Where Does OpenSMTPD Store Config and Queues?
OpenSMTPD smtpd.conf, spool and logs on Linux and macOS for lightweight mail relays.
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OpenSMTPD reads one main config file and spools transient mail under /var/spool/smtpd. Logs go through syslog on most systems.
Aliases and TLS certs sit beside config. Queues drain fast on healthy relays, so backup focuses on config plus tables. Paths shift slightly between BSD, Linux and Homebrew.
Where OpenSMTPD stores this, by platform
/etc/smtpd.conf
Main config (listeners, actions, tables). Spool is /var/spool/smtpd/. Some distros use /etc/mail/smtpd.conf instead, so check both. Restart smtpd after edits.
/usr/local/etc/smtpd.conf
Homebrew portable path. Spool and logs follow the same /var/spool/smtpd layout when the daemon runs. Exact prefix may vary (ARM uses /opt/homebrew/etc/).
Frequently asked questions
Where is smtpd.conf?
At /etc/smtpd.conf on most Linux installs, sometimes /etc/mail/smtpd.conf. Homebrew Macs use the Cellar prefix etc path above. Run smtpd -n to validate before reloading.
Where is the OpenSMTPD queue?
Under /var/spool/smtpd/ in incoming, deferred and corrupt subfolders. Healthy queues stay near empty. Copy config and tables for migration, not transient queue files.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.