* [https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Dovecot Dovecot Community Documentation]* [https://www.debian-administration.org/article/275/Setting_up_an_IMAP_server_with_dovecot Setting up an IMAP Server with Dovecot]

You may ask yourself, ''"why not install on VM2 machine, since we used the VM2 machine in the previous lab?"''. The reason for this approach is to separate the two types of services: '''IMAP''' vs '''POP3'''.

We The reason for this (described in the previous lab) was that you will be able to send email out of your network, and receive email from within your network, but you will begin by using the existing '''Postfix<u>not</u>''' service on receive email from outside of your network due to the following reasons::* Individuals outside of your domain will never find the MX records because there are no '''VM3.org''' machine, then add an Local Delivery Agent servers pointing to your DNS server (i.e. you haven'''LDA'''t paid for it) by installing .:* Even if the individuals could read your MX records, your local network is using IP addresses on a '''dovecot-ldaprivate subnet''' package, configure which is not routeable on the Internet, so it, and test ti to make sure that is is working correctlycannot be reached from outside of your system.

 In this lab, we will begin by using the existing '''Postfix''' service on your '''VM3''' machine, then add an Local Delivery Agent ('''LDA''') by installing the '''dovecot-lda''' package on VM3, configure it, and test it to make sure that is is working correctly. Finally, we will set up an '''IMAP''' server (Dovecot) on VM3, so you can read your email from an MUA such as ''Thunderbird'' or a ''Webmail'' (we will set up a webmail application in a later lab).

Perform the following stepson VM 3:

Postfix is capable of performing the function of an LDA, but its LDA capabilities are limited, thus postfix is generally not used for that purpose. Currently, the most popular LDA is ''LMTP'', but we will be installing, configuring , and using an LDA called '''Dovecot''' since it is also popular and we will later be setting up Dovecot as an '''IMAP''' server. Using both Postfix and Dovecot will actually increase the performance of our IMAP server.

#Dovecott Dovecot is not installed when you installed your Virtual machines in previous labs.#Install the Dovecott Dovecot application by issuing the following command:<br>yum install dovecot-lda

<ol><li value="5">Restart your postfix service. Note that dovecot-lda is just a program invoked by Postfix, it doesn't have an associated service.</li></ol>

#Use the '''netstat''' and '''telnet''' commands (like you did in lab 4b) to confirm your service is listening on the correct ports/interfaces. You will probably have to open the appropriate firewall port on '''vm3''' to allow incoming '''SMTP''' connections.<br><br>'''Note:''' You should be able to send email to any regular user <u>on</u> '''vm3''' using the email address '''yourusername@yoursenecaid.org''' using the Thunderbird application on your host machine (which is configured to use the account on your vm2 machine).<br><br>

<ol><li value="3">We still haven't set up IMAP (for reading email) but we can test that the message is being delivered. Use the new account in Thunderbird to send an email to '''firstname@yoursenecaid.org ''' and then check the contents of '''/home/firstname/Maildir/new/ ''' on your '''vm3''' machine. - there There should be a file there with the contents of your email.</li><li>If there isn't one - is no file, then check the log file '''/var/log/maillog ''' to see what went wrong.</li><li>If you can see a file in the '''/home/firstname/Maildir/new/''' directory, then review the procedures on how you got it - this is a good time to stop the email server working (since you have performed many steps and ponder how it all worked. You've gone through setting set up a lot of many services). Look at </li><li>Refer to the diagram at the top of the page - which this lab. Which services have you currently set up?Record your findings in your lab Logbook.</li></ol> {{Admon/important |Encountering error messages when sending email|If you cannot properly receive sent e-mail messages, check the '''/var/log/syslog''' file for errors.<br><br> If you locate an error message in that file such as: '''Fatal: Error reading configuration: Invalid settings...''', then add the following <u>parameter</u> in '''/etc/dovecot/dovecot.conf''':<br>'''postmaster_address at DOMAIN''' (where DOMAIN is actually <u>your</u> domain).<br><br>After you have saved those changes, then '''restart''' your dovecot service.}}

# Restart dovecot so the changes take effect.#Try to connect to your IMAP server with Thunderbird - click by clicking on your '''Inbox'''.# If nothing seems to happen - happens, then check the Thunderbird Activity Manager for any errors. #If the connection is successful - , you should see a the '''Trash show up ''' box <u>appear</u> below Inbox.# Finally - , send an email message from '''yoursenecaid@yoursenecaid.org ''' to '''yoursenecaid@yoursenecaid.org ''' using the Thunderbirdapplication. The mail message should go out be sent without errors, and you should see notice a '''Sent ''' folder appear in the list. If all worked well, and you should see your message arrive in the inbox. If all '''Inbox''' and you know that happend - your setup is correctconfiguration works correctly.  '''Record steps, commands, and your observations in this INVESTIGATION in your OPS335 lab log-book''' 

#What is the purpose of the '''Dovecot''' package?# What is the purpose of the '''mydestination''' parameter contained in the '''/etc/postfix/main.cf''' file?# Why are '''IMAP''' and '''POP''' email servers placed on separate machines (vms)?# What is the purpose of the '''mail_location''' parameter contained in the '''/etc/dovecot/conf.d/10-mail.conf''' file?