[Dovecot] how authentication works?

Manao ahoana, Hello, Bonjour, I've read: http://wiki.dovecot.org/Authentication/PasswordSchemes

I have a users database with clear plain passwords. Dovecot authenticates users without problems against it.

Now, it's time to move to CRYPT scheme.

Before that, I would like to know how things happen.

He have:

• the user, (entering his password in the MUA)
• the user's MUA (Thunderbird, Outlook, Squirrelmail,...)
• the POP or IMAP server
• the users database (mySQL) with username and crypt()'d password

How I think the process is:

• the user enters his password in a clear way.
• the MUA sends the password as the user entered it to the POP or IMAP server
• the POP or IMAP server fetches the password from the database
• the POP or IMAP server crypt()'s the user entered password
• the POP or IMAP server compares crypt()'d ones and gives his response

Am I close enough to reality? Too far?

Misaotra, Thanks, Merci.

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