sendmail (& Can't open /dev/console)

[Barry A. Burke]

> The sendmail I have has an annoying habit of give the message
>  Cannot open /dev/console: Bad file number
> every single time it's run.  It's not really a big deal, since it
> doesn't seem to affect anything, but it is annoying, and it screws
> up emacs smail.
>
> Any explanations???

check your system's /etc/hosts file.  If the administrator followed the
installation instructions he changed the line:

	127.1	localhost

to

	127.1	<real host name>

Sendmail as delivered on most binary-only licenses connects to syslog(8) 
using the hostname of `localhost' specifically on the connection request[*].
Change it back to `localhost' and everything should work again...

[*] this is my personal assumption, since I can't look at the sources.  I
    know in fact that this will cause the problem specified, and the prescribed
    action will correct it.  Apologies to the unix wizards out there if not
    100% accurate.

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