[Dovecot] Multiple private namespace question
(apologies if this has been covered, can't find it on the Wiki/FAQ, etc.)
We have a stellar, fantastic, hard working Dovecot 1.0.5 (yes, I need to upgrade) installation running in Courier-IMAP compatibility mode:
mail_location = maildir:~/Maildir:INDEX=/var/spool/dovecot/indexes/%1u/%u
namespace private { separator = . prefix = INBOX. inbox = yes }
A user purchased a Windows Mobile 6 device which is ignoring the namespace (it's the device's bug for sure, other people report it on forums around the 'net) and there's no way on this device to manually set the Prefix; so, his Sent mails are never making it back to the server when replying from the device because of the missing INBOX. issue.
Can I add a second hidden namespace with no prefix:
namespace private { separator = . prefix = hidden = yes }
...to fix his problem, but without adversely affecting anyone else? The issue that has given me pause is this comment in the config file:
"Default namespace is simply done by having a namespace with empty prefix."
..but then there's also:
"If namespace is hidden, it's not advertised to clients via NAMESPACE extension or shown in LIST replies."
I'm not sure what exactly will happen by adding a hidden namespace with no prefix after an advertised namespace with a prefix; this is a live server, so mucking up the works with a bad config is not an option. :)
Anyone have a clue if this is valid/good/correct and Dovecot will play nicely?
Many thanks, -te
-- Troy Engel | Systems Engineer Fluid, Inc | http://www.fluid.com
On 5/23/2008, Troy Engel (tengel@fluid.com) wrote:
Can I add a second hidden namespace with no prefix:
Certainly...
http://wiki.dovecot.org/Namespaces
--
Best regards,
Charles
Charles Marcus wrote:
On 5/23/2008, Troy Engel (tengel@fluid.com) wrote:
Can I add a second hidden namespace with no prefix:
Certainly...
See, the wiki page has it backwards though of the way I need to do it; the empty prefix namespace is the inbox = yes, not the hidden = yes. I'm giving pause because I can't find examples of anyone doing it the other way around; empty prefix, hidden = yes as NOT the default namespace (inbox = yes).
Have you run the reverse configuration like I need and can confirm it works?
thx, -te
-- Troy Engel | Systems Engineer Fluid, Inc | http://www.fluid.com
On 5/23/2008, Troy Engel (tengel@fluid.com) wrote:
Can I add a second hidden namespace with no prefix:
Certainly...
See, the wiki page has it backwards though of the way I need to do it; the empty prefix namespace is the inbox = yes, not the hidden = yes. I'm giving pause because I can't find examples of anyone doing it the other way around; empty prefix, hidden = yes as NOT the default namespace (inbox = yes).
Have you run the reverse configuration like I need and can confirm it works?
No, but there's no reason it wouldn't... a namespace is a namespace.
Easiest is to just try it...
--
Best regards,
Charles
Charles Marcus wrote:
No, but there's no reason it wouldn't... a namespace is a namespace.
Easiest is to just try it...
...I think you missed the whole part of my original email that stated this is a live, hard working server and "just trying things" is not an option. I'm normally a just-push-the-button type of guy, but in this case I need to get quantified evidence that it will actually do what I need without breaking other things.
-te
-- Troy Engel | Systems Engineer Fluid, Inc | http://www.fluid.com
On 5/23/2008, Troy Engel (tengel@fluid.com) wrote:
...I think you missed the whole part of my original email that stated this is a live, hard working server and "just trying things" is not an option. I'm normally a just-push-the-button type of guy, but in this case I need to get quantified evidence that it will actually do what I need without breaking other things.
No such thing as a guarantee. Only you know your environment, and only you can properly test such a change.
That said - the examples in the wiki are just that... *examples*.
There is absolutely ZERO reason I can see that it would NOT work. This isn't in the category of 'just trying things'... it really should just work.
I guess the closest thing to a guarantee you might get is if Timo chimes in and also says that it will work... so I'll shut up now.
--
Best regards,
Charles
On Fri, 2008-05-23 at 11:35 -0700, Troy Engel wrote:
Charles Marcus wrote:
On 5/23/2008, Troy Engel (tengel@fluid.com) wrote:
Can I add a second hidden namespace with no prefix:
Certainly...
See, the wiki page has it backwards though of the way I need to do it; the empty prefix namespace is the inbox = yes, not the hidden = yes. I'm giving pause because I can't find examples of anyone doing it the other way around; empty prefix, hidden = yes as NOT the default namespace (inbox = yes).
You can't really hide the empty namespace, because you want all clients to be able to list root mailboxes. But with some clients you'd want the LIST reply to list only INBOX (which has children) and with others you'd want it to list all mailboxes and INBOX without children. There's no way Dovecot could know which one the client wants.
But I don't think there are any problems if you make INBOX. namespace the hidden one. Most clients don't care about namespaces.
Timo Sirainen wrote:
But I don't think there are any problems if you make INBOX. namespace the hidden one. Most clients don't care about namespaces.
Hi Timo, thanks for the reply - I understand what you're saying. Can you theorize what will happen to the already configured/subscribed users (Thunderbird) whose tree looks like:
INBOX |_ Sent |_ Drafts
...when I would change the default namespace around and make the empty prefix inbox=yes? Would everything suddenly become "flat" on them and cause confusion? Ala:
INBOX Sent Drafts
Most Thunderbird instances already configured say "INBOX." under the setting of '(IMAP Account) -> Server Settings -> Advanced -> Personal Namespace'; I think this value is filled in automatically by Thunderbird the first time you configure the account and it queries the server and received the namespace advertisement.
Would it be correct to assume that all these existing users would be fine (because of the hidden INBOX prefix namespace, compatibility mode), and only new users would see a flat hierarchy when setting up Thunderbird?
Many thanks, -te
-- Troy Engel | Systems Engineer Fluid Inc. | http://www.fluid.com
On Sat, 2008-05-24 at 13:33 -0700, Troy Engel wrote:
Timo Sirainen wrote:
But I don't think there are any problems if you make INBOX. namespace the hidden one. Most clients don't care about namespaces.
Hi Timo, thanks for the reply - I understand what you're saying. Can you theorize what will happen to the already configured/subscribed users (Thunderbird) whose tree looks like:
INBOX |_ Sent |_ Drafts
...when I would change the default namespace around and make the empty prefix inbox=yes?
The INBOX should point to the same location with both namespaces, so it doesn't matter which one has inbox=yes.
Would everything suddenly become "flat" on them and cause confusion? Ala:
INBOX Sent Drafts
Isn't this how it already is if the INBOX. prefix is set? I thought mailboxes are shown under INBOX only if there was no prefix.
Would it be correct to assume that all these existing users would be fine (because of the hidden INBOX prefix namespace, compatibility mode), and only new users would see a flat hierarchy when setting up Thunderbird?
I'm not really an TB expert..
participants (3)
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Charles Marcus
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Timo Sirainen
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Troy Engel