Mailing lists

cPanel makes it easy to create mailing lists with its Mailing Lists tool; every list is based on the Mailman software.

A list distributes the messages sent to its address to its members. Before using it, decide who can subscribe, who can post and whether messages need approval. It is not the same as a shared mailbox and does not synchronise what each member reads or replies to.

For more information see the cPanel documentation on managing Mailman lists.

Export the addresses

The cPanel interface lets you manage members, but not every version offers a direct export to a file. In that case the list can be obtained from the server with the Mailman tool.

On shared hosting plans you will need to contact us with the name of the list to export; if you have your own servers, you can export the addresses as follows:

/usr/local/cpanel/3rdparty/mailman/bin/list_members equipo_ejemplo.com > miembros-lista.txt

The argument must be the full internal identifier Mailman shows, usually made up of the list name, an underscore and the domain, such as equipo_ejemplo.com; giving just equipo is not enough. Use list_members to list the members and redirect the output to a text file.

If you add -f before the list identifier you will get full names wherever they are stored. The output format will be:

Example Name <person@example.com>

Set up and test a list

In cPanel > Mailing Lists, create the list with its name, domain and admin password. Check whether it will be public or private and go to Manage to configure members, moderation and access to the message archive.

Start with test members of your own. Check who receives a message, which address a reply goes to and whether messages from unauthorised people are held. Do not turn on open subscriptions if the list is only meant for an internal team.

On shared hosting, exporting by command is a job for the server administrator: ask support for the list. The exported file contains members' data; store it somewhere private. Exporting the addresses does not on its own keep messages, passwords or moderation settings.