In installation guide cron is installed in step 15.7, but it needs virtual/mta so ssmtp gets installed automaticaly but it needs correct hostname to be set up (otherwise every mail is sent out from/to user@_HOSTNAME_ through our smtp server) and this is done later in step 18 Installation of some MTA should be done BEFORE cron and AFTER hostname has been set up Steps 18,19 should be moved before step 15 and MTA installation should be added before installing cron Reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. follow installation guide Actual Results: ssmtp got installed and e-mails were sent from/to <user>@_HOSTNAME_ I was installing using allready installed system (not from liveCD)
I can edit the document, but can someone more familiar with the installation process confirm that these changes should be made to the installation guide?
I haven't heard any feedback. This is a change that may impact many users. I don't really want to change the main installation document without someone with more expertise in the install process comfirming that steps should be re-organized.
I'm not a guru, but I am a little familiar with ssmtp. It is true that the default configuration isn't sufficient for most optimal usage, but to be honest, I don't think describing MTA-installation in the installation-doc is a good thing: there are too many MTA's, each with a different way of configuring etc. Also, you cannot send mails with ssmtp to local users - ssmtp is a very simple maildaemon which forwards the mails it receives to a mailhub. Therefor it's usage for cron is very limited (most ppl would want it to mail stuff to a local user). I will check this behaviour tomorrow and try to find a good solution, if noone has found one until then ofcourse.
You have to edit ssmtp.conf with a working mailhub otherwise cron/ssmtp writes errors in the logs. Unfortunately there is no way to have SysV cron not to send mail (as 'man 5 crontab')
I'm placing this as WONTFIX: people that want to have CRON mail them information shouldn't proceed with ssmtpd since it lacks enough features. However, requesting the user to install Postfix or Qmail or Exim or Sendmail or ... is also wrong. Not all users want such e-mails, so I guess that those who do want such e-mails can install another MTA.
