[GH-ISSUE #783] Difference between aliases and forwards in admin panel? #704

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opened 2026-02-27 11:13:07 +03:00 by kerem · 2 comments

kerem commented

2026-02-27 11:13:07 +03:00

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Originally created by @virtuaris on GitHub (Nov 13, 2015).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/modoboa/modoboa/issues/783

Originally assigned to: @tonioo on GitHub.

Hei Tonio,

first of all many thanks for your great work!

I have a question regarding creating aliases and forwards using the Modoboa admin panel (Identities).
While the functionality of an alias is pretty clear a forward pretends to be something different but in fact ends up just as another alias (it's even taged with alias in the identities list). Thus i do not understand what's the difference?!
I would expect a forward to offer the keep local copy option as it is available when managing settings as a simple user.
Currently (using Modoboa 1.3.4) this makes it impossible (at least for me) to create a forward pointing to another account within the same mail domain (e.g. foo@example.net pointing to bar@example.net). Trying to setup such a forward as a simple user the user interface says the administrator should create an alias instead. But an alias redirects all mails to the given target (bar@example.net). The mail never reaches the intended recipient (foo@example.net).
Maybe the order of postfix sql-maps matters? My current setup:

virtual_mailbox_domains = mysql:/etc/postfix/maps/sql-domains.cf
virtual_alias_domains = mysql:/etc/postfix/maps/sql-domain-aliases.cf
virtual_alias_maps = mysql:/etc/postfix/maps/sql-aliases.cf,
                     mysql:/etc/postfix/maps/sql-domain-aliases-mailboxes.cf,
                     mysql:/etc/postfix/maps/sql-autoreplies.cf,
                     mysql:/etc/postfix/maps/sql-mailboxes-self-aliases.cf,
                     mysql:/etc/postfix/maps/sql-catchall-aliases.cf

Any idea?

Cheers!

Harald

Originally created by @virtuaris on GitHub (Nov 13, 2015). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/modoboa/modoboa/issues/783 Originally assigned to: @tonioo on GitHub. Hei Tonio, first of all many thanks for your great work! I have a question regarding creating `aliases` and `forwards` using the Modoboa admin panel (Identities). While the functionality of an `alias` is pretty clear a `forward` pretends to be something different but in fact ends up just as another `alias` (it's even taged with `alias` in the identities list). Thus i do not understand what's the difference?! I would expect a `forward` to offer the `keep local copy` option as it is available when managing settings as a simple user. Currently (using Modoboa 1.3.4) this makes it impossible (at least for me) to create a `forward` pointing to another account within the same mail domain (e.g. `foo@example.net` pointing to `bar@example.net`). Trying to setup such a `forward` as a simple user the user interface says the administrator should create an `alias` instead. But an `alias` redirects **all** mails to the given target (`bar@example.net`). The mail never reaches the intended recipient (`foo@example.net`). Maybe the order of `postfix sql-maps` matters? My current setup: ``` virtual_mailbox_domains = mysql:/etc/postfix/maps/sql-domains.cf virtual_alias_domains = mysql:/etc/postfix/maps/sql-domain-aliases.cf virtual_alias_maps = mysql:/etc/postfix/maps/sql-aliases.cf, mysql:/etc/postfix/maps/sql-domain-aliases-mailboxes.cf, mysql:/etc/postfix/maps/sql-autoreplies.cf, mysql:/etc/postfix/maps/sql-mailboxes-self-aliases.cf, mysql:/etc/postfix/maps/sql-catchall-aliases.cf ``` Any idea? Cheers! Harald

kerem

2026-02-27 11:13:07 +03:00

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kerem commented

2026-02-27 11:13:08 +03:00

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@tonioo commented on GitHub (Nov 16, 2015):

Hi,

to be honest, this difference does not make sense anymore... The best would be to use aliases everywhere. If you want to keep local copies for an alias (as an administrator), just create an distribution list named like the address you want to route and containing two targets : the "forward" address and the local mailbox address.

@tonioo commented on GitHub (Nov 16, 2015): Hi, to be honest, this difference does not make sense anymore... The best would be to use aliases everywhere. If you want to keep local copies for an alias (as an administrator), just create an distribution list named like the address you want to route and containing two targets : the "forward" address and the local mailbox address.

kerem commented

2026-02-27 11:13:08 +03:00

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@virtuaris commented on GitHub (Nov 17, 2015):

Hei tonioo,
using a distribution list works for me. Thx a lot!
Bests
Harald

@virtuaris commented on GitHub (Nov 17, 2015): Hei tonioo, using a `distribution list` works for me. Thx a lot! Bests Harald