Chapter 4. Administering the Messaging Server

Table of Contents
4.1. The admin Administrative Account
4.2. The Server Manager Administration Interface
4.3. Managing Domains
4.4. Managing Mail Users
4.5. Managing Mail Aliases
4.6. Managing System Services

The Messaging Server provides simple graphical administration using the Server Manager. This chapter describes:

Note: We strongly recommend that you implement a backup procedure for your Messaging Server immediately.

For more information, see "Chapter 2. Configuration and Administration" and "Chapter 3. Mail Administration" in the Administrator's Guide.

4.1. The admin Administrative Account

The Messaging Server has a single administrative account named "admin". This is the name you use to log into the Server Manager for administering your messaging server. It is a valid mail account and can receive mail.

The admin account is managed like other user accounts as described in "Managing Mail Users". You can also change the admin password by clicking on Admin Password under the System menu in the Server Manager.

Note: Before proceeding with Messaging Server configuration, we recommend that you change the initial admin password, set by default to "admin."

In addition to the admin account, the Messaging Server provides a default postmaster mail alias. Postfix (as well as most other MTAs) require that an account for "postmaster" exists so that messages to the address "postmaster@host.domain" can be delivered successfully. It also receives any error messages generated by Postfix. The postmaster mail alias is created automatically during installation with the "admin" administrator account as its sole member. This alias should not be deleted from the server.

4.2. The Server Manager Administration Interface

The Server Manager is the principle Messaging Server administrative utility. It is a web-based management interface with support for all functions required to administer an office mail server, including the ability to:

The Server Manager provides mail server administration screens accessible only by an administrator account with the login name "admin". By default, the Server Manager is served by the Apache webserver at:

http://hostname/msg

where hostname is the value returned by the hostname(1) on the Messaging Server system.

The Server Manager screen includes menus for managing:

It also includes:

Note: To protect Messaging Server security, we recommend that you log out of the Server Manager, rather than simply closing the browser window, whenever you are not actively using the Server Manager.

4.3. Managing Domains

To administer domains with the Server Manager, click on these buttons in the Domains menu:

View Domains 

List the mail domains controlled by the Messaging Server.

Create Domain 

Enter a mail domain name and description.

Delete Domain 

Delete the domain names you select.

The Messaging Server supports multiple mail domains, with user and alias lists displayed in per-domain views. To switch to a different domain, select it from the Domain box in the upper right of the screen.

For information about managing virtual domains (multiple mail domains presented by the same mail server), see "Managing Mail Domains" in Chapter 2 of the Administrator's Guide.

4.4. Managing Mail Users

You can use the Server Manager to create and modify mail accounts for users who receive mail on the Messaging Server. In the Users menu, click on:

Create User 

Creates a new user. Required entries are marked with an asterisk (*):

  • *User ID; an identification name for the user which is unique for all domains in your entire Messaging Server installation. It does not have to be the same as Mail address.

  • First Name

  • Last Name

  • *Mail address

  • *Password

The following optional information can also be entered by the admin user when the account is created or updated later by the client user (on some browsers, these options are displayed when you click on More):

  • Work Phone

  • Mobile Phone

  • Home Phone

  • Pager

  • FAX

  • Title

  • Office Location

  • Alternate Mail (Only the admin user can modify this field, client users cannot do so.)

  • Forward Mail To:

When you have entered all required and optional information, click on Create to enter the new user account information.

View Users 

Lists all users in the selected mail domain, sorted by User ID. Clicking on the User ID link displays the user's complete account information. From this display you can take these User Actions:

  • Modify the listed settings.

  • change the user's Password.

  • view Aliases to which the user is subscribed.

  • Delete this user.

Find User 

Searches for a user in the selected mail domain. You can enter a full or partial word to be found in the User ID or any of the Name fields. Click on the User ID links in the search results to display user information and take User Actions.

Delete User 

Selects a User ID to delete. When you click on Select, all the associated user information is erased from the LDAP database. You can also delete users from the View Users display.

4.5. Managing Mail Aliases

You can use the Server Manager to create and modify mail aliases. In the Aliases menu, click on:

Create Alias 

Creates a new alias in the current domain. Required entries are marked with an asterisk (*):

  • *Alias (the alias name)

  • Description

  • *Owner (at least one owner is required, multiple owners are permitted and recommended)

  • Membership (whether users may add or remove members to or from the alias); the default is Open.

  • *Alias Members (at least one member is required)

If users have permission to create aliases (see "Managing System Services" below), they can also view and manage these fields. However, only the admin user can enable the following alias features (on some browsers, these options are displayed when you click on More):

Append File 

The path of a file on the system to which mail to this alias will be appended.

Pipe Program 

A program through which to pipe a message sent to the alias.

When you have entered all required and optional information, click on Create to enter the new alias information.

View Aliases 

Lists all aliases in the selected mail domain, sorted by Alias. Clicking on the Alias link displays the complete alias information. From this display you can take these Alias Actions:

  • Modify the settings listed

  • add or remove alias Members

  • add or remove alias Owners

  • specify Programs/Files for the alias

  • Delete this alias

Find Alias 

Searches for an alias in the selected mail domain. You can enter a full or partial word to be found in the Alias or Name fields. Click on the Alias links in the search results to display alias information and take Alias Actions.

Delete Alias 

Selects an Alias to delete. You can also delete users from the View Aliases display.

Note: We recommend that every alias have at least two owners, and that important aliases also include the admin user as an owner or member.

4.6. Managing System Services

Use the selections in the Server Manager System menu to control general Messaging Server system services:

Admin Password 

Enter and confirm the new admin password value, then click on Apply to complete the change.

User Access 

You can grant or deny these global access privileges for users in all mail domains controlled by the Messaging Server:

  • Users can change their own password

  • Users can change their own profile

  • Users can create mail aliases

Mail Services 

The Server Manager allows you to view the status and perform certain actions on the Messaging Server component servers:

  • cyrus - IMAP/POP Server

  • docview - OpenLinux Documentation Server

  • ldap - OpenLDAP Directory Server

  • postfix - Mail Transport Agent (MTA)