I need to set up a distribution list. [...] I know that I can make a
large entry in /etc/aliases but is there a more common or better way of
doing this?
/etc/aliases is just fine. I don't hesitate to put alias lists in there
with, say, twenty users. Note that you can also define an alias with
somelist :include:/file/name
mechanism to delegate the address list (and their maintainance) to
somewhere else. (In fact, most mailing list software is using exactly
this mechanism.)
As long as the distribution list is for a very small, tightly knit group,
and senders care about reaching *all* other member, the users will probably
prefer to receive bounce messages directly. (An internal distribution
list for some project team, or the list for my six fellow road byciclists
work good this way.)
Whenever senders don't really care about who exactly is on the list
("***@...") then bounces should go to whoever is maintaining the
/etc/alias entry or the :included: address list. In that case, simply
add a corresponding "owner-" alias"
owner-somelist: postmaster
This will cause the envelope-sender to be changes, and thusly the address
bounces will go to. This also is a MUST as soon as you add external
addresses to the list. (Otherwise, you'll probably violat a sender's
SPF restrictions.)
Martin Neitzel