Mailman3, "Recipient address rejected: User unknown in virtual alias table" when sending in to mailing list

[LuniTV]

contabo basic VPS1 6Gb memory
|-------------------------------------------------|
| OS type and version | Debian Linux 12 |
| Webmin version | 2.202 |
| Virtualmin version | 7.20.2 |

Hi Everyone,

I reaslise this probably isn’t a virtualmin issue, but I’m pulling my hair out with this now.

I’ve tried (always unuccessfully) to install Mailman under AlmaLinux 9.4 and I never get very far (on a newly created VPS with virgin Virtualmin install). I’ve even had two fiverr consultants attempt it and they have both failed.

I gave up and reset the VPS again, this time to Debian 12, as the mailman3 package is included with Debian (following instructions as from here, How to Install Mailman3 on Debian 11 | LinuxCloudVPS Blog). This time I have got much further, and Mailman is running, the web interface seems to be working, I’ve created a test mailing list, and added a few addresses, and it successfully mailed out the welcome messages to those addresses. However, when I try and send a message to the list I get a

<list@domain.com>: host mail.domain.com[xx.xxx.xxx.xxx] said: 550
5.1.1 <listi@domain.com>: Recipient address rejected: User unknown in virtual alias table (in reply to RCPT TO command)

Further research on that error tells me to make sure the MTA setup is correct, I’ve followed the instructions here,

Hooking up your mail server — GNU Mailman 3.3.10b1 documentation?

I believe I’ve done everything correctly, but it’s the same result…

Anyone have any insight on where I should be looking next… I’d happily pay a little to get this sorted, but its for a non-profit local community discussion list I have offered to help, so its out of my pocket…

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Regards

Paul

[ID10T]

I don’t have a lot of time to check but did you modify postfix to recognize maileman?

transport_maps = hash:/var/lib/mailman3/data/postfix_lmtp
local_recipient_maps =
    hash:/var/lib/mailman3/data/postfix_lmtp
relay_domains =
    hash:/var/lib/mailman3/data/postfix_domains

[LuniTV]

Hi,

These were the lines I added to the postfix config files based on recommendations from the link I had posted above (restarted postfix amd rebooted the server, but the same issue).

recipient_delimiter = +
unknown_local_recipient_reject_code = 550
owner_request_special = no
transport_maps = hash:/var/lib/mailman3/data/postfix_lmtp
local_recipient_maps = hash:/var/lib/mailman3/data/postfix_lmtp
relay_domains = hash:/var/lib/mailman3/data/postfix_domains

Regards

Paul

[ID10T]

It’s been awhile since I set this up.

I see listings under the postfix server under Transport Mapping. See if that got populated.

[LuniTV]

Yes, I see what I’d expect there (the contents of the hash:/var/lib/mailman3/data/postfix_lmtp file).

Everything maps to

lmtp:[127.0.0.1]:8024

Do I need to do anything special in virtualmin to cater for the 8024 port it is using?

Paul

[ID10T]

That’s what I see. It’s been over a year since I set this up so I really don’t remember.

[LuniTV]

Thanks for the pointers anyway… It at least shows I’m heading in the right direction!

[ID10T]

I’m sorry I didn’t keep better notes. I’ll be especially sorry if I have to migrate servers.

[LuniTV]

Hi All,

Unfortunately, I couldn’t get this to work, so I’ve had to elect to subscribe to an external mailist company. I’ve selected this one, and I’ll leave a footnote once I’ve set everything up, just in case anyone else has this need.

MailmanLists: Mailman hosting

Regards

Paul

[ID10T]

I just read the page you referenced for set up. Did you get to:
https://domain.tld/mailman3/postorius/domains/

[LuniTV]

Yes, I could get into the web interface no problem (managed to create a list, manually added members, and got notification email of addition). Problem was only when I tried sending to the list

So far, things look good with the subscription I made above, they are Australia based, but have been very quick to respond to a couple questions, and I’m almost finished finalising the list there.