"Mailbox attribute iteration failed": error running doveadm sync
I'm running doveadm sync to sync a remote mailbox over ssh (the remote server is running 2.3.13) with a local mailbox (the local server is running 2.4.1).
I get the following errors:
Error: brain M: Exporting mailbox INBOX failed: Mailbox attribute iteration failed: Internal error occurred. Refer to server log for more information. [2025-11-15 19:25:32] Error: cmd sync: Remote command returned error 75: ssh root@mailstore002.mayfirst.org doveadm dsync-server -u jamie-test dsync-server
Does anyone have suggestions on how to fix? Also, any tips on how to increase logging verbosity would be great - I'm not getting anything in the logs. Here is the full transcript of the errors.
Thanks for any suggestions! jamie
Debug: Loading modules from directory: /usr/lib/dovecot/modules/doveadm Debug: Skipping module doveadm_acl_plugin, because dlopen() failed: /usr/lib/dovecot/modules/doveadm/lib10_doveadm_acl_plugin.so: undefined symbol: acl_user_module (this is usually intentional, so just ignore this message) Debug: Skipping module doveadm_quota_plugin, because dlopen() failed: /usr/lib/dovecot/modules/doveadm/lib10_doveadm_quota_plugin.so: undefined symbol: quota_user_module (this is usually intentional, so just ignore this message) Debug: Module loaded: /usr/lib/dovecot/modules/doveadm/lib10_doveadm_sieve_plugin.so Debug: Skipping module doveadm_fts_plugin, because dlopen() failed: /usr/lib/dovecot/modules/doveadm/lib20_doveadm_fts_plugin.so: undefined symbol: fts_backend_rescan (this is usually intentional, so just ignore this message) Debug: Skipping module doveadm_fts_flatcurve_plugin, because dlopen() failed: /usr/lib/dovecot/modules/doveadm/libdoveadm_fts_flatcurve_plugin.so: undefined symbol: fts_flatcurve_user_module (this is usually intentional, so just ignore this message) Debug: Skipping module doveadm_mail_crypt_plugin, because dlopen() failed: /usr/lib/dovecot/modules/doveadm/libdoveadm_mail_crypt_plugin.so: undefined symbol: crypt_acl_setting_parser_info (this is usually intentional, so just ignore this message) Nov 15 19:28:47 Debug: Loading modules from directory: /usr/lib/dovecot/modules/doveadm Nov 15 19:28:47 Debug: Skipping module doveadm_acl_plugin, because dlopen() failed: /usr/lib/dovecot/modules/doveadm/lib10_doveadm_acl_plugin.so: undefined symbol: acl_user_module (this is usually intentional, so just ignore this message) Nov 15 19:28:47 Debug: Skipping module doveadm_quota_plugin, because dlopen() failed: /usr/lib/dovecot/modules/doveadm/lib10_doveadm_quota_plugin.so: undefined symbol: quota_user_module (this is usually intentional, so just ignore this message) Nov 15 19:28:47 Debug: Skipping module doveadm_fts_plugin, because dlopen() failed: /usr/lib/dovecot/modules/doveadm/lib20_doveadm_fts_plugin.so: undefined symbol: fts_backend_rescan (this is usually intentional, so just ignore this message) Nov 15 19:28:47 Debug: Skipping module doveadm_fts_flatcurve_plugin, because dlopen() failed: /usr/lib/dovecot/modules/doveadm/libdoveadm_fts_flatcurve_plugin.so: undefined symbol: fts_flatcurve_user_module (this is usually intentional, so just ignore this message) Nov 15 19:28:47 Debug: Skipping module doveadm_mail_crypt_plugin, because dlopen() failed: /usr/lib/dovecot/modules/doveadm/libdoveadm_mail_crypt_plugin.so: undefined symbol: crypt_acl_setting_parser_info (this is usually intentional, so just ignore this message) Nov 15 19:28:47 doveadm(jamie-test)<46454><>: Debug: auth-master: userdb lookup(jamie-test): Started userdb lookup Nov 15 19:28:47 doveadm(jamie-test)<46454><>: Debug: auth-master: conn unix:/run/dovecot/auth-userdb: Connecting Nov 15 19:28:47 doveadm(jamie-test)<46454><>: Debug: auth-master: conn unix:/run/dovecot/auth-userdb (pid=43923,uid=0): Client connected (fd=9) Nov 15 19:28:47 doveadm(jamie-test)<46454><>: Debug: auth-master: conn unix:/run/dovecot/auth-userdb (pid=43923,uid=0): auth input: jamie-test system_groups_user=jamie-test uid=1002 home=/home/users/jamie-test gid=100 Nov 15 19:28:47 doveadm(jamie-test)<46454><>: Debug: auth-master: userdb lookup(jamie-test): auth USER input: jamie-test system_groups_user=jamie-test uid=1002 home=/home/users/jamie-test gid=100 Nov 15 19:28:47 doveadm(jamie-test)<46454><>: Debug: auth-master: userdb lookup(jamie-test): Finished userdb lookup (username=jamie-test system_groups_user=jamie-test uid=1002 home=/home/users/jamie-test gid=100) Nov 15 19:28:47 doveadm(jamie-test): Debug: Effective uid=1002, gid=100, home=/home/users/jamie-test Nov 15 19:28:47 doveadm(jamie-test): Debug: open(/proc/self/io) failed: Permission denied (euid=1002(jamie-test) egid=100(users) missing +r perm: /proc/self/io) Nov 15 19:28:47 doveadm(jamie-test): Debug: Namespace inbox: type=private, prefix=INBOX., sep=., inbox=yes, hidden=no, list=yes, subscriptions=yes Nov 15 19:28:47 doveadm(jamie-test): Debug: maildir++: root=/home/users/jamie-test/Maildir, index=, indexpvt=, control=, inbox=/home/users/jamie-test/Maildir, alt= Nov 15 19:28:47 doveadm(jamie-test): Debug: Namespace : type=private, prefix=, sep=, inbox=no, hidden=yes, list=no, subscriptions=no Nov 15 19:28:47 doveadm(jamie-test): Debug: none: root=/home/users/jamie-test/Maildir, index=, indexpvt=, control=, inbox=/home/users/jamie-test/Maildir, alt= Nov 15 19:28:47 doveadm(jamie-test): Debug: brain M: Namespace inbox has path /home/users/jamie-test/Maildir Nov 15 19:28:47 doveadm(jamie-test): Debug: Mailbox INBOX: Mailbox opened Nov 15 19:28:47 doveadm(jamie-test): Debug: Mailbox INBOX: Mailbox opened Nov 15 19:28:47 doveadm(jamie-test): Debug: Namespace inbox: Using permissions from /home/users/jamie-test/Maildir: mode=0700 gid=default Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Local mailbox tree: INBOX guid=c06cb11ffc3b2e667cee07009334e653 uid_validity=1669914524 uid_next=1 subs=no last_change=0 last_subs=0 Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Local mailbox tree: INBOX.Spam guid=00000000000000000000000000000000 uid_validity=0 uid_next=0 subs=yes last_change=0 last_subs=1763215050 Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Local mailbox tree: INBOX.Sent guid=00000000000000000000000000000000 uid_validity=0 uid_next=0 subs=yes last_change=0 last_subs=1763215050 Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Local mailbox tree: INBOX.Archive guid=e42d3631a91ba85ef96f00000df6ea83 uid_validity=1586118770 uid_next=1 subs=yes last_change=0 last_subs=1763215050 Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Local mailbox tree: INBOX.Archives guid=693e80288e6e8b5e153300000df6ea83 uid_validity=1586118767 uid_next=1 subs=no last_change=0 last_subs=0 Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Local mailbox tree: INBOX.Drafts guid=60042a30bf3e5e64d44f15001890bc3b uid_validity=1669914525 uid_next=1 subs=yes last_change=0 last_subs=1763215050 Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Local mailbox tree: INBOX.Junk guid=387dc412e591b0683b3b34009334e653 uid_validity=1714306055 uid_next=1 subs=yes last_change=0 last_subs=1763215050 Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Local mailbox tree: INBOX.Keep Forever guid=99b2cc1be0826d61f07e00000df6ea83 uid_validity=1586118773 uid_next=1 subs=yes last_change=0 last_subs=1763215050 Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Local mailbox tree: INBOX.Trash guid=a8494334bf3e5e64d44f15001890bc3b uid_validity=1669914528 uid_next=1 subs=yes last_change=0 last_subs=1763215050 Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Remote mailbox tree: INBOX guid=c06cb11ffc3b2e667cee07009334e653 uid_validity=1669914524 uid_next=561 subs=no last_change=0 last_subs=0 Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Remote mailbox tree: INBOX.Spam guid=00000000000000000000000000000000 uid_validity=0 uid_next=0 subs=yes last_change=0 last_subs=1683898047 Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Remote mailbox tree: INBOX.Sent guid=00000000000000000000000000000000 uid_validity=0 uid_next=0 subs=yes last_change=0 last_subs=1683898047 Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Remote mailbox tree: INBOX.Drafts guid=60042a30bf3e5e64d44f15001890bc3b uid_validity=1669914525 uid_next=1 subs=yes last_change=0 last_subs=1683898047 Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Remote mailbox tree: INBOX.Trash guid=a8494334bf3e5e64d44f15001890bc3b uid_validity=1669914528 uid_next=1 subs=yes last_change=0 last_subs=1683898047 Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Remote mailbox tree: INBOX.Archive guid=e42d3631a91ba85ef96f00000df6ea83 uid_validity=1586118770 uid_next=1 subs=yes last_change=0 last_subs=1763213508 Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Remote mailbox tree: INBOX.Archives guid=693e80288e6e8b5e153300000df6ea83 uid_validity=1586118767 uid_next=1 subs=no last_change=0 last_subs=0 Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Remote mailbox tree: INBOX.Junk guid=387dc412e591b0683b3b34009334e653 uid_validity=1714306055 uid_next=1 subs=yes last_change=0 last_subs=1763213508 Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Remote mailbox tree: INBOX.Keep Forever guid=99b2cc1be0826d61f07e00000df6ea83 uid_validity=1586118773 uid_next=1 subs=yes last_change=0 last_subs=1763213508 Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Remote mailbox tree deletion: guid=dcb7483819278b5e7a5a00000df6ea83 type=mailbox timestamp=1763214618 name= local update=not found Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Remote mailbox tree deletion: guid=e05fa533bf3e5e64d44f15001890bc3b type=mailbox timestamp=1763214618 name= local update=not found Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Remote mailbox tree deletion: guid=c30776db7d3c7eaa71cdf47ee8a11926 type=dir timestamp=1763214618 name=INBOX.Sent local update=marked as deleted Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Remote mailbox tree deletion: guid=edfa9436de94e7fff67418728a00db1d type=dir timestamp=1763214618 name=INBOX.Spam local update=marked as deleted Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Mailbox INBOX: local=c06cb11ffc3b2e667cee07009334e653/0/1, remote=c06cb11ffc3b2e667cee07009334e653/0/1: Mailboxes are equal Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Mailbox INBOX.Archive: local=e42d3631a91ba85ef96f00000df6ea83/0/1, remote=e42d3631a91ba85ef96f00000df6ea83/0/1: Mailboxes are equal Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Mailbox INBOX.Archives: local=693e80288e6e8b5e153300000df6ea83/0/1, remote=693e80288e6e8b5e153300000df6ea83/0/1: Mailboxes are equal Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Mailbox INBOX.Drafts: local=60042a30bf3e5e64d44f15001890bc3b/0/1, remote=60042a30bf3e5e64d44f15001890bc3b/0/1: Mailboxes are equal Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Mailbox INBOX.Junk: local=387dc412e591b0683b3b34009334e653/0/1, remote=387dc412e591b0683b3b34009334e653/0/1: Mailboxes are equal Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Mailbox INBOX.Keep Forever: local=99b2cc1be0826d61f07e00000df6ea83/0/1, remote=99b2cc1be0826d61f07e00000df6ea83/0/1: Mailboxes are equal Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Mailbox INBOX.Sent: local=00000000000000000000000000000000/0/0, remote=00000000000000000000000000000000/0/2: Directory rename branch not found Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Mailbox INBOX.Spam: local=00000000000000000000000000000000/0/0, remote=00000000000000000000000000000000/0/2: Directory rename branch not found Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Mailbox INBOX.Trash: local=a8494334bf3e5e64d44f15001890bc3b/0/1, remote=a8494334bf3e5e64d44f15001890bc3b/0/1: Mailboxes are equal Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: Mailbox INBOX: Mailbox opened Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Syncing mailbox c06cb11ffc3b2e667cee07009334e653: UIDNEXT changed: 1 -> 561 Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: doveadm-sieve: Iterating Sieve mailbox attributes Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: sieve: Pigeonhole version 2.4.1-4 (0a86619f) initializing Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: sieve: storage personal: file: Storage path '/home/users/%u/.sieve' not found Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: sieve: storage personal: file: Failed to normalize active script directory (path=/home/users/%u): Part of the path does not exist (yet) Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: sieve: storage personal: file: Using active Sieve script path: /home/users/%u/.dovecot.sieve Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: sieve: storage personal: file: Using script storage path: /home/users/%u/.sieve Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: sieve: storage personal: file: Using permissions from defaults: mode=0700 gid=-1 Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Error: brain M: Exporting mailbox INBOX failed: Mailbox attribute iteration failed: Internal error occurred. Refer to server log for more information. [2025-11-15 19:28:47] Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: brain M: Import mailbox INBOX: Saved UIDs: Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Error: cmd sync: Remote command returned error 75: ssh root@mailstore002.mayfirst.org doveadm dsync-server -u jamie-test dsync-server Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: User session is finished Nov 15 19:28:47 dsync-local(jamie-test)<esqfB2/UGGl2tQAAVqcyLg>: Debug: auth-master: conn unix:/run/dovecot/auth-userdb (pid=43923,uid=0): Disconnected: Connection closed (fd=9)
I just tried upgrading the remote server to be the same version as the local server (now both running 2.4.1+dfsg1-6+deb13u2) and I'm getting the same error. If anyone has suggestions on how to increase the verbosity of the right log setting or other tips to get more information, it would be greatly appreciated.
The command I'm running:
'doveadm' 'sync' '-u' 'user' 'ssh' 'root@remote.server.address' doveadm dsync-server -u 'user'
Error:
dsync-local(user)<6mXOGRh5JmmoDQMAVqcyLg>: Error: brain M: Exporting mailbox INBOX failed: Mailbox attribute iteration failed: Internal error occurred. Refer to server log for more information. [2025-11-26 03:50:49] dsync-remote(user)<xpp5HRl5JmkKDgAAkzTmUw>: Error: brain S: Exporting mailbox INBOX failed: Mailbox attribute iteration failed: Internal error occurred. Refer to server log for more information. [2025-11-26 03:50:49]
On 11/25/25 10:52 PM, Jamie via dovecot wrote:
I just tried upgrading the remote server to be the same version as the local server (now both running 2.4.1+dfsg1-6+deb13u2) and I'm getting the same error. If anyone has suggestions on how to increase the verbosity of the right log setting or other tips to get more information, it would be greatly appreciated.
The command I'm running:
'doveadm' 'sync' '-u' 'user' 'ssh' 'root@remote.server.address' doveadm dsync-server -u 'user'
Error:
dsync-local(user)<6mXOGRh5JmmoDQMAVqcyLg>: Error: brain M: Exporting mailbox INBOX failed: Mailbox attribute iteration failed: Internal error occurred. Refer to server log for more information. [2025-11-26 03:50:49] dsync-remote(user)<xpp5HRl5JmkKDgAAkzTmUw>: Error: brain S: Exporting mailbox INBOX failed: Mailbox attribute iteration failed: Internal error occurred. Refer to server log for more information. [2025-11-26 03:50:49]
Answering my own question... this post was helpful in suggesting sieve as a possible culprit: https://dovecot.org/mailman3/archives/list/dovecot@dovecot.org/thread/XGSAAC... I finally resolve the problem with the change below. It has nothing to do with the difference in dovecot version. jamie --- /tmp/99-mfpl-mailstore.conf.bak 2025-11-28 21:19:58.813929421 +0000 +++ 99-mfpl-mailstore.conf 2025-11-28 22:17:26.084698287 +0000 @@ -37,12 +37,12 @@ driver = file # The path to the user's main active script. If ManageSieve is used, # this the location of the symbolic link controlled by ManageSieve. - active_path = /home/users/%u/.dovecot.sieve + active_path = ~/.dovecot.sieve # The include extension fetches the :personal scripts from this # directory. When ManageSieve is used, this is also where scripts # are uploaded. - path = /home/users/%u/.sieve + path = ~/.sieve } sieve_script after {
participants (2)
-
Jamie McClelland
-
jamie@mayfirst.org