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+PPoossttffiixx LLooookkuupp TTaabbllee OOvveerrvviieeww
+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+OOvveerrvviieeww
+
+This document covers the following topics:
+
+ * The Postfix lookup table model
+ * Postfix lists versus tables
+ * Preparing Postfix for LDAP or SQL lookups
+ * Maintaining Postfix lookup table files
+ * Updating Berkeley DB files safely
+ * Postfix lookup table types
+
+TThhee PPoossttffiixx llooookkuupp ttaabbllee mmooddeell
+
+Postfix uses lookup tables to store and look up information for access control,
+address rewriting and even for content filtering. All Postfix lookup tables are
+specified as "type:table", where "type" is one of the database types described
+under "Postfix lookup table types" at the end of this document, and where
+"table" is the lookup table name. The Postfix documentation uses the terms
+"database" and "lookup table" for the same thing.
+
+Examples of lookup tables that appear often in the Postfix documentation:
+
+ /etc/postfix/main.cf:
+ alias_maps = hash:/etc/postfix/aliases (local aliasing)
+ header_checks = regexp:/etc/postfix/header_checks (content filtering)
+ transport_maps = hash:/etc/postfix/transport (routing table)
+ virtual_alias_maps = hash:/etc/postfix/virtual (address rewriting)
+
+All Postfix lookup tables store information as (key, value) pairs. This
+interface may seem simplistic at first, but it turns out to be very powerful.
+The (key, value) query interface completely hides the complexities of LDAP or
+SQL from Postfix. This is a good example of connecting complex systems with
+simple interfaces.
+
+Benefits of the Postfix (key, value) query interface:
+
+ * You can implement Postfix lookup tables first with local Berkeley DB files
+ and then switch to LDAP or MySQL without any impact on the Postfix
+ configuration itself, as described under "Preparing Postfix for LDAP or SQL
+ lookups" below.
+ * You can use Berkeley DB files with fixed lookup strings for simple address
+ rewriting operations and you can use regular expression tables for the more
+ complicated work. In other words, you don't have to put everything into the
+ same table.
+
+PPoossttffiixx lliissttss vveerrssuuss ttaabblleess
+
+Most Postfix lookup tables are used to look up information. Examples are
+address rewriting (the lookup string is the old address, and the result is the
+new address) or access control (the lookup string is the client, sender or
+recipient, and the result is an action such as "reject").
+
+With some tables, however, Postfix needs to know only if the lookup key exists.
+Any non-empty lookup result value may be used here: the lookup result is not
+used. Examples are the local_recipient_maps that determine what local
+recipients Postfix accepts in mail from the network, the mydestination
+parameter that specifies what domains Postfix delivers locally, or the
+mynetworks parameter that specifies the IP addresses of trusted clients or
+client networks. Technically, these are lists, not tables. Despite the
+difference, Postfix lists are described here because they use the same
+underlying infrastructure as Postfix lookup tables.
+
+PPrreeppaarriinngg PPoossttffiixx ffoorr LLDDAAPP oorr SSQQLL llooookkuuppss
+
+LDAP and SQL are complex systems. Trying to set up both Postfix and LDAP or SQL
+at the same time is definitely not a good idea. You can save yourself a lot of
+time by implementing Postfix first with local files such as Berkeley DB. Local
+files have few surprises, and are easy to debug with the postmap(1) command:
+
+ % ppoossttmmaapp --qq iinnffoo@@eexxaammppllee..ccoomm hhaasshh:://eettcc//ppoossttffiixx//vviirrttuuaall
+
+Once you have local files working properly you can follow the instructions in
+ldap_table(5), mysql_table(5), pgsql_table(5) or sqlite_table(5) and replace
+local file lookups with LDAP or SQL lookups. When you do this, you should use
+the postmap(1) command again, to verify that database lookups still produce the
+exact same results as local file lookup:
+
+ % ppoossttmmaapp --qq iinnffoo@@eexxaammppllee..ccoomm llddaapp:://eettcc//ppoossttffiixx//vviirrttuuaall..ccff
+
+Be sure to exercise all the partial address or parent domain queries that are
+documented under "table search order" in the relevant manual page: access(5),
+canonical(5), virtual(5), transport(5), or under the relevant configuration
+parameter: mynetworks, relay_domains, parent_domain_matches_subdomains.
+
+MMaaiinnttaaiinniinngg PPoossttffiixx llooookkuupp ttaabbllee ffiilleess
+
+When you make changes to a database while the mail system is running, it would
+be desirable if Postfix avoids reading information while that information is
+being changed. It would also be nice if you can change a database without
+having to execute "postfix reload", in order to force Postfix to use the new
+information. Each time you do "postfix reload" Postfix loses a lot of
+performance.
+
+ * If you change a network database such as LDAP, NIS or SQL, there is no need
+ to execute "postfix reload". The LDAP, NIS or SQL server takes care of
+ read/write access conflicts and gives the new data to Postfix once that
+ data is available.
+
+ * If you change a regexp:, pcre:, cidr: or texthash: file then Postfix may
+ not pick up the file changes immediately. This is because a Postfix process
+ reads the entire file into memory once and never examines the file again.
+
+ o If the file is used by a short-running process such as smtpd(8),
+ cleanup(8) or local(8), there is no need to execute "postfix reload"
+ after making a change.
+
+ o If the file is being used by a long-running process such as trivial-
+ rewrite(8) on a busy server it may be necessary to execute "postfix
+ reload".
+
+ * If you change a local file based database such as DBM or Berkeley DB, there
+ is no need to execute "postfix reload". Postfix uses file locking to avoid
+ read/write access conflicts, and whenever a Postfix daemon process notices
+ that a file has changed it will terminate before handling the next client
+ request, so that a new process can initialize with the new database.
+
+UUppddaattiinngg BBeerrkkeelleeyy DDBB ffiilleess ssaaffeellyy
+
+Postfix uses file locking to avoid access conflicts while updating Berkeley DB
+or other local database files. This used to be safe, but as Berkeley DB has
+evolved to use more aggressive caching, file locking may no longer be
+sufficient.
+
+Furthermore, file locking would not prevent problems when the update fails
+because the disk is full or something else causes a database update to fail. In
+particular, commands such as postmap(1) or postalias(1) overwrite existing
+files. If the overwrite fails in the middle then you have no usable database,
+and Postfix will stop working. This is not an issue with the CDB database type
+available with Postfix 2.2 and later: CDB creates a new file, and renames the
+file upon successful completion.
+
+With Berkeley DB and other "one file" databases, it is possible to add some
+extra robustness by using "mv" to REPLACE an existing database file instead of
+overwriting it:
+
+ # ppoossttmmaapp aacccceessss..iinn &&&& mmvv aacccceessss..iinn..ddbb aacccceessss..ddbb
+
+This converts the input file "access.in" into the output file "access.in.db",
+and replaces the file "access.db" only when the postmap(1) command was
+successful. Of course typing such commands becomes boring quickly, and this is
+why people use "make" instead, as shown below. User input is shown in bold
+font.
+
+ # ccaatt MMaakkeeffiillee
+ all: aliases.db access.db virtual.db ...etcetera...
+
+ # Note 1: commands are specified after a TAB character.
+ # Note 2: use postalias(1) for local aliases, postmap(1) for the rest.
+ aliases.db: aliases.in
+ postalias aliases.in
+ mv aliases.in.db aliases.db
+
+ access.db: access.in
+ postmap access.in
+ mv access.in.db access.db
+
+ virtual.db: virtual.in
+ postmap virtual.in
+ mv virtual.in.db virtual.db
+
+ ...etcetera...
+ # vvii aacccceessss..iinn
+ ...editing session not shown...
+ # mmaakkee
+ postmap access.in
+ mv access.in.db access.db
+ #
+
+The "make" command updates only the files that have changed. In case of error,
+the "make" command will stop and will not invoke the "mv" command, so that
+Postfix will keep using the existing database file as if nothing happened.
+
+PPoossttffiixx llooookkuupp ttaabbllee ttyyppeess
+
+To find out what database types your Postfix system supports, use the "ppoossttccoonnff
+--mm" command. Here is a list of database types that are often supported:
+
+ bbttrreeee
+ A sorted, balanced tree structure. This is available only on systems
+ with support for Berkeley DB databases. Database files are created with
+ the postmap(1) or postalias(1) command. The lookup table name as used
+ in "btree:table" is the database file name without the ".db" suffix.
+ ccddbb
+ A read-optimized structure with no support for incremental updates.
+ Database files are created with the postmap(1) or postalias(1) command.
+ The lookup table name as used in "cdb:table" is the database file name
+ without the ".cdb" suffix. This feature is available with Postfix 2.2
+ and later.
+ cciiddrr
+ A table that associates values with Classless Inter-Domain Routing
+ (CIDR) patterns. The table format is described in cidr_table(5).
+ ddbbmm
+ An indexed file type based on hashing. This is available only on
+ systems with support for DBM databases. Public database files are
+ created with the postmap(1) or postalias(1) command, and private
+ databases are maintained by Postfix daemons. The lookup table name as
+ used in "dbm:table" is the database file name without the ".dir" or
+ ".pag" suffix.
+ eennvviirroonn
+ The UNIX process environment array. The lookup key is the variable
+ name. The lookup table name in "environ:table" is ignored.
+ ffaaiill
+ A table that reliably fails all requests. The lookup table name is used
+ for logging only. This table exists to simplify Postfix error tests.
+ hhaasshh
+ An indexed file type based on hashing. This is available only on
+ systems with support for Berkeley DB databases. Public database files
+ are created with the postmap(1) or postalias(1) command, and private
+ databases are maintained by Postfix daemons. The database name as used
+ in "hash:table" is the database file name without the ".db" suffix.
+ iinnlliinnee (read-only)
+ A non-shared, in-memory lookup table. Example: "inline:{ key=value,
+ { key = text with whitespace or comma }}". Key-value pairs are
+ separated by whitespace or comma; with a key-value pair inside "{}",
+ whitespace is ignored after the opening "{", around the "=" between key
+ and value, and before the closing "}". Inline tables eliminate the need
+ to create a database file for just a few fixed elements. See also the
+ static: map type.
+ iinntteerrnnaall
+ A non-shared, in-memory hash table. Its content are lost when a process
+ terminates.
+ llmmddbb
+ OpenLDAP LMDB database. This is available only on systems with support
+ for LMDB databases. Public database files are created with the postmap
+ (1) or postalias(1) command, and private databases are maintained by
+ Postfix daemons. The database name as used in "lmdb:table" is the
+ database file name without the ".lmdb" suffix. See lmdb_table(5) for
+ details.
+ llddaapp (read-only)
+ LDAP database client. Configuration details are given in the ldap_table
+ (5).
+ mmeemmccaacchhee
+ Memcache database client. Configuration details are given in
+ memcache_table(5).
+ mmyyssqqll (read-only)
+ MySQL database client. Configuration details are given in mysql_table
+ (5).
+ nneettiinnffoo (read-only)
+ Netinfo database client.
+ nniiss (read-only)
+ NIS database client.
+ nniisspplluuss (read-only)
+ NIS+ database client. Configuration details are given in nisplus_table
+ (5).
+ ppccrree (read-only)
+ A lookup table based on Perl Compatible Regular Expressions. The file
+ format is described in pcre_table(5). The lookup table name as used in
+ "pcre:table" is the name of the regular expression file.
+ ppiippeemmaapp (read-only)
+ A pipeline of lookup tables. Example: "pipemap:{type1:name1, ...,
+ typen:namen}". Each "pipemap:" query is given to the first table. Each
+ lookup result becomes the query for the next table in the pipeline, and
+ the last table produces the final result. When any table lookup
+ produces no result, the pipeline produces no result. The first and last
+ characters of the "pipemap:" table name must be "{" and "}". Within
+ these, individual maps are separated with comma or whitespace.
+ ppggssqqll (read-only)
+ PostgreSQL database client. Configuration details are given in
+ pgsql_table(5).
+ pprrooxxyy
+ Postfix proxymap(8) client for shared access to Postfix databases. The
+ lookup table name syntax is "proxy:type:table".
+ rraannddmmaapp (read-only)
+ An in-memory table that performs random selection. Example: "randmap:
+ {result1. ..., resultn}". Each table query returns a random choice from
+ the specified results. The first and last characters of the "randmap:
+ " table name must be "{" and "}". Within these, individual maps are
+ separated with comma or whitespace. To give a specific result more
+ weight, specify it multiple times.
+ rreeggeexxpp (read-only)
+ A lookup table based on regular expressions. The file format is
+ described in regexp_table(5). The lookup table name as used in "regexp:
+ table" is the name of the regular expression file.
+ ssddbbmm
+ An indexed file type based on hashing. This is available only on
+ systems with support for SDBM databases. Public database files are
+ created with the postmap(1) or postalias(1) command, and private
+ databases are maintained by Postfix daemons. The lookup table name as
+ used in "sdbm:table" is the database file name without the ".dir" or
+ ".pag" suffix.
+ ssoocckkeettmmaapp (read-only)
+ Sendmail-style socketmap client. The name of the table is either iinneett:
+ host:port:name for a TCP/IP server, or uunniixx:pathname:name for a UNIX-
+ domain server. See socketmap_table(5) for details.
+ ssqqlliittee (read-only)
+ SQLite database. Configuration details are given in sqlite_table(5).
+ ssttaattiicc (read-only)
+ A table that always returns its name as the lookup result. For example,
+ "static:foobar" always returns the string "foobar" as lookup result.
+ Specify "static:{ text with whitespace }" when the result contains
+ whitespace; this form ignores whitespace after the opening "{" and
+ before the closing "}". See also the inline: map type.
+ ttccpp
+ TCP/IP client. The protocol is described in tcp_table(5). The lookup
+ table name is "tcp:host:port" where "host" specifies a symbolic
+ hostname or a numeric IP address, and "port" specifies a symbolic
+ service name or a numeric port number.
+ tteexxtthhaasshh (read-only)
+ A table that produces similar results as hash: files, except that you
+ don't have to run the postmap(1) command before you can use the file,
+ and that texthash: does not detect changes after the file is read. The
+ lookup table name is "texthash:filename", where the file name is taken
+ literally; no suffix is appended.
+ uunniioonnmmaapp (read-only)
+ A table that sends each query to multiple lookup tables and that
+ concatenates all found results, separated by comma. The table name
+ syntax is the same as for pipemap tables.
+ uunniixx (read-only)
+ A limited view of the UNIX authentication database. The following
+ tables are implemented:
+ uunniixx::ppaasssswwdd..bbyynnaammee
+ The table is the UNIX password database. The key is a login name.
+ The result is a password file entry in passwd(5) format.
+ uunniixx::ggrroouupp..bbyynnaammee
+ The table is the UNIX group database. The key is a group name. The
+ result is a group file entry in group(5) format.
+
+Other lookup table types may be available depending on how Postfix was built.
+With some Postfix distributions the list is dynamically extensible as support
+for lookup tables is dynamically linked into Postfix.
+