IMAP is a protocol that serves as a way to read mail on a remote host. IMAP is the successor to POP3 - IMAP, as you will find out, has many advantages over POP3.
With the previous PA Dept. VMS e-mail system, there were basically two ways to read your email: telnet to the server and read it directly from the server or use POP3 to download your mail to a local e-mail client. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. The first way was preferred by many because their mail was stored in a central location - they could telnet in from anywhere and see the same INBOX waiting for them. Some disliked this method because they were reluctant or did not have the time to learn VMS mail commands. The second method was also popular for a different reason, mainly ease of use. Netscape or any other e-mail client supporting POP3 could be used to read your e-mail. The major disadvantage was that with POP3, e-mail no longer was in a central location and using the email server from multiple locations causes mail to be retained on several different computers. This leaves the user's e-mail scattered in bits and pieces on every computer they use.
With the new system, IMAP and Pine, we have combined all the advantages of the old methods and combined them into two new methods! First we have upgraded the local client protocol from POP3 to IMAP and installed an easy to use, yet powerful, e-mail reader system on pads1.
IMAP shows significant improvement over POP3 in many arenas. The major improvement is that multiple local e-mail clients will all see the same INBOX. IMAP achieves this by keeping all e-mail on the server. When the client program (such as Netscape) wishes to view a message, IMAP gives it the text and Netscape shows it to you. The IMAP server still controls the message - the e-mail client simply asks the server to manipulate the folder. In essence you are controlling your INBOX (and other folders) remotely using IMAP.
As you may have guessed, IMAP allows you to control many folders at once - each folder residing on the server and controlled remotely. We will get more into this later.
The second method of retrieving e-mail is via telnet to the mail server. We have enhanced this method also. Now you can use Pine on the server. Pine replaces VMS and UNIX ``mail'' with a crisp easy to use interface and powerful features (such as IMAP). Note however that if you still wish to use UNIX mail, you can do so. The remainder of this document will describe how to use Pine on the mail server and how to use Pine locally with IMAP to retrieve email.