# 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 <yourserver>: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 <username> 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]