Topic: IMAP/Horde robustness question

[MSmith]

One of my clients is a print shop that relies heavily on one email address.  They have one machine now that is the repository for the email; it's all stored in Outlook Express (ugh, I know, but that's what they wanted).

What I'm interested in doing is setting up an SME 7 server specifically to receive, sanitize & hold those emails.  How good is SME's IMAP server at handling 10 or so people accessing the same mailbox concurrently?  (Obviously they wouldn't be able to access the same *message* concurrently -- or would they?)

Next part of this question:  would folders created in Horde webmail be reflected in the IMAP client on the workstations?

Thoughts welcomed, with thanks.

[MSmith]

Okay, maybe it was a stupid question but not even a reply saying it was a stupid question?  Oh well.

[neildavidson]

In our office we have roughly the same setup as you are talking about, and no problems.

We have 8 users who all access the same IMAP mailbox and I've never seen any problems (and yes, everyone can read the same message at the same time!)

As far as I know, Horde just creates standard IMAP folders so these should show up in Outlook (yuk) or Thunderbird or any other IMAP mail client.

I'm hoping to move our office onto having separate users and email accounts soon - it just makes sense (although I can understand the concerns that people have about making that move)

Hope this helps,

Neil

[Tib]

MSmith

As far as I'm concerned any question is a valid question ...

OK ... We have 25 users all with IMAP setup through Outlook as well as Thunderbird ... a few e-mail addresses are accessed by 4 ppl ... and have not had problems with reading/sending mail ... although those e-mail addresses are not high usage ones.

Even though the setup is IMAP the e-mails are still held locally as well ... the email prog of choice syncs to the server and downloads the mail locally.

Any folders that are created on you mail client or through horde are one and the same at the end. that is the other reason we have IMAP ... we have a few ppl that require access after hrs and require all there e-mails ... sent as well as recieved.

One thing that does not transfer are the contacts and calendar etc .... maybe load open exchange for that feature with the OXtender loaded.

You can also setup a global calendar using the WebDav setup ... this calendar can be accessed with Thunderbird ... Outlook cannot access the WebDav.

The only small annoyance with IMAP is the occasional message that the server has dissconected etc but as soon as you click on the mail etc all is fine ... this message I have only noticed through Outlook and not Thunderbird.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Tib

[Tib]

MSmith

I forgot to mention .... To see all the folders you have to subscribe to the mail server.

Once you have setup your user just right click on the main name and click on subscribe ... in Thunderbird ... or IMAP Folders on Outlook then Query and the rest you can work out.


Regards,

Tib

[MSmith]

Thanks neildavidson & Tib ... calendar & contacts are not necessary, just email w/file attachments.  I'll offer this to them and see if they're interested; if so I'll report back how well it works out.