[Dovecot] Just trying to make dovecot work.

[Peter Snow]

Hi,

I have to say that Dovecot is certainly the most challenging piece of 
software I've ever had the pleasure of setting up (due mainly to the 
reams of largely unhelpful documentation). After 36 almost non-stop 
hours reading and trying, I finally end up here. :-)

I really would appreciate your help - and many thanks in advance!

***************************************************************

/var/log/dovecot.info.log
(showing unsuccessful login)

***************************************************************
Aug 04 21:32:36 auth: Debug: Loading modules from directory: 
/usr/lib64/dovecot/auth
Aug 04 21:32:36 auth: Debug: Module loaded: 
/usr/lib64/dovecot/auth/libauthdb_ldap.so
Aug 04 21:32:36 auth: Debug: Module loaded: 
/usr/lib64/dovecot/auth/libdriver_sqlite.so
Aug 04 21:32:36 auth: Debug: Module loaded: 
/usr/lib64/dovecot/auth/libmech_gssapi.so
Aug 04 21:32:36 auth: Debug: passwd-file /usr/local/etc/dovecot.passdb: 
Read 1 users
Aug 04 21:32:36 auth: Debug: auth client connected (pid=24769)
Aug 04 21:32:41 auth: Debug: client in: AUTH    1       PLAIN 
service=imap    securedlip=::1  rip=::1 lport=143 rport=52551     
resp=AHBldGVyAGZ1YXNpbjU0MTRz
Aug 04 21:32:41 auth: Debug: passwd-file(peter,::1): lookup: user=peter 
file=/usr/local/etc/dovecot.passdb
Aug 04 21:32:41 auth: Debug: client out: OK     1       user=peter
Aug 04 21:32:41 auth: Debug: master in: REQUEST 1417805825 24769   
1       44a3aec60ec6eaec6eff0efb99971eee
Aug 04 21:32:41 auth: Debug: master out: USER   1417805825 peter
Aug 04 21:32:41 imap-login: Info: Login: user=<peter>, method=PLAIN, 
rip=::1, lip=::1, mpid=24772, secured
***************************************************************
END
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***************************************************************

/var/log/dovecot.log
(showing unsuccessful login)

***************************************************************
Aug 04 21:32:41 IMAP(peter): Error: user peter: Couldn't drop 
privileges: User is missing UID (see mail_uid setting)
Aug 04 21:32:41 IMAP(peter): Error: Internal error occurred. Refer to 
server log for more information.
***************************************************************
END
***************************************************************




***************************************************************

dovecot -n

***************************************************************
# 2.0.9: /etc/dovecot/dovecot.conf
# OS: Linux 2.6.32-279.2.1.el6.x86_64 x86_64 CentOS release 6.3 (Final) ext4
auth_debug = yes
auth_debug_passwords = yes
auth_verbose = yes
disable_plaintext_auth = no
first_valid_uid = 1000
info_log_path = /var/log/dovecot.info.log
last_valid_uid = 5000
log_path = /var/log/dovecot.log
login_trusted_networks = 127.0.0.1
mail_debug = yes
mail_location = maildir:/var/mail/%u/Maildir
mail_log_prefix = "%Us(%u): "
passdb {
   args = /usr/local/etc/dovecot.passdb
   driver = passwd-file
}
protocols = imap
ssl = no
verbose_proctitle = yes
***************************************************************
END
***************************************************************





***************************************************************

/usr/local/etc/dovecot.passdb

***************************************************************
peter:{CRYPT}BrtgyyOEX33w6:1000:500:Peter Snow:/var/mail/peter::
***************************************************************
END
***************************************************************





***************************************************************

cat /etc/passwd | grep peter

***************************************************************
peter:x:1000:500::/home/peter:/sbin/nologin
***************************************************************
END
***************************************************************


Notes:
'peter' does not yet have a system password, since I'm testing this for 
users which will only be virtual users.
I made the password for 'peter' in the dovecot.passdb using "doveadm pw 
-s crypt" although once I've got it working I'd like to change the 
encryption to something as strong as possible - any suggestions please?

Hope you can help and many thanks.

Kind regards,

Peter