---
name: "esmtpd"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "courier-mta"
version: "1.4.1-3+deb13u2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/esmtpd"
---

# esmtpd(8)

The Courier mail server mail server ESMTP daemon

## NAME

esmtpd - The Courier mail server mail server ESMTP daemon

## SYNOPSIS

**esmtpd** {start}

**esmtpd** {stop}

**esmtpd** {restart}

**esmtpd-msa** {start}

**esmtpd-msa** {stop}

**esmtpd-msa** {restart}

## DESCRIPTION

The command "**esmtpd start**" runs **couriertcpd** in the background, listening on the SMTP port. **couriertcpd** will run **courieresmtpd** in response to connection requests.

The command "**esmtpd stop**" stops the **couriertcpd** daemon, shutting down the ESMTP service.

The command "**esmtpd-msa start**" starts the server on the message submission port, port 587. "**esmtpd-msa stop**" stops it. The difference between **esmtpd** and **esmtpd-msa** is that the latter is set up for additional processing as defined by RFC 2476 (mainly that the messages will have the Message-ID: and Date: headers added, by default).

Normally, [**makesmtpaccess**(8)](/makesmtpaccess/8.md)\[1\] automatically runs "**esmtpd restart**", in order to reread the /etc/courier/smtpaccess.dat access file, so you don't have to do it manually, yourself. Similarly, [**makesmtpaccess-msa**(8)](/makesmtpaccess-msa/8.md)\[1\] automatically runs **esmtpd-msa restart**

## FILES

/etc/courier/esmtpd

This configuration file initializes various settings for **courieresmtpd**.

/etc/courier/esmtpd-msa

This configuration file initializes the settings for **courieresmtpd** when invoked by **esmtpd-msa**. Note that this file is used to override the settings /etc/courier/esmtpd. The command "**esmtpd-msa start**" first reads /etc/courier/esmtpd, then afterwards /etc/courier/esmtpd-msa. Any settings in esmtpd-msa override the corresponding settings in esmtpd

## SEE ALSO

[**couriertcpd**(8)](/couriertcpd/8.md)\[2\], [**makesmtpaccess**(8)](/makesmtpaccess/8.md)\[1\].

## AUTHOR

**Sam Varshavchik**

Author

## NOTES

- 1\.

  [**makesmtpaccess**(8)](/makesmtpaccess/8.md)

  http://www.courier-mta.org/makesmtpaccess.html

- 2\.

  [**couriertcpd**(8)](/couriertcpd/8.md)

  http://www.courier-mta.org/couriertcpd.html