Re: [exim] Recursive Lookups

Timothy Arnold wrote:
> Hello!
>
> I haven't been looking at exim for a few years now, but I have finally got
> my hands on a mail system which I need to maintain. One of the users has
> an issue with the alias file and recursive lookups.
>
> I am fairly certain that this is a design feature to avoid mail loops but
> I will explain the issue. The user has an alias file and we lookup the
> $original_local_part@$original_local_domain
>
> The file is for example:
>
> user@???: someone@???
> loop@???: user@???
>
> If the user emails loop@???, if recursive lookups work, it should
> email someone@??? but doesn't. it continues to the next
> router believing that it hasn't matched user@???
>
> Anyone know a work around?

Several. But not needed / wanted.

Is this a good idea :>)

Categorically not, IMNSHO.

Presuming it is the special case, not the general case, it
becomes a 'landmine' for administration and troubleshooting.

A simpler and more maintainable way is:

user@???: someone@???
loop@???: someone@???

Or, more generally:

identity1@???: destination@???
identity2@???: destination@???
.
.
identityn@???: destination@???

IOW - as many alias/forwarders to each destination as needed,
but no need to nest.

Simpler all around.

Easier to educate / guide the users, and easier to maintain in
whatever UI you provide as well.

Be aware that if 'destination@???' is aliased/forwarded
back to one of the above, you will still have an unwanted loop.

All the more reason to keep it simple at your end.


HTH,

Bill