Service Name
sendmail
Description
This executes Mail Server Daemon which runs as a daemon in the background, listening for incoming mail from other machines. Sendmail can handle both incoming and outgoing mail. Sendmail eliminates some of the confusion caused by multiple mail delivery programs. It does this by routing mail for the user to the proper delivery program based on the email address. It accepts mail from a user’s mail program, interprets the mail address, rewrites the address into the proper form for the delivery program, and routes the mail to the correct delivery program. Sendmail insulates the end user from these details. If the mail is properly addressed, sendmail will see that it is properly passed on for delivery. Likewise, for incoming mail, sendmail interprets the address and either delivers the mail to a user’s mail program or forwards it to another system.
Service Control
To manage the sendmail service for future shutdowns and reboots, use the chkconfig service:
# chkconfig sendmail on # chkconfig --list sendmail sendmail 0:off 1:off 2:on 3:on 4:on 5:on 6:off
To control the sendmail service immediately, use the service command or the init scripts:
# /etc/init.d/sendmail
Usage: /etc/init.d/sendmail {start|stop|restart|condrestart|status}
Example command usage is shown below:
Start this daemon:
# service sendmail start
Stop this daemon:
# service sendmail stop