Provided by: postfix_2.11.0-1ubuntu1.2_amd64 
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 services 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 maptype 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
Iterate over the specified database. The function is one of DICT_SEQ_FUN_FIRST or
DICT_SEQ_FUN_NEXT. The reply is the request completion status code and a lookup
key and result value, if found.
This request is supported in Postfix 2.9 and later.
The request completion status is one of OK, RETRY, NOKEY (lookup failed because the key
was not found), BAD (malformed request) or DENY (the table is not approved for proxy read
or update access).
There is no close command, nor are tables implicitly closed when a client disconnects. The
purpose is to share tables among multiple client processes.
SERVER PROCESS MANAGEMENT
proxymap(8) servers run under control by the Postfix master(8) server. Each server can
handle multiple simultaneous connections. When all servers are busy while a client
connects, the master(8) creates a new proxymap(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 configuration 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-sensitive 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 particular type of security hole where ownership of a file or directory
does not match the provider of its content.
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 therefore not be used with tables that leave
persistent storage in an inconsistent state between updates (for example, 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)
The time limit for sending or receiving information over an internal communication
channel.
max_idle (100s)
The maximum amount of time that an idle Postfix daemon process waits for an
incoming connection before terminating voluntarily.
max_use (100)
The maximal number of incoming connections that a Postfix daemon process will
service before terminating voluntarily.
process_id (read-only)
The process ID of a Postfix command or daemon process.
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(8postfix)