How does exim4 format bounce messages

From: Alan Chandler (alan_at_chandlerfamily.org.uk)
Date: 07/30/04

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    To: debian-user@lists.debian.org
Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2004 07:48:30 +0100

    I am running a "Sarge" based Exim4 mail server for the domain
    chandlerfamily.org.uk. The highest priority MX records point directly at
    this server, although I have a backup route which involves routing the
    messages via pop3 mailboxes at my ISP and picking them up with fetchmail.

    Whilst uncovering a problem with clamav and exim4 as a result of the change of
    user (to Debian-exim), I have discovered some other flaws in my
    configuration. They seems to stem from how bounce messages are treated.

    I have two problems

    1) I have hundreds of messages sat on my queue. They are being sent to
    portmaster@myisp with a sender address of @chandlerfamily.org.uk (ie no local
    part) and appear to being frozen because my isp message is bouncing them
    because of no local part. These messages seem to be a result of me bouncing
    an original spam message (maybe to an invalid address), which my ISP has
    bounced back to me saying address not found which I have bounced back to it
    because it was sent to an invalid address.

    This error leads to two questions
    a) How do I know a message is a bounce of a bounce so I can discard it rather
    than send it back again
    b) How do I get to have added the chandlerfamily.org.uk - it looks like exim
    insistence on having a fully qualified domain name on a null address

    2) Fetchmail is seemingly trying to download messages from my isp - but gives
    up after about 8 messages with a line in the log saying protocol error. The
    messages (even the first 7) are being left in my pop3 mailbox at the isp and
    there are now over 1000 messages there. The error from the log (isp crossed
    out) is as follows

    Jul 30 07:39:53 roo fetchmail[2934]: client/server protocol error while
    fetching from xxxxx
    Jul 30 07:39:53 roo fetchmail[2934]: Query status=4 (PROTOCOL)

    How can I see if this is the result of rejected messages 

    -- 
Alan Chandler
alan@chandlerfamily.org.uk
First they ignore you, then they laugh at you,
 then they fight you, then you win. --Gandhi
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