pam_imap

The pam_imap module is a powerful tool for authenticating against remote IMAP or IMAPS servers. This program comes equipped with a range of features, including support for multiple servers, SSL, password caching, user blacklists, and advanced configuration options.

This module can be extremely useful in a variety of scenarios. For example, it is ideal for a lab of UNIX/Linux machines that require easy access to a password database stored on an IMAP server. It is also ideal for authenticating users against a centralized password server that you have no control over, but which conveniently has an IMAP server available.

Another recommended use case for pam_imap is for authenticating with applications that do not run as root, such as Apache. Finally, the module can be used to create a cheap IMAP cluster solution. By using one or two master IMAP servers with a username/password database and an IMAP server, and several cluster node servers to handle client requests, you can authenticate against the master server(s) using pam-imap on each node. By tying everything together with round-robin DNS and NFS mail folders, you can create an effective IMAP cluster! Overall, pam_imap is an excellent module that provides reliable and secure authentication against remote IMAP or IMAPS servers.