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Imap

This section describes HOW :

  • to telnet into your IMAP "Dovecot" server,

  • to test (fast method) if your IMAP authentication process (login, password) is correct and working

  • to check if any Inbox exist,

  • to check if any other mailbox(es) exist,

  • to gracefully logout from telnet session.

Syntax : openssl s_client -starttls imap -connect :143

Example : openssl s_client -starttls imap -connect example.com:143

Follow the process as outlined below for IMAP telnet-ting:

[1] To start telnet session,

  • type: $ openssl s_client -starttls imap -connect example.com:143

Once your telnet session is successful, you shall see responses:

Trying example.com...

Connected to example.com.

Escape character is '^]'.

  • OK [CAPABILITY IMAP4rev1 SASL-IR LOGIN-REFERRALS ID ENABLE IDLE LITERAL+ STARTTLS AUTH=PLAIN] Dovecot ready.

[2] Telnet session shall wait for you to authenticate. To enter username and password,

  • type: a login "username@example.com" "password" .......OR

  • type: a login "username" "password"

NOTE: The syntax of either username@hostname or is dependent on the type of configurations you may have on your server.

Once your logon is successful, you shall see responses (details may differ + depends on server configurations, capabilities or features):

a OK [CAPABILITY IMAP4rev1 SASL-IR LOGIN-REFERRALS ID ENABLE IDLE SORT SORT=DISPLAY THREAD=REFERENCES THREAD=REFS THREAD=ORDEREDSUBJECT MULTIAPPEND URL-PARTIAL CATENATE UNSELECT CHILDREN NAMESPACE UIDPLUS LIST-EXTENDED I18NLEVEL=1 CONDSTORE QRESYNC ESEARCH ESORT SEARCHRES WITHIN CONTEXT=SEARCH LIST-STATUS BINARY MOVE SNIPPET=FUZZY PREVIEW=FUZZY PREVIEW STATUS=SIZE SAVEDATE LITERAL+ NOTIFY SPECIAL-USE]

Logged in.

[3] To check if InBox exist,

  • type: b select inbox

If your Inbox exist, you shall see responses (details may differ + depends on server configurations):

  • FLAGS (\Answered \Flagged \Deleted \Seen \Draft)

  • OK [PERMANENTFLAGS (\Answered \Flagged \Deleted \Seen \Draft *)] Flags permitted.

  • 1 EXISTS

  • 1 RECENT

  • OK [UIDVALIDITY 1106186941] UIDs valid

  • OK [UIDNEXT 2] Predicted next UID

b OK [READ-WRITE] Select completed.

  • FLAGS (\Answered \Flagged \Deleted \Seen \Draft)

  • OK [PERMANENTFLAGS (\Answered \Flagged \Deleted \Seen \Draft *)] Flags permitted.

  • 1 EXISTS

  • 1 RECENT

  • OK [UIDVALIDITY 1106186941] UIDs valid

  • OK [UIDNEXT 2] Predicted next UID

b OK [READ-WRITE] Select completed.

[4] To check other mailbox(es) if they exist,

  • type: c list "" *

If your other mailbox(es) exist, you shall see responses (details may differ + depends on server configurations):

  • LIST (\HasNoChildren) "." INBOX

c OK List completed (0.001 + 0.000 secs).

[5] To close the connection session and issue a graceful exit or logout:

  • type: e logout

you shall see responses:

  • BYE Logging out

e OK Logout completed (0.001 + 0.000 secs).

Connection closed by foreign host.

[END]