper.1.html"><b>postsuper</b>(1)</a> is supposed to
delete. The probability for reusing a deleted queue ID
is about 1 in 2**15 (the number of different microsecond
values that the system clock can distinguish within a
second).
3) <a href="postsuper.1.html"><b>postsuper</b>(1)</a> deletes the new message, instead of the old
message that it should have deleted.
<b>-e</b> <i>queue</i><b>_</b><i>id</i>
<b>-f</b> <i>queue</i><b>_</b><i>id</i>
Request forced expiration for one message with the named queue
ID in the named mail queue(s) (default: <b>hold</b>, <b>incoming</b>, <b>active</b>
and <b>deferred</b>).
<b>o</b> The message will be returned to the sender when the queue
manager attempts to deliver that message (note that Post-
fix will never deliver messages in the <b>hold</b> queue).
<b>o</b> The <b>-e</b> and <b>-f</b> options both request forced expiration. The
difference is that <b>-f</b> will also release a message if it
is in the <b>hold</b> queue. With <b>-e</b>, such a message would not
be returned to the sender until it is released with <b>-f</b> or
<b>-H</b>.
<b>o</b> When a deferred message is force-expired, the return mes-
sage will state the reason for the delay. Otherwise, the
reason will be "message is administratively expired".
To expire multiple files, specify the <b>-e</b> or <b>-f</b> option multiple
times, or specify a <i>queue</i><b>_</b><i>id</i> of <b>-</b> to read queue IDs from stan-
dard input (see the <b>-d</b> option above for an example, but be sure
to replace <b>-d</b> in the example).
Specify "<b>-e ALL</b>" or "<b>-f ALL</b>" to expire all messages; for exam-
ple, specify "<b>-e ALL deferred</b>" to expire all mail in the
<b>deferred</b> queue. As a safety measure, the word <b>ALL</b> must be spec-
ified in upper case.
These features are available in Postfix 3.5 and later.
<b>-h</b> <i>queue</i><b>_</b><i>id</i>
Put mail "on hold" so that no attempt is made to deliver it.
Move one message with the named queue ID from the named mail
queue(s) (default: <b>incoming</b>, <b>active</b> and <b>deferred</b>) to the <b>hold</b>
queue.
To hold multiple files, specify the <b>-h</b> option multiple times, or
specify a <i>queue</i><b>_</b><i>id</i> of <b>-</b> to read queue IDs from standard input.
Specify "<b>-h ALL</b>" to hold all messages; for example, specify "<b>-h</b>
<b>ALL deferred</b>" to hold all mail in the <b>deferred</b> queue. As a
safety measure, the word <b>ALL</b> must be specified in upper case.
Note: while mail is "on hold" it will not expire when its time
in the queue exceeds the <b><a href="postconf.5.html#maximal_queue_lifetime">maximal_queue_lifetime</a></b> or
<b><a href="postconf.5.html#bounce_queue_lifetime">bounce_queue_lifetime</a></b> setting. It becomes subject to expiration
after it is released from "hold".
This feature is available in Postfix 2.0 and later.
<b>-H</b> <i>queue</i><b>_</b><i>id</i>
Release mail that was put "on hold". Move one message with the
named queue ID from the named mail queue(s) (default: <b>hold</b>) to
the <b>deferred</b> queue.
To release multiple files, specify the <b>-H</b> option multiple times,
or specify a <i>queue</i><b>_</b><i>id</i> of <b>-</b> to read queue IDs from standard
input.
Note: specify "<b>postsuper -r</b>" to release mail that was kept on
hold for a significant fraction of <b>$<a href="postconf.5.html#maximal_queue_lifetime">maximal_queue_lifetime</a></b> or
<b>$<a href="postconf.5.html#bounce_queue_lifetime">bounce_queue_lifetime</a></b>, or longer.
Specify "<b>-H ALL</b>" to release all mail that is "on hold". As a
safety measure, the word <b>ALL</b> must be specified in upper case.
This feature is available in Postfix 2.0 and later.
<b>-p</b> Purge old temporary files that are left over after system or
software crashes. The <b>-p</b>, <b>-s</b>, and <b>-S</b> operations are done before
other operations.
<b>-r</b> <i>queue</i><b>_</b><i>id</i>
Requeue the message with the named queue ID from the named mail
queue(s) (default: <b>hold</b>, <b>incoming</b>, <b>active</b> and <b>deferred</b>).
To requeue multiple files, specify the <b>-r</b> option multiple times,
or specify a <i>queue</i><b>_</b><i>id</i> of <b>-</b> to read queue IDs from standard
input.
Specify "<b>-r ALL</b>" to requeue all messages. As a safety measure,
the word <b>ALL</b> must be specified in upper case.
A requeued message is moved to the <b>maildrop</b> queue, from where it
is copied by the <a href="pickup.8.html"><b>pickup</b>(8)</a> and <a href="cleanup.8.html"><b>cleanup</b>(8)</a> daemons to a new queue
file. In many respects its handling differs from that of a new
local submission.
<b>o</b> The message is not subjected to the <a href="postconf.5.html#smtpd_milters">smtpd_milters</a> or
<a href="postconf.5.html#non_smtpd_milters">non_smtpd_milters</a> settings. When mail has passed through
an external content filter, this would produce incorrect
results with Milter applications that depend on original
SMTP connection state information.
<b>o</b> The message is subjected again to mail address rewriting
and substitution. This is useful when rewriting rules or
virtual mappings have changed.
The address rewriting context (local or remote) is the
same as when the message was received.
<b>o</b> The message is subjected to the same <a href="postconf.5.html#content_filter">content_filter</a> set-
tings (if any) as used for new local mail submissions.
This is useful when <a href="postconf.5.html#content_filter">content_filter</a> settings have changed.
Warning: Postfix queue IDs are reused (always with Postfix <=
2.8; and with Postfix >= 2.9 when <a href="postconf.5.html#enable_long_queue_ids">enable_long_queue_ids</a>=no).
There is a very small possibility that <a href="postsuper.1.html"><b>postsuper</b>(1)</a> requeues the
wrong message file when it is executed while the Postfix mail
system is running, but no harm should be done.
This feature is available in Postfix 1.1 and later.
<b>-s</b> Structure check and structure repair. This should be done once
before Postfix startup. The <b>-p</b>, <b>-s</b>, and <b>-S</b> operations are done
before other operations.
<b>o</b> Rename files whose name does not match the message file
inode number. This operation is necessary after restoring
a mail queue from a different machine or from backup,
when queue files were created with Postfix <= 2.8 or with
"<a href="postconf.5.html#enable_long_queue_ids">enable_long_queue_ids</a> = no".
<b>o</b> Move queue files that are in the wrong place in the file
system hierarchy and remove subdirectories that are no
longer needed. File position rearrangements are neces-
sary after a change in the <b><a href="postconf.5.html#hash_queue_names">hash_queue_names</a></b> and/or
<b><a href="postconf.5.html#hash_queue_depth">hash_queue_depth</a></b> configuration parameters.
<b>o</b> Rename queue files created with "<a href="postconf.5.html#enable_long_queue_ids">enable_long_queue_ids</a> =
yes" to short names, for migration to Postfix <= 2.8.
The procedure is as follows:
# postfix stop
# postconf <a href="postconf.5.html#enable_long_queue_ids">enable_long_queue_ids</a>=no
# postsuper
Run <a href="postsuper.1.html"><b>postsuper</b>(1)</a> repeatedly until it stops reporting file
name changes.
<b>-S</b> A redundant version of <b>-s</b> that requires that long file names
also match the message file inode number. This option exists for
testing purposes, and is available with Postfix 2.9 and later.
The <b>-p</b>, <b>-s</b>, and <b>-S</b> operations are done before other operations.
<b>-v</b> Enable verbose logging for debugging purposes. Multiple <b>-v</b>
options make the software increasingly verbose.
<b>DIAGNOSTICS</b>
Problems are reported to the standard error stream and to <b>syslogd</b>(8) or
<a href="postlogd.8.html"><b>postlogd</b>(8)</a>.
<a href="postsuper.1.html"><b>postsuper</b>(1)</a> reports the number of messages deleted with <b>-d</b>, the number
of messages expired with <b>-e</b>, the number of messages expired or released
with <b>-f</b>, the number of messages held or released with <b>-h</b> or <b>-H</b>, the
number of messages requeued with <b>-r</b>, and the number of messages whose
queue file name was fixed with <b>-s</b>. The report is written to the stan-
dard error stream and to <b>syslogd</b>(8) or <a href="postlogd.8.html"><b>postlogd</b>(8)</a>.
<b>ENVIRONMENT</b>
MAIL_CONFIG
Directory with the <a href="postconf.5.html"><b>main.cf</b></a> file.
<b>BUGS</b>
Mail that is not sanitized by Postfix (i.e. mail in the <b>maildrop</b> queue)
cannot be placed "on hold".
<b>CONFIGURATION PARAMETERS</b>
The following <a href="postconf.5.html"><b>main.cf</b></a> parameters are especially relevant to this pro-
gram. The text below provides only a parameter summary. See <a href="postconf.5.html"><b>post-</b></a>
<a href="postconf.5.html"><b>conf</b>(5)</a> for more details including examples.
<b><a href="postconf.5.html#config_directory">config_directory</a> (see 'postconf -d' output)</b>
The default location of the Postfix <a href="postconf.5.html">main.cf</a> and <a href="master.5.html">master.cf</a> con-
figuration files.
<b><a href="postconf.5.html#hash_queue_depth">hash_queue_depth</a> (1)</b>
The number of subdirectory levels for queue directories listed
with the <a href="postconf.5.html#hash_queue_names">hash_queue_names</a> parameter.
<b><a href="postconf.5.html#hash_queue_names">hash_queue_names</a> (deferred, defer)</b>
The names of queue directories that are split across multiple
subdirectory levels.
<b><a href="postconf.5.html#import_environment">import_environment</a> (see 'postconf -d' output)</b>
The list of environment parameters that a privileged Postfix
process will import from a non-Postfix parent process, or
name=value environment overrides.
<b><a href="postconf.5.html#queue_directory">queue_directory</a> (see 'postconf -d' output)</b>
The location of the Postfix top-level queue directory.
<b><a href="postconf.5.html#syslog_facility">syslog_facility</a> (mail)</b>
The syslog facility of Postfix logging.
<b><a href="postconf.5.html#syslog_name">syslog_name</a> (see 'postconf -d' output)</b>
A prefix that is prepended to the process name in syslog
records, so that, for example, "smtpd" becomes "prefix/smtpd".
Available in Postfix version 2.9 and later:
<b><a href="postconf.5.html#enable_long_queue_ids">enable_long_queue_ids</a> (no)</b>
Enable long, non-repeating, queue IDs (queue file names).
<b>SEE ALSO</b>
<a href="sendmail.1.html">sendmail(1)</a>, Sendmail-compatible user interface
<a href="postqueue.1.html">postqueue(1)</a>, unprivileged queue operations
<a href="postlogd.8.html">postlogd(8)</a>, Postfix logging
syslogd(8), system logging
<b>LICENSE</b>
The Secure Mailer license must be distributed with this software.
<b>AUTHOR(S)</b>
Wietse Venema
IBM T.J. Watson Research
P.O. Box 704
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, USA
Wietse Venema
Google, Inc.
111 8th Avenue
New York, NY 10011, USA
POSTSUPER(1)
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