Hi AZ,

The sticky bit on a file prevents a file from being paged out, like you
found.  The sticky bit on a directory prevents anyone except the owner
of the files from deleting them.

George


AZ Pete wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> I've set up a pop3 server on a machine and all is working ok.  I am able to
> download my mail using an email client from a couple Windows test boxes.
> I am, however, receiving the following error in the maillog whenever I
> retrieve mail:
> 
> 'Mailbox vulnerable - directory /var/spool/mail must have 1777 protection.'
> 
> In reading the chmod man page this would give permissions of rwxrwxrwt.
> The 't'  means "save program text on swap device."
> 
> In one of my Linux books it mentions a capital T, which means the sticky
> bit is set.
> A small 't' would result if world sticky bit is set along with world execute.
> 
> Does anyone have any clarification as to what the lower case 't' permission
> actually does?
> Do I need to apply it to the /var/spool/mail directory as the pop3 error
> message indicates?
> Or is it simply one of those 'nag' errors where I can leave it be?
> 
> Any help would be appreciated.
> Thanks,
> Peter
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