Semaphore Files

MDaemon is equipped with support for Semaphore Files, which can be used for a variety of purposes, including causing MDaemon to perform specific actions. Periodically MDaemon will scan the \APP\ subfolder for the existence of these files. If it finds one, the associated behavior is triggered and the semaphore file is removed. This provides for a simple mechanism that enables administrators and developers to manipulate MDaemon without actually handling the interface. The following is a list of the semaphores and what they do:

FILENAME

ACTION

ACLFIX.SEM

Runs the ACL file cleanup routine.

ADDUSER.SEM

This semaphore creates new accounts.  It is used to force MDaemon to append new records to the end of the USERLIST.DAT file without causing a potentially time consuming complete rebuild of the user database. Each line in this file must be a complete account record of the form specified in the Account Management Functions section of the MDaemon API (see MD-API.html in MDaemon's \docs\API\ subfolder). Multiple new accounts can be specified – one account record per line.  MDaemon will process the file one line at a time and add each new account.  You can create ADDUSER.LCK to lock the file while you are updating it and MDaemon will not touch ADDUSER.SEM until ADDUSER.LCK is deleted. To see a sample ADDUSER.SEM file open ADDUSER.SMP in your APP directory with a text editor.

ALERT.SEM

Displays in a pop-up window the contents of the semaphore file to all WorldClient users who are logged in when the file is created. It is not, however, displayed to all users immediately—it is displayed to each user individually the next time his or her browser makes a request to the WorldClient server.

Note: Unlike other semaphore files, this file is WorldClient specific. Instead of placing it in the \app\ directory it must be placed in the \MDaemon\WorldClient\ directory.

ALIAS.SEM

Reloads aliases data file(s).

AUTORESPEXCEPT.SEM

Reloads the Autoresponder exception file(s).

BATV.SEM

Reloads Backscatter Protection (BATV) data file(s).

BAYESLEARN.SEM

This SEM manually starts the Bayesian learning process. This is like clicking the Learn button on the Bayesian tab of the Spam Filter. Note: this will start the Bayesian learning procedure even if you have Bayesian learning disabled.

BLACKLIST.SEM

Reloads the blacklist data files.

CATLIST.SEM

Reloads the internal cache of Catalog names.

CFILTER.SEM

Reloads Content Filter rules, clears Content Filter cached data, reloads the Spam Filter's White List (no filtering) file.

CLEARQUOTACOUNTS.SEM

The results of user quota checks are maintained in the quotacounts.dat file. If you wish to clear the cached quota value for a user, add the user’s email address to this SEM file and then place it in the \app\ folder. If an asterisk ( * ) is on a line by itself, the entire file will be deleted thereby invalidating all cached quota counts.

DELUSER.SEM

You can use this semaphore file to delete one or more user accounts. Create a text file containing the addresses of each account that you want to be deleted (one address per line), name the file DELUSER.SEM and then move it to MDaemon's \app\ directory. MDaemon will delete the accounts and then delete the DELUSER.SEM file. If you wish to delete an account but not delete its mail folder, append "^" to the address (e.g. frank@example.com^).

DNS.SEM

Reloads the Windows DNS servers and the Spam Filter's DNS settings.

DOMAINSHARING.SEM

Reloads domain sharing data file.

EDITUSER.SEM

This semaphore is used to update specific user records within the USERLIST.DAT file without a potentially time consuming complete rebuild. To update any specific user records within USERLIST.DAT, create a file named EDITUSER.SEM that includes a complete replacement record, one record per line, for any user records you wish to edit. Each record must be constructed according to the USERLIST.DAT format outlined in the Userlist File Format knowledge base article, but it must begin with the original record's email address followed by a comma. MDaemon will process the EDITUSER.SEM file one line at a time. You can create EDITUSER.LCK to lock the file while you are updating it and MDaemon will not touch EDITUSER.SEM until EDITUSER.LCK is deleted.  To see a sample EDITUSER.SEM file, open EDITUSER.SMP in your \APP\ directory with a text editor.

EXITNOW.SEM

Shuts down MDaemon.

GATEWAYS.SEM

For optimal performance, MDaemon keeps its list of gateways in memory. Create a GATEWAYS.SEM in MDaemon's APP directory for it to reload the gateways.dat file.

GREYLIST.SEM

Reloads Greylisting data file(s).

GROUPS.SEM

Reloads account grouping data file(s).

GRPLIST.SEM

Reloads the internal cache of Mailing List names.

HANGUPG.SEM

Forces a conditional hang-up of RAS device.  MDaemon will wait for any pending mail sessions to close and will then hang-up the RAS session.

HANGUPR.SEM

Forces unconditional hang-up of RAS device. This is an immediate and unconditional hang-up without regard to mail sessions which may be in progress across the connection.

HOSTSCREEN.SEM

Reloads Host Screen data file(s).

IPSCREEN.SEM

Reloads IP Screen data file(s).

IPSHIELD.SEM

The IPShield.dat file is cached in memory to increase access speed. Use IPSHIELD.SEM to reload the file into memory

LDAPCACHE.SEM

Reloads LDAP and gateway user data file(s).

LOCKSEMS.SEM

Prevents all semaphore file processing until user removes it.

LOGSETTINGS.SEM

Reloads log file settings.

MDSPAMD.SEM

Reloads the Spam Filter white list and MDSPAMD, which forces it to reinitialize all its configuration data.

MINGER.SEM

Stops and then restarts the Minger server.

MXCACHE.SEM

Reloads MX Cache data file(s).

NODNSBL.SEM

Reloads DNSBL white list file.

NOPRIORITY.SEM

Forces MDaemon to reload the NoPriority.dat file.

ONLINE.SEM

MDaemon will create this semaphore file once it makes a successful connection using RAS to the ISP.  MD will remove the semaphore once the connection has been terminated.  This is useful if you want to know when MD is using the RAS sub-system.

POSTDIAL.SEM

MDaemon will create this file immediately after a connection made by MDaemon is taken down.

PREDIAL.SEM

MDaemon will create this file just before trying to use RAS/DUN.  This will allow other software to detect when it should free the dialup port so that MDaemon can use it.

PRIORITY.SEM

Reloads Priority mail data file(s).

PROCBAD.SEM

Initiates delivery of Bad Queue content.

PROCDIG.SEM

Initiates construction and delivery of mailing list digests.

PROCHOLDING.SEM

Initiates delivery of Holding Queue content.

PROCNOW.SEM

Initiates a check for remote mail and delivery of queued remote mail.

PROCREM.SEM

MDaemon will immediately go into mail processing mode and transact all remote mail.

PROCRETR.SEM

Initiates delivery of Retry Queue content.

PRUNE.SEM

Reloads auto-pruning settings.

PUBLICSUFFIX.SEM

Reloads the Public Suffix file.

QUEUE.SEM

This semaphore file is used to enable/disable the mail queues. The file can contain any number of lines but each one has to contain one of the following strings (one per line): ENABLE INBOUND, ENABLE REMOTE, ENABLE LOCAL, or DISABLE INBOUND, DISABLE REMOTE, DISABLE LOCAL.

QUEUERUN.SEM

Just before a mail session begins MDaemon will create this semaphore file. Inside the file will be a datestamp indicating the time and date of the most recent mail processing interval.

RESTART.SEM

Stops and then starts MDaemon.

RESTARTCF.SEM

Stops and restarts CFEngine.exe (the Content Filter executable).

RESTARTWC.SEM

Stops and restarts WorldClient. This only works when WorldClient is running using its own built-in web server.

RELOADCACHE.SEM

Reloads all cached data settings and files except for Content Filter settings and files.

REVERSEEXCEPT.SEM

Reloads reverse lookups exception file.

SCHEDULE.SEM

Reloads schedule data file(s).

SPAMHONEYPOTS.SEM

Reloads spam honeypots data files(s)

SPF.SEM

Reloads SPF, DKIM, and VBR data files(s).

SUPPRESS.SEM

Reloads black list settings and clears cached domain settings.

TARPIT.SEM

Reloads tarpit and dynamic screening data file(s).

TRANSLAT.SEM

Reloads the header translation data files.

TRAY.SEM

Redraws MDaemon's icon in the system tray.

TRUST.SEM

Trusted domains and IP addresses are kept memory resident for optimal performance. If you need to reload these settings manually you can create TRUST.SEM to do it.

UPDATEAV.SEM

Initiates antivirus definition update.

UPDATESA.SEM

Initiates a Spam Filter update.

USERLIST.SEM

Reload the USERLIST.DAT file. Use this when you make modifications to the USERLIST.DAT and need MDaemon to reload it.

WATCHDOG.SEM

MDaemon will check for and remove this semaphore from the APP directory at approximately 10-20 second intervals.  This file can be used by external apps to check if MDaemon is running.  If this file remains in the APP directory for more than 20 seconds, that is a good indication that MDaemon is no longer running.