[Dovecot] The case of the disappearing INBOX's - upgrade to 1.1.1 from 1.0.7 and based on Email client type

[Jack Stewart]

Hi,

I apologize if this has already been answered. I looked for an identical 
message but had no luck. I'm also not convinced this is a bug or if it 
is a bug that I want it fixed. The problem gives me a great reason to 
change our configuration to something more modern.

Here is the situation. Our 1.0.7 configuration has the following, and 
only, namespace definition.

namespace private {
   separator = .
   prefix = Mail.
   inbox = yes
}

This configuration was implemented years ago in order to simplify the 
upgrade from mail spool to IMAP for people who use mutt and pine.

The interesting part is that after upgrading to 1.1.1, the INBOX would 
disappear from Thunderbird after clicking on a different folder. Now 
mutt worked just fine, which was even worse. Changing the configuration 
so that the INBOX appeared on Thunderbird caused the INBOX to disappear 
(or be unreachable) on mutt. After trying multiple configurations with 
every permutation, and making several wall dents with my forehead, I 
finally found this configuration.

namespace private {
   separator = .
   prefix = INBOX.
   inbox = yes
   hidden = no
   list = yes
}
namespace private {
   separator = .
   prefix = Mail.
   hidden = yes
   list = no
}

For the most part, this works just fine. INBOX appears for every client 
I've tested and the migration is largely transparent. The only time I 
found issues is when the Trash, Sent, etc. folders were manually 
specified in a GUI client such as Thunderbird.

Still the real question remains. Is this supposed to happen? If so, what 
are some of the reasons?

Naturally my management would prefer that the original configuration 
works the same so that things are transparent. Personally, the second 
configuration feels better to me especially on a going forward basis.

Thanks in advance for any answers or hints.

---Jack

--
Jack Stewart
jstewart at caltech.edu
http://www.imss.caltech.edu