The following FAQ list will help you become more acquainted with aspNetIMAP. If you have any additional questions, feel free to email them to support@advancedintellect.com or to use our online form here.

FAQ Items

1. What is IMAP?
2. What is the difference between the IMAP and POP3 email protocols?
3. What is aspNetIMAP?
4. What is .NET?
5. Can I use aspNetIMAP in a Windows application?
6. Does aspNetIMAP have any COM dependencies?
7. How do I use aspNetIMAP?
8. How does licensing work (legally)?
9. How does licensing work (technically)?
10. What do I do with the Xml License file?
11. How do I deploy aspNetIMAP to my production servers?
12. My hosting company doesn't allow me to install components, how do I use aspNetIMAP?
13. How do I check to to see if a message is spam?

What is IMAP?
IMAP stands for Internet Message Access Protocol. It is a standard email protocol used for retrieving email and managing email on the server. It is not used for sending email to other people. You must have an IMAP enabled server to us aspNetIMAP. Some common IMAP enabled servers include Microsoft Exchange, IMail by IPSwitch, MailEnable by MailEnable, and SmarterMail by SmarterTools.

What is the difference between the IMAP and POP3 email protocols?
Although both protocols allow you to download email messages, IMAP provides an order of magnitude more options. For example, in POP3, only the Inbox exists. In IMAP, you can have multiple folders, and manage them. In POP3 you can only download the message, and delete it. In IMAP you can actually retrieve parts of the message, save drafts back to the server, search messages, and manipulate message properties.

What is aspNetIMAP?
aspNetIMAP is a .NET assembly that implements the IMAP protocol. It requires at least the 1.0 (or higher) Microsoft .NET Runtime to function. It is used by developers who need to communicate with an IMAP server, but do not want to worry about writing their own IMAP library.

What is .NET?
.NET is Microsoft's Common Language Runtime engine, used by programmers to developer safe and secure applications. It must be installed on the workstation or server, for aspNetIMAP to properly function. For more information about .NET, check out http://msdn.microsoft.com/netframework/

Can I use aspNetIMAP in a Windows application?
Yes. aspNetIMAP can be used in any of the .NET environments. These include ASP.NET, winforms, web services, Windows services, remoting, and other technologies yet to be released by Microsoft.

Does aspNetIMAP have any COM dependencies?
No. aspNetIMAP was written from the ground up on the 1.0 .NET platform for the greatest compatability. It only requires the .NET Runtime to be installed, and does not depend upon any COM dependencies.

How do I use aspNetIMAP?
Be sure to check out our examples and documentation on examples.aspx.

How does licensing work (legally)?
aspNetIMAP is licensed per server. If you have more than one server, you may want to check into the Site License, that covers all servers at a single physical site. If you want to bundle aspNetIMAP with your product, then you will need our OEM license. For more information check out our licensing here.

How does licensing work (technically)?
aspNetIMAP uses a digitally signed, cryptographic, Xml file to enforce licensing. During runtime, this file is checked for validity and that it is still cryptographically intact. Evaluation license files can be downloaded at download.aspx. Purchased license files are only tied to a company or order number. They are not tied to the computer or server in any way. This provides and promotes XCOPY deployment. You can read more about our licensing model at licen.aspx.

What do I do with the Xml License file?
Once you have the license file, you can simply drop it next to the aspNetIMAP.dll. aspNetIMAP will find it. Alternately, you can specify a location, using the <appSettings> section of your .config file, or you can programmatically load the file calling IMAP.LoadLicenseFile(). For more information, check out licen.aspx

How do I deploy aspNetIMAP to my production servers?
Since aspNetIMAP supports XCOPY deployment, all you will need to copy are the aspNetIMAP.dll and license files to your production /bin folder. The /bin folder will hold all of your compiled dlls. That's it. aspNetIMAP does not need any type of registry access to your server.

My hosting company doesn't allow me to install components, how do I use aspNetIMAP?
aspNetIMAP supports XCOPY deployment. This means, you do not need console level access to run aspNetIMAP to your server. Simply, unpack, or execute the aspNetIMAP.msi installer on your local workstation, to unpack the aspNetIMAP.dll. Then, upload the license file and dll to your remote servers /bin directory. That's it. aspNetIMAP does not need any registry access or need to be registered in the GAC to run.

How do I check to to see if a message is spam?
aspNetIMAP has the built in ability to use DNSbl (DNS Black Lists) to check to see if the message came from an IP address marked as spam.