what is org.postfix.master and how can I stop it? Do I want to?

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digitigger Author

Level 1

1 points

what is org.postfix.master and how can I stop it? Do I want to?

Hi All,

I have this going on in console every 10 seconds, endlessly:

18/07/2011 18:20:41 com.apple.launchd[1] (org.postfix.master[313]) Exited with exit code: 1

18/07/2011 18:20:41 com.apple.launchd[1] (org.postfix.master) Throttling respawn: Will start in 9 seconds

18/07/2011 18:20:51 com.apple.launchd[1] (org.postfix.master[314]) Exited with exit code: 1

18/07/2011 18:20:51 com.apple.launchd[1] (org.postfix.master) Throttling respawn: Will start in 9 seconds

18/07/2011 18:21:01 com.apple.launchd[1] (org.postfix.master[315]) Exited with exit code: 1

18/07/2011 18:21:01 com.apple.launchd[1] (org.postfix.master) Throttling respawn: Will start in 9 seconds

18/07/2011 18:21:11 com.apple.launchd[1] (org.postfix.master[316]) Exited with exit code: 1

18/07/2011 18:21:11 com.apple.launchd[1] (org.postfix.master) Throttling respawn: Will start in 9 seconds

I don't know why but my instinct says this should not be happening.

Can someone please tell me:

1. do i need this? if so, what is it?

2. if not, how can i stop it?

Thanks!

Aluminum 13,5" MacBook 2,4GHz, Mac OS X (10.6.1), It's really neat

Posted on Jul 18, 2011 9:25 AM

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Answer 1

ds store

Level 7

30,725 points

Jul 18, 2011 10:02 AM in response to digitigger

http://chxo.com/be2/postfix_unable_to_lock_master_pid.html

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1856175?answerId=8764970022#8764970022&messageID=8764970#8764970?messageI D=8764970

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Answer 2

digitigger Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 18, 2011 10:34 AM in response to ds store

I appreciate the top 2 google search results, which I have already taken a look at before i posted here. Unfortunately the solutions provided do not make one bit of sense to me.

In the second link the solution was :

"what i did was to comment out "inet_interfaces = localhost " at the bottom and enabled "inet_interfaces = ALL " towards the top of the file, and that fixed the problem"

I have no idea what any of that means. there is no explanation as to what file the poster is referring to, how i get there or how I "comment out" anything.

The first link seemed more promising. I opened that plist and tried to edit it in textedit but i couldn't save it because apparently I don't have the rights. whatever that means.

Im not a total noob, but I would need just a little more of the step-by-step if anyone is willing to take the time. For starters, how am i able to get the permission to alter the plist? I think if i had that, I could handle the rest.

Appreciate any help. thanks!

Thanks!

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Answer 3

ds store

Level 7

30,725 points

Jul 18, 2011 10:58 AM in response to digitigger

digitigger wrote:

The first link seemed more promising. I opened that plist and tried to edit it in textedit but i couldn't save it because apparently I don't have the rights. whatever that means.

Open it in this, free. You can alter system level files with it with your admin password when you save the file.

http://www.barebones.com/products/textwrangler/

"what i did was to comment out "inet_interfaces = localhost " at the bottom and enabled "inet_interfaces = ALL " towards the top of the file, and that fixed the problem"

To "comment out" means to place a certain character (usually #) in front of that line to tell the computer to "ignore this line".

It's used for adding human notes without the computer trying to interpret the line. But can be used in this fashion not to delete, but to disable a line of code.

I'll take a look at that plist file now and get back with you.

I should mention the hack is three years old, so no guarranty it will still work.

TextWrangler > File > Open File By Name > /etc/postfix/main.cf

EDIT: Hack won't work, it's all changed up.

Gave it a shot at least and we learned something. 🙂

I'll see if I can find someone who will know about this issue. 🙂

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Answer 4

digitigger Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 18, 2011 12:45 PM in response to ds store

do you know how i can get the permissions to edit the plist?

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Answer 5

ds store

Level 7

30,725 points

Jul 18, 2011 12:56 PM in response to digitigger

digitigger wrote:

do you know how i can get the permissions to edit the plist?

TextWrangler > Open File by Name > "file name and path" press enter.

When the file is loaded and you start making changes, TextWrangler will ask and you say ok.

When you go to save the file Textwrangler shows a window like this

Perhaps it's better off you don't do anything, hmmm?

You might hose your machine up real good.

Wait for another's answer or repost your question again later, I don't have a answer and neither does someone I've contacted about it.

I'll try again and get back to you.

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Answer 6

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Jul 18, 2011 1:20 PM in response to digitigger

Please launch the Console application and select /private/var/log/mail.log from the file list. Post the most recent error messages that you see.

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Answer 7

digitigger Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 18, 2011 1:30 PM in response to Linc Davis

here you go:

Jul 18 22:24:28 marks-macbook postfix/master[335]: fatal: open lock file /var/lib/postfix/master.lock: cannot open file: Permission denied

Jul 18 22:24:38 marks-macbook postfix/master[336]: fatal: open lock file /var/lib/postfix/master.lock: cannot open file: Permission denied

Jul 18 22:24:48 marks-macbook postfix/master[337]: fatal: open lock file /var/lib/postfix/master.lock: cannot open file: Permission denied

Jul 18 22:24:58 marks-macbook postfix/master[339]: fatal: open lock file /var/lib/postfix/master.lock: cannot open file: Permission denied

Jul 18 22:25:08 marks-macbook postfix/master[340]: fatal: open lock file /var/lib/postfix/master.lock: cannot open file: Permission denied

Jul 18 22:25:18 marks-macbook postfix/master[341]: fatal: open lock file /var/lib/postfix/master.lock: cannot open file: Permission denied

Jul 18 22:25:28 marks-macbook postfix/master[342]: fatal: open lock file /var/lib/postfix/master.lock: cannot open file: Permission denied

Jul 18 22:25:38 marks-macbook postfix/master[347]: fatal: open lock file /var/lib/postfix/master.lock: cannot open file: Permission denied

Jul 18 22:25:48 marks-macbook postfix/master[351]: fatal: open lock file /var/lib/postfix/master.lock: cannot open file: Permission denied

Jul 18 22:25:58 marks-macbook postfix/master[354]: fatal: open lock file /var/lib/postfix/master.lock: cannot open file: Permission denied

Jul 18 22:26:08 marks-macbook postfix/master[355]: fatal: open lock file /var/lib/postfix/master.lock: cannot open file: Permission denied

Jul 18 22:26:18 marks-macbook postfix/master[357]: fatal: open lock file /var/lib/postfix/master.lock: cannot open file: Permission denied

Jul 18 22:26:28 marks-macbook postfix/master[358]: fatal: open lock file /var/lib/postfix/master.lock: cannot open file: Permission denied

Jul 18 22:26:38 marks-macbook postfix/master[361]: fatal: open lock file /var/lib/postfix/master.lock: cannot open file: Permission denied

Jul 18 22:26:48 marks-macbook postfix/master[363]: fatal: open lock file /var/lib/postfix/master.lock: cannot open file: Permission denied

Jul 18 22:26:58 marks-macbook postfix/master[364]: fatal: open lock file /var/lib/postfix/master.lock: cannot open file: Permission denied

Jul 18 22:27:08 marks-macbook postfix/master[366]: fatal: open lock file /var/lib/postfix/master.lock: cannot open file: Permission denied

Jul 18 22:27:18 marks-macbook postfix/master[367]: fatal: open lock file /var/lib/postfix/master.lock: cannot open file: Permission denied

I guess the gist of it is, somehow my user does not have permission to open some file. Strange since I own the thing...

Any ideas?

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Answer 8

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Jul 18, 2011 1:56 PM in response to digitigger

Please launch the Terminal application, copy or drag -- do not type -- the line of text below into the window, and press return.

ls -ld /var/lib/postfix ; ls -l !$

Post any lines of output that appear below what you entered.

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Answer 9

digitigger Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 18, 2011 2:23 PM in response to Linc Davis

ok, here you go:

marks-macbook:~ mark$ ls -ld /var/lib/postfix ; ls -l !$

ls -ld /var/lib/postfix ; ls -l org.postfix.master

drwxrwxr-x+ 3 _postfix mail 102 12 Sep 2009 /var/lib/postfix

ls: org.postfix.master: No such file or directory

marks-macbook:~ mark$

Thanks!

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Answer 10

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Jul 18, 2011 2:30 PM in response to digitigger

Try this:

ls -l /var/lib/postfix

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Answer 11

digitigger Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 18, 2011 2:33 PM in response to Linc Davis

Do you want the output?

marks-macbook:~ mark$ ls -l /var/lib/postfix

total 8

-rw-rw-r--+ 1 mark staff 33 12 Sep 2009 master.lock

marks-macbook:~ mark$

or was that the solution? 🙂

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Answer 12

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Jul 18, 2011 2:43 PM in response to digitigger

The solution is this:

sudo chown _postfix:mail /var/lib/postfix/master.lock

You'll be prompted for your login password, which won't be displayed when you type it. You may get a one-time warning not to screw up. After running the command, you can quit Terminal. Check your logs to see that the errors have stopped.

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Answer 13

digitigger Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 18, 2011 11:57 PM in response to Linc Davis

Hey that absolutely worked thanks!

Could this indicative of some general permission issue on my Mac? When I typed in your command, the postfix thing stopped and I got this output:

sudo: /var/db/sudo owned by uid 501, should be uid 0

I've seen that in the log a lot, usually at startup.Doing things like repairing permissions only seemed to make it worse.

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Answer 14

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Jul 19, 2011 5:51 AM in response to digitigger

This is one of the rare instances in which you should run the "Repair Permissions" command in Disk Utility. It may not fix anything. Ignore the error messages it displays. After running it, post the output of this command:

ls -l /var/db

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Answer 15

digitigger Author

Level 1

1 points

Jul 19, 2011 11:34 AM in response to Linc Davis

Here you go:

marks-macbook:~ mark$ ls -l /var/db

total 2296

-r--------+ 1 root wheel 0 1 Aug 2009 BootCache.data

-rw------- 1 root wheel 126300 18 Jul 22:33 BootCache.playlist

-rw-r--r--+ 1 root admin 4598 26 Jun 2009 CodeEquivalenceCandidates

-rw-rw-r--+ 1 mark staff 16384 18 Jul 22:32 CodeEquivalenceDatabase

-rw-rw-r--+ 1 mark staff 0 12 Sep 2009 DetachedSignatures

drwxrwx---+ 3 mark staff 102 4 Jul 20:29 DirectoryService

drwxrwxr-x+ 2 root admin 68 25 May 2010 PanicReporter

-rw-rw-r--+ 1 mark staff 641538 12 Sep 2009 PreviousSystemFiles.plist

-rw-r--r--+ 1 root wheel 237 23 Jul 2009 QuickTimePlayerVersion.plist

-rw-r--r--+ 1 root wheel 237 14 May 2010 RosettaVersion.plist

drwxrwxr-x+ 3 mark staff 102 12 Sep 2009 Spotlight

-rw-rw-r--+ 1 mark staff 20 19 Jul 17:24 SystemEntropyCache

-rw-rw-r--+ 1 mark staff 48 11 Jun 2009 SystemKey

-rw-rw-r--+ 1 mark staff 48 12 Sep 2009 SystemKey-orig

-rw-rw-r--+ 1 mark staff 48 20 Sep 2008 SystemKey.2001-01-01.01:00:34

-rw-rw-r--+ 1 mark staff 0 12 Sep 2009 bluetoothEnabled

drwxr-xr-x+ 7 root wheel 238 19 Jul 20:31 crls

-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel 26624 18 Jul 10:09 dashboardadvisory.database

drwxrwxr-x+ 3 mark staff 102 3 Oct 2008 dhcpclient

-rw-rw-r--+ 1 mark staff 827 15 Mar 2010 dhcpd_leases

drwxr-xr-x+ 5 root wheel 170 3 Jul 2009 dslocal

-rw-rw-r--+ 1 mark staff 153891 16 Jul 11:07 dslocal-backup.xar

-rw-rw-r--+ 1 mark staff 163189 12 Sep 2009 dslocal_orig.cpgz

drwxr-xr-x+ 9 root wheel 306 27 Jun 12:46 dyld

drwxrwxr-x+ 3 mark staff 102 10 Jan 2011 efw_cache

drwxr-xr-x 2 root staff 68 12 Mar 23:29 fixer

drwxrwxr-x+ 2 mark staff 68 5 Mar 2010 fv_secure_erase.jobs

drwxrwxr-x+ 8 mark staff 272 3 Oct 2008 krb5kdc

drwxr-xr-x+ 9 root wheel 306 19 Mar 20:13 launchd.db

drwxrwxrwx+ 7 _usbmuxd _usbmuxd 238 13 Jun 17:52 lockdown

drwxr-xr-x 4 root staff 136 12 Mar 18:29 mds

-rw-rw-r--+ 1 mark staff 8 19 Jul 00:32 ntp.drift

drwxr-xr-x+ 4 root wheel 136 17 Jul 2009 openldap

drwxr-xr-x+ 1114 root wheel 37876 18 Jul 16:29 receipts

drwxr-xr-x+ 4 root wheel 136 19 Mar 20:13 samba

drwxrwxr-x+ 3 mark staff 102 12 Sep 2009 shadow

-rw-rw-r--+ 1 mark staff 1814 16 Jul 11:07 shadow-backup.xar

-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel 1193 19 Jul 17:24 smb.conf

-rw-rw-r--+ 1 mark staff 256 18 Jul 22:32 statd.status

drwxrwxr-x+ 3 mark staff 102 22 Feb 2010 sudo

drwxr-xr-x 6 root wheel 204 18 Jul 22:32 vmware

-rw-rw-r--@ 1 mark staff 1 12 Sep 2009 volinfo.database

marks-macbook:~ mark$

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