This guide should help you with configuring OpenACS Notifications to use Postfix instead of the qmail MTA on Macos X. However the instructions should be similar for OpenACS installations on other OSes.

Once postfix is installed, all you need to do is enable it to start as your default Mailserver in /etc/hostconfig. Proceed with configuring Postfix, then onfigure OpenACS Notification Parameters to use Postfix. Finally, restart Postfix for the configurations to take effect. You may also need to restart your OpenACS server as well.

NOTE 1: Replace hostname.mydomain.tld with the hostname of your server. This should be something like openacs.org.

NOTE 2: I've assumed that the OpenACS server will run as the service0 user.

NOTE 3: You need to create the Maildir directory in the home directory of the service0 user.

$ mkdir /Users/service0/Maildir

Edit /etc/hostconfig to enable Postfix on Panther

MAILSERVER=-YES-

Edit /etc/postfix/main.cf

myhostname=hostname.mydomain.tld
myorigin=$myhostname
inet_interfaces=$myhostname, localhost
mynetworks_style=host
virtual_maps=regexp:/etc/postfix/virtual
home_mailbox=Maildir/

Edit /etc/postfix/virtual

Add the following regular expressions:

/^notification-(.*)@hostname\.mydomain\.tld/ service0
/^bounce-(.*)@hostname\.mydomain\.tld/ service0

Edit /etc/postfix/master.cf

Uncomment line 77 and change:

#smtp inet n - n - - smtpd
to
smtp inet n - n - - smtpd

OpenACS: Configure Notifications Parameters

EmailDomain: hostname.mydomain.tld
EmailQmailQueue: /Users/service0/Maildir
EmailReplyAddressPrefix: notification
EmailQmailQueueScanP: 1

OpenACS: Configure Mail Services Lite Parameters

BounceDomain: hostname.mydomain.tld
BounceMailDir: /Users/service0/Maildir
EnvelopePrefix: bounce

Restart Postfix

$ sudo Postfix stop
$ sudo Postfix start

What about sending a bulk mail message to all community members that we have created an end users welog?