6.19. pam_mail - inform about available mail
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## 6.19. pam_mail - inform about available mail

`pam_mail.so` [ close ] [ debug ] [ dir=`maildir` ] [ empty ] [ hash=`count` ] [ noenv ] [ nopen ] [ quiet ] [ standard ]

### 6.19.1. DESCRIPTION

The pam_mail PAM module provides the "you have new mail" service to the user. It can be plugged into any application that has credential or session hooks. It gives a single message indicating the newness of any mail it finds in the user's mail folder. This module also sets the PAM environment variable, MAIL, to the user's mail directory.

If the mail spool file (be it `/var/mail/$USER` or a pathname given with the `dir=` parameter) is a directory then pam_mail assumes it is in the Maildir format.

### 6.19.2. OPTIONS

close

  Indicate if the user has any mail also on logout.

debug

  Print debug information.

dir=maildir

  Look for the user's mail in an alternative location defined by `maildir/<login>`. The default location for mail is `/var/mail/<login>`. Note, if the supplied `maildir` is prefixed by a '~', the directory is interpreted as indicating a file in the user's home directory.

empty

  Also print message if user has no mail.

hash=count

  Mail directory hash depth. For example, a hashcount of 2 would make the mail file be `/var/spool/mail/u/s/user`.

noenv

  Do not set the MAIL environment variable.

nopen

  Don't print any mail information on login. This flag is useful to get the MAIL environment variable set, but to not display any information about it.

quiet

  Only report when there is new mail.

standard

  Old style "You have..." format which doesn't show the mail spool being used. This also implies "empty".

### 6.19.3. MODULE TYPES PROVIDED

The `session` and `auth` (on establishment and deletion of credentials) module types are provided.

### 6.19.4. RETURN VALUES

PAM_BUF_ERR

  Memory buffer error.

PAM_SERVICE_ERR

  Badly formed arguments.

PAM_SUCCESS

  Success.

PAM_USER_UNKNOWN

  User not known.

### 6.19.5. EXAMPLES

Add the following line to `/etc/pam.d/login` to indicate that the user has new mail when they login to the system.

    session  optional  pam_mail.so standard

### 6.19.6. AUTHOR

pam_mail was written by Andrew G. Morgan <morgan@kernel.org>.

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