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# MDaemon Email Server 26.0

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Semaphore Files | Scroll Prev Top Next More

MDaemon is equipped with support for Semaphore Files, which can be used for a variety of purposes, including causing MDaemon to perform specific actions. Periodically MDaemon will scan the \APP\ subfolder for the existence of these files. If it finds one, the associated behavior is triggered and the semaphore file is removed. This provides for a simple mechanism that enables administrators and developers to manipulate MDaemon without actually handling the interface. The following is a list of the semaphores and what they do:

FILENAME | ACTION
ACLFIX.SEM | Runs the ACL file cleanup routine.
ADDUSER.SEM | This semaphore creates new accounts. It is used to force MDaemon to append new records to the end of the USERLIST.DAT file without causing a potentially time consuming complete rebuild of the user database. Each line in this file must be a complete account record of the form specified in the Account Management Functions section of the MDaemon API (see MD-API.html in MDaemon's \docs\API\ subfolder). Multiple new accounts can be specified – one account record per line. MDaemon will process the file one line at a time and add each new account. You can create ADDUSER.LCK to lock the file while you are updating it and MDaemon will not touch ADDUSER.SEM until ADDUSER.LCK is deleted. To see a sample ADDUSER.SEM file open ADDUSER.SMP in your APP directory with a text editor.
ALERT.SEM | Displays in a pop-up window the contents of the semaphore file to all Webmail users who are logged in when the file is created. It is not, however, displayed to all users immediately—it is displayed to each user individually the next time his or her browser makes a request to the Webmail server. Note: Unlike other semaphore files, this file is Webmail specific. Instead of placing it in the \app\ directory it must be placed in the \MDaemon\WorldClient\ directory.
ALIAS.SEM | Reloads aliases data file(s).
AUTORESPEXCEPT.SEM | Reloads the Autoresponder exception file(s).
BATV.SEM | Reloads Backscatter Protection (BATV) data file(s).
BAYESLEARN.SEM | This SEM manually starts the Bayesian learning process. This is like clicking the Learn button on the Bayesian tab of the Spam Filter. Note: this will start the Bayesian learning procedure even if you have Bayesian learning disabled.
BLOCKLIST.SEM | Reloads the blocklist data files.
CFILTER.SEM | Reloads Content Filter rules, clears Content Filter cached data, reloads the Spam Filter's Allow List (no filtering) file.
CLEARQUOTACOUNTS.SEM | The results of user quota checks are maintained in the quotacounts.dat file. If you wish to clear the cached quota value for a user, add the user’s email address to this SEM file and then place it in the \app\ folder. If an asterisk ( * ) is on a line by itself, the entire file will be deleted thereby invalidating all cached quota counts.
CREDSMATCHEXEMPTLIST.SEM | Reloads the Credentials Matching Exempt List.
DELUSER.SEM | You can use this semaphore file to delete one or more user accounts. Create a text file containing the addresses of each account that you want to be deleted (one address per line), name the file DELUSER.SEM and then move it to MDaemon's \app\ directory. MDaemon will delete the accounts and then delete the DELUSER.SEM file. If you wish to delete an account but not delete its mail folder, append "^" to the address (e.g. frank@example.com^).
DMARCEXEMPTLIST.SEM | Reloads the DMARC Exempt List.
DNS.SEM | Reloads the Windows DNS servers and the Spam Filter's DNS settings.
DOMAINSHARING.SEM | Reloads domain sharing data file.
EDITUSER.SEM | This semaphore is used to update specific user records within the USERLIST.DAT file without a potentially time consuming complete rebuild. To update any specific user records within USERLIST.DAT, create a file named EDITUSER.SEM that includes a complete replacement record, one record per line, for any user records you wish to edit. Each record must be constructed according to the USERLIST.DAT format outlined in the Userlist File Format knowledge base article, but it must begin with the original record's email address followed by a comma. MDaemon will process the EDITUSER.SEM file one line at a time. You can create EDITUSER.LCK to lock the file while you are updating it and MDaemon will not touch EDITUSER.SEM until EDITUSER.LCK is deleted. To see a sample EDITUSER.SEM file, open EDITUSER.SMP in your \APP\ directory with a text editor.
EXITNOW.SEM | Shuts down MDaemon.
GATEWAYS.SEM | For optimal performance, MDaemon keeps its list of gateways in memory. Create a GATEWAYS.SEM in MDaemon's APP directory for it to reload the gateways.dat file.
GREYLIST.SEM | Reloads Greylisting data file(s).
GROUPS.SEM | Reloads account grouping data file(s).
GRPLIST.SEM | Reloads the internal cache of Mailing List names.
HANGUPG.SEM | Forces a conditional hang-up of RAS device. MDaemon will wait for any pending mail sessions to close and will then hang-up the RAS session.
HANGUPR.SEM | Forces unconditional hang-up of RAS device. This is an immediate and unconditional hang-up without regard to mail sessions which may be in progress across the connection.
HOSTSCREEN.SEM | Reloads Host Screen data file(s).
IPSCREEN.SEM | Reloads IP Screen data file(s).
IPSHIELD.SEM | The IPShield.dat file is cached in memory to increase access speed. Use IPSHIELD.SEM to reload the file into memory
LDAPCACHE.SEM | Reloads LDAP and gateway user data file(s).
LOCKSEMS.SEM | Prevents all semaphore file processing until user removes it.
LOGSETTINGS.SEM | Reloads log file settings.
MDSPAMD.SEM | Reloads the Spam Filter allow list and MDSPAMD, which forces it to reinitialize all its configuration data.
MINGER.SEM | Stops and then restarts the Minger server.
MXCACHE.SEM | Reloads MX Cache data file(s).
NODNSBL.SEM | Reloads DNSBL allow list file.
NOPRIORITY.SEM | Forces MDaemon to reload the NoPriority.dat file.
ONLINE.SEM | MDaemon will create this semaphore file once it makes a successful connection using RAS to the ISP. MD will remove the semaphore once the connection has been terminated. This is useful if you want to know when MD is using the RAS sub-system.
POSTDIAL.SEM | MDaemon will create this file immediately after a connection made by MDaemon is taken down.
PREDIAL.SEM | MDaemon will create this file just before trying to use RAS/DUN. This will allow other software to detect when it should free the dialup port so that MDaemon can use it.
PRIORITY.SEM | Reloads Priority mail data file(s).
PROCBAD.SEM | Initiates delivery of Bad Queue content.
PROCDIG.SEM | Initiates construction and delivery of mailing list digests.
PROCHOLDING.SEM | Initiates delivery of Holding Queue content.
PROCNOW.SEM | Initiates a check for remote mail and delivery of queued remote mail.
PROCREM.SEM | MDaemon will immediately go into mail processing mode and transact all remote mail.
PROCRETR.SEM | Initiates delivery of Retry Queue content.
PRUNE.SEM | Reloads auto-pruning settings.
PUBLICSUFFIX.SEM | Reloads the Public Suffix file.
QUEUE.SEM | This semaphore file is used to enable/disable the mail queues. The file can contain any number of lines but each one has to contain one of the following strings (one per line): ENABLE INBOUND, ENABLE REMOTE, ENABLE LOCAL, or DISABLE INBOUND, DISABLE REMOTE, DISABLE LOCAL.
RCPTBLOCKLIST.SEM | Reloads the Recipient Blocklist.
RESTART.SEM | Stops and then starts MDaemon.
RESTARTCF.SEM | Stops and restarts CFEngine.exe (the Content Filter executable).
RESTARTWC.SEM | Stops and restarts MDaemon Webmail. This only works when Webmail is running using its own built-in web server.
RELOADCACHE.SEM | Reloads all cached data settings and files except for Content Filter settings and files.
REVERSEEXCEPT.SEM | Reloads reverse lookups exception file.
SCHEDULE.SEM | Reloads schedule data file(s).
SENDERBLOCKLIST.SEM | Reloads the Sender Blocklist.
SPAMHONEYPOTS.SEM | Reloads spam honeypots data files(s)
SPF.SEM | Reloads SPF and DKIM data files(s).
SUPPRESS.SEM | Reloads block list settings and clears cached domain settings.
TARPIT.SEM | Reloads tarpit and dynamic screening data file(s).
TRANSLAT.SEM | Reloads the header translation data files.
TRAY.SEM | Redraws MDaemon's icon in the system tray.
TRUST.SEM | Trusted domains and IP addresses are kept memory resident for optimal performance. If you need to reload these settings manually you can create TRUST.SEM to do it.
UPDATEAV.SEM | Initiates antivirus definition update.
UPDATESA.SEM | Initiates a Spam Filter update.
USERLIST.SEM | Reload the USERLIST.DAT file. Use this when you make modifications to the USERLIST.DAT and need MDaemon to reload it.
WATCHDOG.SEM | MDaemon will check for and remove this semaphore from the APP directory at approximately 10-20 second intervals. This file can be used by external apps to check if MDaemon is running. If this file remains in the APP directory for more than 20 seconds, that is a good indication that MDaemon is no longer running.

MDaemon v26.0.0 - March 2026. Copyright © 1996-2026. All rights reserved. MDaemon Technologies