IMAP protocol support in different email servers
- by raticulin
Having to interact with several different email servers via IMAP (using javamail), I have found that there is a very different level of support for IMAP features among them. The lack of support of some features has resulted in more developing time, more complicated code to deal with different support, worse perforamance due to not being able to SEARCH etc.
So I would like to get some info on other servers and what level of support they provide. So far I have dealt with Lotus Domino and Novell GroupWise (and to a lesser extend Exchange 2003 and 2007). I am particularly interested in most used one in unix/linux (Courier, Cyrus, Dovecot, UW IMAP) and also Zimbra, but feel free to add any you know. Also welcomed info about online services like gmail.
Features that I consider (comment if you are interested in others and I'll add them.
Custom flags
Searching Custom flags
Searching arbitrary headers
Partial fetching
Proxy authentication
And what I have found so far (correct if I am wrong anywhere):
Lotus Domino
Custom flags yes
Searching Custom flags yes
Searching arbitrary headers yes
Partial fetching ?
Proxy authentication sort of, you can give some user permissions to access other
users mailboxes and he will see them under his '\Other Users' folder
Novell GroupWise
Custom flags No
Searching Custom flags No
Searching arbitrary headers No
Partial fetching ?
Proxy authentication yes, you can use what is called a Trusted Application
