Why do cronjobs for the MySQL user send email to root?

Solution Verified - Updated -

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.7
  • MySQL database

Issue

  • cronjobs for the user "mysql" deliver emails to "root"
  • setting "MAILTO=mysql@localhost.localdomain" in the crontab for the "mysql" user are not effective, mail is delivered to "root" never the less

Resolution

  1. edit /etc/aliases and comment out "mysql: root" with a #:
    #mysql: root
    
  2. activate the updated aliases:
    # /usr/bin/newaliases
    

Root Cause

By default, "mysql" is an alias for "root". Any email directed to "mysql@localhost.localdomain" will be forwarded to "root".

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