How does IMAP physically store mails?
I am at last planning to move from POP3 to IMAP. I use maildir format to store mails and I want, at least for a short time, to keep a fallback route.
I'm trying without success to find out how IMAP organizes and stores mails. As far as I can see I can continue to use my current MTA to prefilter and store mails in maildir structure. I can configure an IMAP server to operate with that structure.
The core of my question is, does an IMAP server leave mails in the maildir folder and simply create indexes to set up virtual user folders, while the [maildir]/new/ folder expands indefinitely? Or does it move/copy mails to its own physical storage - so that e.g. they can mirror the user's folder structure better and avoid possible file system inefficiencies from having all mails in one huge folder?
directory-structure imap
asked Mar 7 at 11:00
adrianhbadrianhb
11
add a comment |
I am at last planning to move from POP3 to IMAP. I use maildir format to store mails and I want, at least for a short time, to keep a fallback route.
I'm trying without success to find out how IMAP organizes and stores mails. As far as I can see I can continue to use my current MTA to prefilter and store mails in maildir structure. I can configure an IMAP server to operate with that structure.
The core of my question is, does an IMAP server leave mails in the maildir folder and simply create indexes to set up virtual user folders, while the [maildir]/new/ folder expands indefinitely? Or does it move/copy mails to its own physical storage - so that e.g. they can mirror the user's folder structure better and avoid possible file system inefficiencies from having all mails in one huge folder?
directory-structure imap
asked Mar 7 at 11:00
adrianhbadrianhb
11
1
Like POP3, IMAP is a protocol, it specifies how to communicate with a mail server but not how the server stores email. Are you planning on running your own IMAP server? If so, which one?
– Stephen Kitt
Mar 7 at 11:07
add a comment |
I am at last planning to move from POP3 to IMAP. I use maildir format to store mails and I want, at least for a short time, to keep a fallback route.
I'm trying without success to find out how IMAP organizes and stores mails. As far as I can see I can continue to use my current MTA to prefilter and store mails in maildir structure. I can configure an IMAP server to operate with that structure.
The core of my question is, does an IMAP server leave mails in the maildir folder and simply create indexes to set up virtual user folders, while the [maildir]/new/ folder expands indefinitely? Or does it move/copy mails to its own physical storage - so that e.g. they can mirror the user's folder structure better and avoid possible file system inefficiencies from having all mails in one huge folder?
directory-structure imap
asked Mar 7 at 11:00
adrianhbadrianhb
11
I am at last planning to move from POP3 to IMAP. I use maildir format to store mails and I want, at least for a short time, to keep a fallback route.
I'm trying without success to find out how IMAP organizes and stores mails. As far as I can see I can continue to use my current MTA to prefilter and store mails in maildir structure. I can configure an IMAP server to operate with that structure.
The core of my question is, does an IMAP server leave mails in the maildir folder and simply create indexes to set up virtual user folders, while the [maildir]/new/ folder expands indefinitely? Or does it move/copy mails to its own physical storage - so that e.g. they can mirror the user's folder structure better and avoid possible file system inefficiencies from having all mails in one huge folder?
directory-structure imap
directory-structure imap
asked Mar 7 at 11:00
adrianhbadrianhb
11
asked Mar 7 at 11:00
adrianhbadrianhb
11
asked Mar 7 at 11:00
adrianhbadrianhb
11
asked Mar 7 at 11:00
adrianhbadrianhb
11
asked Mar 7 at 11:00
adrianhbadrianhb
11
11
1
Like POP3, IMAP is a protocol, it specifies how to communicate with a mail server but not how the server stores email. Are you planning on running your own IMAP server? If so, which one?
– Stephen Kitt
Mar 7 at 11:07
add a comment |
1
Like POP3, IMAP is a protocol, it specifies how to communicate with a mail server but not how the server stores email. Are you planning on running your own IMAP server? If so, which one?
– Stephen Kitt
Mar 7 at 11:07
1
1
Like POP3, IMAP is a protocol, it specifies how to communicate with a mail server but not how the server stores email. Are you planning on running your own IMAP server? If so, which one?
– Stephen Kitt
Mar 7 at 11:07
Like POP3, IMAP is a protocol, it specifies how to communicate with a mail server but not how the server stores email. Are you planning on running your own IMAP server? If so, which one?
– Stephen Kitt
Mar 7 at 11:07
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
IMAP is a communication protocol not a server! Theoretically a server can store files however it likes but you haven't specified which server you will be using. If you use Dovecot then you can stick with maildir format:
https://wiki.dovecot.org/MailLocation/Maildir
Dovecot will use the users's mail directory as the inbox. Dovecot will store other IMAP user directories as hidden maildir formatted directories as inside the inbox.
Eg:
user/cur
user/new
user/tmp
user/.Sent
user/.Sent/cur
user/.Sent/new
user/.Sent/tmp
user/.Drafts
user/.Drafts/cur
user/.Drafts/new
user/.Drafts/tmp
As far as I know, Dovecot requires no secondary index so you should be able to hand it an existing user's mail directory and it will just work.
answered Mar 7 at 11:09
Philip CoulingPhilip Couling
2,2881122
1
Same withcourier
– Stéphane Chazelas
Mar 7 at 11:12
add a comment |
Thanks all. I have Dovecot installed and should have found that wiki page myself. So in terms of my original question, Dovecot does move mail files into dirs that mirror the user's folder arrangement, but the new dirs are hidden ones within the existing maildir structure.
answered Mar 7 at 11:38
adrianhbadrianhb
11
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
IMAP is a communication protocol not a server! Theoretically a server can store files however it likes but you haven't specified which server you will be using. If you use Dovecot then you can stick with maildir format:
https://wiki.dovecot.org/MailLocation/Maildir
Dovecot will use the users's mail directory as the inbox. Dovecot will store other IMAP user directories as hidden maildir formatted directories as inside the inbox.
Eg:
user/cur
user/new
user/tmp
user/.Sent
user/.Sent/cur
user/.Sent/new
user/.Sent/tmp
user/.Drafts
user/.Drafts/cur
user/.Drafts/new
user/.Drafts/tmp
As far as I know, Dovecot requires no secondary index so you should be able to hand it an existing user's mail directory and it will just work.
answered Mar 7 at 11:09
Philip CoulingPhilip Couling
2,2881122
1
Same withcourier
– Stéphane Chazelas
Mar 7 at 11:12
add a comment |
IMAP is a communication protocol not a server! Theoretically a server can store files however it likes but you haven't specified which server you will be using. If you use Dovecot then you can stick with maildir format:
https://wiki.dovecot.org/MailLocation/Maildir
Dovecot will use the users's mail directory as the inbox. Dovecot will store other IMAP user directories as hidden maildir formatted directories as inside the inbox.
Eg:
user/cur
user/new
user/tmp
user/.Sent
user/.Sent/cur
user/.Sent/new
user/.Sent/tmp
user/.Drafts
user/.Drafts/cur
user/.Drafts/new
user/.Drafts/tmp
As far as I know, Dovecot requires no secondary index so you should be able to hand it an existing user's mail directory and it will just work.
answered Mar 7 at 11:09
Philip CoulingPhilip Couling
2,2881122
1
Same withcourier
– Stéphane Chazelas
Mar 7 at 11:12
add a comment |
IMAP is a communication protocol not a server! Theoretically a server can store files however it likes but you haven't specified which server you will be using. If you use Dovecot then you can stick with maildir format:
https://wiki.dovecot.org/MailLocation/Maildir
Dovecot will use the users's mail directory as the inbox. Dovecot will store other IMAP user directories as hidden maildir formatted directories as inside the inbox.
Eg:
user/cur
user/new
user/tmp
user/.Sent
user/.Sent/cur
user/.Sent/new
user/.Sent/tmp
user/.Drafts
user/.Drafts/cur
user/.Drafts/new
user/.Drafts/tmp
As far as I know, Dovecot requires no secondary index so you should be able to hand it an existing user's mail directory and it will just work.
answered Mar 7 at 11:09
Philip CoulingPhilip Couling
2,2881122
IMAP is a communication protocol not a server! Theoretically a server can store files however it likes but you haven't specified which server you will be using. If you use Dovecot then you can stick with maildir format:
https://wiki.dovecot.org/MailLocation/Maildir
Dovecot will use the users's mail directory as the inbox. Dovecot will store other IMAP user directories as hidden maildir formatted directories as inside the inbox.
Eg:
user/cur
user/new
user/tmp
user/.Sent
user/.Sent/cur
user/.Sent/new
user/.Sent/tmp
user/.Drafts
user/.Drafts/cur
user/.Drafts/new
user/.Drafts/tmp
As far as I know, Dovecot requires no secondary index so you should be able to hand it an existing user's mail directory and it will just work.
answered Mar 7 at 11:09
Philip CoulingPhilip Couling
2,2881122
edited Mar 7 at 11:12
answered Mar 7 at 11:09
Philip CoulingPhilip Couling
2,2881122
answered Mar 7 at 11:09
Philip CoulingPhilip Couling
2,2881122
answered Mar 7 at 11:09
Philip CoulingPhilip Couling
2,2881122
2,2881122
1
Same withcourier
– Stéphane Chazelas
Mar 7 at 11:12
add a comment |
1
Same withcourier
– Stéphane Chazelas
Mar 7 at 11:12
1
1
Same with
courier– Stéphane Chazelas
Mar 7 at 11:12
Same with
courier– Stéphane Chazelas
Mar 7 at 11:12
add a comment |
Thanks all. I have Dovecot installed and should have found that wiki page myself. So in terms of my original question, Dovecot does move mail files into dirs that mirror the user's folder arrangement, but the new dirs are hidden ones within the existing maildir structure.
answered Mar 7 at 11:38
adrianhbadrianhb
11
add a comment |
Thanks all. I have Dovecot installed and should have found that wiki page myself. So in terms of my original question, Dovecot does move mail files into dirs that mirror the user's folder arrangement, but the new dirs are hidden ones within the existing maildir structure.
answered Mar 7 at 11:38
adrianhbadrianhb
11
add a comment |
Thanks all. I have Dovecot installed and should have found that wiki page myself. So in terms of my original question, Dovecot does move mail files into dirs that mirror the user's folder arrangement, but the new dirs are hidden ones within the existing maildir structure.
answered Mar 7 at 11:38
adrianhbadrianhb
11
Thanks all. I have Dovecot installed and should have found that wiki page myself. So in terms of my original question, Dovecot does move mail files into dirs that mirror the user's folder arrangement, but the new dirs are hidden ones within the existing maildir structure.
answered Mar 7 at 11:38
adrianhbadrianhb
11
answered Mar 7 at 11:38
adrianhbadrianhb
11
answered Mar 7 at 11:38
adrianhbadrianhb
11
answered Mar 7 at 11:38
adrianhbadrianhb
11
11
add a comment |
add a comment |
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1
Like POP3, IMAP is a protocol, it specifies how to communicate with a mail server but not how the server stores email. Are you planning on running your own IMAP server? If so, which one?
– Stephen Kitt
Mar 7 at 11:07