Things needed to create a webmail system

xiaomahe

Hi, i am new to this site, and i love it.. I would like to ask few questions to guide me to finish my project. I want to create a PHP based webmail system, but i am not sure if it is just enough to code the webmail using php itself. I am wondering, do i need to install another program such as Postfix and Dovecot?? Coz 2 of them are email servers rite? and webmail need an email server to access to.. I want to create prototype webmail, hence this system will not really be online, maybe could be used in just local area network.. So, conclusion for all the questions: 1. DO i need to install the email server? 2. Can i just create an webmail system using PHP itself without installing Postfix and Dovecot? Thanks if you could help me. I'll be very happy

Marc Firth

I don't so much have a solution as I am interested in what you are doing. I'd like to know how you get on with creating it (as I've thought about making one in future). From my knowledge of php: I don't think you can create an email system with php alone. I might be wrong (I hope). But still there's no point reinventing the wheel so I do strongly suggest investigating using dovecot/postfix. you should be able to use functions such as phps exec to run commands within postfix/dovecot etc Are you going to be building it open source?

Neonlight

xiaomahe

Hi Marc.. I was planning to do a simple webmail system for my project. It should works like normal webmail such as hotmail or yahoo, but it will be in the simplest design. I would like to implement encryption to that system, so it can only send an encrypted email. What i am wondering about is, do i need to install the mail server?? or can i just save all the email information (including email messages, user id, email, etc) into sql databases.. Because when user had login the webmail, all the emails information is downloaded from the mail server? correct me if i am wrong.. Hence, i guess mail server might be needed.. But as this is just a small project, i am not going to make an online system.. So it will be in local host.. So is it possible just to download all the emails information of an user from sql database? without had to download from the mail server.. I am doing this for my Final Year Project for my degree, so if anyone could help with the settings on how to build a webmail system using php? I would be very appreciate..

Marc Firth

I did a bit of research. You dont need to install the webserver. Useful links: Take-AJAX-to-Your-Email-Inbox-Developing-a-Webbased-POP-3-Client/[^] http://www.phpbuilder.com/manual/ref.imap.php[^] http://uk.php.net/imap[^]

Neonlight

Syed M Hussain

Hi Guys I'm assuming your all trying to develop an interface to a mailbox which has already be setup. Php provides the imap dll for windows which you can use to establish a connection to a mailbox. Alternatively if you know the raw commands for either imap or pop3 and you don't mind getting dirty then you can code it your self.

www.cy2online.net

xiaomahe

Yeah, for my project is similar to something like you mentioned, it works just like hotmail or any other webmail application, where people used the webmail to access to the mail server(which has been setup) I just want to make an offline mail server for my project, and i only want my LAN network to access the network. Strictly not for outsider.. And thanks Marc for the links..

Marc Firth

No problem. Let me know how you get on.

Neonlight