Re: [Exim] host_address and smtp

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Author: Philip Hazel
Date:  
To: Pete Naylor
CC: exim-users
Subject: Re: [Exim] host_address and smtp
On Wed, 26 Jun 2002, Pete Naylor wrote:

> Thanks for the reply Philip. In this case, the host (or list of hosts)
> has been passed to the transport by a router (just as would happen for a
> local transport, where $host_address _is_ defined). While the transport
> has not yet connected, surely it knows or has access to a variable
> defining where it will connect?


It has a _list_ of hosts (in general) to which it will connect. These are
not put in a variable - because Exim has no mechanism for vector
variables. (I didn't want to write a programming language. :-)

> It just seems to me that this could be
> one of those expansion items that _might_ be defined in a transport
> depending on whether it was provided by a director/router. If it wasn't
> supplied, the value would be null.


The problem is how to cope with multiple hosts.

And it wouldn't help you - because you want to make changes based on the
host to which the message is being sent. Until the connection is made
(or about to be made) you can't take that decision. A message may be
routed to two hosts - one of which should trigger your changes, and one
of which should not.

(OK, you'll tell me "that won't ever happen in practice", but I have to
think in general terms.)


--
Philip Hazel            University of Cambridge Computing Service,
ph10@???      Cambridge, England. Phone: +44 1223 334714.