Do I need a POP3/IMAP server running to use PHPMailer?

Question

We have deployed Google Apps for our email so don't use POP/IMAP.

However, some of our website's scripts (WordPress, OpenCart) use PHP mail function to send emails.

Do I need to keep running a POP3/IMAP server like Dovecot running or can I safely turn it off?

On that note, can I close POP3/IMAP ports safely?

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 28 '12 at 17:24

2

POP/IMAP are for retrieving email. For sending, which is what PHPMailer is doing, you need an SMTP server, e.g. postfix, sendmail, exim.

answered Oct 28 '12 at 17:24

Marc B

Full featured SMTP server is not required, MTA/SMTP-relay is. – rkosegi Oct 28 '12 at 17:26

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 28 '12 at 17:24

1

No, you need just MTA, so SMTP is only required protocol.

IMAP/POP3 is for receiving mails from your existing mailbox.

answered Oct 28 '12 at 17:24

rkosegi

2 Answers2