[Dovecot] Non-dovecot user looking for feedback

[Chris Ross]

  I've been using UW-IMAPd for neigh on forever (at least since 2001).  But, as it's basically stalled, and I'm about to update the hardware that is my mail server, I thought it was time to review existing open-source IMAP servers.  Dovecot is the top three in my looking.

  The other of the top three candidates, because I know of people who've used it, is Cyrus IMAP.  So, I should note that my thoughts are "uw-imapd, because I already know how to use it", "Cyrus, because someone I know/trust liked it years ago", and dovecot, because "it seems stable, professional, and to meet all of my needs".

  I guess the biggest question I have is how files/folders are stored in the filesystem.  uw-imapd has a "mbx" format that all of my folders are in, and also has support for mbox and maildir (i think).  mbx had some advantages for speed access, which would be unimportant I assume with dovecot's indexes, but IIRC there was also some reason the mbox format coped poorly with multiple clients accessing the same folder at the same time.

  So, am I right that dovecot supports only the "one big full file" mbox format, and the maildir format?  And if so, is it known to allow multiple simultaneous IMAP clients to access and monitor and/or modify the same folder simultaneously?

  After those questions, it's just a "what do you think the pros and cons of each are?"  I know asking in this forum, that I will get most if not all votes for Dovecot. And that's fine, as long as you have specific reasons why it would be better for someone with only a handful of users and minimal time available to administer the systems in question.

  Thanks!  I appreciate any and all feedback.

                         - Chris