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I have a new server running ubuntu, nginx, php sendmail etc.

To test if sendmail is working I made a basic php file with the php mail function in it. When I execute the file my browser hangs until I get a 503 timeout but I still receive the test mail a few seconds later indicating sendmail is working.

Other pages on the server load just fine

The server does not have a domain name; I am just using its IP address for now. There are no errors in the nginx error log but the mail log is showing errors like 

sergeserver sm-msp-queue[13609]: unable to qualify my own domain name

Any ideas why and how to solve?

Here is the contents of etc/hosts

127.0.0.1 localhost # --- Gandi DHCP Script --- 95.142.166.209 sergeserver # --- End --- # The following lines are desirable for IPv6 capable hosts ::1 ip6-localhost ip6-loopback fe00::0 ip6-localnet ff00::0 ip6-mcastprefix ff02::1 ip6-allnodes ff02::2 ip6-allrouters ff02::3 ip6-allhosts
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  • What does the nginx error log say? Check this if you need help with error log configuration Commented Feb 6, 2013 at 22:38
  • This sounds more like an nginx configuration issue. You may want to check to logs at /var/log/nginx or the corresponding mail logs. Commented Feb 6, 2013 at 22:38
  • check the nginx error log - no errors reported. Other pages work fine and do not time out. There is unable to qualify my own domain name error in the mail log but I don't have a domain yet - just using the server IP Commented Feb 6, 2013 at 22:42
  • Please include the contents of /etc/hosts Commented Feb 7, 2013 at 4:31
  • please see edit Commented Feb 7, 2013 at 19:05

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The quickest hack to make this error message go is to try and add the following lines in your /etc/mail/sendmail.mc:

LOCAL_CONFIG Djsergeserver.example.net

Do not use any random domain as a FQDN. Use either a domain that you own, or example.net. After editing sendmail.mc make sure you generate sendmail.cf and restart sendmail. In Debian you do this with sendmailconfig. In CentOS you run /etc/mail/make followed by service sendmail restart.

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  • OK, I shall try later when I get home. A few questions: why does it matter which domain I use? Can I use a domain I own but which is currently being used on another site? Will this cure the page timeouts? Commented Feb 7, 2013 at 10:38
  • It matters because $j holds the name by which your computer introduces itself to other computers during the SMTP dialog. Commented Feb 7, 2013 at 12:35
  • I added the line as you described and regenerated sendmail.cf but the issue persists Commented Feb 7, 2013 at 19:06
  • What does the Dj do before sergeserver.example.net? Commented Feb 7, 2013 at 22:07
  • It defines macro $j. Whatever the value for $j add it in your /etc/hosts files too. Commented Feb 8, 2013 at 8:56

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