Bug#370714: exim4: seems to always require auth

[Brian White]

reopen 370714
--

Perhaps this is an invalid bug, but it would be nice to await my 
clarification _before_ simply closing it.

>>remote_smtp_smarthost:
>>  debug_print = "T: remote_smtp_smarthost for $local_part@$domain"
>>  driver = smtp
>>  hosts_try_auth = ${if exists {CONFDIR/passwd.client}{DCsmarthost}{}}
>>  tls_tempfail_tryclear = false
>>
>>However, if no password has been set, the passwd.client file still 
>>exists and all access to the smarthost fails because it can't auth and 
>>won't try without it.
> 
> 
> |+--------------------------------------------------------+
> ||hosts_try_auth|Use: smtp|Type: host list*|Default: unset|
> |+--------------------------------------------------------+
> |
> |This option provides a list of servers to which, provided they
> |announce authentication support, Exim will attempt to authenticate as
> |a client when it connects. If authentication fails, Exim will try to
> |transfer the message unauthenticated. See also hosts_require_auth, and
> |chapter 33 for details of authentication.
> 
> Please note "if authentication fails, exim will try to transfer the
> message unauthenticated".
> 
> If you still think this is wrong, please show an example of a message
> transmission failing and outline a way to fix the issue.

The problem is when used in conjunction with the next line:

	tls_tempfail_tryclear = false

When both were set (and no password available in the file), the system 
would just sit forever waiting.  I'm not exactly sure what it was 
waiting for (I didn't do a TCP-level trace), but removing either line 
caused it to start working again.

I suggest not having the passwd.client file exist unless there is 
actually something to put in it.

Perhaps it would be best to have "tryclear = true" in all cases. 
Setting a password for one smarthost could cause others to stop working.

                                           Brian
                                  ( bcwhite at precidia.com )

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