#754389 [dovecot-imapd] Messages not completely removed

Package:
dovecot-imapd
Source:
dovecot
Description:
secure POP3/IMAP server - IMAP daemon
Submitter:
David Baron
Date:
2014-07-15 20:00:08 UTC
Severity:
normal
#754389#5
Date:
2014-07-10 14:26:34 UTC
From:
To:
--- Please enter the report below this line. ---
Filed against kmail as well but more like dovecot problem. When messages are
deleted or moved off the inbox, a gray-out version remains on the inbox. The
server (local computer) /var/mail/usersmail simply grows and grows.

Debian Release: jessie/sid
  500 unstable        ftp.us.debian.org
  500 testing         ftp.us.debian.org
  500 sid             linux.dropbox.com
--- Package information. ---
Depends                         (Version) | Installed
=========================================-+-=========================
dovecot-core               (= 1:2.2.13-2) | 1:2.2.13-2
libbz2-1.0                                | 1.0.6-5
libc6                            (>= 2.4) | 2.19-5
liblzma5         (>= 5.1.1alpha+20120614) | 5.1.1alpha+20120614-2
zlib1g                       (>= 1:1.1.4) | 1:1.2.8.dfsg-1
ucf                           (>= 2.0020) | 3.0030


Package Status            (Version) | Installed
===================================-+-===========
dovecot-common                      |
dovecot-core                        | 1:2.2.13-2
dovecot-dbg                         |
dovecot-dev                         |
dovecot-gssapi                      |
dovecot-imapd                       | 1:2.2.13-2
dovecot-ldap                        |
dovecot-lmtpd                       |
dovecot-managesieved                |
dovecot-mysql                       |
dovecot-pgsql                       |
dovecot-pop3d                       | 1:2.2.13-2
dovecot-sieve                       |
dovecot-sqlite                      |


Package's Recommends field is empty.

Package's Suggests field is empty.
--- Output from package bug script ---
#754389#12
Date:
2014-07-10 14:41:46 UTC
From:
To:
severity 754389 normal
tags 754389 +moreinfo
thanks
The way IMAP works, you mark messages for deletion and the server then
actually removes them when the client issues an EXPUNGE request.
Is kmail issuing an EXPUNGE request?

See e.g. https://kb.wisc.edu/cae/page.php?id=16718 for a more detailed
explanation, and http://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc3501#section-6.4.3 for
the documentation of the EXPUNGE command in the RFC.

Cheers,

Jelmer

#754389#17
Date:
2014-07-11 06:52:53 UTC
From:
To:
Good question!
The option is certainly checked in the IMAP account configuration in Kmail!

I will note this in the bug filed against Kmail.

#754389#20
Date:
2014-07-11 06:52:53 UTC
From:
To:
Good question!
The option is certainly checked in the IMAP account configuration in Kmail!

I will note this in the bug filed against Kmail.

#754389#25
Date:
2014-07-11 10:18:46 UTC
From:
To:
Which option is that?

I just read your original message again. Graying out of messages
usually means they have been marked as deleted but not expunged. I'm
inclined to close this bug report, unless it turns out dovecot is
ignoring EXPUNGE requests.

Cheers,

Jelmer

#754389#28
Date:
2014-07-11 10:18:46 UTC
From:
To:
Which option is that?

I just read your original message again. Graying out of messages
usually means they have been marked as deleted but not expunged. I'm
inclined to close this bug report, unless it turns out dovecot is
ignoring EXPUNGE requests.

Cheers,

Jelmer

#754389#33
Date:
2014-07-12 19:35:57 UTC
From:
To:
--- Please enter the report below this line. ---
Using Kmail on dovecot imap and gmail. Gmail functions normally.
So if this gets an expunge request from kmail, then dovecot should also be
getting it?

Debian Release: jessie/sid
  500 unstable        ftp.us.debian.org
  500 testing         ftp.us.debian.org
  500 sid             linux.dropbox.com
--- Package information. ---
Depends                         (Version) | Installed
=========================================-+-=========================
dovecot-core               (= 1:2.2.13-2) | 1:2.2.13-2
libbz2-1.0                                | 1.0.6-5
libc6                            (>= 2.4) | 2.19-5
liblzma5         (>= 5.1.1alpha+20120614) | 5.1.1alpha+20120614-2
zlib1g                       (>= 1:1.1.4) | 1:1.2.8.dfsg-1
ucf                           (>= 2.0020) | 3.0030


Package Status            (Version) | Installed
===================================-+-===========
dovecot-common                      |
dovecot-core                        | 1:2.2.13-2
dovecot-dbg                         |
dovecot-dev                         |
dovecot-gssapi                      |
dovecot-imapd                       | 1:2.2.13-2
dovecot-ldap                        |
dovecot-lmtpd                       |
dovecot-managesieved                |
dovecot-mysql                       |
dovecot-pgsql                       |
dovecot-pop3d                       | 1:2.2.13-2
dovecot-sieve                       |
dovecot-sqlite                      |


Package's Recommends field is empty.

Package's Suggests field is empty.
--- Output from package bug script ---
#754389#38
Date:
2014-07-13 10:18:27 UTC
From:
To:
--- Please enter the report below this line. ---
Saw no changes from this, either on phone (ghosts were not shown) or on kmail.

Debian Release: jessie/sid
  500 unstable        ftp.us.debian.org
  500 testing         ftp.us.debian.org
  500 sid             linux.dropbox.com
--- Package information. ---
Depends                         (Version) | Installed
=========================================-+-=========================
dovecot-core               (= 1:2.2.13-2) | 1:2.2.13-2
libbz2-1.0                                | 1.0.6-5
libc6                            (>= 2.4) | 2.19-6
liblzma5         (>= 5.1.1alpha+20120614) | 5.1.1alpha+20120614-2
zlib1g                       (>= 1:1.1.4) | 1:1.2.8.dfsg-1
ucf                           (>= 2.0020) | 3.0030


Package Status            (Version) | Installed
===================================-+-===========
dovecot-common                      |
dovecot-core                        | 1:2.2.13-2
dovecot-dbg                         |
dovecot-dev                         |
dovecot-gssapi                      |
dovecot-imapd                       | 1:2.2.13-2
dovecot-ldap                        |
dovecot-lmtpd                       |
dovecot-managesieved                |
dovecot-mysql                       |
dovecot-pgsql                       |
dovecot-pop3d                       | 1:2.2.13-2
dovecot-sieve                       |
dovecot-sqlite                      |


Package's Recommends field is empty.

Package's Suggests field is empty.

#754389#43
Date:
2014-07-15 17:48:32 UTC
From:
To:
GMail is a special kind of IMAP server, which IIRC auto-expunges.

When you say you no longer see any "ghosts", do you mean messages you
marked for deletion were actually deleted on expunge? I'm not sure I
follow what you were saying in your last message.

Jelmer

#754389#48
Date:
2014-07-15 18:06:48 UTC
From:
To:
I am still seeing them. I am currently trying that workaround from the other,
a time-delayed more to a local folder. Unfortunately, the ghosts get moved as
well. In that case though, the imap may now be "clean."

#754389#53
Date:
2014-07-15 18:21:52 UTC
From:
To:
Which other?

Do you see any bodies of these greyed out messages? This Kmail FAQ
might be related:

https://userbase.kde.org/KMail/FAQs_Hints_and_Tips#You_have_empty_.27ghost-mails.27_in_your_inbox_.28or_other_folder.29

Cheers,

Jelmer

#754389#58
Date:
2014-07-15 19:53:11 UTC
From:
To:
I have ghosts in folder to which mail gets filtered. The ghosts get moved as
well!

This is dated. Older kmail.

I really do need some means of get rid of the ghosts because they clutter
things up and yes, multiply. Filtered, comes again, refiltered, ad nauseum. The
only way now to clean the inbox is to revove the /var/mail/username file, then
delete the inbox which will be regenerated. The /var/mail file will be
recreated when mail comes in.

No way to delete "local" folders :-( Local inbox has loads of ghosts.

Moving legit messages, removing "mail" folder, making it anew, editing filters
going to it, replacing the messages, this is a bum procedure which is hardly
worth it until a particular folder is really loaded.


Can dovecot be setup to auto-expunge like gmail?

#754389#63
Date:
2014-07-15 19:57:34 UTC
From:
To:
This is the local mailbox, not over IMAP?

Cheers,

Jelmer

#754389#68
Date:
2014-07-15 19:57:55 UTC
From:
To:
See http://www.dovecot.org/list/dovecot/2008-June/031655.html

Can you try removing messages using another client, like mutt - and
forcing expunge using mutt (IIRC this can be done using the $ key).

Cheers,

Jelmer