Default Address

This address will receive any mail sent to an invalid email address for the current domain. The default address is also commonly called a “catch-all address.”

It is possible to define how the default address handles the incoming messages.

Set Up a Default Address

To set up your default address:

  1. Select the domain for which you wish to set up a default address.
  2. Click one of the following options:
    • Forward to email address — Enter the address in the text box. You do not need to type “@” and the domain name.
    • Discard with error to sender — Enter an error message for the sender to read.
  3. You can also click Advanced Options to:
    • Discard incoming messages without an automatic response. 
       Note: This option is not recommended since the sender will be unaware that the delivery failed.
    • Automatically forward messages to a program by defining a path to the program, for example /home/$utility, in the Pipe to a Program field.
    • Forward incoming messages to your system account.
  4. Click the Change button.

 Note: If your domain is targeted by spammers, forwarding mail to a default address is likely to yield a large amount of spam.

Using the Pipe to Program Option

When using the option to pipe incoming messages to a program, make sure your script uses the proper file permissions (755). To change your script's file permissions:

  • chmod 755 myscript.php where myscript.php is meant to stand for your script's location and file name.

You will also need to ensure that you are using the correct hash bang.

  • #!/usr/bin/php -q — For PHP.
  • #!/usr/bin/perl — For Perl.

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