How to Check Mail Aliases

To verify aliases and to confirm that mail can or cannot be delivered to a specified recipient, follow these instructions.

Display the aliases and identify that the final address is deliverable or not deliverable.

% /usr/lib/sendmail -v -bv recipient

The following is an example of the output.

% /usr/lib/sendmail -v -bv sandy
sandy... aliased to ssmith
ssmith... aliased to sandy@phoenix
sandy@phoenix... deliverable: mailer esmtp, host phoenix, user sandy@phoenix.example.com
%

Avoid loops and inconsistent databases when both local and domain-wide aliases are used. Be especially careful when you move a user from one system to another to avoid the creation of alias loops.