[Pkg-exim4-users] Log Permissions Problem

[Thomas H. George]

After finally understanding the exim4 authentication setup - as root I 
am able to send email to my other mail box - I tried to send mail as tom 
and from mutt.  No go.

First, there were messages that exim4 could not write to the files 
/var/log/exim4/mainlog and paniclog - permission denied.

I added tom to the Debian-exim group and the mail group.  This had no 
effect.   I then changed the file permissions from 640 to 666.  That 
resolved the mainlog and paniclog problem.

Next there was a message the exim4 could not write to the directory 
/var/spool/exim4/msglog - permission denied.  Again I changed the 
directory permissions  to 666.

Now there was no protest but the messages were not received by my other 
mail box.  Investigating I found that there were entries in mainlog 
stating the messages were frozen and messages in the msglog directory 
with 640 permissions and tom:tom ownership.  Earlier frozen messages 
(from attempts to send mail as root while the authentication setup was 
incorrect) are owned by Debian-exim:Debian-exim.

I don't understand this at all.  It seems to me that the standard 
installation should such that normal users can send and receive mail and 
root is prevented from doing so.  What I have encountered is the other 
way around and I have yet find all the changes - or the best practice 
changes - which allow a normal user to send mail.

Tom