[Dovecot] Multiple Concurrent IMAP Connections For Same User

[Nigel Webber]

Hi

I've been using courier for some time, but have just built a new box and 
am using dovecot (V1.2.9), Ubuntu 10.04LTS. I have a question regarding 
multiple concurrent imap connections and how to get dovecot to behave in 
the same way that courier does. I have searched the wiki, but find 
little relevant to my specific issue.

Courier-Imap Behaviour

If I have thunderbird pointed at the 'Inbox' folder via IMAP, then 
connect another IMAP client to the same mail account (in this case an 
iPhone), and then delete an email using the iphone, then after a couple 
of seconds, the inbox shown by Thunderbird updates, removing the now 
deleted email. It does this without my having to touch Thunderbird.

Dovecot behaviour

Performing the same test on a different mailbox, this time hosted via 
Dovecot, I again see the two views, one in Thunderbird and one on the 
iPhone, but when I delete the email on the iPhone, the change is not 
reflected in the view on Thunderbird. If I select the email on 
Thunderbird, then it has no content. If I restart thunderbird, the 
deleted email is still shown. I have to delete (the already deleted) the 
email also in thunderbird before it finally dissapears.

How can I get the courier behaviour where the inbox in one email client 
automagically reflects the changes made to that inbox in another client? 
If I am better sticking to Courier to get this functionality, thats 
fine, but if I can configure the behaviour I desire and still retail the 
benefits of dovecot then thats even better!

Kind Regards

Nigel