Fetchmail is a utility or command for Unix-like (Linux) systems used to retrieve e-mail from a remote POP3, IMAP, ETRN or ODMR mail server to the user’s local system.
From fetchmail site, “Fetchmail is a one-stop solution to the remote mail retrieval problem for Unix machines, quite useful to anyone with an intermittent or dynamic-IP connection to a remote mailserver, SLIP or PPP dialup, or leased line when SMTP isn’t desired. Fetchmail can collect mail using any variant of POP or IMAP and forwards to a the local SMTP (via TCP socket) or LMTP (via TCP or Unix socket) listener or into an MDA program, enabling all the normal forwarding/filtering/aliasing mechanisms that would apply to local mail or mail arriving via a full-time TCP/IP connection.”
How do I install fetchmail?
If you are using Debian Linux, type the command:
# apt-get install fetchmail
If you are using Fedora core/Cent OS Linux, type the command:
# yum install fetchmail
If you are using Ubuntu Linux, type the command:
# sudo apt-get install fetchmail
Configuration file name
The user configuration file is stored in your home directory i.e. /home/you/.fetchmailrc
How do I configure fetchmail to retrieve mail from ISP mail server?
Open .fetchmailrc file:
$ cd; touch .fetchmailrc
$ chmod 600 .fetchmailrc
$ vi .fetchmailrc
Append following text:
poll pop3.net4india.com with proto POP3
user d12356 there with password “password” is “vivek” here
Where,
- pop3.net4india.com – My POP3 server
- proto POP3 – You are using POP3 protocol
- d12356 – POP3 username
- “password” – POP3 password
- “vivek” – Local mailbox name
To fetch mail or to run fetchmail type command:
$ fetchmail
For more information please see offical fetchmail web site.