Returns a message to the sender that the mail recipient is on vacation.
vacation [ { -I | User } ] | [ { -f Number [ Unit ] | User } ]
The vacation command returns a message to the sender of a mail message to notify the sender that the recipient is on vacation. The intended use is in a $HOME/.forward file that allows messages to come to you while also sending a message back to the sender.
The vacation command expects a $HOME/.vacation.msg file containing a message to be sent back to each sender. If this file does not exist, the vacation command looks for /usr/share/lib/vacation.def, a systemwide default vacation message file. It should be an entire message, including any desired headers, such as From or Subject . By default, this message is sent only once a week to each person who sends mail to you. Use the -f flag to change the frequency intervals at which the message is sent. The names of the people who send messages are kept in the files $HOME/.vacation.pag and $HOME/.vacation.dir. These files are created when the vacation command is initialized for your user ID using the -I (uppercase i) flag.
If the -I flag is not specified, the vacation command reads the first line from the standard input for a From line to determine the sender. If no text is available from standard input, the command returns an error message. All properly formatted incoming mail should have a From line. No message is sent if the From header line indicates that the message is from Postmaster , MAILER-DAEMON, or if the initial From line includes the string-REQUEST@ or if a Precedence: bulk or Precedence: junk line is included in the header.
Note: The -f flag cannot be used with the -I flag.
vacation -I
mark, |"/usr/bin/vacation mark"The sender receives the message that is in the $HOME/.vacation.msg file, or if the file does not exist, the default message found in the /usr/share/lib/vacation.def file. If neither of these files exist, no automatic replies are sent to the sender of the mail message and no error message is generated. If either of these files exist, the sender receives one vacation message from mark per week, regardless of how many messages are sent to mark from the sender.
mark, |"/usr/bin/vacation -f10d mark"The sender receives one vacation message from mark every ten days, regardless of how many messages are sent to mark from the sender.
From: mark@odin.valhalla (Mark Smith) Subject: I am on vacation. Delivered-By-The-Graces-Of: the Vacation program I am on vacation until October 1. If you have something urgent, please contact Jim Terry <terry@zeus.valhalla>. --mark
rm .forward .vacation.dir .vacation.pag .vacation.msg
$HOME/.forward | Contains the names of people who you want your mail to be forwarded to. |
/usr/share/lib/vacation.def | Contains the systemwide default vacation message. |
$HOME/.vacation.dir | Contains the names of people who have sent mail to you while the vacation command was being used. |
$HOME/.vacation.msg | Contains your personalized vacation message. |
$HOME/.vacation.pag | Contains the names of people who have sent mail to you while the vacation command was being used. |
/usr/bin/vacation | Contains the vacation command. |
The mail command, sendmail command.
The .forward file.
Mail Overview and Forwarding Mail, Sending a Vacation Message Notice in AIX Version 4.3 System User's Guide: Communications and Networks.
Understanding Directories in AIX Version 4.3 System User's Guide: Operating System and Devices.