IMAP Error: Empty startup greeting

[eiisysadmin]

I am running 0.3.1 and am experiencing user sessions being randomly timed out. There are also times when a user will have to attempt to log in several times before their credentials are accepted.

The only message I see in the error log is "IMAP Error: Empty startup greeting."

The version of IMAP server is Dovecot 1.2.6.

I have seen similar bug reports and read that the issue had been "resolved" in the version I am running.

This problem is beginning to affect enough users to cause concern. Any ideas on how to fix this?

Thanks!

[eiisysadmin]

main.inc.php

[alec]

When connecting to IMAP server, it should respond with "* OK..." or "* PREAUTH..." string. In your case server sends no greeting message or PHP is unable to read it.

[eiisysadmin]

Would this error cause the random session timeouts we are experiencing? If the user is able to authenticate and connect upon the initial request, does RC expect to see the greeting response again?

[eiisysadmin]

I guess this probably answers part of my question:

---

[11-Dec-2009 09:15:57 -0800]: IMAP Error: Empty startup greeting (imap.namechanged.com:143) (GET /?_task=mail&_mbox=INBOX&_refresh=1)
&_list=1&_remote=1&_=1260551736789&_unlock=1)
&_list=1&_remote=1&_=1260551753330&_unlock=1)
&_list=1&_remote=1&_=1260551758922&_unlock=1)
[11-Dec-2009 09:16:10 -0800]: IMAP Error: Empty startup greeting (imap.namechanged.com:143) (POST /?_task=&_action=login)
[11-Dec-2009 09:16:18 -0800]: IMAP Error: Empty startup greeting (imap.namechanged.com:143) (POST /?_task=&_action=login)
[11-Dec-2009 09:16:19 -0800]: IMAP Error: Empty startup greeting (imap.namechanged.com:143) (GET /?_task=mail&_mbox=INBOX&_page=1)
&_list=1&_remote=1&_=1260551773500&_unlock=1)
913449&_unlock=0)
[11-Dec-2009 09:18:43 -0800]: IMAP Error: Empty startup greeting (imap.namechanged.com:143) (GET /?_task=mail&_action=show&_uid=6483&_mbox=INBOX)
[11-Dec-2009 09:18:56 -0800]: IMAP Error: Empty startup greeting (imap.namechanged.com:143) (POST /?_task=mail&_action=send)

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Roundcube+PHP must be receiving and reading the proper greeting most of the time. Otherwise, I would be hearing a lot more complaints. I guess I will keep digging...

[eiisysadmin]

Noticed the following errors in /var/log/maillog on the Dovecot IMAP server:

dovecot: imap-login: Fatal: io_loop_handle_add: epoll_ctl(1, 5): Operation not permitted

I have updated Dovecot to version 1.2.8 and will see if the errors continue.

[eiisysadmin]

After upgrading Dovecot to 1.2.8, I have not received any reports of session timeouts. Issue appears to be resolved.