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What is mailx?

mailx is a command-line mail client that allows users to send and receive emails directly from a terminal interface. It is primarily available on Unix and Unix-like operating systems, such as Linux. mailx is often preferred for its lightweight nature and flexibility, making it suitable for use in shell scripts and automated tasks.

Installation

mailx is typically pre-installed on many Unix-like systems. If it is not available, it can usually be installed via the default package manager. Here are common installation commands for popular Linux distributions:

Debian/Ubuntu: sudo apt-get install mailutils
Red Hat/CentOS: sudo yum install mailx
Arch Linux: sudo pacman -S heirloom-mailx

Basic Usage

mailx can be used for a variety of basic email operations. Here’s how to use it for sending emails:

To send a simple email: echo "Body of your email" | mailx -s "Subject of the email" [email protected]
To read emails, simply type mailx in the terminal.

For more functionality, you can compose an email by typing mailx [email protected], then the subject, followed by the email body, and finish with a Ctrl+D to send.

Key Features

Support for multiple mail protocols: mailx can work with IMAP and SMTP.
Message threading: Allows related messages to be viewed together.
Drafts and folders: Organize emails into folders and save drafts for later.
Attachments: Supports sending and receiving attachments using the -a flag.

Configuration

To effectively use mailx, it’s recommended to configure it properly. Configuration typically happens in the .mailrc file located in the user's home directory. Common configuration options include:

set smtp= - Set the outgoing SMTP server.
set from="[email protected]" - Set the sender's email address.
set ssl-verify=ignore - Ignore SSL certificate verification (not recommended for sensitive applications).

Troubleshooting

Common issues that users face with mailx may include:

Cannot send emails: Check your SMTP server settings and internet connectivity.
Emails not being received: Ensure that the recipient's email address is correct.
Attachments not received: Verify the attachment handling settings and file sizes.

Further Resources

For more detailed information and advanced usage, consider checking the following resources:

Understanding mailx