[opensuse] How could I keep in sync email on two computers?

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Carlos E. R.

29 Mar 2010 29 Mar '10

14:42

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi, I want to be able to read some of my email, downloaded to my desktop machine, on my laptop, while off-line. The current setup is that the desktop machine donwloads emails from several accounts using fetchmail, processes it with amavis and spamassassin, and delivers it into several folders using procmail. I would like to copy some of those folders to a laptop in order to read them in my free time, while away from home and internet. I have tried "mailsync". The 1st problem with this is that read emails on one machine are not marked read in the other. Thunderbird keeps indexes (foldername.msf) which are not (AFAIK) synced. Or, if using (Al)pine, the marks are kept as some header modification inside the mbox file; but as the msgids are the same on both sides, the changes are not synced. I though of solving this by keeping two folders, one of them for "read" email, and move there each email after being read (a bit of a nuisance, but I can do that). But aparently mailsync doesn't keep good track of this, and replaces the "deleted" emails in the laptop with copies from the main machine. This won't do. Unless I'm doing things wrong (which I might, the documentation is not very complete), I can't use this method. Yesterday I discovered "offlineimap". The description is very promissing: Summary : OfflineIMAP - Powerful IMAP/Maildir synchronization and reader support Description : OfflineIMAP is a tool to simplify your e-mail reading. With OfflineIMAP, you can: * Read the same mailbox from multiple computers, and have your changes (deletions, etc.) be automatically reflected on all computers * Use various mail clients to read a single mail box * Read mail while offline (on a laptop) and have all changes synchronized when you get connected again * Read IMAP mail with mail readers that do not support IMAP * Use SSL (secure connections) to read IMAP mail even if your reader doesn't support SSL * Synchronize your mail using a completely safe and fault-tolerant algorithm. (At least I think it is!) * Customize which mailboxes to synchronize with regular expressions or lists. * Synchronize your mail two to four times faster than with other tools or other mail readers' internal IMAP support. This morning I read the manual (/usr/share/doc/packages/offlineimap/manual.html), which appears to be written for version 4, while the rpm is version 6. It is indeed interesting, but there is a big snag, probably unsurmountable in my case: it does the syncing not against the desktop machine, but against a common imap server that all the computers use, ie, the ISP imap server. This, again, will not do. What I would, then, need, is an imap server in my desktop machine, but one that serves the mail structure under /home/USER/Mail/LotOfmboxFiles as an imap server. Without that I can not use that "offlineimap" thing. Perhaps not even then, it could mess the handling by procmail. Do you have more ideas I could try? O:-) - -- Cheers / Saludos, Carlos E. R. (from 11.2 x86_64 "Emerald" GM (Elessar)) -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.12 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/ iEYEARECAAYFAkuwvG4ACgkQU92UU+smfQU2jACePentkXONLHxkB2yicdYi5c00 L1AAnRAb2BGdz81Qn5okYWsBP6GEocJ2 =QlZO -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Show replies by date

Will Stephenson

29 Mar 29 Mar

15:43

On Monday 29 March 2010 16:42:54 Carlos E. R. wrote:

...

Hi,

I want to be able to read some of my email, downloaded to my desktop machine, on my laptop, while off-line.

The current setup is that the desktop machine donwloads emails from several accounts using fetchmail, processes it with amavis and spamassassin, and delivers it into several folders using procmail.

I would like to copy some of those folders to a laptop in order to read them in my free time, while away from home and internet.

I have tried "mailsync".

The 1st problem with this is that read emails on one machine are not marked read in the other.

Thunderbird keeps indexes (foldername.msf) which are not (AFAIK) synced. Or, if using (Al)pine, the marks are kept as some header modification inside the mbox file; but as the msgids are the same on both sides, the changes are not synced.

I though of solving this by keeping two folders, one of them for "read" email, and move there each email after being read (a bit of a nuisance, but I can do that).

But aparently mailsync doesn't keep good track of this, and replaces the "deleted" emails in the laptop with copies from the main machine.

This won't do.

Unless I'm doing things wrong (which I might, the documentation is not very complete), I can't use this method.

Yesterday I discovered "offlineimap". The description is very promissing:

<snip>

...

Do you have more ideas I could try? O:-)

I don't know this 'offlineimap' package you describe, but the common solution to the problem you describe is to use an IMAP mail provider, and a mail client that supports offline IMAP. This is not the same as the tool you just mentioned! When you check mail after reading mail offline, the read flags, deletions, and other changes are synchronised with those stored on the IMAP server. KMail, Evolution and Thunderbird all support it*. Will * See, I can do non-partisan help too! ;) -- Will Stephenson, KDE Developer, openSUSE Boosters Team SUSE LINUX Products GmbH - Nürnberg - AG Nürnberg - HRB 16746 - GF: Markus Rex -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Roger Oberholtzer

16:05

On Mon, 2010-03-29 at 17:43 +0200, Will Stephenson wrote:

...

I don't know this 'offlineimap' package you describe, but the common solution to the problem you describe is to use an IMAP mail provider, and a mail client that supports offline IMAP. This is not the same as the tool you just mentioned! When you check mail after reading mail offline, the read flags, deletions, and other changes are synchronised with those stored on the IMAP server.

KMail, Evolution and Thunderbird all support it*.

This is the solution I use. Add the iPod to the list. As well as the Mac. And my Nokia telephone. There is an imapd proxy that can route things when needed. The possible advantage of offlineimap is that it can perhaps be more automatic. All theses e-mail readers will only have a copy if you ran them while connected. Perhaps offlineimap does a push so the sometimes-offline devices get the mail by virtue of being connected and not require you start the client e-mail reader? That would be interesting to know. -- Roger Oberholtzer OPQ Systems / Ramböll RST Ramböll Sverige AB Krukmakargatan 21 P.O. Box 17009 SE-104 62 Stockholm, Sweden Office: Int +46 10-615 60 20 Mobile: Int +46 70-815 1696 -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

James Knott

16:15

Will Stephenson wrote:

...

...
Do you have more ideas I could try? O:-)

I don't know this 'offlineimap' package you describe, but the common solution to the problem you describe is to use an IMAP mail provider, and a mail client that supports offline IMAP. This is not the same as the tool you just mentioned! When you check mail after reading mail offline, the read flags, deletions, and other changes are synchronised with those stored on the IMAP server.

KMail, Evolution and Thunderbird all support it*.

I run IMAP here and use both on line and off line modes. My desktop system, which actually holds the imap server is configured to use on line mode. My notebook computer normally runs off line mode so that I can download all my messages and read/write email while disconnected. I can also connect my notebook to the IMAP server via OpenVPN, when I'm away from home. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

James Knott

16:16

Carlos E. R. wrote:

...

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1

Hi,

I want to be able to read some of my email, downloaded to my desktop machine, on my laptop, while off-line.

Set up an IMAP mail server and then use fetchmail to get the mail via POP from your provider. Or use something like GMail, which provides IMAP support. I have an IMAP server set up on my main computer, where I normally read my mail, but I can also access it with my notebook computer, including off site via VPN. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Marc Chamberlin

17:46

On 3/29/2010 9:16 AM, James Knott wrote:

...

Carlos E. R. wrote:

...
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1

Hi,

I want to be able to read some of my email, downloaded to my desktop machine, on my laptop, while off-line.

Set up an IMAP mail server and then use fetchmail to get the mail via POP from your provider. Or use something like GMail, which provides IMAP support.

I have an IMAP server set up on my main computer, where I normally read my mail, but I can also access it with my notebook computer, including off site via VPN.

I faced this rather aggravating problem myself also... My solution - Went out and bought a USB Passport drive. Stuck Portable Apps (www.portableapps.com) on it, which comes with Thunderbird, Firefox and a few other goodies.. Run the whole shamear under Wine on Linux systems. Simply pop the drive in the USB port and voila! Consistent email on any computer, be it Windoz, Linux, or Mac... Online or offline works... Wine does have a few quirks but it works reasonably well... Marc... -- Marc Chamberlin www.marcchamberlin.com A man said unto the universe - "Sir I Exist!" "However" replied the universe "I do not see where that creates in me a sense of an obligation" S Crane.

Carlos E. R.

17:51

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA256 On 2010-03-29 18:16, James Knott wrote:

...

Carlos E. R. wrote:

...

...
I want to be able to read some of my email, downloaded to my desktop machine, on my laptop, while off-line.

Set up an IMAP mail server and then use fetchmail to get the mail via POP from your provider. Or use something like GMail, which provides IMAP support.

Yes, but the qestion is how to set an imap server locally that serves from /home/USER/Mail the local mail in mbox format. The alternative would be to push the email back there. I'll probably do that. Gmail is not an alternative. It is very slow with very large boxes, and my internet connection (at home) is not that fast. Is there something that can be used from procmail to push email to a local imap server? - -- Cheers / Saludos, Carlos E. R. (from 11.2 x86_64 "Emerald" GM (Minas Tirith)) -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.12 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/ iF4EAREIAAYFAkuw6KcACgkQja8UbcUWM1wuqAD9EywvHi3h+QKwUrByIgTGX+my 0XORva5gxkVGyBrVSz0A/0Vl0bKNajg0c/eo0yiYzIIGyirFlOLp4RiCs4eTcZe9 =Hz1/ -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Patrick Shanahan

18:52

* Carlos E. R. [03-29-10 13:53]:

...

Is there something that can be used from procmail to push email to a local imap server?

at the top of your first procmail recipe: for mbox :0: | /opt/local/bin/formail -i "To: user1@someserver\.com" for maildir :0 | /opt/local/bin/formail -i "To: user1@someserver\.com" -- Patrick Shanahan Plainfield, Indiana, USA HOG # US1244711 http://wahoo.no-ip.org Photo Album: http://wahoo.no-ip.org/gallery2 Registered Linux User #207535 @ http://counter.li.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Carlos E. R.

19:59

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On Monday, 2010-03-29 at 14:52 -0400, Patrick Shanahan wrote:

...

* Carlos E. R. <> [03-29-10 13:53]:

...
Is there something that can be used from procmail to push email to a local imap server?

at the top of your first procmail recipe:

for mbox

:0: | /opt/local/bin/formail -i "To: user1@someserver\.com"

for maildir

:0 | /opt/local/bin/formail -i "To: user1@someserver\.com"

AFAIK that only replaces the "To:" header with a new one to that address, keeping the old one as "Old-To". I think that what you intent to propose is something like this (from the man page): :0 c ! william@somewhere.edu But that will push the email back to postfix, spamassassin, the lot (and add a lot of headers). I was thinking of something to push mail direct into the imap server, like the move operation inside a client, that doesn't change anything. - -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.9 (GNU/Linux) iEYEARECAAYFAkuxBq4ACgkQtTMYHG2NR9XhvgCfcVEsTRdhymseVTMZMv1hLjVl jTkAnRmcb/eY5pfLkNJEnuv1J+PtTA94 =XOjy -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Patrick Shanahan

23:23

* Carlos E. R. [03-29-10 16:01]:

...

On Monday, 2010-03-29 at 14:52 -0400, Patrick Shanahan wrote:

...
at the top of your first procmail recipe:

for mbox

:0: | /opt/local/bin/formail -i "To: user1@someserver\.com"

for maildir

:0 | /opt/local/bin/formail -i "To: user1@someserver\.com"

AFAIK that only replaces the "To:" header with a new one to that address, keeping the old one as "Old-To".

I think that what you intent to propose is something like this (from the man page):

:0 c ! william@somewhere.edu

But that will push the email back to postfix, spamassassin, the lot (and add a lot of headers). I was thinking of something to push mail direct into the imap server, like the move operation inside a client, that doesn't change anything.

You are correct. But your example will create a loop.... Perhaps you need a second imap account and forward unhandled (?) mail there, but I don't see that as a solution to your question. I believe that your only solution is to retain internet access and access the mail on your imap server or dl all to your own box and ssh into it to handle mail (this is what I do). I carry putty on a stick and can access my home box from nearly anywhere using my own laptop or someone else's windoz box. gud luk, -- Patrick Shanahan Plainfield, Indiana, USA HOG # US1244711 http://wahoo.no-ip.org Photo Album: http://wahoo.no-ip.org/gallery2 Registered Linux User #207535 @ http://counter.li.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Carlos E. R.

30 Mar 30 Mar

00:20

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On Monday, 2010-03-29 at 19:23 -0400, Patrick Shanahan wrote:

...

...
But that will push the email back to postfix, spamassassin, the lot (and add a lot of headers). I was thinking of something to push mail direct into the imap server, like the move operation inside a client, that doesn't change anything.

You are correct.

But your example will create a loop....

Perhaps you need a second imap account and forward unhandled (?) mail there, but I don't see that as a solution to your question. I believe that your only solution is to retain internet access and access the mail on your imap server or dl all to your own box and ssh into it to handle mail (this is what I do). I carry putty on a stick and can access my home box from nearly anywhere using my own laptop or someone else's windoz box.

Let me try to explain again. My mail is fetched by fetchmail, passed to postfix, amavis, spamsassassin, and procmail finally distributes it on to dozens of folders. This setup is years old and I'm not going to change it. Now I want to read some or all of that email on another computer, a laptop. So I want a copy, in sync. I would like to clone the entire mail structure for offline reading on the laptop, but that is impossible, I gather. The only solution I have is to put the email I want to read offline onto a _local_ imap server on my desktop machine. This I have done a while ago. I have wu-imap installed (since years, but I do not use it). I have created a new user. The email I want to read is bounced in Alpine (manually) to this new user. This is sent via postfix to the new user, passing again the entire chain (amavis, antivirus, spamassassin, etc) which is a waste but unavoidable. With all that email in the local imap server, I can it read it locally in Thunderbird, or in the laptop, over the local network. I have tested this already. Read mail apears as read on both computers, changes propagate. I could speed things a quite bit by defining the local imap folder in Alpine, and then simply "moving" email (this would bypass the slow spam/virii checks), but the syntax eludes me. What I got so far is: carlos {localhost/user=carlos/TLS=ssl/}carlos but it fails: [Can't open folder {localhost/user=carlos/TLS=ssl/NoValidate-Cert}carlos: invalid remote specification] Go figure. It nevers asks for the password. I have also tried Carlos {localhost/user=carlos/TLS=ssl/}Inbox Carlos {localhost/user=carlos/TLS=ssl/NoValidate-Cert}/INBOX Carlos {mimrodel.valinor/user=carlos/TLS=ssl/NoValidate-Cert}/INBOX ... Ah! Got it: Carlos {localhost/user=carlos/ssl/NoValidate-Cert}INBOX I have access to my new local imap folder bypassing the local toolchain, and I can move there the email I want to read offline on the portable. It is not the solution I wanted, but it works. - -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.9 (GNU/Linux) iEYEARECAAYFAkuxQ+IACgkQtTMYHG2NR9XYHwCggPqloFdRDhRYbPJIqhH3hOgo mYEAn0JOJIfwixO2qalFShiTo+EGKPr2 =FaWg -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Roger Oberholtzer

06:25

On Tue, 2010-03-30 at 02:20 +0200, Carlos E. R. wrote:

...

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1

On Monday, 2010-03-29 at 19:23 -0400, Patrick Shanahan wrote:

...
...
But that will push the email back to postfix, spamassassin, the lot (and add a lot of headers). I was thinking of something to push mail direct into the imap server, like the move operation inside a client, that doesn't change anything.

You are correct.

But your example will create a loop....

Perhaps you need a second imap account and forward unhandled (?) mail there, but I don't see that as a solution to your question. I believe that your only solution is to retain internet access and access the mail on your imap server or dl all to your own box and ssh into it to handle mail (this is what I do). I carry putty on a stick and can access my home box from nearly anywhere using my own laptop or someone else's windoz box.

Let me try to explain again.

My mail is fetched by fetchmail, passed to postfix, amavis, spamsassassin, and procmail finally distributes it on to dozens of folders. This setup is years old and I'm not going to change it.

No need to. procmail writes to imap folders. I use it as you describe, with an imap folder as the final delivery point. A directory specification is like this: :0 * ^From:.*comp\.lang\.tcl ".Lists.comp-lang-tcl/" This puts the message an imap directory. I think it is the leading '.' that is the imap indicator. I then access this directory from any imap client. The only difference is that you want the client to make a copy from the imap server for off-line reading. In evolution, for example, in the imap docs, it says this: "Select Automatically synchronize remote mail locally to download the messages to your local system. Evolution, by default, downloads only the header information such as From, Subject, and Date. The body of the message and the attachments are downloaded only when you click the message. Thus you can save time and network usage. This is useful when you don't read all the messages you receive. If you check this option, Evolution fetches the headers as well as the body of the message simultaneously. In this case, the time taken to open a message is comparatively less. In addition, you can download the mail for reading them offline, when you have checked this option." Other mail readers may have a similar option. Of course, you need to start the mail reader for the copy to happen. But you do not have to read messages until later.

...

Now I want to read some or all of that email on another computer, a laptop. So I want a copy, in sync. I would like to clone the entire mail structure for offline reading on the laptop, but that is impossible, I gather.

The only solution I have is to put the email I want to read offline onto a _local_ imap server on my desktop machine. This I have done a while ago.

I have wu-imap installed (since years, but I do not use it). I have created a new user. The email I want to read is bounced in Alpine (manually) to this new user. This is sent via postfix to the new user, passing again the entire chain (amavis, antivirus, spamassassin, etc) which is a waste but unavoidable.

With all that email in the local imap server, I can it read it locally in Thunderbird, or in the laptop, over the local network. I have tested this already. Read mail apears as read on both computers, changes propagate.

I could speed things a quite bit by defining the local imap folder in Alpine, and then simply "moving" email (this would bypass the slow spam/virii checks), but the syntax eludes me. What I got so far is:

carlos {localhost/user=carlos/TLS=ssl/}carlos

but it fails:

[Can't open folder {localhost/user=carlos/TLS=ssl/NoValidate-Cert}carlos: invalid remote specification]

Go figure. It nevers asks for the password. I have also tried

Carlos {localhost/user=carlos/TLS=ssl/}Inbox Carlos {localhost/user=carlos/TLS=ssl/NoValidate-Cert}/INBOX Carlos {mimrodel.valinor/user=carlos/TLS=ssl/NoValidate-Cert}/INBOX

...

Ah! Got it:

Carlos {localhost/user=carlos/ssl/NoValidate-Cert}INBOX

I have access to my new local imap folder bypassing the local toolchain, and I can move there the email I want to read offline on the portable. It is not the solution I wanted, but it works.

- -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.9 (GNU/Linux)

iEYEARECAAYFAkuxQ+IACgkQtTMYHG2NR9XYHwCggPqloFdRDhRYbPJIqhH3hOgo mYEAn0JOJIfwixO2qalFShiTo+EGKPr2 =FaWg -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

-- Roger Oberholtzer OPQ Systems / Ramböll RST Ramböll Sverige AB Krukmakargatan 21 P.O. Box 17009 SE-104 62 Stockholm, Sweden Office: Int +46 10-615 60 20 Mobile: Int +46 70-815 1696 -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Patrick Shanahan

13:56

* Roger Oberholtzer [03-30-10 02:28]:

...

No need to. procmail writes to imap folders. I use it as you describe, with an imap folder as the final delivery point. A directory specification is like this:

:0 * ^From:.*comp\.lang\.tcl ".Lists.comp-lang-tcl/"

This puts the message an imap directory. I think it is the leading '.' that is the imap indicator.

Procmail requires a trailing "/" to write to "mailbox" directories. There is no "imap" indicator. -- Patrick Shanahan Plainfield, Indiana, USA HOG # US1244711 http://wahoo.no-ip.org Photo Album: http://wahoo.no-ip.org/gallery2 Registered Linux User #207535 @ http://counter.li.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Roger Oberholtzer

14:11

On Tue, 2010-03-30 at 09:56 -0400, Patrick Shanahan wrote:

...

* Roger Oberholtzer [03-30-10 02:28]:

...
No need to. procmail writes to imap folders. I use it as you describe, with an imap folder as the final delivery point. A directory specification is like this:

:0 * ^From:.*comp\.lang\.tcl ".Lists.comp-lang-tcl/"

This puts the message an imap directory. I think it is the leading '.' that is the imap indicator.

Procmail requires a trailing "/" to write to "mailbox" directories. There is no "imap" indicator.

I know it was something in the string. It has been so long since I set my sorting up the first time. Now I just add sorting rules - without caring about this aspect of the syntax! -- Roger Oberholtzer OPQ Systems / Ramböll RST Ramböll Sverige AB Krukmakargatan 21 P.O. Box 17009 SE-104 62 Stockholm, Sweden Office: Int +46 10-615 60 20 Mobile: Int +46 70-815 1696 -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Carlos E. R.

18:46

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA256 On 2010-03-30 15:56, Patrick Shanahan wrote:

...

* Roger Oberholtzer [03-30-10 02:28]:

...
No need to. procmail writes to imap folders. I use it as you describe, with an imap folder as the final delivery point. A directory specification is like this:

:0 * ^From:.*comp\.lang\.tcl ".Lists.comp-lang-tcl/"

This puts the message an imap directory. I think it is the leading '.' that is the imap indicator.

Procmail requires a trailing "/" to write to "mailbox" directories. There is no "imap" indicator.

Yes, that way it would go to a maildir structure on home. But notice that I have to use a different user for imap. My default user has a existing mbox structure under /home/user, while imapd is serving /var/spool/mail/user, which is where postfix delivers it. The /home/user/Mail structure is already delivered, can't be delivered again or I would have the mail loop you mentioned. So I'm sending it to another user on the same machine (carlos) an pull it via imap from the normal user (cer). The alternative would be to redo all my email setup with dovecot or whatever. I understand from Rodney comments that it can pull from /home/user/Mail, and my entire mail structure would then be available via imap. I'll have to test that. - -- Cheers / Saludos, Carlos E. R. (from 11.2 x86_64 "Emerald" GM (Minas Tirith)) -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.12 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/ iF4EAREIAAYFAkuyRxMACgkQja8UbcUWM1xiAgEAl3RZ9EoVDIEROqmjlfmD3VNu 4kBWJQexf40Sww7IbywBAIE+7JBr/G3pEFbhT7vQSQaIYAesUSpGLprVKTgyUYGH =vUR+ -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Anton Aylward

19:38

Carlos E. R. said the following on 03/30/2010 02:46 PM:

...

But notice that I have to use a different user for imap. My default user has a existing mbox structure under /home/user, while imapd is serving /var/spool/mail/user, which is where postfix delivers it.

Eh? Then something is wrong. Or perhaps not "wrong" wrong, but not configured properly. I have a mounted file system on /home/anton/Mail and the postfix/procmail makes use of the hierarchy of folders there. As I see my setup working, a loot of the trickery is in the configuration of procmail. That is where MBOX and stuff and stuff is defined. Many procmail rules deliver to $DEFAULT, which is the basic mbox. The spamassassin part of the procmail rules set delivers to $JUNKBOX/isSPAM or $JUNKBOX/probablySPAM If course there is a blacklist and whitelist filter :-)

...

The /home/user/Mail structure is already delivered, can't be delivered again or I would have the mail loop you mentioned.

I must admit I don't see why it needs "delivering" again.

...

So I'm sending it to another user on the same machine (carlos) an pull it via imap from the normal user (cer).

I think part of your problem may be in your mail reader. I am, of course, using Thunderbird, and one of the capabilities it has is telling the IMAP server where to go. Under "Advanced Account Setting" for the server you can tell the IMAP server what directory to use and what namespaces to use. I point it to the appropriate place in /home/anton/Mail I'm sure there are a few things I've forgotten here ... Oh, right. Yes.... When I'm off-site I have a SSH tunnel from my laptop though the firewall to the mail hub where all the above resides. Actually its two tunnels, one for the IMAP and one or the SMTP. There's a slightly different config in Thunderbird for when that's being used. The IMAP server appears to be on port 4500 because of the ssh tunnel and the smtp server appears to be on port 4525. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Carlos E. R.

20:33

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On Tuesday, 2010-03-30 at 15:38 -0400, Anton Aylward wrote:

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Carlos E. R. said the following on 03/30/2010 02:46 PM:

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But notice that I have to use a different user for imap. My default user has a existing mbox structure under /home/user, while imapd is serving /var/spool/mail/user, which is where postfix delivers it.

Eh? Then something is wrong. Or perhaps not "wrong" wrong, but not configured properly.

I have a mounted file system on /home/anton/Mail and the postfix/procmail makes use of the hierarchy of folders there.

Because my /home/USER/Mail structure (mbox) is accessed directly by the mail client (Alpine), not via imap. Mail is delivered there by procmail. It is an existing structure, years old, which I don't want to change. What I want is an alternative imap store for (at least) part of my email. In order to differentiate between the new, imap, structure, from the old one, I have to put each one on a different user. Remember that wu-imap is not configurable, or hardly so. With another daemon I could perhaps have: /home/USER/Mail /home/USER/Mail.imap as different, separate, structures. I would also need postfix not delivering to the new structure. Thus, my solution with two users, which is very easy to setup. Already done, yesterday :-) - -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.9 (GNU/Linux) iEYEARECAAYFAkuyYDQACgkQtTMYHG2NR9VxXgCfWBRhZXCGjobejCWZxuVKrN/D VXAAn2HY6+TwMewtPtlcEKIDYR1HeZ2t =3ipw -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Anton Aylward

20:54

Carlos E. R. said the following on 03/30/2010 04:33 PM:

...

...
I have a mounted file system on /home/anton/Mail and the postfix/procmail makes use of the hierarchy of folders there.

Because my /home/USER/Mail structure (mbox) is accessed directly by the mail client (Alpine), not via imap. Mail is delivered there by procmail. It is an existing structure, years old, which I don't want to change.

Mail is delivered to the stuff under /home/anton/Mail by procmail in my setup as well, so I don't see what your problem is.

...

What I want is an alternative imap store for (at least) part of my email. In order to differentiate between the new, imap, structure, from the old one, I have to put each one on a different user. Remember that wu-imap is not configurable, or hardly so.

With another daemon I could perhaps have:

/home/USER/Mail /home/USER/Mail.imap

Yes. I have /home/anton/Mail/.IMAP/ /home/anton/Mail/.ARCHIVE/ /home/anton/Mail/.MORESTUFF/ corresponding to the various setups I have under Thunderbird.

...

as different, separate, structures. I would also need postfix not delivering to the new structure.

In my setup postfix never delivers. Ever. Everything it takes in it routes out to procmail. It is procmail that determines where stuff goes. Including the $DEFAULT I think, perhaps, that is a key point you are missing out on. If you really have problems, you could set $DEFAULT to where wu-imap expects the mailbox to be and use T'Bird's ability to address another namespace. I should note, however, I only have the one instance of postfix and the one config file. You could if you wanted to be esoteric, run second instance of postfix with another config file.

...

Thus, my solution with two users, which is very easy to setup. Already done, yesterday :-)

And two trips though postfix? Why not make procmail do the work? -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Carlos E. R.

23:05

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On Tuesday, 2010-03-30 at 16:54 -0400, Anton Aylward wrote:

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Carlos E. R. said the following on 03/30/2010 04:33 PM:

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...
I have a mounted file system on /home/anton/Mail and the postfix/procmail makes use of the hierarchy of folders there.

Because my /home/USER/Mail structure (mbox) is accessed directly by the mail client (Alpine), not via imap. Mail is delivered there by procmail. It is an existing structure, years old, which I don't want to change.

Mail is delivered to the stuff under /home/anton/Mail by procmail in my setup as well, so I don't see what your problem is.

Think again. I can not have at the same time Alpine reading and writing directly the mbox files in /home/USER/Mail/*, and an imapd daemon reading and writing the exact same files and serving another client somewhere else. Both at the same time. I can not have postfix (via procmail, of course, I know that) delivering some mail to /home/USER/Mail/* to be used directly and to an imap daemon on the same files.

...

...
Thus, my solution with two users, which is very easy to setup. Already done, yesterday :-)

And two trips though postfix? Why not make procmail do the work?

One. Mail is moved from one user (using files) to another user (using imapd) via the mail client move mail function. I can, of course, bounce, forward, send from one to the other via normal mail functions. - -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.9 (GNU/Linux) iEYEARECAAYFAkuyg94ACgkQtTMYHG2NR9VouQCfcGy0Gl7nW+mpGoGrx9pNS9PI hysAoIY5Q9ezbzK+ErCTeZvAeuUc91BZ =ctC9 -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Carlos E. R.

19:15

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA256 On 2010-03-30 08:25, Roger Oberholtzer wrote:

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On Tue, 2010-03-30 at 02:20 +0200, Carlos E. R. wrote:

Thunderbird is quoting incorrectly. Your email got ">>" and mine, which is previous, is getting ">" only. It should be the other way round. Ugly.

...

Let me try to explain again.

My mail is fetched by fetchmail, passed to postfix, amavis, spamsassassin, and procmail finally distributes it on to dozens of folders. This setup is years old and I'm not going to change it.

...
No need to. procmail writes to imap folders. I use it as you describe, with an imap folder as the final delivery point. A directory specification is like this:

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:0 * ^From:.*comp\.lang\.tcl ".Lists.comp-lang-tcl/"

Actually, that's a maildir structure, not imap. Imap is a daemon.

...

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If you check this option, Evolution fetches the headers as well as the body of the message simultaneously. In this case, the time taken to open a message is comparatively less. In addition, you can download the mail for reading them offline, when you have checked this option."

...
Other mail readers may have a similar option. Of course, you need to start the mail reader for the copy to happen. But you do not have to read messages until later.

I'm having a new problem. At this moment, I'm at home, on the laptop, connected to internet via wifi. The desktop is off, so thunderbird has access to internet and mail from the ISP, but not to the local network store. In this situation, it is stuck at 100% cpu ussage! Over haldf an hour now, and on battery (58%). I think it is confused by not being able to read the local network imap mail. This will not do. I will have to use offlineimap after all. :-/ - -- Cheers / Saludos, Carlos E. R. (from 11.2 x86_64 "Emerald" GM (Minas Tirith)) -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.12 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/ iF4EAREIAAYFAkuyTesACgkQja8UbcUWM1zxHQD7B4+oPLngwNS1x75dHGLXy6Ol dU48nZNgKSe6d/RxuNUBAJlf8CHogl3hJjBD0Gp5/BpRbJacSuupqf8Z2wDVKOsG =KAgN -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Per Jessen

19:47

Carlos E. R. wrote:

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Actually, that's a maildir structure, not imap. Imap is a daemon.

A protocol: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMAP -- Per Jessen, Zürich (7.6°C) -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Carlos E. R.

20:35

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 On Tuesday, 2010-03-30 at 21:47 +0200, Per Jessen wrote:

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Carlos E. R. wrote:

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Actually, that's a maildir structure, not imap. Imap is a daemon.

A protocol: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMAP

Well, yes. And a service. And a daemon that implements it :-) - -- Cheers, Carlos E. R. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.9 (GNU/Linux) iEYEARECAAYFAkuyYJUACgkQtTMYHG2NR9VNlACfQ4+0ljw/Y52YmICf3uzWTFks KWgAnjCkwReHktitQsNTfSfyfnaK6It6 =ay8w -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Rodney Baker

12:24

On Tue, 30 Mar 2010 10:50:43 Carlos E. R. wrote:

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On Monday, 2010-03-29 at 19:23 -0400, Patrick Shanahan wrote:

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...
But that will push the email back to postfix, spamassassin, the lot (and add a lot of headers). I was thinking of something to push mail direct into the imap server, like the move operation inside a client, that doesn't change anything.

You are correct.

But your example will create a loop....

Perhaps you need a second imap account and forward unhandled (?) mail there, but I don't see that as a solution to your question. I believe that your only solution is to retain internet access and access the mail on your imap server or dl all to your own box and ssh into it to handle mail (this is what I do). I carry putty on a stick and can access my home box from nearly anywhere using my own laptop or someone else's windoz box.

Let me try to explain again.

My mail is fetched by fetchmail, passed to postfix, amavis, spamsassassin, and procmail finally distributes it on to dozens of folders. This setup is years old and I'm not going to change it.

Carlos, I use fetchmail to download the mail and use sendmail as the local MDA. Procmail runs all incoming mail through spamassassin and then sorts mail into multiple folders (in maildir format) based on defined rules (e.g. sorting into folders for various mail lists). The last rule puts all so-far unhandled rule into the inbox folder. Dovecot reads the maildir format natively (with default config files) and serves the mail via IMAP both locally (to mail clients on the same machine) and to a couple of laptops on the lan. I don't use disconnected IMAP because I don't need that for remote use. I was running squirrelmail to allow webmail access remotely but I don't currently have that running. I have used this setup since FC4 days before moving to oS 10.3, 11.0, 11.2 and it has continued to work flawlessly. I've used Kmail, Thunderbird, Opera, Evolution , Outlook and Outlook Express at different times and all work fine (Outlook/Outlook Express being the least IMAP-friendly). This way I get my entire mail store available either locally or across the lan, and if I setup squirrelmail again (or another webmail solution e.g. eGroupWare) I'll also have full access to it across the 'net anywhere I have access to a web browser. The same setup should work with Postfix and mbox format if you prefer that to maildir (although I suspect the mail sorting using procmail may be more difficult). BTW, my mail directory is /home/USER/Mail. Regards, Rodney. -- =================================================== Rodney Baker VK5ZTV rodney.baker@iinet.net.au =================================================== -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Patrick Shanahan

13:59

* Rodney Baker [03-30-10 08:25]:

...

The same setup should work with Postfix and mbox format if you prefer that to maildir (although I suspect the mail sorting using procmail may be more difficult).

The *only* requirement difference between recipies for mbox and maildir is the trailing "/" for maildir directories, not used for mbox. -- Patrick Shanahan Plainfield, Indiana, USA HOG # US1244711 http://wahoo.no-ip.org Photo Album: http://wahoo.no-ip.org/gallery2 Registered Linux User #207535 @ http://counter.li.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Carlos E. R.

18:49

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA256 On 2010-03-30 14:24, Rodney Baker wrote:

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Carlos,

I use fetchmail to download the mail and use sendmail as the local MDA. Procmail runs all incoming mail through spamassassin and then sorts mail into multiple folders (in maildir format) based on defined rules (e.g. sorting into folders for various mail lists). The last rule puts all so-far unhandled rule into the inbox folder.

Dovecot reads the maildir format natively (with default config files) and serves the mail via IMAP both locally (to mail clients on the same machine) and to a couple of laptops on the lan.

I don't use disconnected IMAP because I don't need that for remote use. I was running squirrelmail to allow webmail access remotely but I don't currently have that running.

I have used this setup since FC4 days before moving to oS 10.3, 11.0, 11.2 and it has continued to work flawlessly. I've used Kmail, Thunderbird, Opera, Evolution , Outlook and Outlook Express at different times and all work fine (Outlook/Outlook Express being the least IMAP-friendly).

This way I get my entire mail store available either locally or across the lan, and if I setup squirrelmail again (or another webmail solution e.g. eGroupWare) I'll also have full access to it across the 'net anywhere I have access to a web browser.

The same setup should work with Postfix and mbox format if you prefer that to maildir (although I suspect the mail sorting using procmail may be more difficult).

BTW, my mail directory is /home/USER/Mail.

Interesting. I think I'll have to test this. I wonder if, with procmail and mbox the clients get the correct flags (read, replied, etc) via imap. I know that with my current, direct setup, they don't. - -- Cheers / Saludos, Carlos E. R. (from 11.2 x86_64 "Emerald" GM (Minas Tirith)) -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.12 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/ iF4EAREIAAYFAkuyR7UACgkQja8UbcUWM1y9hQD7BQhl60Oy6mTcRYCR0mWv0NKk +B91RUdAf/9FJPq6YlYA/jzFJNYXvzhLIipuMaFnGmppMlVyYI/hc7IMCYiRSk2b =2G1r -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Rodney Baker

21:38

On Wed, 31 Mar 2010 05:19:25 Carlos E. R. wrote:

...

On 2010-03-30 14:24, Rodney Baker wrote:

...
Carlos,

I use fetchmail to download the mail and use sendmail as the local MDA. Procmail runs all incoming mail through spamassassin and then sorts mail into multiple folders (in maildir format) based on defined rules (e.g. sorting into folders for various mail lists). The last rule puts all so-far unhandled rule into the inbox folder.

Dovecot reads the maildir format natively (with default config files) and serves the mail via IMAP both locally (to mail clients on the same machine) and to a couple of laptops on the lan.

I don't use disconnected IMAP because I don't need that for remote use. I was running squirrelmail to allow webmail access remotely but I don't currently have that running.

I have used this setup since FC4 days before moving to oS 10.3, 11.0, 11.2 and it has continued to work flawlessly. I've used Kmail, Thunderbird, Opera, Evolution , Outlook and Outlook Express at different times and all work fine (Outlook/Outlook Express being the least IMAP-friendly).

This way I get my entire mail store available either locally or across the lan, and if I setup squirrelmail again (or another webmail solution e.g. eGroupWare) I'll also have full access to it across the 'net anywhere I have access to a web browser.

The same setup should work with Postfix and mbox format if you prefer that to maildir (although I suspect the mail sorting using procmail may be more difficult).

BTW, my mail directory is /home/USER/Mail.

Interesting.

I think I'll have to test this.

I wonder if, with procmail and mbox the clients get the correct flags (read, replied, etc) via imap. I know that with my current, direct setup, they don't.

On my setup they certainly do, each time they check/refresh the mail (even if more than one client is logged into the same mail account simultaneously. That doesn't normally happen, btw, but since I normally leave kmail running in the systray on the desktop machine, if I happen to be checking mail from the laptop elsewhere in the house (or remotely via the web) kmail's state is always correct and up to date when I come back to the desktop. -- =================================================== Rodney Baker VK5ZTV rodney.baker@iinet.net.au =================================================== -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

G T Smith

09:03

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Carlos E. R. wrote:

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On 2010-03-29 18:16, James Knott wrote:

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Carlos E. R. wrote:

...
...
I want to be able to read some of my email, downloaded to my desktop machine, on my laptop, while off-line.

Set up an IMAP mail server and then use fetchmail to get the mail via POP from your provider. Or use something like GMail, which provides IMAP support.

Yes, but the qestion is how to set an imap server locally that serves from /home/USER/Mail the local mail in mbox format.

The alternative would be to push the email back there. I'll probably do that.

Gmail is not an alternative. It is very slow with very large boxes, and my internet connection (at home) is not that fast.

Is there something that can be used from procmail to push email to a local imap server?

Select an IMAP server that supports mbox (actually, in this situation mbox or maildir for IMAP does not really matter that much, and for Cyrus IMAP is completely irrelevant). The real key here is to distinguish between the "shared" server mail store and the "local" client view of that server mail store. (I have been stung when the IMAP server and and an early version of Evolution used same directory, things got very messy :-) ). Exact requirements for setting up the "local" client will likely vary according to local network settings and the client of choices capabilities. Configure mail to deliver to server mail store structure, and modify postfix, fetchmail and procmail files accordingly. Moving the current client mail store into the server store should be fairly trivial via the client. - -- ============================================================================== I have always wished that my computer would be as easy to use as my telephone. My wish has come true. I no longer know how to use my telephone. Bjarne Stroustrup ============================================================================== -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2.0.9 (GNU/Linux) Comment: Using GnuPG with SUSE - http://enigmail.mozdev.org/ iEYEARECAAYFAkuxvlMACgkQasN0sSnLmgLXcgCePM6rsuW9IlzV0Wb6Z+i/BGhr 1e4AoPpr9JH/GKTMLSD39RqoyMA9lYsG =qj9+ -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

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participants (11)

Anton Aylward
Carlos E. R.
Carlos E. R.
G T Smith
James Knott
Marc Chamberlin
Patrick Shanahan
Per Jessen
Rodney Baker
Roger Oberholtzer
Will Stephenson