PAM_MAIL(8) Linux-PAM Manual PAM_MAIL(8)
NAME
pam_mail - Inform about available mail
SYNOPSIS
pam_mail.so [close] [debug] [dir=maildir] [empty] [hash=count] [noenv]
[nopen] [quiet] [standard]
DESCRIPTION
The pam_mail PAM module provides the "you have new mail" service to the
user. It can be plugged into any application that has credential or
session hooks. It gives a single message indicating the newness of any
mail it finds in the user's mail folder. This module also sets the PAM
environment variable, MAIL, to the user's mail directory.
If the mail spool file (be it /var/mail/$USER or a pathname given with
the dir= parameter) is a directory then pam_mail assumes it is in the
Maildir format.
OPTIONS
close
Indicate if the user has any mail also on logout.
debug
Print debug information.
dir=maildir
Look for the user's mail in an alternative location defined by
maildir/<login>. The default location for mail is
/var/mail/<login>. Note, if the supplied maildir is prefixed by a
'~', the directory is interpreted as indicating a file in the
user's home directory.
empty
Also print message if user has no mail.
hash=count
Mail directory hash depth. For example, a hashcount of 2 would make
the mail file be /var/spool/mail/u/s/user.
noenv
Do not set the MAIL environment variable.
nopen
Don't print any mail information on login. This flag is useful to
get the MAIL environment variable set, but to not display any
information about it.
quiet
Only report when there is new mail.
standard
Old style "You have..." format which doesn't show the mail spool
being used. This also implies "empty".
MODULE TYPES PROVIDED
The session and auth (on establishment and deletion of credentials)
module types are provided.
RETURN VALUES
PAM_BUF_ERR
Memory buffer error.
PAM_SERVICE_ERR
Badly formed arguments.
PAM_SUCCESS
Success.
PAM_USER_UNKNOWN
User not known.
EXAMPLES
Add the following line to /etc/pam.d/login to indicate that the user
has new mail when they login to the system.
session optional pam_mail.so standard
SEE ALSO
pam.conf(5), pam.d(5), pam(7)
AUTHOR
pam_mail was written by Andrew G. Morgan <morgan@kernel.org>.
Linux-PAM Manual 05/18/2017 PAM_MAIL(8)