[nzlug] Biting the Bullet -- Authentication & Email

[Cliff Pratt]

Leon Matthews wrote:
> 
> Also, is it a terrible idea to setup and use an IMAP server as a
> place just to physically store emails?  That is, let 'Evolution' and
> 'Mac OS Mail' handle delivery via our ISPs SMTP servers and our
> existing POP accounts. Running a mail domain seems  like it would
> take  more time than I have spare, and our ISP seems to be doing an
> adequate job of it for us.
> 
IMAP servers don't store email. They look at individual mail directories 
  and allow the users to view their mail through a GUI (or possibly a TUI).

A mail server receives email from everywhere and delivers it to mail 
boxes/directories. Then an IMAP server allows you to look at it.

The ISP's mail server works the same way. It receives email from 
everywhere and delivers it to a mailbox (on their server).

POP3 clients downloads the mail from your ISP's mailbox to your local 
mailbox and deletes it (normally) from the server. IMAP servers look at 
the ISP's mailbox without downloading the mail to a local mailbox.

Setting up a mail server is a set and forget procedure. I haven't 
touched mine in eons.

Lots missed out.

Cheers,

Cliff