[GF-Users] postfix-tlspol v1.9.1 available upstream
Michael Webb
michael.webb at integrilog.com
Tue Apr 21 02:51:11 MST 2026
Hi Peter
Thank you for the feedback and suggestions. Since yesterday, I have tested thoroughly and am comfortable that we can move forward with Option 1. However, a user who blindly updates will get a surprise when find that the service is now only running on demand. It is unfortunate to discover this way, but I think it is acceptable progress. Thankfully the package has only one task, is simple to test, and is unlikely to break because customization on an EL system is unnecessary.
Since this package update has big changes, and the previous revision is working well, if you like what I have done below, suggest we wait a few more days to see if there are any bug fixes published to save effort.
I realized when I was going through this again that our earlier development was just to get something working and rpm building was new to me. I missed some opportunities to make the rpm and spec more user friendly which I have now also addressed below.
My thoughts/response on the individual changes:
-----------------------------------------------------
- Socket: After further reading, I think the change to system socket activation is a good change. In a Postfix MTA that is processing hundreds / thousands of emails a minute, resource optimizations are always welcome. Postfix-tlspol is only used for outgoing mail, so it makes sense to use a socket to "activate" the service only when required.
- Resolved/Bind: FYI - The upstream source assumes that the native DNS package in the reference install is systemd-resolved (which uses a DNS stub approach and listens on 127.0.0.53:53). From the outset I assumed that EL users would prefer BIND for a Postfix MTA and coded the spec to modify the contents of config.yaml to 127.0.0.1:53 for the install default, but this can be customized by the user after the first install and is preserved thereafter with %config(noreplace).
- Query.sh: We won't miss this. Not an essential file because " /usr/bin/postfix-tlspol --help" already shows how to construct a test query
- Test.sh: Although today I successfully ran this script for the first time, I still don't really understand the value - possibly the author's way of demonstrating the package code integrity. However, I think it needs to be removed from the install because it can only be run from a git cloned source folder and has no value in our context. I shared the script output in test_sh_output_example.txt at the link below FYI
- Metrics (Grafana): I missed this feature addition: seems also worth copying the /assets/ json and readme for users that might want to install Grafana in the future, and I have added these to the spec, but can't think of a better place to put them /etc/postfix-tlspol/metrics/?
- The good news is that with no scripts, we also no longer need /usr/local/bin/postfix-tlspol folder if it is empty.
- Upstream CHANGELOG.md copied with the install
**** This one might be contentious ****
- The package works out of the box with the default config, so I hope it is acceptable to enable and start the socket automatically on new installs. It is not otherwise mentioned anywhere to run the following command. After this, all that's left is to manually configure postfix to call the socket.
systemctl enable --now postfix-tlspol.socket
- socket is only automatically enabled and started on an upgrade if the service it replaces was already running.
- spec file now preserves custom changes to system unit files
I have modified the spec to accommodate the philosophy above tested installs in different scenarios (upgrade and enabled, upgrade and disabled, new install, upgrade with modified unit files), and have the updated build running on an EL10 production server.
https://www.integrilog.com/adhj5jkuuk2sfsf0/postfix-tlspol/Custom%201.9.1/0/EL10/x86_64/
Mike
-----Original Message-----
From: users-bounces at lists.ghettoforge.net <users-bounces at lists.ghettoforge.net> On Behalf Of Peter
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2026 3:18 PM
To: users at lists.ghettoforge.net
Subject: Re: [GF-Users] postfix-tlspol v1.9.1 available upstream
Yeah, I'm not liking these changes. They are fundamental changes with little or no explanation as to why they are made in the git logs or change logs. I was able to find this for the socket file change:
https://github.com/Zuplu/postfix-tlspol/issues/111
I read this as being that they made the change in order to have more restrictive permissions on the socket file itself, but the problem is it seems to lead down a rabbit hole of issues that they are now resolving such as this one:
https://github.com/Zuplu/postfix-tlspol/issues/140
I'm uncomfortable with it because this fundamental change seems to affect enterprise stability and requires changes that may very well cause other seemingly non-related issues. That said, that would mean that we are stuck with the following options:
1. Go ahead and implement the change (as you're doing) anyways.
2. Stick with an older version of the package and start backporting bug fixes (this requires a lot more maintenance) and only use the newer version in EL11 when it eventually drops.
3. Include patches that reverse the changes for EL<=10 but which may cause issues with further changes in the future.
I don't like any of these options but the one I dislike the most is #2 due to the increased complexity of maintaining the package. I'd like your input on whether you think 1 or 3 is better.
I'm curious as to why they removed query.sh, I can't find the explanation anywhere.
The change you made for OOMPolicy makes sense.
I also noticed you changed the address for the resolver to 127.0.0.1. I find it puzzling that they used 127.0.0.53 but it shouldn't matter because 127 is a /8 and any IP address that starts with 127 is loopback.
Also since the line is commented out anyways I won't worry about that change because for someone to use it they will have to uncomment the line in which case they can change it to anything they want at the time.
Peter
On 20/04/2026 22:12, Michael Webb wrote:
> Hi Peter
>
> v1.9.1 has been released. It has three differences from previous
> versions that require changes inside the spec file. The upgrade has
> both new features and fixes, but I think we should wait a few weeks to
> evaluate stability. At this stage, I am more interested in your
> feedback about the changes I made to the spec file and whether this is
> a good change for end-users. I have the package running on an EL10
> production system.
>
> https://github.com/Zuplu/postfix-tlspol/releases <https://github.com/
> Zuplu/postfix-tlspol/releases>
>
> The main changes to the package install that need to be addressed in
> the spec file are:
>
> * New systemd socket unit file
>
> * query.sh file was removed from package
>
> * New OOMPolicy=continue added to the service unit file, but it will
> only work EL >= 9
>
> https://www.integrilog.com/adhj5jkuuk2sfsf0/postfix-tlspol/
> Custom%201.9.1/0/EL10/x86_64/ <https://www.integrilog.com/
> adhj5jkuuk2sfsf0/postfix-tlspol/Custom%201.9.1/0/EL10/x86_64/>
>
> Thanks
>
> Mike
>
>
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> users mailing list
> users at lists.ghettoforge.net
> http://lists.ghettoforge.net/mailman/listinfo/users
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