Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 Adelie 8/14/85; site adelie.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!genrad!panda!talcott!harvard!adelie!barry
From: barry@adelie.UUCP (Barry A. Burke)
Newsgroups: net.unix
Subject: Re: sendmail (& Can't open /dev/console)
Message-ID: <529@adelie.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 4-Nov-85 22:36:05 EST
Article-I.D.: adelie.529
Posted: Mon Nov  4 22:36:05 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 7-Nov-85 04:31:52 EST
References: <2743@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Organization: Adelie Corporation, Newtonville MA
Lines: 31

> 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	

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.

-- 
LIVE:	Barry A. Burke, (617) 965-8480 x26
USPS:	Adelie Corporation, 288 Walnut St., Newtonville, MA  02160
UUCP:	..!{harvard | decvax!linus!axiom}!adelie!barry
ARPA:	adelie!barry@harvard.ARPA