POP3 vs. IMAP

[JasterMereel]

Ok, I am going to attempt to install postfix on my server to get email. I was wondering what to use: POP3 or IMAP. Does anyone have any pros or cons to using one over the other? Right now, my school email is POP, if that matters to you at all. Thanks.

Jaster Mereel

[neffu]

POP is definitely the more popular protocol so you would have an abundance of mail clients and configuration literature if that is an important factor.

I have taken the road less traveled and configured my home mail server and clients for IMAP. IMAP automatically keeps the mail on the server(unless user deletes it) you can create folders directly on the mail server sort of like Exchange(when configured properly). Thus allowing for roaming access to all your mail from any client on the network. The downside is that not as many mail clients support IMAP. I use Netscape Messenger and have even tried it with Outlook express. Since I dual boot regularly and hop from client to client I really enjoy the roaming access...no local personal folders to deal with...using Netscape messenger in Linux and Windows my access is virtually identical.

You can have both pop and imap running at the same time on your linux mail server. Just be forewarned when using POP it automatically downloads the messages off the server and unto your local client, unless you explicitely configure your mail client to keep any messages on the server. If you're a dual booter or roamer like myself this makes managing your mail more of a headache.

Hope this helps.