New IMAP server in beta!

Geir · 22 Feb 2008, 04:51 AM

Our (new) new IMAP server is nearing completion and we'd like to invite a few users to help us test it and eliminate any remaining bugs.

Please note that this is a TEST phase, meaning that:

The server might behave unexpectedly and possibly (though unlikely) misplace messages/folders. You might therefore want to set up a trial account to test with.
Performance might not be comparable with a fully deployed server.

If you'd like to try it out, set up your IMAP client with imap.runbox.com on port 2143.

Please post any irregularities in this thread with as much information as possible, especially:

Which client you're using.
What action you performed.
Any error message displayed by the client.
Whether or not the error was reproduceable/consistent.

Thanks.

- Geir

kingofpenguins · 22 Feb 2008, 04:58 AM

Is it possible to use encryption (SSL) on this new beta server?

Geir · 22 Feb 2008, 05:08 AM

The test server is currently only running unencrypted on port 143, but we might add SSL before deployment.

- Geir

marc_otten · 22 Feb 2008, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geir

The test server is currently only running unencrypted on port 143, but we might add SSL before deployment.

- Geir

Hi Geir,

thanks for the information. I'd like to test the new IMAP-server. Are there any particular things that you want the testers to focus on?

Regards,
--Marc

robegusn · 23 Feb 2008, 05:57 AM

I just switched over and my first impression is that it seems faster than the old server.

The mail client I use is Thunderbird and I use IMAP exclusively except for checking my mail on third party computers (I use the web client). The idea of seeing the same thing whether I use the web client or IMAP is an important feature for me.

Robert

robegusn · 23 Feb 2008, 06:05 AM

I have used Thunderbird with Runbox, but I also used it for 2 years with our corporate mail server that was running Merak Mail.

Considering that I am in Canada and internet connectivity plays in to the picture, I cannot definitively pinpoint the issue, from a perception point of view, Runbox's IMAP offering may be slower than that of some commercial (of the shelf) mail servers.

Robert

carverrn · 23 Feb 2008, 10:10 PM

Sorry ... there seems to be a problem with the setup for external testing.

The server "bolivar.runbox.com : 143" still gets you to the old Courier IMAP server.

You can tell from the IMAP connect response if you use TELNET:

> TELNET bolivar.runbox.com 143
> * OK IMAP4 Ready penny 0002020b

That's the old Courier IMAP server response.

If it was the new Courier IMAP server it would respond with

* OK [CAPABILITY IMAP4rev1 UIDPLUS CHILDREN NAMESPACE THREAD=ORDEREDSUBJECT THREAD=REFERENCES SORT QUOTA IDLE STARTTLS] Courier-IMAP ready. Copyright 1998-2005 Double Precision, Inc. See COPYING for distribution information.

We will post new information once we get the setup issue addressed.

Regards,
Rich

che · 23 Feb 2008, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geir

The test server is currently only running unencrypted on port 143, but we might add SSL before deployment.

See below comment

Quote:

Originally Posted by carverrn

If it was the new Courier IMAP server it would respond with

* OK [CAPABILITY IMAP4rev1 UIDPLUS CHILDREN NAMESPACE THREAD=ORDEREDSUBJECT THREAD=REFERENCES SORT QUOTA IDLE STARTTLS] Courier-IMAP ready. Copyright 1998-2005 Double Precision, Inc. See COPYING for distribution information.

ROFL! So the new beta server supports encryption !?

Or does it announce something...

What version of courier imap is this? Not interested in testing an old & outdated version again...

Geir · 24 Feb 2008, 12:06 AM

Please use the following server information to test the new server:

imap.runbox.com port 2143

This should take you straight to the test server running the new Courier IMAP server.

- Geir

che · 24 Feb 2008, 12:09 AM

OK, I see:

* CAPABILITY IMAP4rev1 UIDPLUS CHILDREN NAMESPACE THREAD=ORDEREDSUBJECT THREAD=REFERENCES SORT QUOTA IDLE ACL ACL2=UNION

So no encryption :-( Is it really that hard to implement this from the beginning?

carverrn · 24 Feb 2008, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by che

What version of courier imap is this?

This version is 4.1.2. The old one was 0.37.3.

Regards,
Rich

COUME · 24 Feb 2008, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carverrn

This version is 4.1.2. The old one was 0.37.3.

Regards,
Rich

Hello Rich,

Will it be easier to upgrade to newer version in the future or is this version 4.1.2 tweaked a lot preventing easy upgrade?

Thanks
Ludo

carverrn · 24 Feb 2008, 09:19 PM

Hi Ludo,

The plan will be to keep the IMAP server updated as we go. It will probably be easier to apply Courier patches to our modified version than to update each Courier release with our changes.

Regards,
Rich

Geir · 24 Feb 2008, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by che

So no encryption :-( Is it really that hard to implement this from the beginning?

Probably not -- this is a test server so we've focused on other aspects thus far. We'll look into it...

- Geir

robegusn · 25 Feb 2008, 04:10 AM

I am seeing some weird behaviour.....

Folders underneath "Inbox" keep returning marked as "unread". I click on the folder and then everything returns to normal - all the messages are "read".

I have manually gone in to every folder to mark messages as "read" but the server seems to reset them back.

Under my IMAP server connections cache I had it set to 5 and the server complained. I reduce the number of connections down to 4 and the refusal to connect problem went away. How many simultaneous client connections are you planning to allow? Allowing 6 cached IMAP connections per user would help with client responsiveness.

Robert

22 Feb 2008, 04:51 AM	#1
Geir The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 2,938 Representative of: Runbox.com	New IMAP server in beta! Our (new) new IMAP server is nearing completion and we'd like to invite a few users to help us test it and eliminate any remaining bugs. Please note that this is a TEST phase, meaning that: The server might behave unexpectedly and possibly (though unlikely) misplace messages/folders. You might therefore want to set up a trial account to test with. Performance might not be comparable with a fully deployed server. If you'd like to try it out, set up your IMAP client with imap.runbox.com on port 2143. Please post any irregularities in this thread with as much information as possible, especially: Which client you're using. What action you performed. Any error message displayed by the client. Whether or not the error was reproduceable/consistent. Thanks. - Geir Last edited by Geir : 24 Feb 2008 at 12:07 AM. Reason: Updated server information.

23 Feb 2008, 05:57 AM	#5
robegusn Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 21	First impressions I just switched over and my first impression is that it seems faster than the old server. The mail client I use is Thunderbird and I use IMAP exclusively except for checking my mail on third party computers (I use the web client). The idea of seeing the same thing whether I use the web client or IMAP is an important feature for me. Robert

23 Feb 2008, 06:05 AM	#6
robegusn Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 21	Better but still seems sluggish I have used Thunderbird with Runbox, but I also used it for 2 years with our corporate mail server that was running Merak Mail. Considering that I am in Canada and internet connectivity plays in to the picture, I cannot definitively pinpoint the issue, from a perception point of view, Runbox's IMAP offering may be slower than that of some commercial (of the shelf) mail servers. Robert

23 Feb 2008, 10:10 PM	#7
carverrn Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 5,606 Representative of: Runbox.com	2008-02-23 Imap Test Server Update Sorry ... there seems to be a problem with the setup for external testing. The server "bolivar.runbox.com : 143" still gets you to the old Courier IMAP server. You can tell from the IMAP connect response if you use TELNET: > TELNET bolivar.runbox.com 143 > * OK IMAP4 Ready penny 0002020b That's the old Courier IMAP server response. If it was the new Courier IMAP server it would respond with * OK [CAPABILITY IMAP4rev1 UIDPLUS CHILDREN NAMESPACE THREAD=ORDEREDSUBJECT THREAD=REFERENCES SORT QUOTA IDLE STARTTLS] Courier-IMAP ready. Copyright 1998-2005 Double Precision, Inc. See COPYING for distribution information. We will post new information once we get the setup issue addressed. Regards, Rich

24 Feb 2008, 12:06 AM	#9
Geir The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 2,938 Representative of: Runbox.com	Important update Please use the following server information to test the new server: imap.runbox.com port 2143 This should take you straight to the test server running the new Courier IMAP server. - Geir

22 Feb 2008, 04:58 AM	#2
kingofpenguins Essential Contributor Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 265	Is it possible to use encryption (SSL) on this new beta server?

22 Feb 2008, 05:08 AM	#3
Geir The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 2,938 Representative of: Runbox.com	The test server is currently only running unencrypted on port 143, but we might add SSL before deployment. - Geir

24 Feb 2008, 12:09 AM	#10
che Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 58	OK, I see: * CAPABILITY IMAP4rev1 UIDPLUS CHILDREN NAMESPACE THREAD=ORDEREDSUBJECT THREAD=REFERENCES SORT QUOTA IDLE ACL ACL2=UNION So no encryption :-( Is it really that hard to implement this from the beginning?

24 Feb 2008, 09:19 PM	#13
carverrn Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 5,606 Representative of: Runbox.com	Hi Ludo, The plan will be to keep the IMAP server updated as we go. It will probably be easier to apply Courier patches to our modified version than to update each Courier release with our changes. Regards, Rich

25 Feb 2008, 04:10 AM	#15
robegusn Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 21	Thunderbird weirdness with new IMAP server I am seeing some weird behaviour..... Folders underneath "Inbox" keep returning marked as "unread". I click on the folder and then everything returns to normal - all the messages are "read". I have manually gone in to every folder to mark messages as "read" but the server seems to reset them back. Under my IMAP server connections cache I had it set to 5 and the server complained. I reduce the number of connections down to 4 and the refusal to connect problem went away. How many simultaneous client connections are you planning to allow? Allowing 6 cached IMAP connections per user would help with client responsiveness. Robert