Do I need root access to modify /etc/valiases/domain?

It depends on who that file is owned by, as well as the permissions. If the file is owned by the user or their group, and not root.root, than you should hopefully have write access, but when in doubt, check and make sure. It's possible to allow the user access to read, write to their own domain/account's file and not worry about any problems because of it, so you can give that a try if you want. Otherwise, unless they do, which you'll have to check and see to be sure, you'd probably need to be root, yes. (I don't think you need to be though, just to be the user in question).

oh no, i found out that file doesn;'t even exist on the server!
what do i do?

well i figured ot the server uses SENDMAIL, not EXIM (i was just guessing)
/etc/aliases is# Aliases file for sendmail
# System Aliases
# These must be routed to /dev/null or bounce messages accumulate forever.
ftp: /dev/null
postmaster: /dev/null
nobody: /dev/nullPerlDesk said If you are using SENDMAIL you must edit your
/etc/aliases file, and add a line similar to the
following:

support: "|/path/to/perldesk/email.pl"Well i'm on shared hosted and I don't want support@any domain on the fire.he.net server.com to go to my PerlDesk install
What should i do

I'm confused. What are you wanting/needing/trying to do? The /etc/valiases/domainname.ext is an Exim file path, I believe (or perhaps just exclusive to Cpanel, I'm not sure which). What are you looking for that for? What are you trying/wanting to do? Are you using a Cpanel server? If so, it's using Exim, I'm sure. If not, why were you looking for that file and wanted to know what user could modify it? I am seriously confused here. Finally, in regards to redirecting all incoming email that goes to the postmaster address to /dev/null, I'm not sure I'd support that idea. The RFC's state you must have a postmaster contact for email abuse reports. Anyway, perhaps I can help when I log back on later today, if you can explain what you're trying to do and why (and how).

Originally posted by Tim_Greer
I'm confused. What are you wanting/needing/trying to do? The /etc/valiases/domainname.ext is an Exim file path, I believe (or perhaps just exclusive to Cpanel, I'm not sure which). What are you looking for that for? What are you trying/wanting to do? Are you using a Cpanel server? If so, it's using Exim, I'm sure. If not, why were you looking for that file and wanted to know what user could modify it? I am seriously confused here. Finally, in regards to redirecting all incoming email that goes to the postmaster address to /dev/null, I'm not sure I'd support that idea. The RFC's state you must have a postmaster contact for email abuse reports. Anyway, perhaps I can help when I log back on later today, if you can explain what you're trying to do and why (and how).
1. no cpanel
2. the stuff in /etc/aliases was set by my host (he.net), not me
3. i wanna set up perldesk

Okay, I got what you mean now, sorry for the confusion on my part. Did you try:

support@yourdomain.com: "|/path/to/perldesk/email.pl"

I've never set up perldesk, so I'm not familiar with the steps or requirements. Of course this above question as to if you tried that, has no bearing on that fact, and will either work or not.