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LFCS · Question #415

Which of the following parameters should be set in main.cf to enable TLS in Postfix?

The correct answer is A. smtpd_tls_cert_file, smtpd_tls_key_file, smtpd_tls_CAfile, smtpd_use_tls. To enable TLS for the Postfix SMTP server, the main.cf file must specify the certificate file, private key file, CA certificate file, and explicitly enable TLS.

Submitted by asante_acc· Apr 18, 2026Service Configuration

Question

Which of the following parameters should be set in main.cf to enable TLS in Postfix?

Options

  • Asmtpd_tls_cert_file, smtpd_tls_key_file, smtpd_tls_CAfile, smtpd_use_tls
  • Bsmtpd_tls_key_file, smtpd_tls_CAfile, smtpd_use_tls, smtpd_tls_pem_file
  • Csmtpd_tls_CAfile, smtpd_use_tls, smtpd_tls_pem_file, smtpd_tls_cert_file
  • Dsmtpd_use_tls, smtpd_tls_pem_file, smtpd_tls_cert_file, smtpd_tls_key_file

How the community answered

(27 responses)
  • A
    85% (23)
  • B
    4% (1)
  • C
    7% (2)
  • D
    4% (1)

Why each option

To enable TLS for the Postfix SMTP server, the `main.cf` file must specify the certificate file, private key file, CA certificate file, and explicitly enable TLS.

Asmtpd_tls_cert_file, smtpd_tls_key_file, smtpd_tls_CAfile, smtpd_use_tlsCorrect

The `smtpd_tls_cert_file` parameter specifies the path to the server certificate, `smtpd_tls_key_file` specifies the path to the private key, `smtpd_tls_CAfile` specifies the path to the file containing CA certificates to verify client certificates, and `smtpd_use_tls` (or `smtpd_tls_security_level`) must be set to enable TLS.

Bsmtpd_tls_key_file, smtpd_tls_CAfile, smtpd_use_tls, smtpd_tls_pem_file

`smtpd_tls_pem_file` is not a standard Postfix parameter for a separate certificate and key; typically, a PEM file would contain both, but distinct `_cert_file` and `_key_file` parameters are used for separate files.

Csmtpd_tls_CAfile, smtpd_use_tls, smtpd_tls_pem_file, smtpd_tls_cert_file

Similar to B, `smtpd_tls_pem_file` is not typically used alongside `smtpd_tls_cert_file` as separate parameters for different purposes in this context.

Dsmtpd_use_tls, smtpd_tls_pem_file, smtpd_tls_cert_file, smtpd_tls_key_file

This option includes `smtpd_tls_pem_file`, which is not the correct parameter when `smtpd_tls_cert_file` and `smtpd_tls_key_file` are used for separate certificate and key files.

Concept tested: Postfix TLS configuration parameters

Source: http://www.postfix.org/postconf.5.html

Topics

#Postfix#TLS#Email Server#Configuration

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