PHP + Mail on Mac OS X

Anon

Hi, I'm getting stuck with a problem: configuring PHP to use mail() library function on Mac OS X. Do I really have to deal with sendmail to do this? Is there someone that could tell how to manage this thing?

Thanks.

Tony

Anon

Mac OS X includes sendmail but it is not running by default and yes, it is the only mailer you can use. First you must start sendmail and then make sure your php.ini file knows where sendmail is.

Jon

Anon

Many thanks to Jon for his prompt reply.

Another question: does sendmail under Mac OS X need configuration? I know that sendmail is one of the toughest service to set up. Where can I get some clear documentation about it (if possible for sendmail setup on Mac OS X directly)?

Any hint would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Tony

jrmckee

I'm not sure what configuration you will need to do as I have never used sendmail on Mac OS X. To start sendmail you will need to modify permissions on the root folder as sendmail does not like the default permissions.

To do this either su to root or use the following sudo command (from terminal.app):
sudo g-w /
(use your admin account password when prompted).

This removes group writable permissions from the root directory.

Now start sendmail:
sudo /usr/sbin/sendmail -bd -q15m

To have sendmail start automatically on reboot edit the file /etc/hostconfig and change the -NO- to a -YES- on the MAILSERVER line (must be root to edit this file).

Also, if you want sendmail to queue every 15 minutes instead of 1 hour (the default), edit /System/Library/StartupItems/Sendmail/sendmail and change the -q1h to -q15m (must be root to edit this file).

Then make sure the path to sendmail is correct in your php.ini file (/usr/local/lib/php.ini usually). Make sure that sendmail_path=/usr/sbin/sendmail and remove the ; from the beginning of the line.

Restart Apache and give it a shot!

Jon

Anon

Thanks again to Jon.

Everything seems to work fine applying the procedure that you described.

Cheers!

Tony

jrmckee

You are quite welcome! Tell me, now that sendmail is running, will PHP send mail using the mail function? I've never really tried!

Jon

Anon

Hi, Jon

the PHP mail function works perfectly under Mac OS X with sendmail.

Thanks again,

Tony

Anon

Just incase anyone get's stuck (as I did) with Jon's excellent instructions, the line where he says to change permissions for the root directory should read:

sudo chmod g-w /

(it says sudo g-w / now)

Thanks Jon for this info.