This section describes using the web-based PMDF-MTA configuration utility. This web-based utility subsumes the command line utilities pmdf configure mta, pmdf configure dispatcher, pmdf configure mailbox_servers, and pmdf configure lan. It is generally recommended to use the web-based configuration utility to generate a PMDF-MTA configuration, but the command line utilities may be a useful alternative for sites for whom web configuration is inconvenient.

If this is a new installation, be sure to follow the preliminary tasks for new installations described in Section 1.2. In particular, a PMDF-MTA license must be installed, and the pmdf account must be created, prior to running the configuration utility.

The web-based configuration utility may be used to generate an initial configuration, or may be used to generate a new configuration of an existing PMDF installation. If you will be configuring multiple components, e.g., MTA/SMTP and IMAP/POP servers, these components may either be configured at the same time or may be configured at separate times. Configuring components at the same time allows the configuration utility to mesh some of the configuration files itself, minimizing the number of post-configuration checklist tasks you will need to perform; in particular, configuring IMAP/POP server use at the same time as the base MTA/SMTP configuration is often convenient. However, configuring components at separate times may be more convenient for an initial installation; in particular, getting the MTA component (with or without IMAP/POP servers) configured and tested before adding a PMDF-LAN configuration is generally recommended.

If this is a new installation where PMDF is not already running, then the web-based configuration utility may be accessed as follows. Log in either as root or as the pmdf user. Then issue the command:

% /pmdf/bin/http_server -s

The above command starts the PMDF HTTP server up in standalone mode, to make the web-based configuration utility available. (Sites with PMDF already running do not need to issue the above command when they want to re-run the configuration utility, as the PMDF HTTP server will already be running normally for them.)

Then, using Netscape (version 3.0 or later) or Microsoft Internet Explorer (version 4.0 or later), with JavaScript enabled, connect to

http://localhost:7633/

where localhost is the TCP/IP name of your PMDF system, and then select the "Configuration Utilities" link.

Each screen in the configuration utility will have radio buttons, checkboxes and/or text input fields. If you click on any of these fields, instructions for the field will appear in the "Help" box at the bottom of the page. Note that use of a full-screen web-browser window on a display at least 800 x 600 will avoid unnecessary vertical scrolling.

Once you have made your selections and returned to the main configuration screen, select the "Generate" button, and on the next page the "Confirm" button to generate your configuration. Finally, a checklist of post-install items will be displayed.