What are aliases and filters?

Discussion in 'Site & Server Administration' started by fryman, Jan 10, 2005.

  1. #1
    At my cpanel, on the backup section, there is an option to do a backup of "filters" and "alises".

    What are these?

    :confused:
     
    fryman, Jan 10, 2005 IP
  2. flawebworks

    flawebworks Tech Services

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    #2
    If you've setup email aliases or forwards and filters; this utility will back them up so that you don't have to type them all in again.
     
    flawebworks, Jan 10, 2005 IP
  3. fryman

    fryman Kiss my rep

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    #3
    So, this is just related to email stuff, and has nothing to do with my content, right?
     
    fryman, Jan 10, 2005 IP
  4. flawebworks

    flawebworks Tech Services

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    #4
    You are correct. It's handy for those that have over 20 email aliases....
     
    flawebworks, Jan 10, 2005 IP
  5. fryman

    fryman Kiss my rep

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    #5
    uuhh.... could you tell me what an email alias is?

    Geez... I feel like if I was 5 years old now :(

    An example would be helpful
     
    fryman, Jan 10, 2005 IP
  6. vagrant

    vagrant Peon

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    #6
    email alias is same as a redirect , ie sales @ domain can be set to goto boss @ domain etc
     
    vagrant, Jan 11, 2005 IP
  7. celt

    celt Peon

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    #7
    Fryman, "filters" and "aliases" on the backup section of cpanel are not related to email at all. Instead, they refer to subdomains, although their redirection works exactly the same as with email aliases.

    You can have subdomain . mydomain . com which is redirected to your main domain www . mydomain . com

    You can use this to allow for common typing errors. For example, at lot of people type two or four w's instead of three. Using an alias, you can redirect users entering ww . mydomain . com to the correct url www . mydomain . com

    There are other uses, of course, but I'm sure you get the picture.
     
    celt, Jan 11, 2005 IP
  8. flawebworks

    flawebworks Tech Services

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    #8
    I'm sorry; but you are incorrect. It has to do with email - the email aliases and filters setup under subdomains; but nothing to do with subdomains otherwise.

    Try downloading and opening the backup file or filter file in a text editor and you'll see..

    The filter looks like this:

    # Exim filter

    if error_message then finish endif

    if
    $header_from: contains "the spammer"
    or $header_from: contains "idiot@spammer.com"
    then
    save "/dev/null" 660
    endif

    this sends any email from the spammer and to dev/null - in other words the user never sees it; as long as they've set up the filter in cpanel.

    Fryman; an email alias forwards to another email address. IE: could forward to as long as it's setup in your cpanel, or any other control panel out there.
     
    flawebworks, Jan 11, 2005 IP
  9. celt

    celt Peon

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    #9
    I see nothing of the sort. cPanel has both files for all my subdomains, and they're all empty even though I use email forwarding...
     
    celt, Jan 11, 2005 IP
  10. flawebworks

    flawebworks Tech Services

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    #10
    Probably your version. I have the most up to date version.

    Download a backup file

    Full Backup
    Generate/Download a Full Backup

    Download today's backup file:
    Download

    Download an SQL Database Backup


    Download an Aliases Backup
    domain.com


    Download a Filters Backup
    domain.com

    Then; if I rename that .com file I downloaded to .txt; it shows me all of my aliases and filters I've set up. They match the .filters file that is below your root directory; and the alias file that is elsewhere on the server that a user cannot get to.

    My subdomain ones are empty; because technically; you don't have email for subdomains; they haven't come up with that as far as I know, though you can use . It will show up under the main domain alias file.

    {edit}

    I just tested; setup an alias for one of my subdomains and it did show in the alias file on the server, as well as the backup area. I ought to test things more often!
     
    flawebworks, Jan 11, 2005 IP