grepdb will search for aliases in the reg, usr, list and misc databases.

Example of a system-wide alias search:

grepdb meetsexpectations

produces the following output:

meetsexpectations:tc4x:usr

Translation: the alias "meetsexpectations" is assigned to the computing ID "tc4x" and was found in the usr alias database.

Example of registered user alias search:

grepdb tc4x

produces all of the records found in any database that matches the searchstring:

cichon:tc4x:usr
tc4x:tc4x@t.mail.virginia.edu:reg
tcichon:tc4x:usr
meetsexpectations:tc4x:usr
tomc:tc4x:usr

Example of list search:

grepdb tc-testlist

produces the list.mail records associated with this list name:

tc-testlist-admin:tc-testlist-admin@list.mail.virginia.edu:list
tc-testlist-bounces:tc-testlist-bounces@list.mail.virginia.edu:list
tc-testlist-confirm:tc-testlist-confirm@list.mail.virginia.edu:list
tc-testlist-join:tc-testlist-join@list.mail.virginia.edu:list
tc-testlist-leave:tc-testlist-leave@list.mail.virginia.edu:list
tc-testlist-owner:tc-testlist-owner@list.mail.virginia.edu:list
tc-testlist-request:tc-testlist-request@list.mail.virginia.edu:list
tc-testlist-subscribe:tc-testlist-subscribe@list.mail.virginia.edu:list
tc-testlist-unsubscribe:tc-testlist-unsubscribe@list.mail.virginia.edu:list
tc-testlist:tc-testlist@list.mail.virginia.edu:list

uvadb allows you to add, delete and change information in the virginia.edu name space databases. The uvadb command allows you to create, delete and modify registered addresses and email aliases. A registered address has the form of

userid@virginia.edu

that redirects to the full local address of the accounts where the person reads email. For example:

userid@cms.mail.virginia.edu

To learn lots of interesting tidbits about this utility, type uvadb -h at the command prompt...otherwise, the basic commands are:

==> To add an alias <==

uvadb -a alias -e userid

To add an alias, you need to use the "-a" and "-e" options so that you can define the alias and the registered address to which it should point. You may optionally use the "-t" option to insure placement in the appropriate database. If you do not use a "-t" option, uvadb will use the information specified with the "-a" option to determine to which database to add the address. If the "alias" part of the "-a alias" command is not a userid (example: mst3k), then the program will add the alias to the usr or alias database. If the "alias" part of the "-a alias" command is in the form of a userid (example: mst3k), then the command will add the alias to the reg or registration database (which creates an email registration). If you override the default by using the "-t" option, the program will query you if it thinks you are doing something that might be wrong, but gives you a prompt to override its objection.

With "-n" the alias is marked as departmental alias, otherwise, it is marked as a personal alias.

we want to avoid creating aliases with the -n option when the alias is being assigned to an individual's userid and instead have single-person lists ... so that reassignment can be handled by the owner

that said, if the alias is being assigned to a generic account (itc-avs), then using the "-t misc" option is appropriate

==> To delete an alias <==

uvadb -d -a alias

In addition, you can use the "-r" and "-c" options to help define how the the alias you are deleting will get recorded in the oldalias database (assuming it will end up there). Specifically,

With "-r" the alias is marked as having been requested to be deleted by the user himself, otherwise, its marked as a having been deleted because the user has left.

With "-c" you can add a individualized comment about this deletion.

==> To override an alias block <==

uvadb -O alias

Note: as of February 2005, mkreg and mkalias are no longer supported. One must use uvadb to register addresses and create aliases.