dovecot(1)
Dovecot is an open-source IMAP and POP3 mail server that stores and retrieves emails for mail clients.
Synopsis
dovecot [OPTION]... [command]Description
Dovecot is a lightweight and highly configurable mail server that implements IMAP4 and POP3 protocols. It handles user authentication, mailbox storage, and email retrieval for mail clients like Thunderbird, Outlook, and webmail applications. Dovecot is known for its performance, security features, and SQL/LDAP integration capabilities.
The dovecot command manages the mail server daemon, including starting, stopping, reloading configuration, and checking status. Configuration is primarily handled through the main dovecot.conf file and included config directories.
Common options
| Flag | What it does |
|---|---|
start | Start the Dovecot mail server daemon |
stop | Stop the running Dovecot daemon |
reload | Reload configuration without stopping the server |
restart | Stop and then start the Dovecot daemon |
status | Show the status of the Dovecot daemon |
-c <config> | Use an alternate configuration file |
-F | Run in foreground (do not daemonize) |
--version | Display Dovecot version and compile options |
config | Show parsed configuration in output format |
log-open | Open log files and stay in foreground for testing |
Examples
Start the Dovecot mail server daemon in the background
dovecot startCheck if Dovecot is running and display its status
dovecot statusReload the dovecot.conf configuration without disconnecting active clients
dovecot reloadRun Dovecot in foreground mode (useful for debugging)
dovecot -FDisplay the parsed configuration settings that Dovecot is using
dovecot configStart Dovecot using an alternate configuration file
dovecot -c /etc/dovecot/custom.conf startDisplay installed Dovecot version and enabled features
dovecot --versionStop and restart the Dovecot daemon (disconnects all clients)
dovecot restart