Hi,

Can someone help to enable mailx on solaris box? When i tried to send a mail, status is always deferred.

bash-4.1$ cat /var/log/syslog
Jul 20 13:58:35 hqnisdb01 sendmail[14574]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KAwYEu014574: from=oracle, size=205, class=0, nrcpts=1, msgid=<201607201058.u6KAwYEu014574@hqnisdb01.domain.com>, relay=oracle@localhost
Jul 20 13:58:35 hqnisdb01 sendmail[14575]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KAwZj5014575: from=<oracle@hqnisdb01.domain.com>, size=518, class=0, nrcpts=1, msgid=<201607201058.u6KAwYEu014574@hqnisdb01.domain.com>, proto=ESMTP, daemon=MTA-v4, relay=localhost [127.0.0.1]
Jul 20 13:58:35 hqnisdb01 sendmail[14574]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KAwYEu014574: to=psDBA@domain.com, ctladdr=oracle (101/100), delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=relay, pri=30205, relay=[127.0.0.1] [127.0.0.1], dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent (u6KAwZj5014575 Message accepted for delivery)
Jul 20 13:58:35 hqnisdb01 sendmail[14577]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KAwZj5014575: to=<psDBA@domain.com>, ctladdr=<oracle@hqnisdb01.domain.com> (101/100), delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=esmtp, pri=120518, relay=mailhost.domain.com, dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Name server: mailhost.domain.com: host name lookup failure
Jul 20 14:10:16 hqnisdb01 sendmail[18596]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KAwZj5014575: to=<psDBA@domain.com>, ctladdr=<oracle@hqnisdb01.domain.com> (101/100), delay=00:11:41, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=esmtp, pri=210518, relay=mailhost.domain.com, dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Name server: mailhost.domain.com: host name lookup failure
Jul 20 14:22:09 hqnisdb01 sendmail[22855]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBM9tL022855: Authentication-Warning: hqnisdb01.domain.com: oracle set sender to DBA@domain.com using -r
Jul 20 14:22:09 hqnisdb01 sendmail[22855]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBM9tL022855: from=DBA@domain.com, size=1546210, class=0, nrcpts=1, msgid=<201607201122.u6KBM9tL022855@hqnisdb01.domain.com>, relay=oracle@localhost
Jul 20 14:22:09 hqnisdb01 sendmail[22856]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBM9h2022856: from=<DBA@domain.com>, size=1546601, class=0, nrcpts=1, msgid=<201607201122.u6KBM9tL022855@hqnisdb01.domain.com>, proto=ESMTP, daemon=MTA-v4, relay=localhost [127.0.0.1]
Jul 20 14:22:09 hqnisdb01 sendmail[22855]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBM9tL022855: to=psDBA@domain.com, ctladdr=DBA@domain.com (101/100), delay=00:00:00, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=relay, pri=1576210, relay=[127.0.0.1] [127.0.0.1], dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent (u6KBM9h2022856 Message accepted for delivery)
Jul 20 14:22:12 hqnisdb01 sendmail[22858]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBM9h2022856: to=<psDBA@domain.com>, delay=00:00:03, xdelay=00:00:03, mailer=esmtp, pri=1666601, relay=mailhost.domain.com, dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Name server: mailhost.domain.com: host name lookup failure
Jul 20 14:23:47 hqnisdb01 sendmail[23758]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBNlNP023758: Authentication-Warning: hqnisdb01.domain.com: oracle set sender to DBA@domain.com using -r
Jul 20 14:23:59 hqnisdb01 sendmail[23758]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBNlNP023758: from=DBA@domain.com, size=1546202, class=0, nrcpts=1, msgid=<201607201123.u6KBNlNP023758@hqnisdb01.domain.com>, relay=oracle@localhost
Jul 20 14:24:04 hqnisdb01 sendmail[23784]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBNxUZ023784: from=<DBA@domain.com>, size=1546585, class=0, nrcpts=1, msgid=<201607201123.u6KBNlNP023758@hqnisdb01.domain.com>, proto=ESMTP, daemon=MTA-v4, relay=localhost [127.0.0.1]
Jul 20 14:24:04 hqnisdb01 sendmail[23758]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBNlNP023758: to=psDBA@gmail.com, ctladdr=DBA@domain.com (101/100), delay=00:00:17, xdelay=00:00:05, mailer=relay, pri=1576202, relay=[127.0.0.1] [127.0.0.1], dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent (u6KBNxUZ023784 Message accepted for delivery)
Jul 20 14:25:19 hqnisdb01 sendmail[24116]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KAwZj5014575: to=<psDBA@domain.com>, ctladdr=<oracle@hqnisdb01.domain.com> (101/100), delay=00:26:44, xdelay=00:00:03, mailer=esmtp, pri=300518, relay=mailhost.domain.com, dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Name server: mailhost.domain.com: host name lookup failure
Jul 20 14:25:19 hqnisdb01 sendmail[24116]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBM9h2022856: to=<psDBA@domain.com>, delay=00:03:10, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=esmtp, pri=1756601, relay=mailhost.domain.com, dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Name server: mailhost.domain.com: host name lookup failure
Jul 20 14:25:53 hqnisdb01 sendmail[24430]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBPmIJ024430: from=oracle, size=1546167, class=0, nrcpts=1, msgid=<201607201125.u6KBPmIJ024430@hqnisdb01.domain.com>, relay=oracle@localhost
Jul 20 14:25:58 hqnisdb01 sendmail[24456]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBPr8V024456: from=<oracle@hqnisdb01.domain.com>, size=1546468, class=0, nrcpts=1, msgid=<201607201125.u6KBPmIJ024430@hqnisdb01.domain.com>, proto=ESMTP, daemon=MTA-v4, relay=localhost [127.0.0.1]
Jul 20 14:25:58 hqnisdb01 sendmail[24430]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBPmIJ024430: to=psDBA@gmail.com, ctladdr=oracle (101/100), delay=00:00:10, xdelay=00:00:05, mailer=relay, pri=1576167, relay=[127.0.0.1] [127.0.0.1], dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent (u6KBPr8V024456 Message accepted for delivery)
Jul 20 14:27:10 hqnisdb01 sendmail[24704]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBRAfP024704: Authentication-Warning: hqnisdb01.domain.com: oracle set sender to DBA@domain.com using -r
Jul 20 14:27:15 hqnisdb01 sendmail[24704]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBRAfP024704: from=DBA@domain.com, size=1546202, class=0, nrcpts=1, msgid=<201607201127.u6KBRAfP024704@hqnisdb01.domain.com>, relay=oracle@localhost
Jul 20 14:27:20 hqnisdb01 sendmail[24717]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBRF3g024717: from=<DBA@domain.com>, size=1546585, class=0, nrcpts=1, msgid=<201607201127.u6KBRAfP024704@hqnisdb01.domain.com>, proto=ESMTP, daemon=MTA-v4, relay=localhost [127.0.0.1]
Jul 20 14:27:20 hqnisdb01 sendmail[24704]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBRAfP024704: to=psDBA@gmail.com, ctladdr=DBA@domain.com (101/100), delay=00:00:10, xdelay=00:00:05, mailer=relay, pri=1576202, relay=[127.0.0.1] [127.0.0.1], dsn=2.0.0, stat=Sent (u6KBRF3g024717 Message accepted for delivery)
Jul 20 14:40:16 hqnisdb01 sendmail[29595]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KAwZj5014575: to=<psDBA@domain.com>, ctladdr=<oracle@hqnisdb01.domain.com> (101/100), delay=00:41:41, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=esmtp, pri=390518, relay=mailhost.domain.com, dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Name server: mailhost.domain.com: host name lookup failure
Jul 20 14:40:16 hqnisdb01 sendmail[29595]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBM9h2022856: to=<psDBA@domain.com>, delay=00:18:07, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=esmtp, pri=1846601, relay=mailhost.domain.com, dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Name server: mailhost.domain.com: host name lookup failure
Jul 20 14:55:16 hqnisdb01 sendmail[2638]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KAwZj5014575: to=<psDBA@domain.com>, ctladdr=<oracle@hqnisdb01.domain.com> (101/100), delay=00:56:41, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=esmtp, pri=480518, relay=mailhost.domain.com, dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Name server: mailhost.domain.com: host name lookup failure
Jul 20 14:55:16 hqnisdb01 sendmail[2638]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBM9h2022856: to=<psDBA@domain.com>, delay=00:33:07, xdelay=00:00:00, mailer=esmtp, pri=1936601, relay=mailhost.domain.com, dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Name server: mailhost.domain.com: host name lookup failure
Jul 20 14:59:04 hqnisdb01 sendmail[23807]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBNxUZ023784: to=<psDBA@gmail.com>, delay=00:35:00, xdelay=00:35:00, mailer=esmtp, pri=1666585, relay=mailhost.domain.com, dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Name server: mailhost.domain.com: host name lookup failure
Jul 20 14:59:04 hqnisdb01 sendmail[24498]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBPr8V024456: to=<psDBA@gmail.com>, ctladdr=<oracle@hqnisdb01.domain.com> (101/100), delay=00:33:06, xdelay=00:33:06, mailer=esmtp, pri=1666468, relay=mailhost.domain.com, dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Name server: mailhost.domain.com: host name lookup failure
Jul 20 15:01:05 hqnisdb01 sendmail[24729]: [ID 801593 mail.info] u6KBRF3g024717: to=<psDBA@gmail.com>, delay=00:33:45, xdelay=00:33:45, mailer=esmtp, pri=1666585, relay=mailhost.domain.com, dsn=4.0.0, stat=Deferred: Name server: mailhost.domain.com: host name lookup failure

This is a DNS problem. Your mailserver tries to send the email to psDBA@domain.com but it cannot resolve mailhost.domain.com that I guess is the mailserver responsible for domain.com (the MX record in dns terms). To verify run:
Did you try to send an email to a different address (e.g. @gmail.com) and see what happens.
You can also use a different nameserver in /etc/resolv.conf and test again

Regards

Thank you for the reply!

Yes, I also tried to send mail in my gmail and same error occur.

How can I use different nameserver?

That means that you use mailhost.domain.com as a smarthost.


As I've already told, you can add it in /etc/resolv.conf. E.g add the following line before the other occurrences of "nameserver ..."

1 members found this post helpful.

Unless you use Solaris 11 in which case the resolv.conf file is only informative and dns client settings are handled by smf, e.g.:

2 members found this post helpful.

Apologies, I'm a DBA and not familiar with most of unix terminologies. What IP should be provided for the nameserver?

Yes, we're using Solaris 11..

You can use 8.8.8.8 (it's google public dns IP), or ask your ISP for their dns IPs.
Then since you're running Solaris 11, use the svccfg command provided by jlliagre above, to set the nameserver.

1 members found this post helpful.

Thanks bathory!!

I'll work with our server admin to have the change.

One more question, what do you mean I used mailhost.domain.com as a smarthost?

You said that you get the same error (Name server: mailhost.domain.com: host name lookup failure) either while sending mail to your domain and to gmail. So I guess that you use mailhost.domain.com as a smarthost for outgoing mail.
Otherwise your mailserver would contact directly the mailserver of your domain and the gmail mailserver, i.e. without the need of mailhost.domain.com in both cases.

To verify if that's the case, you can run:

Yes, same error when sending to my domain and gmail. Below is result when I run the command.

Huh, there is no smarthost configured in sendmail.cf!!! Maybe it's configured in some other file (like submit.cf, mailertable etc). Run the following to see if that's the case (replace mailhost.domain.com with your actual mailserver hostname):
And just to verify, what is the output of the next 2 commands:

bash-4.1$ grep <mailserver> /etc/mail/

No output returned :|


bash-4.1$ sendmail -bv psDBA@domain.com
bash: sendmail: command not found
bash-4.1$ mailx -bv psDBA@domain.com
Subject: Test Mail

It hang after entering the subject. Sendmail can't found. I used mailx instead.

Well, sendmail is not in your PATH. Try:

mailx is a mail client and as such it needs an smtp server in order the send out the mail. That is what sendmail is doing. If you lokk at your OP you'll see that the logs are from sendmail

Anyway, ince you cannot find a reference to a smarthost in your sendmail config files, check the mailx config files (either /etc/mail.rc or .mailrc in your home directory) where a relay can also be defined.

IMO you should first try to resolve the dns problem and if you still cannot send email we can investigate further.

Regards

Hi,

First of all, thank you for giving response on my concern

Issue has been fixed by adding the mail server on the /etc/hosts.

Reference1
Reference2

Thank you lq!!