Installing and configuring dovecot IMAP/POP3 server

The Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) is one of the two most prevalent Internet standard protocols for e-mail retrieval. Dovecot is an open source IMAP.

• IMAP host FQDN: mail1.dev.local, ip: 192.168.10.11, DNS alias: mail.dev.local
• Mailbox type: Maildir
• Mail location: /var/mail/<user>
• Communication: Only secure, TLS/SSL
• Protocol: TCP.

List of ports used for dovecot

• Imap - 143
• Pop3 - 110
• Imaps - 995
• Pop3s - 993

Step by step for configuration of dovecot:


Installing the dovecot
# yum install -y dovecot


Modify the configurtions file
# vim /etc/dovecot/dovecot.conf


Uncomment the line to enable the following protocols(imap, pop3)
protocols=imap,pop3


Mail directory
mail_location = maildir:/var/mail/%u


Save the configuration file
:wq


Check whether the port number is exits or not
# netstat -ntlp | grep 143
# netstat -ntlp | grep 110


Restart the dovecot service
# service dovecot restart


Start the service at boot time
# chkconfig dovecot on

Check whether the port number is exits or not

# netstat -ntlp | grep 143

# netstat -ntlp | grep 110

Test mail access

# mutt -f imap://username@servername

# mutt -f pop3://username@servername