PROXYMAP(8) System Manager's Manual PROXYMAP(8)
NAME
proxymap - Postfix lookup table proxy server
SYNOPSIS
proxymap [generic Postfix daemon options]
DESCRIPTION
The proxymap(8) server provides read-only or read-write table lookup service to Postfix processes. These ser‐
vices are implemented with distinct service names: proxymap and proxywrite, respectively. The purpose of these
services is:
· To overcome chroot restrictions. For example, a chrooted SMTP server needs access to the system passwd
file in order to reject mail for non-existent local addresses, but it is not practical to maintain a
copy of the passwd file in the chroot jail. The solution:
local_recipient_maps =
proxy:unix:passwd.byname $alias_maps
· To consolidate the number of open lookup tables by sharing one open table among multiple processes. For
example, making mysql connections from every Postfix daemon process results in "too many connections"
errors. The solution:
virtual_alias_maps =
proxy:mysql:/etc/postfix/virtual_alias.cf
The total number of connections is limited by the number of proxymap server processes.
· To provide single-updater functionality for lookup tables that do not reliably support multiple writers
(i.e. all file-based tables).
The proxymap(8) server implements the following requests:
open maptype:mapname flags
Open the table with type maptype and name mapname, as controlled by flags. The reply includes the map‐
type dependent flags (to distinguish a fixed string table from a regular expression table).
lookup maptype:mapname flags key
Look up the data stored under the requested key. The reply is the request completion status code and
the lookup result value. The maptype:mapname and flags are the same as with the open request.
update maptype:mapname flags key value
Update the data stored under the requested key. The reply is the request completion status code. The
maptype:mapname and flags are the same as with the open request.
To implement single-updater maps, specify a process limit of 1 in the master.cf file entry for the
proxywrite service.
This request is supported in Postfix 2.5 and later.
delete maptype:mapname flags key
Delete the data stored under the requested key. The reply is the request completion status code. The
maptype:mapname and flags are the same as with the open request.
This request is supported in Postfix 2.5 and later.
sequence maptype:mapname flags function
proxymap(8) servers run under control by the Postfix master(8) server. Each server can handle multiple simul‐
taneous connections. When all servers are busy while a client connects, the master(8) creates a new prox‐
ymap(8) server process, provided that the process limit is not exceeded. Each server terminates after serving
at least $max_use clients or after $max_idle seconds of idle time.
SECURITY
The proxymap(8) server opens only tables that are approved via the proxy_read_maps or proxy_write_maps config‐
uration parameters, does not talk to users, and can run at fixed low privilege, chrooted or not. However,
running the proxymap server chrooted severely limits usability, because it can open only chrooted tables.
The proxymap(8) server is not a trusted daemon process, and must not be used to look up sensitive information
such as UNIX user or group IDs, mailbox file/directory names or external commands.
In Postfix version 2.2 and later, the proxymap client recognizes requests to access a table for security-sen‐
sitive purposes, and opens the table directly. This allows the same main.cf setting to be used by sensitive
and non-sensitive processes.
Postfix-writable data files should be stored under a dedicated directory that is writable only by the Postfix
mail system, such as the Postfix-owned data_directory.
In particular, Postfix-writable files should never exist in root-owned directories. That would open up a par‐
ticular type of security hole where ownership of a file or directory does not match the provider of its con‐
tent.
DIAGNOSTICS
Problems and transactions are logged to syslogd(8).
BUGS
The proxymap(8) server provides service to multiple clients, and must therefore not be used for tables that
have high-latency lookups.
The proxymap(8) read-write service does not explicitly close lookup tables (even if it did, this could not be
relied on, because the process may be terminated between table updates). The read-write service should there‐
fore not be used with tables that leave persistent storage in an inconsistent state between updates (for exam‐
ple, CDB). Tables that support "sync on update" should be safe (for example, Berkeley DB) as should tables
that are implemented by a real DBMS.
CONFIGURATION PARAMETERS
On busy mail systems a long time may pass before proxymap(8) relevant changes to main.cf are picked up. Use
the command "postfix reload" to speed up a change.
The text below provides only a parameter summary. See postconf(5) for more details including examples.
config_directory (see 'postconf -d' output)
The default location of the Postfix main.cf and master.cf configuration files.
data_directory (see 'postconf -d' output)
The directory with Postfix-writable data files (for example: caches, pseudo-random numbers).
daemon_timeout (18000s)
How much time a Postfix daemon process may take to handle a request before it is terminated by a built-
in watchdog timer.
ipc_timeout (3600s)
process_name (read-only)
The process name of a Postfix command or daemon process.
proxy_read_maps (see 'postconf -d' output)
The lookup tables that the proxymap(8) server is allowed to access for the read-only service.
Available in Postfix 2.5 and later:
data_directory (see 'postconf -d' output)
The directory with Postfix-writable data files (for example: caches, pseudo-random numbers).
proxy_write_maps (see 'postconf -d' output)
The lookup tables that the proxymap(8) server is allowed to access for the read-write service.
SEE ALSO
postconf(5), configuration parameters
master(5), generic daemon options
README FILES
Use "postconf readme_directory" or "postconf html_directory" to locate this information.
DATABASE_README, Postfix lookup table overview
LICENSE
The Secure Mailer license must be distributed with this software.
HISTORY
The proxymap service was introduced with Postfix 2.0.
AUTHOR(S)
Wietse Venema
IBM T.J. Watson Research
P.O. Box 704
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598, USA
PROXYMAP(8)
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