[nzlug] Biting the Bullet -- Authentication & Email

[Daniel Pittman]

Cliff Pratt <enkidu at cliffp.com> writes:
> 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).

*Some* IMAP servers store mail in individual directories.  Others store
it in a database, others in traditional mbox files[1]; IMAP implies
absolutely nothing about the back-end storage format.

IMAP, by design, is a protocol and storage engine designed to store
email and similar data.  It specifies the interface to storage not the
structure of storage.

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

Some implementations work that way.  Cyrus IMAP requires that delivery
be handled via the LMTP protocol only; it uses an internal database
built around the file-system but doesn't permit direct access to that
data.


None of which really is much of a muchness for the original poster who
wondered about the value of setting one up -- I just wanted to correct a
few misstatements in your comments.

Regards,
        Daniel
-- 
Digital Infrastructure Solutions -- making IT simple, stable and secure
Phone: 0401 155 707        email: contact at digital-infrastructure.com.au
                 http://digital-infrastructure.com.au/