IMAP disconnected mode [1] exists for exactly this purpose. I run the free U. of
Washington IMAP server [2] on my Linux box at home. (If I needed to support a
large number of users, I'd probably run CMU's Cyrus [3] server instead.)
I connect to the IMAP server from any one of several IMAP clients on various
computers in various places. When it's convenient to remain connected, I read,
file, and delete email in online mode. When I need to work disconnected, I tell
my IMAP client to download the messages to my local machine, then disconnect and
go. While I'm disconnected, all of my reading, filing, and deleting is
remembered by the IMAP client. Next time I connect, the client plays the changes
back to the IMAP server as though I'd been connected the whole time. I never
have to read a message twice to file or delete it, as I did when I used a
traditional offline-mode POP client, and I never have to leave messages in my
ISP's pop drop.
My favorite online-mode IMAP client is UW's Pine [4]. I'm probably going to get
flamed mercilessly for this, but I have to admit that the best disconnected-mode
IMAP client I've used is Microsoft's Outlook Express [5] version 5.0. In
contrast to Netscape Messenger [6] version 4.7, it's intuitive to use
and--especially considering it's a Microsoft product--remarkably stable. I'm
hoping that Mozilla [7], once it's a little further along, will allow me to
ditch OE.
I can't end without mentioning a very nice IMAP client called IMP [8], a
web-based system built on Apache, PHP3, PHPLIB, any of several IMAP servers, and
a database such as MySQL. Though it can be a nightmare to install and configure,
once you get it running IMP is a pleasure to use, and it has the advantage that
you can get to your email from any web browser anywhere, with no email account
configuration required.
Hope this helps,
Roger
[1] See http://www.imap.org/imap.vs.pop.html
[2] ftp://ftp.cac.washington.edu/imap/imap.tar.Z
[3] http://asg.web.cmu.edu/cyrus/download/
[4] http://www.washington.edu/pine/
[5] http://www.microsoft.com/windows/oe/
[6] http://home.netscape.com/communicator/messenger/
[7] http://www.mozilla.org/
[8] http://www.horde.org/imp/
Quoting Bruce McCulley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
> I need help solving a problem, pointers to existing solutions will be
> most appreciated. Suggestions about developing a "roll your own"
> solution should consider that there is an existing commercial product
> that addresses this particular problem, and my desire is the solution
> not the exercise of developing it. Hold off on telling me to use the
> existing product until you read the problem statement below, please!.
>
> I want to keep my mail storage in sync between my laptop and several
> desktops at diverse locations. In other words, right now I'm at 35,000
> feet over New Mexico (plus or minus some imprecision) and my laptop
> doesn't have all the email messages that are on my system at home, but
> I'd like to reference them. I'm using Netscape as my email client, and
> I've got all but one system set to leave messages on the ISP server when
> I get them, so that one system presently sees all my traffic. I'd like
> to be able to sync all the systems, somehow. I don't mind paying for a
> commercial product although of course a free open source solution would
> be preferred.
>
> BTW, netscape isn't much help, literally. Their help model assumes net
> connectivity, which isn't valid when the seatback phone dataport costs
> $2.99/minute plus $2.99 to connect! That makes me suspect that their
> architecture isn't really geared to the disconnected user, so they may
> not be the best solution for my requirements.
>
> The one solution of which I'm presently aware is Micro$oft Outlook. If
> we can't offer anything equivalent I'd say our dissing the Gator's gang
> is not based on much of a foundation! So I'm really hoping someone will
> come up with a good suggestion for a comparable Linux solution!!!!
>
> THANKS!
>
> --Bruce McCulley
--
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