[Dovecot] Unable to get Dovecot LDA/deliver working

[Daniel Luttermann]

Frank van Amsterdam wrote on 18.07.2010:

> I want to setup Dovecot LDA, but I don't understand what I'm doing anymore.
> I have to note that I'm a Linux beginner. I've been trying now for several
> months and I'm about to give up. Till so far I'm having no result. :-(

> My current setup is done as described at http://www.linuxmail.info. We use
> Postfix 2.3.3 (with Postgrey, Spamassassin and ClamAV), Dovecot 1.2.11 and
> OpenLDAP 2.4.1 on CentOS 5.5. All incoming e-mail are delivered by Postfix
> in the users' maildir. We use this as a base for SOGo, our groupware 
> solution and it runs smoothly.

> I have to setup a new mailserver, because we're standardising on Debian. My
> employer wants to have new functions like out-of-office-replies and 
> forwarding. I want to make use of sieve. Unfortunately I don't know anyone
> who can help me.

If you would like to use Sieve you should use the Dovecot LDA instead
of the Postfix LDA "virtual". You can also use the ManageSieve service
so that users can create their own Sieve scripts. Some clients
supports it like Horde Ingo, Thunderbird with plugin...

When you use Debian (Lenny) you should use Dovecot from backports
(current: 1.2.11) instead of the stable repository.

The Postfix version that comes with Debian Lenny (2.5.5) is OK so it's
not needed to update.

I think the easiest way to implement the Dovecot LDA is to use
virtual_transport or transport_maps if you use "virtual" users or
within mailbox_command for system users - but this depends on your
environment/configuration.

> My problem is that I don't understand how the delivery process is working.
> I've read much documentation from Postfix and Dovecot, but I find it too
> difficult to understand.

Hmm, there's not much to say about that... If you use virtual_tranport
or transport_maps then Postfix sends the mail to the Dovecot LDA. The
Dovecot LDA handles further delivery of the mail.

> What do I understand? I know that I have to make changes in /etc/dovecot,
> /etc/postfix/main.cf and /etc/postfix/master.cf as described at 
> http://wiki.dovecot.org/LDA.

For Postfix all relevant informations are here:
http://wiki.dovecot.org/LDA/Postfix


--
Daniel