1. testing
    1. IMAP
    2. Authentication
  2. alternatives

Some initial general notes on using Courier-IMAP. For steps on actually setting up courier, see courier install.

testing

IMAP

some example IMAP commands to test if stuff is working:
> telnet <host> 143
. login <user> <pass>
. select inbox
. list "" *
. logout

even better, test that SSL is working:
# apt-get install telnet-ssl
> telnet -z ssl <host> 993
. login <user> <pass>
. select inbox
. list "" *
. logout

NOTE: for the imap commands, you need to type the leading period+space.
IMAP4 Spec: www.isi.edu/in-notes/rfc3501.txt

Authentication

Once you have courier all configured, you can test authentication and the user backend by using courierauthtest:

# courierauthtest <user> [password]

for example:

# courierauthtest redcursor xxxxx
Authenticated: module authdaemon
Home directory: /var/maildir/r/redcursor
UID/GID: 8/8
Maildir: /var/maildir/r/redcursor
AUTHADDR=redcursor
AUTHFULLNAME=Red Cursor Collective
OPTIONS=<none>

if it is not working, you will get
Authentication FAILED!

alternatives

www.bincimap.org

hula-project.org

Cyrus IMAP

www.dovecot.org/