• InetdInstall

Running Dovecot From Inetd

Preferred way to run Dovecot is to just start the dovecot binary, but it's also possible to run from inetd:

imap           stream  tcp     nowait  root    /usr/sbin/tcpd /usr/local/libexec/dovecot/imap-login
imaps          stream  tcp     nowait  root    /usr/sbin/tcpd /usr/local/libexec/dovecot/imap-login --ssl
pop3           stream  tcp     nowait  root    /usr/sbin/tcpd /usr/local/libexec/dovecot/pop3-login
pop3s          stream  tcp     nowait  root    /usr/sbin/tcpd /usr/local/libexec/dovecot/pop3-login --ssl

imap-login and pop3-login automatically start dovecot master process if it's not already running. NOTE: If you change any configuration, Dovecot doesn't notice the change unless the master process is restarted, or if HUP signal is sent to it. This makes Dovecot somewhat special as a inetd-based service.

Running Dovecot From xinetd

sample configuration for imap and imaps

service imap
{
       disable         = no
       socket_type     = stream
       protocol        = tcp
       wait            = no
       user            = root
       server          = /usr/local/libexec/dovecot/imap-login
       flags           = IPv4
       only_from       = 127.0.0.1
       banner          = /usr/local/etc/deny_banner
}

service imaps
{
       disable         = no
       socket_type     = stream
       protocol        = tcp
       wait            = no
       user            = root
       server          = /usr/local/libexec/dovecot/imap-login
       flags           = IPv4
       server_args     = --ssl
}