why do I need sendmail

[Chris Pressey]

On Sat, 20 Dec 2003 12:15:49 -0800
"Cybertime Hostmaster" <hostmaster at cybertime.net> wrote:

> One thing to note in Matthew's reply:
> 
> > that.  However, automatic e-mails from your system -- usually from
> > the periodic(8) scripts -- do require sendmail(8) or equivalent.
> 
> Two words at the end, "or equivalent."
> 
> You can run Courier, Exim, Mini Sendmail, Nullmailer, Postfix, Qmail,
> ZMailer, so on and so forth.
> 
> All have advantages and disadvantages.  Personally, I use Postfix, but
> that is because for my needs it is better.
> 
> If you have trouble reducing sendmail down to your needs, look at the
> documentation on the others.  One of them might suit you better.
> 
> Your mileage may vary, so on and so forth.

FWIW, you can also cause periodic(8) to log to a file instead of sending
mail, by adding lines like the following to /etc/periodic.conf:

  daily_output="/var/log/dialy.log"
  weekly_output="/var/log/weekly.log"
  monthly_output="/var/log/monthly.log"

Not sure if this eliminates the need for a local mailer, but it's sure
to be the first step down that road. I can't think of anything else that
sends automated e-mails, offhand, but whatever does can probably be
configured to write its output to a file instead, in a similar way.

-Chris