GNU Info

(efaq)Rmail writes to /usr/spool/mail

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Why does Rmail need to write to `/usr/spool/mail'?
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   This is the behavior of the `movemail' program which Rmail uses.
This indicates that `movemail' is configured to use lock files.

   RMS writes:

     Certain systems require lock files to interlock access to mail
     files.  On these systems, `movemail' must write lock files, or you
     risk losing mail.  You simply must arrange to let `movemail' write
     them.

     Other systems use the `flock' system call to interlock access.  On
     these systems, you should configure `movemail' to use `flock'.