For those new to mail servers you are faced with a slew of
new acronyms - POP3, SMTP, IMAP etc. What does it all mean? This
article helps take the mystery out of mail server software features and explains
that mail servers are actually collections of smaller servers.
POP3: (Post
Office Protocol, Version 3).A protocol, or set of rules, by which a client
machine can retrieve mail from a mail server.
SMTP: Simple
Mail Transfer Protocol.A server-to-server protocol for delivering electronic
mail.The standard protocol used on the Internet; also used on other TCP/IP
networks.
IMAP: Internet Message Access Protocol.A protocol that allows a user to
perform certain electronic mail functions on a remote server rather than on a
local computer.Through IMAP the user can create, delete, or rename mailboxes;
get new messages; delete messages; and perform search functions on mail.A
separate protocol is required for sending mail.Also called Internet Mail Access
Protocol.
For most users the SMTP and POP3 servers would be used
to send and receive email. IMAP can be used in place of POP3 to handle and
manage mail server side, instead of downloading it to the mail client.
Today, all popular mail server products come with all 3 servers and many come
with additional helper services such as LDAP (to track user information), finger
/ whois to get user details and see when they last checked mail, and more.
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