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Bug 1465910 - systemd unit could malfunction if "mta" in alternatives set to a different MTA
Summary: systemd unit could malfunction if "mta" in alternatives set to a different MTA
Keywords:
Status: CLOSED WONTFIX
Alias: None
Product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Classification: Red Hat
Component: sendmail
Version: 7.4
Hardware: Unspecified
OS: Linux
unspecified
unspecified
Target Milestone: rc
: ---
Assignee: Jaroslav Škarvada
QA Contact: qe-baseos-daemons
URL:
Whiteboard:
Depends On:
Blocks:
TreeView+ depends on / blocked
 
Reported: 2017-06-28 12:39 UTC by Roman Žilka
Modified: 2019-12-06 16:06 UTC (History)
3 users (show)

Fixed In Version:
Doc Type: If docs needed, set a value
Doc Text:
Clone Of:
Environment:
Last Closed: 2019-12-06 16:06:19 UTC
Target Upstream Version:
Embargoed:

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Description Roman Žilka 2017-06-28 12:39:49 UTC 
If multiple MTAs (incl. sendmail) are installed and the "mta" group in alternatives is set to an MTA other than sendmail, then systemctl calls against the "sendmail" service could malfunction, possibly because sendmail's systemd unit calls /usr/sbin/sendmail which is controlled by alternatives. E.g.:

********** Steps to Reproduce:

1. sendmail and postfix are installed, neither is running
2. alternatives --set mta /usr/sbin/sendmail.postfix
3. systemctl start sendmail

********** Actual results:

The systemctl call hangs and eventually fails. If interrupted, "systemctl status sendmail" reveals postfix got started:

● sendmail.service - Sendmail Mail Transport Agent
   Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/sendmail.service; disabled; vendor preset: disabled)
   Active: activating (start) since Wed 2017-06-28 03:37:14 EDT; 12s ago
  Process: 10719 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/sendmail -bd $SENDMAIL_OPTS $SENDMAIL_OPTARG (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
  Process: 10711 ExecStartPre=/etc/mail/make aliases (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
  Process: 10710 ExecStartPre=/etc/mail/make (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
   CGroup: /system.slice/sendmail.service
           ├─10793 /usr/libexec/postfix/master -w
           ├─10794 pickup -l -t unix -u
           └─10795 qmgr -l -t unix -u

Jun 28 03:37:14 hostname systemd[1]: Starting Sendmail Mail Transport Agent...
Jun 28 03:37:14 hostname systemd[1]: PID file /run/sendmail.pid not readable...t.
Jun 28 03:37:14 hostname postfix/master[10793]: daemon started -- version 2.1...x
Hint: Some lines were ellipsized, use -l to show in full.

********** Expected results:

systemctl works with the service it's called for.

********** Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):

sendmail-8.14.7-5.el7
postfix-2.10.1-6.el7
chkconfig-1.7.4-1.el7
Comment 3 bill 2017-10-05 09:20:30 UTC 
After updating Scientific Linux 7.3 to 7.4 on a mail server using postfix, systemd started sendmail instead of postfix. Is this related to this bug?
Comment 4 Tomáš Hozza 2019-12-06 16:06:13 UTC 
Red Hat Enterprise Linux version 7 entered the Maintenance Support 1 Phase in August 2019. In this phase only qualified Critical and Important Security errata advisories (RHSAs) and Urgent Priority Bug Fix errata advisories (RHBAs) may be released as they become available. Other errata advisories may be delivered as appropriate.

This bug has been reviewed by Support and Engineering representative and does not meet the inclusion criteria for Maintenance Support 1 Phase. If this issue still exists in newer major version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, it has been cloned there and work will continue in the cloned bug.

For more information about Red Hat Enterprise Linux Lifecycle, please see https://access.redhat.com/support/policy/updates/errata/
Comment 5 RHEL Program Management 2019-12-06 16:06:19 UTC 
Development Management has reviewed and declined this request. You may appeal this decision by using your Red Hat support channels, who will make certain  the issue receives the proper prioritization with product and development management.

https://www.redhat.com/support/process/production/#howto
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