Category: Mailman

Set up mailman on CentOS 6.6

July 20, 2015 The Geek Decoder No Comments Administration, Mailman

Here is how to install the mailman mailing list on CentOS 6.6.
Install Mailman via yum:


# yum install mailman

Next, edit its Apache configuration file:

# cd /etc/httpd/conf.d
# vi mailman.conf
RedirectMatch ^/mailman[/]*$ http://domain.com/mailman/listinfo

Uncomment the redirect parameter and enter the correct domain name.
Set the site master password:

# /usr/lib/mailman/bin/mmsitepass password

This password can be used to access any list or any page. Edit the Mailman configuration file:


# vi /usr/lib/mailman/Mailman/mm_cfg.py
DEFAULT_URL_HOST = ‘domain.com’
DEFAULT_EMAIL_HOST = ‘domain.com’

The URL host parameter usually matches the domain name from the above Apache configuration file. The email host should match the origin of the mail (i.e. the part after the @ of the email address, whether it is host.domain.com or domain.com).
Check for updates:


# cd /usr/lib/mailman
# bin/update
Upgrading from version 0x0 to 0x2010cf0
getting rid of old source files
no lists == nothing to do, exiting

If you get this error:

# bin/update
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "bin/update", line 48, in <module>
    from Mailman import mm_cfg
  File "/usr/lib/mailman/Mailman/mm_cfg.py", line 86, in <module>
    DEFAULT_URL_HOST   = coldriverdata.com
NameError: name 'coldriverdata' is not defined

Check that the format is correct with the domains 

# vi /usr/lib/mailman/Mailman/mm_cfg.py
DEFAULT_URL_HOST = ‘domain.com’
DEFAULT_EMAIL_HOST = ‘domain.com’

* Notice the “‘”

Create the mailman site list and set up the aliases:


> cd /usr/lib/mailman
> bin/newlist mailman



Enter the email of the person running the list: minh@minhtech.com
Initial mailman password: password
To finish creating your mailing list, you must edit your /etc/aliases (or
equivalent) file by adding the following lines, and possibly running the
`newaliases’ program:

## mailman mailing list
mailman: “|/usr/lib/mailman/mail/mailman post mailman”
mailman-admin: “|/usr/lib/mailman/mail/mailman admin mailman”
mailman-bounces: “|/usr/lib/mailman/mail/mailman bounces mailman”
mailman-confirm: “|/usr/lib/mailman/mail/mailman confirm mailman”
mailman-join: “|/usr/lib/mailman/mail/mailman join mailman”
mailman-leave: “|/usr/lib/mailman/mail/mailman leave mailman”
mailman-owner: “|/usr/lib/mailman/mail/mailman owner mailman”
mailman-request: “|/usr/lib/mailman/mail/mailman request mailman”
mailman-subscribe: “|/usr/lib/mailman/mail/mailman subscribe mailman”
mailman-unsubscribe: “|/usr/lib/mailman/mail/mailman unsubscribe mailman”

Hit enter to notify mailman owner…


> vi /etc/aliases
## mailman mailing list
mailman: “|/usr/lib/mailman/mail/mailman post mailman”
mailman-admin: “|/usr/lib/mailman/mail/mailman admin mailman”
mailman-bounces: “|/usr/lib/mailman/mail/mailman bounces mailman”
mailman-confirm: “|/usr/lib/mailman/mail/mailman confirm mailman”
mailman-join: “|/usr/lib/mailman/mail/mailman join mailman”
mailman-leave: “|/usr/lib/mailman/mail/mailman leave mailman”
mailman-owner: “|/usr/lib/mailman/mail/mailman owner mailman”
mailman-request: “|/usr/lib/mailman/mail/mailman request mailman”
mailman-subscribe: “|/usr/lib/mailman/mail/mailman subscribe mailman”
mailman-unsubscribe: “|/usr/lib/mailman/mail/mailman unsubscribe mailman”



# newaliases

After creating the list, add the listed aliases to the bottom of the aliases file, and then run newaliases.
Finally, restart Apache and start mailman:


# /etc/init.d/httpd restart
Stopping httpd: [ OK ]
Starting httpd: [ OK ]

# /etc/init.d/mailman start
Starting mailman: [ OK ]



# chkconfig –level 2345 mailman on