Comments on: HowTo setup vacation using postfix on Debian Etch

By: cristi

cristi — Mon, 23 May 2011 14:18:35 +0000

awesome as usual – simple, yet effective, thanks!

By: pisto la

pisto la — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 02:12:06 +0000

is there a way without using pipes? i checked the configuration (master.cf etc) and it looks like pipes are on but i dont know what or where to check if vacation pipe is
on

i really really!! thank you very much for your time

By: pisto la

pisto la — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:41:35 +0000

you’re right it is not handling properly pipes

If you do so, please include this problem report. You can
delete your own text from the attached returned message.

The Postfix program

(expanded from):
unknown user: “|/bin/true”

By: - Marius -

- Marius - — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:36:37 +0000

This is not related to vacation and I assume your setup is not handling properly pipes. (try |/bin/true just to be sure).

By: pisto la

pisto la — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:34:39 +0000

you’re right i forgot the | but i added it also i added the \ at username without in both cases success

with “\username” i dont receive anything

with “username” i do receive:

I’m sorry to have to inform you that your message could not be
be delivered to one or more recipients. It’s attached below.

For further assistance, please send mail to

If you do so, please include this problem report. You can
delete your own text from the attached returned message.

The Postfix program

(expanded from
): unknown user: “|/usr/bin/vacation”

By: - Marius -

- Marius - — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:26:55 +0000

your mailer took that as a user not a pipe. Did you add “|”? like
|/usr/bin/vacation username

By: pisto la

pisto la — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:24:01 +0000

i couldnt
I’m sorry to have to inform you that your message could not be
be delivered to one or more recipients. It’s attached below.

For further assistance, please send mail to

If you do so, please include this problem report. You can
delete your own text from the attached returned message.

The Postfix program

(expanded from ):
unknown user: “/usr/bin/vacation”

By: - Marius -

- Marius - — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:18:49 +0000

That is correct.

By: pisto la

pisto la — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:15:16 +0000

also, i think my forwards are in mysql is that wha you mean? do i have to insert into source =’username’ destination= ‘/usr/bin/vacation username’
??

thanks in advance

By: - Marius -

- Marius - — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:11:02 +0000

Depending on your MTA you will need to configured for your user how to activate this. I exemplified using the default unix .forward method, that should work on most linux based mta’s. hth