[Dovecot] how to "authenticate plain" ???

Hello list,

my name is Steven and of course: I got a problem... we are using dovecot 0.99 because it´s the actual stable version for RedHat 4 Enterprise. I am trying to authenticate using "PLAIN" but I don´t know how. that´s what I am doing:

telnet conny.MYDOMAIN.de 143 Trying IP.AD.RE.SS... Connected to conny.MYDOMAIN.de. Escape character is '^]'.

• OK dovecot ready. a1 authenticate plain

a1 NO Authentication failed.

what do I have to send after receiving the "+"-symbol?

dovecot is waiting for something base64-encoded and I tried to give him by typing my username and pass and encrypted it here : http://www.php-einfach.de/base64_generator.php

But I don´t know the correct syntax and it drives me crazy....

thanks for ANY help

Steve

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