dovecot - Nov 2012 - Android ICS stock client and IMAP Capability issue.

Hi,

 My setup:
Dovecot 2 latest, installed to replace courrier IMAP, and off course configured
with the dot separator and all folder under INBOX.*.

The problem:
My phone was driving me mad during the test, due that it will only recognize
Inbox.

How found the solution:
I've started sniffing IMAP traffic on my server and ended up with one
difference:
On courier it ask for namespace, on dovecot it won't.

 I gives a better look, and noticed that courier show namespace capability on
prelogin banner, adding it too solved the problem.

Reason:
Android ICS stock client seems do not honor the capability gived after the
login.

Request:
Maybe is possible to put namespace capability in prelogin banner for the next
version?
That will solve trouble with a setup like the mine and android stock email
client.

Thank you,
Best regards 
Sent from Galaxy Nexus

At  6AM +0100 on  6/11/12 you (Massimiliano Cianelli)
wrote:
> Hi,
> 
>  My setup:
> Dovecot 2 latest, installed to replace courrier IMAP, and off course
> configured with the dot separator and all folder under INBOX.*.
> 
> The problem:
> My phone was driving me mad during the test, due that it will only
> recognize Inbox.
> 
> How found the solution:
> I've started sniffing IMAP traffic on my server and ended up with one
> difference:
> On courier it ask for namespace, on dovecot it won't.
> 
>  I gives a better look, and noticed that courier show namespace
>  capability on prelogin banner, adding it too solved the problem.
> 
> Reason:
> Android ICS stock client seems do not honor the capability gived after
> the login.
See http://wiki2.dovecot.org/Upgrading/2.0?highlight=%28capability%29 ;
you need to set imap_capability and/or get your client fixed.

Ben

Hello,

My phone:
Android ics 4.1.2 on galaxy nexus. 
And yes, stock mean the default client that come with the os in IMAP mode.

I already know about that configuration parameter, but it will display two time
namespace in postlogin capabilities, and so I like much more to adjust the
source code to fix the issue.

Yes there is k9 but I didn't like it too much, I prefer the stock client and
is much important to keep compatibility with stock client then user-installed
client.

About the issue on Google code, there is thr issue on google code...  but Google
is a lot slow in fixing those things.
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=1811

In a few hour I'll update the issue noticing where is hidden the problem.

Regards
Sent from Galaxy Nexus

Robert Schetterer <rs at sys4.de> ha scritto:
>Am 06.11.2012 07:08, schrieb Ben Morrow:
>> At  6AM +0100 on  6/11/12 you (Massimiliano Cianelli) wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>>  My setup:
>>> Dovecot 2 latest, installed to replace courrier IMAP, and off
course
>>> configured with the dot separator and all folder under INBOX.*.
>>>
>>> The problem:
>>> My phone was driving me mad during the test, due that it will only
>>> recognize Inbox.
>>>
>>> How found the solution:
>>> I've started sniffing IMAP traffic on my server and ended up
with one
>>> difference:
>>> On courier it ask for namespace, on dovecot it won't.
>>>
>>>  I gives a better look, and noticed that courier show namespace
>>>  capability on prelogin banner, adding it too solved the problem.
>>>
>>> Reason:
>>> Android ICS stock client seems do not honor the capability gived
after
>>> the login.
>> 
>> See http://wiki2.dovecot.org/Upgrading/2.0?highlight=%28capability%29 ;
>> you need to set imap_capability and/or get your client fixed.
>> 
>> Ben
>> 
>
>Hi, first ,what is the exact meaning of
>
>"Android ICS stock client"
>
>do you mean default included email client in standard android in imap
>mode, when yes, which version of Android , i like to test my own
>however is there changelog/code etc at google for this behave?
>
>conf example
>
># Override the IMAP CAPABILITY response. If the value begins with
'+',
>  # add the given capabilities on top of the defaults (e.g. +XFOO XBAR).
>  #imap_capability >
>setting stuff here might be complex , or lead to trouble with other
>clients, if setting this might fix problems ,with clients it should be
>advised in the wiki/example-conf and/or Timo
>
>or the other way ,for massive used clients there should be
>a seperate workaround section in the conf
>
>But fixing behave clients should be prime option anyway
>
>Meanwhile use K9mail in Android as best free option in imap mode servers
>
>Best Regards
>MfG Robert Schetterer
>
>-- 
>[*] sys4 AG
>
>http://sys4.de, +49 (89) 30 90 46 64
>Franziskanerstra?e 15, 81669 M?nchen
>
>Sitz der Gesellschaft: M?nchen, Amtsgericht M?nchen: HRB 199263
>Vorstand: Patrick Ben Koetter, Axel von der Ohe, Marc Schiffbauer
>Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender: Joerg Heidrich

Hi,

Yes w/o prefix work as expected, try to add a prefix like courier does (eg.
Inbox.) It will not work as expected.

Due I'm upgrading an old installed server, I've to keep everything as
much transparent I can... it includes IMAP folder and subscription.

Looking at that I've encountered that issue, and analyzed for fix it (thank
you open source), not everyone will want to use/use k9.. but you can be 100%
sure the stock client is there.

Due that Google act like BlackBerry, Microsoft,etc.. (hovewer they will not fix
it soon, or really respect the rfc), it's much simple add Namespace on
prelogin banner then wait or have to tell someone to install another client for
that mailbox.

I didn't know the history, but looking at change log seems that idle as been
put back to prelogin client for some kind of compatibility with their service.

Anyway, the most important reason that got me to subscribe the mailing list for
write those emails, is share with the community that problem and provide a
solution.. for someone in the future that have the same problem and will search
on internet for a solution (like I've does.. before analyze it on my own).

If the workaround will be added to the wiki or will be put in the source.. the
important thing is that there is a solution simple and fast (two.. the  source
modify, and the configuration file) and someone can find it..

(Sarcastic) And if the mayans were right we can't wait for google to fix it
:p

Best Regards
Sent from Galaxy Nexus

Robert Schetterer <rs at sys4.de> ha scritto:
>Am 07.11.2012 08:13, schrieb Massimiliano Cianelli:
>> Hello,
>> 
>> My phone:
>> Android ics 4.1.2 on galaxy nexus. 
>> And yes, stock mean the default client that come with the os in IMAP
mode.
>> 
>> I already know about that configuration parameter, but it will display
two time namespace in postlogin capabilities, and so I like much more to adjust
the source code to fix the issue.
>> 
>> Yes there is k9 but I didn't like it too much, I prefer the stock
client and is much important to keep compatibility with stock client then
user-installed client.
>> 
>> About the issue on Google code, there is thr issue on google code... 
but Google is a lot slow in fixing those things.
>> http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=1811
>> 
>> In a few hour I'll update the issue noticing where is hidden the
problem.
>> 
>> Regards
>> Sent from Galaxy Nexus
>
>Hi , i shortly tested this with android sdk jelly bean 4.1.1 and "my
>setup" dovecot 2.1.10 with included orginal android mail app in imap
mode,
>,leaving IMAP prefix blank, everything works as expected, no double
>shown inbox, namespace problems etc
>so you might have to fit your namespace setup.
>Also you might follow allready given advice from here.
>
>Anyway , i understand you using "stock client"
>but you have to understand that the producers of mail clients
>optimize their stuff fitting best in their own server structure
>making money with it, therefor their motivation coding better imap code
>is not very high, same case is for outlook and microsoft
>however, i would say, fixing bugs is on the google site here, looks like
>there is patch
>at
>http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=1811
>and the issue seems long known
>
>i dont see any hard relation to dovecot in this case
>meanwhile using k9mail seems the best way to workaround
>there are lots of other bugs around android versions
>over the years i dont expect google to fix them
>
>
>> 
>> Robert Schetterer <rs at sys4.de> ha scritto:
>> 
>>> Am 06.11.2012 07:08, schrieb Ben Morrow:
>>>> At  6AM +0100 on  6/11/12 you (Massimiliano Cianelli) wrote:
>>>>> Hi,
>>>>>
>>>>>  My setup:
>>>>> Dovecot 2 latest, installed to replace courrier IMAP, and
off course
>>>>> configured with the dot separator and all folder under
INBOX.*.
>>>>>
>>>>> The problem:
>>>>> My phone was driving me mad during the test, due that it
will only
>>>>> recognize Inbox.
>>>>>
>>>>> How found the solution:
>>>>> I've started sniffing IMAP traffic on my server and
ended up with one
>>>>> difference:
>>>>> On courier it ask for namespace, on dovecot it won't.
>>>>>
>>>>>  I gives a better look, and noticed that courier show
namespace
>>>>>  capability on prelogin banner, adding it too solved the
problem.
>>>>>
>>>>> Reason:
>>>>> Android ICS stock client seems do not honor the capability
gived after
>>>>> the login.
>>>>
>>>> See
http://wiki2.dovecot.org/Upgrading/2.0?highlight=%28capability%29 ;
>>>> you need to set imap_capability and/or get your client fixed.
>>>>
>>>> Ben
>>>>
>>>
>>> Hi, first ,what is the exact meaning of
>>>
>>> "Android ICS stock client"
>>>
>>> do you mean default included email client in standard android in
imap
>>> mode, when yes, which version of Android , i like to test my own
>>> however is there changelog/code etc at google for this behave?
>>>
>>> conf example
>>>
>>> # Override the IMAP CAPABILITY response. If the value begins with
'+',
>>>  # add the given capabilities on top of the defaults (e.g. +XFOO
XBAR).
>>>  #imap_capability >>>
>>> setting stuff here might be complex , or lead to trouble with other
>>> clients, if setting this might fix problems ,with clients it should
be
>>> advised in the wiki/example-conf and/or Timo
>>>
>>> or the other way ,for massive used clients there should be
>>> a seperate workaround section in the conf
>>>
>>> But fixing behave clients should be prime option anyway
>>>
>>> Meanwhile use K9mail in Android as best free option in imap mode
servers
>>>
>>> Best Regards
>>> MfG Robert Schetterer
>>>
>>> -- 
>>> [*] sys4 AG
>>>
>>> http://sys4.de, +49 (89) 30 90 46 64
>>> Franziskanerstra?e 15, 81669 M?nchen
>>>
>>> Sitz der Gesellschaft: M?nchen, Amtsgericht M?nchen: HRB 199263
>>> Vorstand: Patrick Ben Koetter, Axel von der Ohe, Marc Schiffbauer
>>> Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender: Joerg Heidrich
>
>
>
>Best Regards
>MfG Robert Schetterer
>
>-- 
>[*] sys4 AG
>
>http://sys4.de, +49 (89) 30 90 46 64
>Franziskanerstra?e 15, 81669 M?nchen
>
>Sitz der Gesellschaft: M?nchen, Amtsgericht M?nchen: HRB 199263
>Vorstand: Patrick Ben Koetter, Axel von der Ohe, Marc Schiffbauer
>Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender: Joerg Heidrich