Exim Syntax Errors: Causes and Fixes

Missing or Misplaced Colons

Exim directives often require a colon (:) to separate key-value pairs:

acl_check_data:

Ensure every directive has the correct syntax.

Indentation Issues

Some sections, especially ACLs, require proper indentation:

accept:

  condition = ${if eq{$sender_address}{valid@example.com}{yes}{no}}

Check for consistent spaces or tabs.

Misconfigured Variables

Ensure that all variables (e.g., $domain, $sender_address) are defined correctly. For example:

• If using ${if}, confirm the conditional logic is valid.

ACL Errors

Errors in the ACL section are common. Ensure each block (e.g., accept, deny) is well-formed:

acl_check_rcpt:

  deny:

    condition = ${if eq{$sender_address}{blacklist@example.com}{yes}{no}}

  accept:

Validate Updates

After updating Exim, ensure compatibility:

1. Verify the Exim version:

exim -bV

2. Check if the exim.conf file needs adjustments for the new version.