Postfix reports 'connect to /var/lib/imap/socket/lmtp: Permission denied'

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Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9

Situation

Sending an email in an environment using postfix and cyrus-imapd results in the error message

ERROR: connect to /var/lib/imap/socket/lmtp[/var/lib/imap/socket/lmtp]: Permission denied

in /var/log/mail.

Resolution

This issue was discovered while the user postfix was not member of the group mail. Adding the user postfix in /etc/group to the group mail solved the issue.

Additional Information

This error may be encountered when setting up postfix and cyrus-imapd without interaction of SuSEconfig. If POSTFIX_MDA="cyrus" is set in /etc/sysconfig/postfix, SuSEconfig will add the user postfix automatically to the group mail.

To check to which groups the user postfix belongs use the command

id postfix

groups postfix

The output for a configuration of postfix / cyrus-imapd should look like:

linux:~ # id postfix
uid=51(postfix) gid=51(postfix) groups=51(postfix),12(mail)
linux:~ # groups postfix
postfix : postfix mail
linux:~ #

Disclaimer

This Support Knowledgebase provides a valuable tool for SUSE customers and parties interested in our products and solutions to acquire information, ideas and learn from one another. Materials are provided for informational, personal or non-commercial use within your organization and are presented "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.