[BlueOnyx:10108] Re: Vacation message bugs

[Michael Stauber]

Hi Chuck,

> So it seems you're saying the autoresponder is a Sendmail function -
> something activated inside Sendmail or called by Sendmail?  

Only indirectly. No, the Sendmail configs aren't modified if someone enables, 
disables or changes a vacation message. Instead the .forward file in the users 
home directory is created or modified. Sendmail comes into play nonetheless, 
because usually Sendmail cannot pipe a locally delivered mail directly to a 
program such as vacation.pl. Unless said program is authorized for that 
purpose through Sendmail's SMRSH (Sendmail Restricted Shell) mechanism.

> Wouldn't that mean that Sendmail or its configs are modified each time
> a user activates or deactivates their vacation message function?  
> That seems a little excessive, or high-level for a user-level requirement

That's true. If we had to modify virtusertable for that purpose, then it would 
indeed be excessive, as we'd have to reload Sendmail after each such change. 
As it is, we already have to do that often enough. Like when a site is added / 
removed and/or the email aliasses for sites or users change.

-- 
With best regards

Michael Stauber