# 📧 Dovecot Local Setup & IMAP Testing

## 📌 Overview

This project demonstrates the setup and validation of a local Dovecot IMAP server on Ubuntu.
It includes installation, configuration, authentication, and IMAP testing.

---

## 🧱 Installation

```bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install dovecot-core dovecot-imapd
```

---

## ⚙️ Configuration

Edit the mail configuration file:

```bash
sudo nano /etc/dovecot/conf.d/10-mail.conf
```

Update:

```ini
mail_location = maildir:~/Maildir
```

---

## 📁 Maildir Setup

```bash
mkdir -p ~/Maildir/{cur,new,tmp}
```

### Structure:

```text
Maildir/
 ├── cur/   # Read messages
 ├── new/   # New messages
 └── tmp/   # Temporary storage
```

---

## 🔄 Restart Service

```bash
sudo systemctl restart dovecot
```

---

## ✅ Check Status

```bash
systemctl status dovecot
```

📸 Output:
![Status](screenshots/dovecot-status.png)

---

## 🌐 Check Ports

```bash
sudo ss -tulpn | grep dovecot
```

Ports:

* 143 → IMAP
* 993 → IMAP SSL
![Status](screenshots/ports-check.png)

---

## 🔐 Authentication Test

**Credentials:**
- Username: `gebely`
- Password: `5095`

```bash
sudo doveadm auth test gebely 5095
```
📸 Output:
![Auth](screenshots/auth-test.png)

---

## 📡 IMAP Testing

```bash
openssl s_client -connect localhost:143 -starttls imap
```

Login:

```text
a login gebely 5095
```

---

## 📬 IMAP Commands

```text
b LIST "" "*"
c SELECT INBOX
d FETCH 1 BODY[]
```

📸 IMAP Session:
![IMAP](screenshots/imap-login.png)

---

## 🧠 Architecture

```text
Client → Dovecot → PAM → passwd → Maildir
```

---

## ⚙️ Configuration Summary

* Mail storage: Maildir
* Authentication: PAM
* User database: passwd
* Protocol: IMAP
* SSL enabled

---

## 🚨 Troubleshooting

### 1. Port already in use

```bash
sudo netstat -tulpn | grep 143
```

---

### 2. Network issue (VM)

* Enable VMware NAT
* Start VMware NAT Service

---

### 3. Authentication failure

* Check username/password
* Verify PAM configuration

---

## 🎯 Status

✅ Dovecot installed
✅ Maildir configured
✅ Authentication working
✅ IMAP tested successfully