# man > discard(8)

---
type: CommandReference
command: discard
mode: man
section: "8"
source: man-pages
---

## Quick Reference
- `discard` — discards all mail, logging the next-hop destination as the reason.
- `discard: "detail-code reason"` — discards and logs an RFC 3463 enhanced status code.

## Name
discard - Postfix discard mail delivery agent

## Synopsis
`discard` [generic Postfix daemon options]

## Options
This command has no specific options. It accepts generic Postfix daemon options as documented in [master(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/master/5/markdown).

## Description
The `discard` delivery agent processes delivery requests from the queue manager. It pretends to deliver all recipients, logs the "next-hop" destination as the reason for discarding the mail, updates the queue file, and marks recipients as finished or requests retry later. Delivery status reports are sent to [trace(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/trace/8/markdown) as appropriate.

The reason may be prefixed with an RFC 3463-compatible detail code.

## Security
The `discard` mailer is not security-sensitive. It does not talk to the network and can be run chrooted at fixed low privilege.

## Configuration Parameters
Changes to `main.cf` are picked up automatically. Use `postfix reload` to speed up a change.

Key parameters:
- `config_directory` — default location of main.cf and master.cf.
- `daemon_timeout` (18000s) — time limit for a daemon to handle a request before watchdog termination.
- `delay_logging_resolution_limit` (2) — max digits after decimal point in delay logging.
- `double_bounce_sender` (double-bounce) — sender address for postmaster notifications.
- `ipc_timeout` (3600s) — time limit for internal communication.
- `max_idle` (100s) — max idle time before a daemon exits voluntarily.
- `max_use` (100) — max incoming connections before a daemon exits.
- `process_id` (read-only) — process ID.
- `process_name` (read-only) — process name.
- `queue_directory` — top-level queue directory.
- `syslog_facility` (mail) — syslog facility.
- `syslog_name` — prefix prepended to process name in syslog records.
- `service_name` (read-only, Postfix ≥ 3.3) — master.cf service name.

See [postconf(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/postconf/5/markdown) for full details.

## See Also
- [qmgr(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/qmgr/8/markdown) — queue manager
- [bounce(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/bounce/8/markdown) — delivery status reports
- [error(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/error/8/markdown) — Postfix error delivery agent
- [postconf(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/postconf/5/markdown) — configuration parameters
- [master(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/master/5/markdown) — generic daemon options
- [master(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/master/8/markdown) — process manager
- [postlogd(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/postlogd/8/markdown) — Postfix logging
- [syslogd(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/syslogd/8/markdown) — system logging