postfix and sendmail-style virtual domains

I've got a 3.2-release mailserver that recieves mail for a couple of domains, let's say: eg1.com and eg2.com. I'm running postfix-1.1.11 from packages. I use /etc/mail/aliases a fair bit.

In almost all cases it's fine for addy1@eg1.com and addy1@eg2.com to go to the same local recipient. In fact, it's desired behaviour in all cases but one: the addresses exception@eg1.com and exception@eg2.com need to go to different local users.

I understand from man 5 virtual that I want to start using "sendmail-style" virtual domains, primarily to avoid: 1, changing things unnecessarily and 2, so that I can continue to use /etc/mail/aliases. So, here's the steps I'm going through:

in /etc/postfix/virtual:
exception@eg1.com user1
exception@eg2.com user2

I've tried some variations on that, including 'user1@localhost' and putting a line like "DOMAIN eg1.com" in immediately above each of the two aliases.

next:
$ sudo /usr/local/sbin/postmap /etc/postfix/virtual

No response, looks good.

Initially I didn't, but I've since done a "postfix reload" here, too. Didn't seem to make a difference.

Do you need help?

In addition to our free technical library, Pantek provides professional IT services to companies who utilize Open Source software: Learn more about Pantek's Technical Support offerings Place an order for 24/7/365 Technical Support here Learn more about Pantek, who we are, and what we do Chat with a Live Operator Related openbsd.org Links advocacy announce bugs ipv6 misc ports ports-changes security-announce smp source-changes tech Request more information about Pantek

Now, if I try to send mail to exception@ eg1.com or eg2.com, I get the following back:
This is the Postfix program at host mx.eg1.com. -snip-
<exception@eg1.com>: unknown user: "exception"

There is no local user or alias for "exception", he's only mentioned in /etc/postfix/virtual. However, user1 and user2 can both receive mail without issue.

It looks like the worst case scenario is a teensy bit of work to convert my aliases file into a nice format for virtual. Not a big deal. But I'd rather do this The Right Way if possible, not with what would essentially be a workaround. I expect that this would be a common problem in the case of accounts such as webmaster@.

Maillog excerpt follows. If there's any other info that would be helpful just sing out, I'll be most happy to oblige.

thanks,
tom ryan.

-------maillog entry--------------
Feb 28 12:06:44 mail2 postfix/smtpd[27582]: connect from unknown[10.0.0.10] Feb 28 12:06:44 mail2 postfix/smtpd[27582]: 8174C3E5DD: client=unknown[10.0.0.10]
Feb 28 12:06:44 mail2 postfix/cleanup[22206]: 8174C3E5DD: message-id=<NGBBLEHFGDKBCFIDCKKFGEGICIAA.tom.ryan@whitehorsestrategic.com> Feb 28 12:06:44 mail2 postfix/qmgr[2213]: 8174C3E5DD: from=<tom.ryan@whitehorsestrategic.com>, size=702, nrcpt=1 (queue active) Feb 28 12:06:44 mail2 ravpostfix[12340]: data received... begin scanning... Feb 28 12:06:44 mail2 ravpostfix[12340]: scanning returns OK... sending file...
Feb 28 12:06:44 mail2 postfix/smtpd[28247]: connect from localhost.whitehorsestrategic.com[127.0.0.1] Feb 28 12:06:44 mail2 postfix/smtpd[27582]: disconnect from unknown[10.0.0.10]
Feb 28 12:06:44 mail2 postfix/smtpd[28247]: C5F9A3E5EF: client=localhost.whitehorsestrategic.com[127.0.0.1] Feb 28 12:06:45 mail2 postfix/cleanup[22206]: C5F9A3E5EF: message-id=<NGBBLEHFGDKBCFIDCKKFGEGICIAA.tom.ryan@whitehorsestrategic.com> Feb 28 12:06:45 mail2 postfix/smtpd[28247]: disconnect from localhost.whitehorsestrategic.com[127.0.0.1] Feb 28 12:06:45 mail2 postfix/smtp[28093]: 8174C3E5DD: to=<exception@eg1.com>, relay=127.0.0.1[127.0.0.1], delay=1, status=sent
(250 Ok)

Feb 28 12:06:45 mail2 postfix/qmgr[2213]: C5F9A3E5EF: from=<tom.ryan@whitehorsestrategic.com>, size=908, nrcpt=1 (queue active) Feb 28 12:06:45 mail2 postfix/local[27509]: C5F9A3E5EF: to=<exception@eg1.com>, relay=local, delay=1, status=bounced (unknown user: "exception")
Feb 28 12:06:45 mail2 postfix/cleanup[22206]: 22E8C3E5DD: message-id=<20030228010645.22E8C3E5DD@mail2.whitehorsestrategic.com> Feb 28 12:06:45 mail2 postfix/qmgr[2213]: 22E8C3E5DD: from=<>, size=2623, nrcpt=1 (queue active)
Feb 28 12:06:45 mail2 postfix/local[27509]: 22E8C3E5DD: to=<tmr@mail2.whitehorsestrategic.com>, relay=local, delay=0, status=sent
(maildir)