Services (Exim, Dovecot, LFD) start automatically after DirectAdmin update even when disabled

[Can]

Hello,

I’m running DirectAdmin on AlmaLinux with LiteSpeed and Imunify360.
I have stopped and disabled Exim, Dovecot, and LFD, since I use external mail (Namecheap):

systemctl stop exim dovecot lfd
systemctl disable exim dovecot lfd

I also edited the file:
/usr/local/directadmin/data/admin/services.status
and set the following values:

exim=OFF
dovecot=OFF
lfd=OFF

However, after every DirectAdmin update, Exim and Dovecot become active again and start running automatically —
even though they are disabled in both systemd and `services.status`.
Only LFD stays stopped as expected.

It seems that during updates, the DirectAdmin update script or service monitor automatically re-enables these services.

Is there any way to prevent Exim and Dovecot from being restarted or re-enabled after a DirectAdmin update?

Thank you,
Can

 

[Active8]

G

Thread 'Unable to disable services'

Aug 26, 2020

Hello,

First time directadmin user here.

I don't need the following services:
named
exim
dovecot
da-popb4smtp

But I cannot find any way to permanently turn them off! after reboot they come back online.
I am only using the server for php/mysql.

Tried using https://help.directadmin.com/item.php?id=25
But doesn't work! cannot find this file on CENTOS 8 Edit /etc/init.d/named

Thank you.

• geek0000
• Replies: 11
• Forum: Admin-Level Difficulties

 

[Ohm J]

disable at custombuild option too. Otherwise when available update, it's will restart/start again.

 

[Can]

disable at custombuild option too. Otherwise when available update, it's will restart/start again.

The issue was caused by CustomBuild automatically re-enabling mail services after updates.

To fix it, I only changed the CustomBuild options — no manual systemctl commands were needed.

I went to:
Admin → CustomBuild → Edit Options

Then I set the following options to “No”:

• exim
• eximconf
• clamav_exim
• dovecot
• dovecot_conf
• csf

After saving, the services no longer start or get reinstalled after updates.
Problem solved.

Thank you.