RFC 1064 (rfc1064) - Page 1 of 26

Interactive Mail Access Protocol: Version 2

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Network Working Group                                         M. Crispin
Request for Comments: 1064                                     SUMEX-AIM
                                                               July 1988

              INTERACTIVE MAIL ACCESS PROTOCOL - VERSION 2


Status of this Memo

   This RFC suggests a method for workstations to dynamically access
   mail from a mailbox server ("repository").  This RFC specifies a
   standard for the SUMEX-AIM community and a proposed experimental
   protocol for the Internet community.  Discussion and suggestions for
   improvement are requested.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Introduction

   The intent of the Interactive Mail Access Protocol, Version 2 (IMAP2)
   is to allow a workstation or similar small machine to access
   electronic mail from a mailbox server.  IMAP2 is the protocol used by
   the SUMEX-AIM MM-D (MM Distributed) mail system.

   Although different in many ways from POP2 (RFC 937), IMAP2 may be
   thought of as a functional superset of POP2, and the POP2 RFC was
   used as a model for this RFC.  There was a cognizant reason for this;
   RFC 937 deals with an identical problem and it was desirable to offer
   a basis for comparison.

   Like POP2, IMAP2 specifies a means of accessing stored mail and not
   of posting mail; this function is handled by a mail transfer protocol
   such as SMTP (RFC 821).  A comparison with the DMSP protocol of
   PCMAIL can be found at the end of "System Model and Philosophy"
   section.

   This protocol assumes a reliable data stream such as provided by TCP
   or any similar protocol.  When TCP is used, the IMAP2 server listens
   on port 143.

System Model and Philosophy

   Electronic mail is a primary means of communication for the widely
   spread SUMEX-AIM community.  The advent of distributed workstations
   is forcing a significant rethinking of the mechanisms employed to
   manage such mail.  With mainframes, each user tends to receive and
   process mail at the computer he used most of the time, his "primary
   host".  The first inclination of many users when an independent
   workstation is placed in front of them is to begin receiving mail at
   the workstation, and, in fact, many vendors have implemented



Crispin
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