POP3 server authentication

Please refer to these notes before editing this page.

Location: POP3 server settings link in Administration > Plugins > Authentication > Manage authentication in 2.0 onwards or Administration > Users > Authentication > Manage authentication in 1.9

POP3 servers

POP stands for Post Office Protocol. This is used to describe how e-mail clients interact with mail servers. The POP3 server is a type of mail server used for incoming mail. In simple terms, POP servers provide a mail-drop service (a temporary mailbox to leave messages so they can be picked up at the recipient's convenience.) When users connect to their ISP POP servers, their e-mail software interface with the server and download any messages for them. POP is only used to receive messages, it is not used to send them. In computing, local e-mail clients use the Post Office Protocol version 3 (POP3), an application-layer Internet standard protocol, to retrieve e-mail from a remote server over a TCP/IP connection. Many subscribers to individual Internet service provider e-mail accounts access their e-mail with client software that uses POP3.

POP3 server authentication

POP3 server authentication is a user authentication process i.e. enabling people to login to your Moodle site.

This method uses the POP3 mail server for the authentication process ie. check for users accounts.

See also

Using Moodle forum discussions about POP3 server authentication:

• http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=78570
• http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=44883
• http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=37510
• http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=25472
• http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=24136

and many more at http://moodle.org/mod/forum/search.php?search=POP3+server+authentication&id=5

• Wikipedia article on Post Office Protocol