Zimbra as an IMAP client with remote mail server

[MichaelL]

Bonjour,

Here is what I am trying to setup with ZCS : I would like Zimbra web UI (installed on zimbra.example.com server) to access external mailboxes located on remote Postfix server(s) (let's call it remote.example.com).

To test the solution, I have created a user and I attached him an external account. All is right : the external account has it's own folder, it can get e-mail from IMAP mailbox on remote.example.com and it can send e-mail via that server (added zimbra.example.com IP in remote Postfix "mynetworks").

The problem : it seems that Zimbra external account can only "read" the distant IMAP mailbox. When I save a draft of send an e-mail, it is never written into the IMAP server, only as Zimbra local data.

So, please, is it possible for Zimbra to act as a standard client with remote IMAP mailboxes ? Like Thunderbird for example.
I saw that post giving a negative answer : "Is that possible to use Zimbras only as an IMAP client of an external MTA?"
Is that possible to use Zimbras only as an IMAP client of an external MTA?

But what I do not understand is why Zimbra seems to be able only to check IMAP with my setup. Is it a real limitation of the product ?

Thanks.

[phoenix]

Originally Posted by MichaelL

Here is what I am trying to setup with ZCS : I would like Zimbra web UI (installed on zimbra.example.com server) to access external mailboxes located on remote Postfix server(s) (let's call it remote.example.com).

Why?

Originally Posted by MichaelL

To test the solution, I have created a user and I attached him an external account. All is right : the external account has it's own folder, it can get e-mail from IMAP mailbox on remote.example.com and it can send e-mail via that server (added zimbra.example.com IP in remote Postfix "mynetworks").

That's correct.

Originally Posted by MichaelL

The problem : it seems that Zimbra external account can only "read" the distant IMAP mailbox. When I save a draft of send an e-mail, it is never written into the IMAP server, only as Zimbra local data.

That's also correct, that's what it is supposed to do.

Originally Posted by MichaelL

So, please, is it possible for Zimbra to act as a standard client with remote IMAP mailboxes ? Like Thunderbird for example.

Zimbra is not a mail client, it's a complete Collaboration Suite with it's own MTA. The ability to fetch external mail is provide an 'aggregation' of the email on your Zimbra server.

Originally Posted by MichaelL

I saw that post giving a negative answer : "Is that possible to use Zimbras only as an IMAP client of an external MTA?"
Is that possible to use Zimbras only as an IMAP client of an external MTA?

That thread isn't the same question that you've asked here unless I'm misunderstanding what you've asked. If your first statement in this post means 'can I use the Web UI on another mail server' then the answer is no, you can't.

Originally Posted by MichaelL

But what I do not understand is why Zimbra seems to be able only to check IMAP with my setup. Is it a real limitation of the product ?

No, that's not a limitation it's meant to replace current mail servers.

[MichaelL]

Originally Posted by phoenix

Why?

I would like to use Zimbra as a centralized application to get and to answer to emails coming from different remote servers.
It could receive emails from distant IMAP mailboxes (that works) and send using those same mailboxes (doesn't work here) : when I send a message from ZCS, I want it to be available into the IMAP mailbox that is located on another server, with another MTA.

But your reply seems to confirm that this is not possible.
Thank you Phoenix.

[phoenix]

Originally Posted by MichaelL

I would like to use Zimbra as a centralized application to get and to answer to emails coming from different remote servers.

You can certainly do that by using a 'Persona' if you want people to reply to your IMAP account.

Originally Posted by MichaelL

It could receive emails from distant IMAP mailboxes (that works) and send using those same mailboxes (doesn't work here) : when I send a message from ZCS, I want it to be available into the IMAP mailbox that is located on another server, with another MTA.

There is an RFE in bugzilla to allow the use of the remote SMTP server for sending the email.