This section contains step-by-step procedures for using a command line utility (PMDF CONFIGURE MTA) to generate PMDF configuration files. (See to Chapter 4 for a sample PMDF-MTA configuration dialogue.)

You must configure PMDF from the SYSTEM account. If you are not logged in to that account, do so now.

Use the following procedure to use the PMDF CONFIGURE MTA command line utility to configure PMDF:

1. Use the following commands to begin the configuration:

   $ SET DEFAULT PMDF_TABLE: $ PMDF CONFIGURE MTA

   
   

2. Enabled detailed output. (Unless you are very familiar with the configuration procedure, it is a good idea to print out detailed explanations of each prompt as the configuration progresses.)
   
3. At this point, the following prompt displays:

   Do you want to use answers from the previous run as defaults?

   Answer Y (yes) if you want values from the previous configuration to be the defaults for this configuration.

   Note All your answers to the prompts are logged in a file in the PMDF_TABLE directory. After the first configuration, PMDF CONFIGURE uses the answers to the previous run as the default answers. You can use the backslash character, \, to clear a default answer.

   
   
4. Review the example configuration that is shown in Chapter 4. Parts of the sample site might be representative of your own network configuration. Since the sample configuration was run with detailed output enabled, the example answers might help you determine the answers you need to provide for your own site.
   
5. When you finish running the PMDF CONFIGURE utility, print the checklist file (PMDF_TABLE:pmdf.checklist). Complete the configuration by following the steps outlined in the checklist.
   
6. If you have TCP/IP connectivity to other systems, you will need to configure the PMDF Dispatcher (which manages the PMDF SMTP server and other TCP/IP based services). See Chapter 5 and Chapter 6 for more information.
   
7. If this is your initial configuration of PMDF, the PMDF CONFIGURE MTA utility will ask if you want to invoke the PMDF CONFIGURE DISPATCHER utility at this time. Either enter Y (yes), to perform the Dispatcher configuration now, or N (no), to configure the Dispatcher later.
   
8. It is a good idea to test your PMDF configuration initially by sending mail through PMDF to yourself, or to someone else on your local machine. (Although PMDF is not really required to send mail locally, this is a good test of the configuration.) You can do this test by using the VMS MAIL utility to send a message in the following format

   IN%username

   where username is a local username. PMDF should accept the message and deliver it quickly.
   

9. When local messages work, you can proceed to send messages off the system through your various networks. If the messages do not seem to be getting out, use the QM utility to examine the PMDF message queues to determine if the messages are stuck on your system. You can also examine log files in the PMDF_LOG: directory, which could help isolate network delivery problems. (See the chapter "Maintenance and Troubleshooting" in the PMDF System Manager's Guide for additional information on tracking PMDF delivery problems.)
   
10. If everything appears to be functioning correctly, and if you have finished your configuration, you might want to use the PMDF CNBUILD utility to compile your configuration for increased performance. (See the PMDF System Manager's Guide for more information.)