Automatic mail processing
Introduction
There are several ways to process e-mail messages. Configuring KMail/Thunderbird/Evolution to download your POP3 e-mail isn't that difficult. But what if you wanted to view the same e-mail messages from different locations, automatically sort the messages and filter spam?
What this is about
This article explains how an IMAP server can be installed to meat the requirements above. It also reveals how messages can be filtered automatically without the intervention of an e-mail client. Afterall, you want to see the same messages in your e-mail client and webmail portal, don't you?
What this is not about
I won't be installing MySQL, SASL, or configure virtual domains with Postfix. That kind of magic falls behind the scope of this article. This article is written for home users like myself, willing to try out some interesting things and experiment with their systems.
Read on...
Sections
- Background
- An overview of the "normal pop3 way" of doing things, and how it can be done with IMAP.
- Software
- The required and optional software to create the processing chain.
- IMAP server setup
- The IMAP server will be configured so we know the e-mail can be accessed later.
- Mail client setup
- The e-mail client will be configured, to test the IMAP server.
- Download chain setup
- Once the e-mail client works, Getmail and Maildrop will be configured to download and filter e-mail.
- Automatic download
- With a fully configured chain, cron can be activated to download the e-mail automatically.
...that's it! I hope you like this tutorial, and any feedback or suggestions are welcome off course.