I would like to run a mailserver on my linux box (SuSE 8.2) that will connect to my ISP's pop3 servers, download the email and then serve this by IMAP to clients on my home LAN (three machines total). What are the best apps to do this with, and how easy are they to set up? There doesn't seem to be any documentation on this - possibly because it's not a common thing to want to do :-) John -- John Pettigrew Headstrong Games john@headstrong-games.co.uk Fun : Strategy : Price http://www.headstrong-games.co.uk/ Board games that won't break the bank Knossos: escape the ever-changing labyrinth before the Minotaur catches you!
John Pettigrew wrote:
I would like to run a mailserver on my linux box (SuSE 8.2) that will connect to my ISP's pop3 servers, download the email and then serve this by IMAP to clients on my home LAN (three machines total).
What are the best apps to do this with, and how easy are they to set up? There doesn't seem to be any documentation on this - possibly because it's not a common thing to want to do :-)
John sounds like a job for fetchmail!!
In a previous message, Oskar Teran wrote:
John Pettigrew wrote:
I would like to run a mailserver on my linux box (SuSE 8.2) that will connect to my ISP's pop3 servers, download the email and then serve this by IMAP to clients on my home LAN (three machines total). sounds like a job for fetchmail!!
I don't think so, at least, not by itself. AIUI, fetchmail would deliver email to each individual machine on the LAN. What I want is for one machine to download the email and store it locally, with the other machines connecting as and when via IMAP to access this central email store. This is because I have a few computers round the house and we might access the same email account from any machine (although the gateway machine would always be on). If fetchmail can do this, I don't quite see how from the man page. I need a mail server that is running on this box to receive and process IMAP requests from other machines. So, yes, fetchmail would get the email *to* the server, but what would actually *be* the IMAP server? John -- John Pettigrew Headstrong Games john@headstrong-games.co.uk Fun : Strategy : Price http://www.headstrong-games.co.uk/ Board games that won't break the bank Fields of Valour: 2 Norse clans battle on one of 3 different boards
In a previous message, Oskar Teran wrote:
John Pettigrew wrote:
I would like to run a mailserver on my linux box (SuSE 8.2) that will connect to my ISP's pop3 servers, download the email and then serve this by IMAP to clients on my home LAN (three machines total).
sounds like a job for fetchmail!!
I don't think so, at least, not by itself. AIUI, fetchmail would deliver email to each individual machine on the LAN. What I want is for one machine to download the email and store it locally, with the other machines connecting as and when via IMAP to access this central email store. This is because I have a few computers round the house and we might access the same email account from any machine (although the gateway machine would always be on).
If fetchmail can do this, I don't quite see how from the man page. I need a mail server that is running on this box to receive and process IMAP requests from other machines. So, yes, fetchmail would get the email *to* the server, but what would actually *be* the IMAP server?
John Pettigrew wrote: the server fetchmail is bringing the emails to!! it seems you may need to do some reading...you sound like you're new at this. this setup you require is very common....
John
In a previous message, Oskar Teran wrote:
the server fetchmail is bringing the emails to!! it seems you may need to do some reading...you sound like you're new at this. this setup you require is very common....
IIUC, you are saying that fetchmail can act as an IMAP server to the LAN. This is at odds with what I am reading in the man page and on the fetchmail website. For example, "Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP". From what I have read, it sounds like fetchmail can *retrieve* email using IMAP (or POP3 etc.) but *serves* it using SMTP. What I need is something that *serves* email by IMAP. I know that it could deliver email to an imap daemon - this is mentioned in the docs that I'd already read before asking the original question. What I want to know is, what's a good and easy-to-configure IMAP daemon? Dead giveaway that fetchmail isn't what I need - even in daemon mode, it is sleeping, merely awaking every so often to query servers and deliver email. What I need is a continually active service that is listening for incoming IMAP connections. Or have I completely missed the point? John -- John Pettigrew Headstrong Games john@headstrong-games.co.uk Fun : Strategy : Price http://www.headstrong-games.co.uk/ Board games that won't break the bank Fields of Valour: 2 Norse clans battle on one of 3 different boards
John Pettigrew wrote:
In a previous message, Oskar Teran wrote:
the server fetchmail is bringing the emails to!! it seems you may need to do some reading...you sound like you're new at this. this setup you require is very common....
IIUC, you are saying that fetchmail can act as an IMAP server to the LAN. no, the same server you have fetchmail running on can also run an imap server using postfix or sendmail for example. easy imap daemon : uw-imap - it comes standard with most linux distros now, but it's not meant for heavy usage (production). For a home email box, this should be sufficient.
better imap daemons : courier or cyrus - these not as easy to setup as uw-imap, but they are better for a heavy mail server (production). For home, they would work, but probably overkill. However, if you have the time, go for it!
This is at odds with what I am reading in the man page and on the fetchmail website. For example, "Fetchmail retrieves mail from remote mail servers and forwards it via SMTP". From what I have read, it sounds like fetchmail can *retrieve* email using IMAP (or POP3 etc.) but *serves* it using SMTP. What I need is something that *serves* email by IMAP.
I know that it could deliver email to an imap daemon - this is mentioned in the docs that I'd already read before asking the original question. What I want to know is, what's a good and easy-to-configure IMAP daemon?
Dead giveaway that fetchmail isn't what I need - even in daemon mode, it is sleeping, merely awaking every so often to query servers and deliver email. What I need is a continually active service that is listening for incoming IMAP connections.
Or have I completely missed the point?
John
In a previous message, Oskar Teran wrote:
IIUC, you are saying that fetchmail can act as an IMAP server to the LAN. no, the same server you have fetchmail running on can also run an imap server using postfix or sendmail for example.
Thank you - this is what I was saying!
easy imap daemon : uw-imap - it comes standard with most linux distros
but not SuSE, apparently. I'll have a hunt for it on the net.
better imap daemons : courier or cyrus - these not as easy to setup as uw-imap, but they are better for a heavy mail server (production).
I'll have a look at cyrus, too, because this is on the DVD for 8.2. Has anyone tried the "imap" package? This says that it is an IMAP and POP server... Thanks for these pointers. John -- John Pettigrew Headstrong Games john@headstrong-games.co.uk Fun : Strategy : Price http://www.headstrong-games.co.uk/ Board games that won't break the bank Knossos: escape the ever-changing labyrinth before the Minotaur catches you!
I managed to setup imapd under xinetd control with Suse 8.2 in several minutes. Process is not that complicated but you have to make a copy of users/passwd entrys to other file. Possible problem with inconsistency may occur... Anyways, this imapd setup was solved in previous posts - do a search for suse and imap on this list, even better- look at thread posted today - "POP doesn't work in SuSE 8.2" for solution Regards ,himba Dne petek 23. maja 2003 18:26 je John Pettigrew napisal(a):
In a previous message, Oskar Teran wrote:
IIUC, you are saying that fetchmail can act as an IMAP server to the LAN.
no, the same server you have fetchmail running on can also run an imap server using postfix or sendmail for example.
Thank you - this is what I was saying!
easy imap daemon : uw-imap - it comes standard with most linux distros
but not SuSE, apparently. I'll have a hunt for it on the net.
better imap daemons : courier or cyrus - these not as easy to setup as uw-imap, but they are better for a heavy mail server (production).
I'll have a look at cyrus, too, because this is on the DVD for 8.2.
Has anyone tried the "imap" package? This says that it is an IMAP and POP server...
Thanks for these pointers.
John -- John Pettigrew Headstrong Games john@headstrong-games.co.uk Fun : Strategy : Price http://www.headstrong-games.co.uk/ Board games that won't break the bank Knossos: escape the ever-changing labyrinth before the Minotaur catches you!
-- This mail was Kmailed.
On Fri, May 23, 2003 at 05:26:58PM +0100, John Pettigrew wrote: : In a previous message, Oskar Teran wrote: : : > > IIUC, you are saying that fetchmail can act as an IMAP server to the : > > LAN. : > no, the same server you have fetchmail running on can also run an imap : > server using postfix or sendmail for example. : : Thank you - this is what I was saying! : : > easy imap daemon : uw-imap - it comes standard with most linux distros : : but not SuSE, apparently. I'll have a hunt for it on the net. imap-2002 is uw-imap. It's in 8.2. --Jerry Open-Source software isn't a matter of life or death... ...It's much more important than that!
On Fri, May 23, 2003 at 11:22:04AM -0500 or thereabouts, Oskar Teran wrote:
IIUC, you are saying that fetchmail can act as an IMAP server to the LAN. no, the same server you have fetchmail running on can also run an imap server using postfix or sendmail for example. easy imap daemon : uw-imap - it comes standard with most linux distros now, but it's not meant for heavy usage (production). For a home email box, this should be sufficient.
better imap daemons : courier or cyrus - these not as easy to setup as uw-imap, but they are better for a heavy mail server (production). For home, they would work, but probably overkill. However, if you have the time, go for it!
Just wanted to add a comment that it also depends on what kind of mail you have set up.. Courier only works with Maildir type mail, as does a new IMAP server, BINC. The others work with mbox type mail. I believe Cyrus is included in the SuSE distro. -- Gary When it comes to the fork in the road ...... take it!
On Fri, May 23, 2003 at 11:34:05AM -0500, gary wrote: : On Fri, May 23, 2003 at 11:22:04AM -0500 or thereabouts, Oskar Teran wrote: : : > >IIUC, you are saying that fetchmail can act as an IMAP server to the LAN. : > no, the same server you have fetchmail running on can also run an imap : > server using postfix or sendmail for example. : > easy imap daemon : uw-imap - it comes standard with most linux distros : > now, but it's not meant for heavy usage (production). For a home email : > box, this should be sufficient. : > : > better imap daemons : courier or cyrus - these not as easy to setup as : > uw-imap, but they are better for a heavy mail server (production). For : > home, they would work, but probably overkill. However, if you have the : > time, go for it! : : Just wanted to add a comment that it also depends on what kind of mail you : have set up.. Courier only works with Maildir type mail, as does a new : IMAP server, BINC. The others work with mbox type mail. I believe Cyrus : is included in the SuSE distro. Actually, cyrus-imapd uses their own non-mbox, database format. --Jerry Open-Source software isn't a matter of life or death... ...It's much more important than that!
On Fri, May 23, 2003 at 02:11:37PM -0400 or thereabouts, Jerry A! wrote:
: Just wanted to add a comment that it also depends on what kind of mail you : have set up.. Courier only works with Maildir type mail, as does a new : IMAP server, BINC. The others work with mbox type mail. I believe Cyrus : is included in the SuSE distro.
Actually, cyrus-imapd uses their own non-mbox, database format.
Interesing, did not know that, thanks Jerry for that info.. -- Gary
Hi John! man fetchmail and: http://catb.org/~esr/fetchmail/ -- michael On Fri, 23 May 2003, John Pettigrew wrote:
I would like to run a mailserver on my linux box (SuSE 8.2) that will connect to my ISP's pop3 servers, download the email and then serve this by IMAP to clients on my home LAN (three machines total).
What are the best apps to do this with, and how easy are they to set up? There doesn't seem to be any documentation on this - possibly because it's not a common thing to want to do :-)
What are the best apps to do this with, and how easy are they to set up? There doesn't seem to be any documentation on this - possibly because it's not a common thing to want to do
Actually, it's very common. Fetchmail, as others have indicated, is the correct way to go. I use it at home to pull mail from my company's Exchange server and from a few other POP3 boxes as well. The config couldn't be simpler either. A sample entry from my /root/.fetchmailrc file: poll w.x.y.z with proto POP3 user "user" there with password "notmypass" to localuser here options fetchall forcecr warnings 3600 user "user2" there with password "notthispass" to localuser2 here options fetchall forcecr warnings 3600 smtpaddress 'localhost' Note that there are only four lines here - the second and third are wrapped. This should all be easy to understand. Poll the ipaddress given using the POP3 protocol, then download mail for two users - localuser and localuser2 on the local machine have mail accounts "user" and "user2" respectively on the remote mail server. The options do stuff like get all mail instead of just new mail, "forcecr" has to do with carraige returns instead of LF's IIRC, print warnings, 3600 is a timeout for the server in seconds, again IIRC. Then the last line specifically defines that the local smtp server to use is localhost. FWIW, I created this rc file several years ago for an earlier version of fetchmail. I've upgraded fetchmail a few times since then, and I don't believe I've ever had to modify this syntax. Unlike what fetchmail recommends, I do not run it in daemon mode. Instead, I use cron to run the job every few minutes only during specific hours. This lets me change the schedule in case I'm on vacation and only want the server to download mail once a day or so (since I sometimes prefer to use the remote server while I'm away). -- John LeMay KC2KTH Senior Enterprise Consultant NJMC | http://www.njmc.com | Phone 732-557-4848 Specializing in Microsoft and Unix based solutions
On Fri, May 23, 2003 at 02:36:24PM +0100, John Pettigrew Wrote:
I would like to run a mailserver on my linux box (SuSE 8.2) that will connect to my ISP's pop3 servers, download the email and then serve this by IMAP to clients on my home LAN (three machines total).
What are the best apps to do this with, and how easy are they to set up? There doesn't seem to be any documentation on this - possibly because it's not a common thing to want to do :-)
John -- John Pettigrew Headstrong Games john@headstrong-games.co.uk Fun : Strategy : Price http://www.headstrong-games.co.uk/ Board games that won't break the bank Knossos: escape the ever-changing labyrinth before the Minotaur catches you!
-- Check the headers for your unsubscription address For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com
I have postfix+cyrus+procmail+spamassassin works really well and all your mail stays on one box :) -- _ _ __ _____ _____ ___| |_ | '__| / __\ \ /\ / / _ \/ _ \ __| -o) | | _ \__ \\ V V / __/ __/ |_ /\\ |_|(_) |___/ \_/\_/ \___|\___|\__|_\_v rsweet@garagenetworks.net "there's no love in fear."
On Friday 23 May 2003 15:36, John Pettigrew wrote:
I would like to run a mailserver on my linux box (SuSE 8.2) that will connect to my ISP's pop3 servers, download the email and then serve this by IMAP to clients on my home LAN (three machines total).
What are the best apps to do this with, and how easy are they to set up? There doesn't seem to be any documentation on this - possibly because it's not a common thing to want to do :-)
John -- John Pettigrew Headstrong Games john@headstrong-games.co.uk Fun : Strategy : Price http://www.headstrong-games.co.uk/ Board games that won't break the bank Knossos: escape the ever-changing labyrinth before the Minotaur catches you!
If you have a static IP adress (might also work if you have dynamic IP but using some kind of domain name ---> dynamic IP scheme) : 1) Let Postfix handle all incoming e-mail, as well outgoing e-mail. 2) On your e-mail accounts at your ISP, just forward e-mail to your server. 3) Install some thirdparty IMAP/POP3 servers for use by your LAN. I use Courier, but SuSE has Cyrus that some says to be more difficult. I've only tried Courier. At the Postfix home page http://www.postfix.org there are several HOWTO's, but geared towards e-mail users not having a Unix account on the mail server. My home mail server has only that kind e-mail accounts. Cheers, Sigfred. PS Setting up an mail server at home did take quite some effort for me, but I found it worth the bother. PS2 Make sure that only your LAN users may use the IMAP, and avoid letting your mail server by accident become an open relay.
On 05/23/2003 09:36 PM, John Pettigrew wrote:
I would like to run a mailserver on my linux box (SuSE 8.2) that will connect to my ISP's pop3 servers, download the email and then serve this by IMAP to clients on my home LAN (three machines total).
What are the best apps to do this with, and how easy are they to set up? There doesn't seem to be any documentation on this - possibly because it's not a common thing to want to do :-)
Use fetchmail to download your email from your ISP's pop3 servers, delivering to your local users set up in your 'imap server' machine. Use the imap-2000 package for serving that mail via imap. Check the SDB for an article to get the imap running from 8.2 (it is built to either use encrypted passwords, or plain text through SSL, which means you would need to make an SSL certificate (instructions in SDB) and access it through imaps. It sounds harder than it actually is. HTH. BTW, although I am using the pop3 side, I am doing this on my home machine, with the addition of adding the antivir scans to postfix and spamassassin via procmail. So, all mail comes in via fetchmail, which hands it off to postfix, which scans with antivir for viruses (my client is Windows for the kids), which gives it to procmail for local delivery, which pipes it through spamassassin to deal with spam, finally delivering it to the local mailbox. The pop3 server then interacts with the clients to give them their mail. Works well. -- Joe & Sesil Morris New Tribes Mission Email Address: Joe_Morris@ntm.org Web Address: http://www.mydestiny.net/~joe_morris Registered Linux user 231871 God said, I AM that I AM. I say, by the grace of God, I am what I am.
participants (11)
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gary -
gary -
himbA -
Jerry A! -
Joe Morris (NTM) -
John LeMay -
John Pettigrew -
Michael Galloway -
Oskar Teran -
Robert Sweet -
Sigfred Håversen