# Mail "User Agents"

This section contains information related to "user agents", which means the software the user sees and uses. This software relies on the "transport agents" mentioned above.

### Elm

Elm compiles, installs, and runs flawlessly under Linux. For more information, see the elm sources and installation instructions.

The only thing to know is that Elm's Configure script incorrectly sets the "ranlib" variable in config.sh. When Configure gives you the chance to edit config.sh before proceeding, please do so and set "ranlib='ranlib'" or the binaries will compile but not link. The Elm Development Team has been informed of this little problem, so please don't bother them with it (again).

Elm and filter need to be mode 2755 (group mail) with /usr/spool/mail mode 775 and group mail.

If you use a binary distribution, you'll need to create a /usr/local/lib/elm/elm.rc file to override the compiled-in hostname and domain information:

- replace "subdomain.domain" with your domain name replace
- "myhostname" with you un-domainized hostname replace
- "my_uucp_neighbor" with the uucp name of your upstream site

            #---------- /usr/local/lib/elm/elm.rc ------------------
            #
            # this is the unqualified hostname
            hostname = myhostname
            #
            # this is the local domain
            hostdomain = subdomain.domain
            #
            # this is the fully qualified hostname
            hostfullname = myhostname.subdomain.domain
            #
            #--------------------------------------------------------

One thing you want to be aware of is that if you have Elm compiled to be MIME-able, you need metamail installed and in your path or Elm will not be able to read MIME mail you've received. Metamail is available on thumper.bellcore.com and of course via "archie".

### Mailx

There is a fine binary implementation of mailx located on the various Linux archive sites. Make sure you grab version 5.3b or later since there are security problems in v5.3a.

The only potential problem I'm aware of is that it seems to be compiled in a way that requires /usr/lib/smail rather than /usr/lib/sendmail as a transport agent. You probably need a link if you run sendmail on your system.

I strongly recommend removing the old "edmail" stuff from SLS1.00 and replacing it with mailx.

### Other user agents

The following also are known to run under Linux. Consult "archie" for details regarding how to find them...

- Pine - from the Univ. of Washington
- Metamail - allows MIME support
- mh - yet another way to handle mail
- deliver - file/process mail based on rules
- procmail - file/process mail based on rules
- Majordomo - manages e-mail lists
- Mserv - provide files-by-mail