View source for CalMail conversion and Unix mail

This page describes how to use CalMail using tools similar to the Unix
mail program (mailx, generally accessed by typing "mail").

After conversion to CalMail on April 1, incoming mail will no longer be
stored on our system.  Instead, it will be stored on the CalMail server,
and will need to be accessed by a mail reader capable of using the '''IMAP'''
protocol.  The Unix mail program does not have this capability, so if
you are using this program then you will need to make some changes in
how you access your email.

This page describes two ways in which you will be able to handle your
email using the familiar '''mail''' program or workalikes.
(Of course, it is also possible to switch to a different mail client, or
to use CalMail's web interface.  In that case you should see the main
[[CalMail conversion]] wiki page.)

The first method of accessing mail involves a program called '''fetchmail''',
which copies your mail from the CalMail server into a file in your home
directory.  You then access the mail using the standard Unix '''mail'''
program (or any other mail program, for that matter).

In the other method, you use the "Gnu" version of the Unix '''mail''' program,
called '''gnumail'''.  It functions very similar to the original mail program,
but it is capable of using IMAP.  In that case, '''gnumail''' is able to treat
the CalMail server as if it were your inbox.

It is also possible to use both methods in combination with each other.

It should be noted, however, that the CalMail IMAP server for the math domain
will not be operational until after the transition, so you will not be able
to try out the methods described here until after April 1.  (If you have
access to another email account with an IMAP or POP server, however, you
will be able to experiment with that server.  Although the math
department has its own IMAP server, it is not recommended that you use
it to try things out.  It has a bad habit of corrupting users'
mailboxes, especially those with large amounts of incoming mail.)
(Note also that '''gnumail''' is currently installed only on Solaris machines
(such as '''blue1''' and '''blue3''').)

== Using fetchmail ==

Using the '''fetchmail''' program, you can copy your incoming mail from the
CalMail server to a file within your home directory, and then read mail using
your favorite mail client.

=== Initial setup ===

In the following descriptions, you should change '''''username''''' and
'''''password''''' to your Math login name and your CalMail password,
respectively.  It is highly recommended that you use a different password
for CalMail access than for logging in to the math system, since the
CalMail password will likely be stored in a file in your home directory,
and is vulnerable to being compromised.

After the transition, the directory '''/var/mail''', which is used for
storing users' inboxes, will no longer be available for that purpose.
Therefore, you should choose a file within your home directory to use
to hold incoming mail.  The following examples use a file name "inbox",
but you are free to change it to something else if you like.

In order for Unix mail to be able to find your new incoming mail box, you
need to set an environment variable.  To do this, add a line of the following
form to the file '''.cshrc''' in your home directory:
 setenv MAIL ~/inbox

Next, you need to provide '''fetchmail''' with the information it needs to
be able to access your CalMail account.  This is done by creating a file
named '''.fetchmailrc''' in your home directory.  This file should contain
the following:
 poll calmail.berkeley.edu username '''''username'''''@math.berkeley.edu pass '''''password'''''
   mda "procmail -f %F ORGMAIL=inbox DEFAULT=inbox"

Since this file contains your CalMail password, it should not be publicly
readable.  To make sure of this, use the following command:
 chmod 600 ~/.fetchmailrc

In your '''.fetchmailrc''' file, the '''mda''' line is very important.
Without it, your fetched mail will end up being sent back to CalMail,
and will likely end up being lost, since CalMail will recognize it as
already having been through their mail server once.  Be sure it is
exactly as given above (except for optionally changing your inbox).

== Using gnumail ==

The Gnu version of the Unix mail program is capable of directly accessing
your inbox on the CalMail server.  You can do this on an ''ad hoc'' basis
by naming the CalMail server directly on the command line:
 gnumail -f imaps://'''''username'''''%40math.berkeley.edu@calmail.berkeley.edu
As in the description of '''fetchmail''', you should replace '''''username'''''
with your math department login name.  After typing this command, '''gnumail'''
will prompt you for your CalMail password.

Typing the above command is a bit inconvenient.  It is recommended that if
you plan to use '''gnumail''' often, then you set up '''gnumail''' to access
your CalMail account by default.  To do this, create a file named '''.mail'''
in your home directory.  Its contents should be as follows:
 mailbox {
   mailbox-pattern "imaps://'''''username'''''%40math.berkeley.edu@calmail.berkeley.edu";
 }
You can also avoid having to type in your password every time, by placing it
in the '''.mail''' file:
 mailbox {
   mailbox-pattern "imaps://'''''username'''''%40math.berkeley.edu:'''''password'''''@calmail.berkeley.edu";
 }

[http://www.gnu.org/software/mailutils/manual/html_node/mail.html#mail Additional documentation]
on '''gnumail''' is available on the web.