Description of problem: A common user scenario is to be able to reset configuration to the defaults. When running `postconf -d` to receive default values, `postconf` prints upstream defaults. However, in RHEL, some defaults settings are different from the upstream defaults. Hence, it is impossible to get the real default settings for some parameters. The fault defaults can be found by running `postconf -n` that prints settings that are different from the defaults. Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): postfix-3.5.8-2.el8.x86_64.rpm How reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. Install postfix 2. Enter `postconf -d` to find the default settings 3. Enter `postconf` to find the current settings Actual results: Some values at the output of `postconf -d` and `postconf` are different. Expected results: The outputs of `postconf -d` and `postconf` must be the same because we have just installed the package and did not change any settings. Additional info: The script that compares outputs of two commands and prints settings that are different: ~~~ #!/bin/bash settings_to_apply=__postconf_settings_to_apply.txt current_settings=__postconf_current.txt default_settings=__postconf_defaults.txt postconf > $current_settings postconf -d > $default_settings while read line; do if ! grep -Fxq "$line" $current_settings; then echo $line >> $settings_to_apply fi done < $default_settings cat $settings_to_apply ~~~ I think that the settings are rewritten in the spec file here but I might be wrong: https://src.osci.redhat.com/rpms/postfix/blob/rhel-9.0.0/f/postfix.spec#_356
Yes, this is problem and currently I am unsure how to solve it the best way. RHEL defaults differ a bit from the upstream defaults. The 'postconf -d' shows upstream defaults. But there is no option to show RHEL defaults. We could a) patch 'postconf -d' to show the RHEL defaults but then there will be no way how to get the upstream defaults (i.e. 'postconf -d' behavior will differ from the upstream). Or b) we could propose new postconf option to show the RHEL defaults, then the postconf behavior will differ from the upstream. Or c) we could provide new tool to show just the RHEL defaults. Or d) update the RHEL defaults to be the same as the upstream defaults. Unfortunately, d) probably isn't currently possible, because we need some hardening.
How about providing a new file `/etc/postconf/main.cf.distribution.defaults` that is a copy of the distribution default `main.cf`? This can be done within the spec file.
After evaluating this issue, there are no plans to address it further or fix it in an upcoming release. Therefore, it is being closed. If plans change such that this issue will be fixed in an upcoming release, then the bug can be reopened.