On Fri, 18 Dec 2015 16:33:14 -0500 (EST) Bob Bernstein <poo...@ruptured-duck.com> wrote:
> On Fri, 18 Dec 2015, Gene Heskett wrote: > > > A mailfile, as I understand it, is the whole thing merged into > > one file, with a blank line or something as a separator, and > > an index file containing the starting offset and read status > > of each message in the main file to speed up the search for > > new mail. > > Is that structure/function of the mailfile found only in > connection with certain specific MUA's, those which, for > example, might implement or somehow make use of it? > > I know about maildir, mbox and mh, but not mailfile. But don't > sweat this Gene; if I was really curious I'd google the goshdarn > thing! > > I was assuming that he meant the mbox format, which is/was pretty much universal before the widespread use of IMAP. Debian's default MTA exim4 uses mbox by default but is easy to switch to maildir. As I recall, and it's a few years ago now, that was the only reconfiguration needed on my server when I installed Courier IMAP. Otherwise, it all Just Worked, and has done so ever since. I don't believe dovecot was around then, it was a choice between Courier, Cyrus and UW, and I have no recollection at all of the reason for my choice. -- Joe