Site cannot send automatically generated emails
Hi all,
I have this Elgg version 2.3.12 -based site running on Apache v2.4.62 installed on Debian 11 with ISPConfig 3.2.12p1.
I have recently upgraded from Debian 10 to Debian 11 along with the ISPConfig upgrade.
After the upgrade, the site can no longer send generated emails. Emails which are automatically created as a result of the user actions like `likes`, `friend requests` etc. I can still send and receive emails via roundcube at the same domain though.
I am using my own server for sending emails. My email setup is postfix, lmtp, dovecot
This is the relevant lines from /var/log/mail.log after a typical unsuccessful (internally) bounced email:
pr 1 21:30:20 sunucu postfix/master[38137]: daemon started -- version 3.5.25, configuration /etc/postfix
Apr 1 21:30:24 sunucu postfix/smtps/smtpd[38145]: connect from unknown[81.30.107.119]
Apr 1 21:30:36 sunucu postfix/pickup[38138]: 2048F6E3A9D: uid=5013 from=<webmaster@mydomain.com>
Apr 1 21:30:36 sunucu postfix/cleanup[38157]: 2048F6E3A9D: message-id=<20250401193036.2048F6E3A9D@mail.mydomain.com>
Apr 1 21:30:36 sunucu opendkim[1094]: 2048F6E3A9D: DKIM-Signature field added (s=kersts, d=mydomain.com)
Apr 1 21:30:36 sunucu postfix/qmgr[38139]: 2048F6E3A9D: from=<webmaster@mydomain.com>, size=409, nrcpt=1 (queue active)
Apr 1 21:30:36 sunucu postfix/smtpd[38160]: connect from localhost[127.0.0.1]
Apr 1 21:30:36 sunucu postfix/lmtp[38159]: 2048F6E3A9D: to=<info@mydomain.com>, relay=127.0.0.1[127.0.0.1]:10025, delay=0.13, delays=0.07/0.02/0.04/0,
dsn=5.5.2, status=bounced (host 127.0.0.1[127.0.0.1] refused to talk to me: 502 5.5.2 Error: command not recognized)
Apr 1 21:30:36 sunucu postfix/smtpd[38160]: disconnect from localhost[127.0.0.1] quit=1 unknown=0/1 commands=1/2
Apr 1 21:30:36 sunucu postfix/cleanup[38157]: 3F2946E3A9E: message-id=<20250401193036.3F2946E3A9E@mail.mydomain.com>
Apr 1 21:30:36 kolom postfix/bounce[38161]: 2048F6E3A9D: sender non-delivery notification: 3F2946E3A9E
Apr 1 21:30:36 kolom postfix/qmgr[38139]: 3F2946E3A9E: from=<>, size=3075, nrcpt=1 (queue active)
As far as I can see, it fails when postfix tries to send the email via lmtp (presumably to dovecot). What I donot understand it, I thought postfix used lmtp only for incoming emails and when passing them to dovecot, Whereas this is an outgoing email and I would expect lmtp not to be used and instead it to use smtp.
Where to see which method does my elgg site uses for sending emails? I mean whether it is sendmail, smtp or whatnot? When I check the elgg settings.php, there was no $CONFIG->emailer_transport parameter defined there. I added $CONFIG->emailer_transport = 'smtp'; but did not change the result. I also checked database metadata and metastrings tables but could not find it there either. How can I see which method is being used?
I appreciate any help please!
Best.
- Selen@Nesuhiselen
Selen - 0 likes
You must log in to post replies.Hi,
From lack of any response, I understand nobody had this problem before me :-)
I managed to resolve it with the help of a friend who asked around. I would like to post it here so that if it happens to anyone else, it might be helpful:
1- I had upgraded my OS v'a HowToForge guides. They are excellent. I had followed the following guides in the order given below:
1- https://www.howtoforge.com/how-to-upgrade-from-debian-10-to-debian-11/
2- https://www.howtoforge.com/update-the-ispconfig-perfect-server-from-debian-10-to-debian-11/
3- https://www.howtoforge.com/ispconfig-php-debian/
The suspicion was the problem was due to something may have gone wrong in the 3rd step, that is; ISConfig upgrade. That ISPConfig upgrade also reconfigures any postfix, dovecot, amavis, spamassassin settings which may have been overridden by the Debian OS upgrade.
So; I guess the first time I did the ISPConfig Upgrade, I might have overlooked something due to the fatigue of taking all those backups, OS upgrade etc etc and may not have noticed a warning/error message. Anyways, when I simply rerun the ISPConfig upgrade, it resolved all the issues!
Note: In my many hours of trying to resolve this problem, I have resorted to the help of Chatgpt and Deepseek. Out of my experience, they are very usefull as reference tools but DO NOT USE THEM as experts or nor your colleagues! They come out very self-assured and wrong. They even give false promises like `we will sort it %100 this time` kind of BS.. Also when you point to the mistakes, it is amazing how quickly they accept it propose the completely opposite idea with the same level of self assuredness:-)
Continue having fun with Elgg!
Take care.