Comments on: Fatal: open lock file pid/master.pid http://switch.richard5.net/2006/08/19/fatal-open-lock-file-pidmasterpid/ How to build your Mac into a internet server using open source software Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:25:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Bart http://switch.richard5.net/2006/08/19/fatal-open-lock-file-pidmasterpid/comment-page-1/#comment-52536 Bart Sun, 03 Feb 2008 17:41:23 +0000 http://switch.richard5.net/2006/08/20/fatal-open-lock-file-pidmasterpid/#comment-52536 I had the same problem, but Time Machine was the source of the problem. I use a restored Time Machine backup (I restored from TM after a harddisk upgrade), but the non-backupped directories weren't re-created as empty directories. I had to manually create the following dirs in /var/spool/postfix: - active - deferred - incoming - maildrop - pid - private - public I created them as root:wheel and chmodded them to 777. I think they should be owned by _postfix:wheel and have 755 permissions or so, but I don't really care since my MacBook is just a single-user box :) I also had similar problems with Apache. I had the same problem, but Time Machine was the source of the problem. I use a restored Time Machine backup (I restored from TM after a harddisk upgrade), but the non-backupped directories weren’t re-created as empty directories. I had to manually create the following dirs in /var/spool/postfix:

- active
- deferred
- incoming
- maildrop
- pid
- private
- public

I created them as root:wheel and chmodded them to 777. I think they should be owned by _postfix:wheel and have 755 permissions or so, but I don’t really care since my MacBook is just a single-user box :)

I also had similar problems with Apache.

]]> By: Richard5 http://switch.richard5.net/2006/08/19/fatal-open-lock-file-pidmasterpid/comment-page-1/#comment-18694 Richard5 Fri, 02 Mar 2007 17:59:38 +0000 http://switch.richard5.net/2006/08/20/fatal-open-lock-file-pidmasterpid/#comment-18694 You mailprogram, possibly mail.app, get's access to your mail via the default imap server. I think it's a cyrus one... Your local mailbox is a mbox file (one big file with everything). If mail.app looks for new mail the mbox file is locked and postfix can't write to it. Usually you'll get the email at a later moment. The problem is fundamental to having an mbox file. That's my best guess... You mailprogram, possibly mail.app, get’s access to your mail via the default imap server. I think it’s a cyrus one… Your local mailbox is a mbox file (one big file with everything). If mail.app looks for new mail the mbox file is locked and postfix can’t write to it. Usually you’ll get the email at a later moment.

The problem is fundamental to having an mbox file. That’s my best guess…

]]> By: Jeff http://switch.richard5.net/2006/08/19/fatal-open-lock-file-pidmasterpid/comment-page-1/#comment-18689 Jeff Fri, 02 Mar 2007 17:52:32 +0000 http://switch.richard5.net/2006/08/20/fatal-open-lock-file-pidmasterpid/#comment-18689 Richard: I'm having similar problems, but not quite of the same type. I'm still using the Apple-provided postfix (I'll soon upgrade...), and every so often I stop getting mail for one account (usually mine, but sometimes others...). The log tells me that postfix could not get a lock on the mailbox file (it's a real OS/X user account - not a virtual mailbox). postfix stop doesn't work - the daemon just restarts with 10.4.8, so I end up restarting the mac. Not a really good solution, especially when I'm not there to do it...(and I don't have access..). I"m not really sure where to look for a solution to this. I've tried googling to no avail, and the usual resources are not much help. There are no visible lock files (even as root). Do you have any ideas? I'd appreciate it,.. --Jeff Richard:

I’m having similar problems, but not quite of the same type.

I’m still using the Apple-provided postfix (I’ll soon upgrade…), and every so often I stop getting mail for one account (usually mine, but sometimes others…).

The log tells me that postfix could not get a lock on the mailbox file (it’s a real OS/X user account – not a virtual mailbox).

postfix stop doesn’t work – the daemon just restarts with 10.4.8, so I end up restarting the mac. Not a really good solution, especially when I’m not there to do it…(and I don’t have access..).

I”m not really sure where to look for a solution to this. I’ve tried googling to no avail, and the usual resources are not much help.

There are no visible lock files (even as root).

Do you have any ideas? I’d appreciate it,..

–Jeff

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