mail() without sendmail on linux - a hack - Davey Shafik's Pixelated Dreams

Monday, August 1. 2005

mail() without sendmail on linux - a hack

Some time ago, my friend Amy Hoy was working an environment where a higher power disallowed them from installing a mail server on their machine - yet they were using 3rd party software that required the mail() function be available - unless much hacking was to be done.

So, I came up with a solution, thanks to Sara Golemon this will work nicely.

First, PHP should not compile with a mail() function if sendmail is not detected, however if you have a sendmail (or compatible) binary on your system, as most *nix's do, this will invariably fail. The first step is to disable it during compile, otherwise we cannot override it:

Run ./configure as normal
Edit main/php_config.h
find the line that reads '#define HAVE_SENDMAIL 1' and comment it out using /* and */
save and exit
continue compilation as normal (i.e. make && make install)

Next, we need to define our own mail() function that uses an external mail server, I would suggest using the PEAR::Mail package or some such, but I'm leaving this as a user excercise because its 7:13am - save this in a file accessible from all hosts

Finally, use the php.ini setting auto_prepend_file to include this file in all PHP scripts, and they will transparently be able to use you mail() function

Hope this helps someone.

- Davey

Posted by Davey Shafik in PHP at 08:52 | Comment (1) | Trackback (1)

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mail() replacement -- a better hack
This morning, I read Davey's post about how to compile PHP in a way that allows you ro specify your own mail() function. This is kind of a cool hack, but I've been using a different approach for a while, now, that allows much better control. Read on if yo

Weblog: PeeaycHPee
Tracked: Aug 01, 20:19

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defining another mail() function is a good idea.

another way, without recompiling your php environment, is replacing the shell script, which uses sendmail, with a custom php cli script.

the mail, header + body, is piped through this script.
grab the mail via $fp = fopen("php://stdin", "r");
and send the mail via smtp-auth or whatever, to your target.

php uses the exit code, to verify, that everything is ok.

ciao
Mathias

#1 mathias (Homepage) on 2005-08-01 12:41 (Reply)

Hrm, that might work.

In all honesty, the entire reason for this is that the DC owners couldn't get it through their head that Sendmail can be used solely sending mail from the local box, and nothing else. But they still disallowed it.

- Davey

#1.1 Davey Shafik (Homepage) on 2005-08-01 16:08 (Reply)

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About Me

Davey Shafik is a full time PHP Developer with 7-10 years experience in PHP and related technologies. An avid magazine writer and soon to be book author, Davey keeps his mind sharp by trying to tackle problems from a unique perspective.