Postfix/postfix-script: fatal: the Postfix mail system is not running

email-servermac-osxpostfix

I am running a fresh installation of macOS 10.12.1 with Server app 5.2.

With or without mail service activate, i am unable to use postfix in command line. I am always getting this error when i try to reload postfix:

postfix/postfix-script: fatal: the Postfix mail system is not running

When i do postconf -n i have this:

remote:log root# postconf -n
biff = no
command_directory = /usr/sbin
compatibility_level = 2
daemon_directory = /usr/libexec/postfix
data_directory = /var/lib/postfix
debug_peer_level = 2
debugger_command = PATH=/bin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/X11R6/bin ddd $daemon_directory/$process_name $process_id & sleep 5
html_directory = /usr/share/doc/postfix/html
inet_protocols = all
mail_owner = _postfix
mailbox_size_limit = 0
mailq_path = /usr/bin/mailq
manpage_directory = /usr/share/man
message_size_limit = 10485760
mynetworks = 127.0.0.0/8, [::1]/128
newaliases_path = /usr/bin/newaliases
queue_directory = /private/var/spool/postfix
readme_directory = /usr/share/doc/postfix
recipient_delimiter = +
sample_directory = /usr/share/doc/postfix/examples
sendmail_path = /usr/sbin/sendmail
server_config_directory = /Library/Server/Mail/Config/postfix
setgid_group = _postdrop
smtpd_client_restrictions = permit_mynetworks permit_sasl_authenticated permit
smtpd_tls_ciphers = medium
tls_random_source = dev:/dev/urandom
unknown_local_recipient_reject_code = 550

UPDATE1:

I have also done postfix start, and i got this:

postfix/postfix-script: starting the Postfix mail system
postfix/postfix-script: fatal: mail system startup failed

And i am still able to telnet at localhost in port 25, 587, 110 and 995.

Anyone knows?

Best Answer

To use the same postfix in both Server app and terminal with Server app 5 it is needed some fixes.

The main difference from Server app 3 and 5 is that in Server app 3, used postfix from the system, so it was possible in that time to command that postfix from Server app 3 through terminal, now with Server app 5, that ability has changes, now you have the postfix from the system and another postfix in,

/Applications/Server.app/Contents/ServerRoot/

there are a lot of locations where the new main.cf if pointing, that are different from Server app 3.

Here i will do a list of changes from /Library/Server/Mail/Config/postfix/main.cf of Server app 3 to Server app 5(also in the same path)for anyone who wants to use the native postfix (in comment is the new values of Server app 5):

#command_directory = /Applications/Server.app/Contents/ServerRoot/usr/sbin
command_directory = /usr/sbin

#daemon_directory = /Applications/Server.app/Contents/ServerRoot/usr/libexec/postfix
daemon_directory = /usr/libexec/postfix

#sendmail_path = /Applications/Server.app/Contents/ServerRoot/usr/sbin/sendmail
sendmail_path = /usr/sbin/sendmail

#mailq_path = /Applications/Server.app/Contents/ServerRoot/usr/bin/mailq
mailq_path = /usr/bin/mailq

#html_directory = /Applications/Server.app/Contents/ServerRoot/usr/share/doc/postfix/html
html_directory = /usr/share/doc/postfix/html

#manpage_directory = /Applications/Server.app/Contents/ServerRoot/usr/share/man
manpage_directory = /usr/share/man

#sample_directory = /Applications/Server.app/Contents/ServerRoot/usr/share/doc/postfix/examples
sample_directory = /usr/share/doc/postfix/examples

#readme_directory = /Applications/Server.app/Contents/ServerRoot/usr/share/doc/postfix
readme_directory = /usr/share/doc/postfix

At least with me in Server app 3 turning off mail didnt turn off both postfix and dovecot, but now with Server App 5, it turns both off, so you must start then postfix through:

postfix start

and then start dovecot (you just need arguments to stop or reload),

dovecotd
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