When I execute "ps -ef | grep mail" I see a long list (a couple of pages) of mail processes. The UNIX admin says it's the mail queue and there's no need to kill them. Is this true? This is only happening on one of our UNIX boxes. I'd imagine the queue is in the spool directory represented by files, and there are only as many mail processes as required to send the mails. If the mails are sent, the processes should exit.

That would depend on the role of the server... can you post a representative section of 'ps -ef' output ?

Please find the list below....


ps -eaf | grep sendmail
smmsp 2241 6755 0 22:43:36 ? 0:45 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 20528 6755 0 Mar 08 ? 16:04 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 18311 6755 0 01:28:36 ? 0:34 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 7354 6755 0 08:58:36 ? 2:11 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 14064 6755 0 12:58:36 ? 1:45 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 25454 6755 0 00:58:36 ? 0:36 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 435 6755 0 05:28:37 ? 0:15 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 10659 6755 0 17:58:36 ? 1:10 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 8663 6755 0 15:58:36 ? 1:27 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 12066 6755 0 21:58:36 ? 0:49 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 24252 6755 0 21:13:36 ? 0:53 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 17904 6755 0 23:28:36 ? 0:43 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 16909 6755 0 01:43:36 ? 0:31 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 16841 6755 0 13:43:36 ? 1:38 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 23301 6755 0 03:58:37 ? 0:21 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 9137 6755 0 02:13:36 ? 0:31 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 4572 6755 0 18:13:36 ? 1:09 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 26932 6755 0 Mar 19 ? 2:19 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 631 6755 0 00:43:36 ? 0:36 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 6416 6755 0 08:13:37 ? 0:03 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 22298 6755 0 02:58:37 ? 0:26 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 3670 6755 0 20:28:36 ? 0:59 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 4592 6755 0 12:28:36 ? 1:48 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 10118 6755 0 23:58:36 ? 0:41 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 24913 6755 0 06:58:37 ? 0:09 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 17279 6755 0 10:43:36 ? 2:06 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 17715 6755 0 12:13:36 ? 1:50 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 24862 6755 0 Mar 19 ? 3:46 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 4575 6755 0 Mar 18 ? 5:39 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 12871 6755 0 Mar 05 ? 30:29 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 9334 6755 0 Mar 18 ? 6:24 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 5766 6755 0 14:43:36 ? 1:33 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 25783 6755 0 Mar 08 ? 16:30 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 11321 6755 0 05:13:37 ? 0:17 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 23113 6755 0 Mar 18 ? 4:52 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 24218 6755 0 01:13:36 ? 0:34 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 8830 6755 0 04:28:37 ? 0:19 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 3405 6755 0 04:58:37 ? 0:18 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 11297 6755 0 18:58:36 ? 1:05 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 1412 6755 0 Mar 19 ? 2:23 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 22947 6755 0 Mar 15 ? 25:08 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 7994 6755 0 00:13:36 ? 0:39 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 3440 6755 0 Mar 03 ? 41:33 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 29592 6755 0 16:13:36 ? 1:22 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 5909 6755 0 13:58:36 ? 1:37 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 8589 6755 0 Mar 03 ? 45:07 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 10569 6755 0 01:58:36 ? 0:30 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 8759 6755 0 Mar 03 ? 44:15 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 10411 6755 0 20:13:36 ? 0:57 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 22483 6755 0 15:43:36 ? 1:24 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 1534 6755 0 Mar 15 ? 25:32 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 8078 6755 0 16:43:36 ? 1:19 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 13752 6755 0 08:43:36 ? 2:20 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 19330 6755 0 18:43:36 ? 1:06 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 28499 6755 0 04:43:37 ? 0:19 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 14359 6755 0 15:13:36 ? 1:30 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 5193 6755 0 Mar 08 ? 16:27 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 25042 6755 0 13:28:36 ? 1:40 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 15309 6755 0 14:28:36 ? 1:34 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 8243 6755 0 03:28:37 ? 0:24 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 17385 6755 0 21:43:36 ? 0:51 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 24289 6755 0 23:13:36 ? 0:45 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 9064 6755 0 11:43:36 ? 1:54 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 20601 6755 0 Mar 15 ? 25:56 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 6256 6755 0 13:13:36 ? 1:43 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 23701 6755 0 19:28:36 ? 1:06 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 19377 6755 0 09:43:36 ? 2:13 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 10013 6755 0 22:13:36 ? 0:49 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 25067 6755 0 Mar 18 ? 5:43 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 26537 6755 0 Mar 08 ? 16:19 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 25938 6755 0 16:58:36 ? 1:15 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 26057 6755 0 12:43:36 ? 1:47 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 1618 6755 0 15:28:36 ? 1:27 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 26633 6755 0 22:58:36 ? 0:44 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 27662 6755 0 11:13:36 ? 2:03 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 13084 6755 0 07:13:37 ? 0:08 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 17428 6755 0 03:13:37 ? 0:25 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 580 6755 0 Mar 19 ? 2:23 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 23062 6755 0 10:28:36 ? 2:08 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 16495 6755 0 23:43:36 ? 0:42 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 27093 6755 0 14:13:36 ? 1:36 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 5729 6755 0 07:43:37 ? 0:06 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 5786 6755 0 10:58:36 ? 1:57 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 10446 6755 0 Mar 03 ? 46:16 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 1905 6755 0 20:43:36 ? 0:59 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 10270 6755 0 Mar 03 ? 41:42 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 6849 6755 0 06:13:37 ? 0:15 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 17110 6755 0 16:28:36 ? 1:21 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 23666 6755 0 Mar 19 ? 2:18 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 7131 6755 0 05:43:37 ? 0:14 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 2408 6755 0 03:43:37 ? 0:23 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 1511 6755 0 Mar 19 ? 2:26 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 14703 6755 0 06:43:37 ? 0:10 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 18055 6755 0 04:13:37 ? 0:20 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 25594 6755 0 18:28:36 ? 1:07 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 25623 6755 0 20:58:36 ? 0:54 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 1212 6755 0 02:43:36 ? 0:26 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 4167 6755 0 17:28:36 ? 1:19 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 23889 6755 0 17:43:36 ? 1:12 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 2827 6755 0 Mar 07 ? 35:19 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 21655 6755 0 Mar 18 ? 6:24 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 23172 6755 0 09:28:36 ? 2:08 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 3719 6755 0 Mar 05 ? 33:06 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 4301 6755 0 10:13:36 ? 2:02 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 20604 6755 0 19:43:36 ? 1:00 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 8064 6755 0 07:28:37 ? 0:07 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 17040 6755 0 11:28:36 ? 1:54 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 16577 6755 0 17:13:36 ? 1:16 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 18010 6755 0 08:28:36 ? 2:23 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 2735 6755 0 09:13:36 ? 2:12 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 5854 6755 0 Mar 08 ? 34:41 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 6755 1 0 Mar 01 ? 0:02 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 3890 6755 0 22:28:36 ? 0:48 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 1939 6755 0 00:28:36 ? 0:41 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 10910 6755 0 09:58:36 ? 2:05 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 28462 6755 0 06:28:37 ? 0:12 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 21275 6755 0 Mar 08 ? 14:56 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 18443 6755 0 21:28:36 ? 0:53 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 2846 6755 0 02:28:36 ? 0:28 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 18318 6755 0 Mar 15 ? 23:42 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 3447 6755 0 19:13:36 ? 1:05 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 2002 6755 0 05:58:37 ? 0:13 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 22967 6755 0 14:58:36 ? 1:30 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 26002 6755 0 11:58:36 ? 1:51 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 10472 6755 0 Mar 18 ? 4:48 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 14178 6755 0 19:58:36 ? 0:58 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m
smmsp 2006 6755 0 07:58:37 ? 0:05 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m

I normally have 2 processes for sendmail.

ps -ef | grep send
root 1178 1 0 Mar 21 ? 0:04 /usr/lib/sendmail -bd -q15m
smmsp 1177 1 0 Mar 21 ? 0:00 /usr/lib/sendmail -Ac -q15m


but I don't have any dedicated mail servers either. It goes back to what are you using this server for?

My curiosity would probably get the better of me if this was something I wasn't expecting mail out of and I would snoop port 25 to see if it actually was doing anything.

If sendmail was configured to start that many processes the start times would be identical, it looks like the sendmail processes are not exiting correctly as they appear to be starting 15 minutes apart.

As far as the next step... maybe take a look at /var/log/maillog, also /var/log/messages may have some sendmail related errors

cheers

I see. Is there a way to check how it was configured (ie if it was set to start 2 processes or as many as what we see here)?

The server is not a mail server at all but does send mail out. However, not that many. The answer our UNIX admin gave was it's just mail queue. However, what exactly does that mean we have no clue. And there aren't that much mail queued up.