## Read mail on the local system ##

[Author](authors.html): _name_ _[[contact]]_ _[[BSD_flavour]]_

[Reviewer](technical_reviewers.html): _name_ _[[contact]]_ _[[BSD_flavour]]_

[Reviewer](technical_reviewers.html): _name_ _[[contact]]_ _[[BSD_flavour]]_

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### Concept ###

Be aware that by default, system messages
may be emailed to the root user on the local system and that a third-party
MUA(((MUA))) may not be installed. Be able
to both read and send mail using the built-in mail(1) command.
Know the location of user mailbox(((mailbox)))
files.


### Introduction ###

cron job output is emailed. cron -l. see cron. see cron run.

(Maybe refer to section [[Configure_the_scripts_that_run_periodically_to_perform_various_system_maintenance_tasks]] and/or
section [[Configure_an_action_to_be_scheduled_by_cron(8)]]).

location of mailboxes, /var/mail/... read mailboxes with mail -f

### Examples ###

Show example of files that may indicate which MTA is in use. wrapper/alias file somewhere.

Refer to section [[Determine_which_MTA_is_being_used_on_the_system]]

### Practice Exercises ###


write an email,

    mail
    mail root, or 'm root'
    begin typing your message. Lets ask the admin what version of ssh we have
    how to set subject? find out with ~? for help.
    ~s this is the subject
    ~e bring message to text editor (EDITOR), save
    add someone to CC, see ~? it is ~c, so:
    ~c junioradmin
    we are done here, ^d
    EOT
    &

reply to an email,

    sudo mail -u root
    list, reply to 1
    ~r read file into message
    ~!man ssh , to find out the switch to print ssh version,
    ~|ssh -V, output is put into current message
    cc junioradmin
    save

add new folder 'questions', add message 1 to folder 'questions'


### More information ###

mail(1), /var/mail/\$USER, cron(8)

[Mail Reference Manual](http://docs.freebsd.org/44doc/usd/07.mail/paper.html)