---
name: "cyrus-imtest"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "cyrus-clients"
version: "3.10.2-1+deb13u2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/cyrus-imtest"
---

# cyrus-imtest(1)

Cyrus IMAP documentation Interactive IMAP test program.

## NAME

imtest - Cyrus IMAP documentation

Interactive IMAP test program.

## SYNOPSIS

```
imtest [ -t keyfile ] [ -p port ] [ -m mechanism ]
    [ -a userid ] [ -u userid ] [ -k num ] [ -l num ]
    [ -r realm ] [ -f file ] [ -n num ] [ -s ] [ -q ]
    [ -c ] [ -i ] [ -z ] [ -v ] [ -I file ] [ -x file ]
    [ -X file ] [ -w passwd ] [ -o option=value ] hostname
```

## DESCRIPTION

**imtest** *is a utility that allows you to authenticate to an IMAP server* *and interactively issue commands to it. Once authenticated you may issue* *any IMAP command by simply typing it in. It is capable of multiple SASL* *authentication mechanisms and handles encryption layers transparently.* *This utility is often used for testing the operation of an IMAP server.* *Also those developing IMAP clients find it useful.*

## OPTIONS

- **-t keyfile, --keyfile=keyfile**

  *Enable TLS.  keyfile contains the TLS public and private keys.* *Specify* **""** *to negotiate a TLS encryption layer but not use TLS* *authentication.*

- **-p port, --port=port**

  *Port to connect to. If left off this defaults to* **imap** *as defined* *in* **/etc/services***.*

- **-m mechanism, --mechanism=mechanism**

  *Force* **imtest** *to use mechanism for authentication. If not* *specified the strongest authentication mechanism supported by the* *server is chosen.  Specify login to use the LOGIN command instead* *of AUTHENTICATE.*

- **-a userid, --authname=userid**

  *Userid to use for authentication; defaults to the current user.* *This is the userid whose password or credentials will be presented to* *the server for verification.*

- **-u userid, --username=userid**

  *Userid to use for authorization; defaults to the current user.* *This is the userid whose identity will be assumed after* *authentication.*

  **NOTE:**

  *This is only used with SASL mechanisms that allow proxying* *(e.g. PLAIN, DIGEST-MD5).*

- **-k num, --minssf=num**

  *Minimum protection layer required.*

- **-l num, --maxssf=num**

  *Maximum protection layer to use (***0***=none;* **1***=integrity;* *etc).  For example if you are using the KERBEROS\_V4 authentication* *mechanism specifying* **0** *will force imtest to not use any layer* *and specifying* **1** *will force it to use the integrity layer.  By* *default the maximum supported protection layer will be used.*

- **-r realm, --realm=realm**

  *Specify the realm to use. Certain authentication mechanisms* *(e.g. DIGEST-MD5) may require one to specify the realm.*

- **-f file, --input-filename=file**

  *Pipe file into connection after authentication.*

- **-n num, --reauth-attempts=num**

  *Number of authentication attempts; default = 1.  The client will* *attempt to do SSL/TLS session reuse and/or fast reauth* *(e.g. DIGEST-MD5), if possible.*

- **-s, --require-tls**

  *Enable SSL over chosen protocol.*

- **-q, --require-compression**

  *Enable IMAP COMPRESSion (after authentication).*

- **-c, --do-challenge**

  *Enable challenge prompt callbacks.  This will cause the OTP mechanism* *to ask for the one-time password instead of the secret pass-phrase* *(library generates the correct response).*

- **-i, --no-initial-response**

  *Don't send an initial client response for SASL mechanisms, even if* *the protocol supports it.*

- **-I file, --pidfile=file**

  *Echo the PID of the running process into file (This can be useful* *with -X).*

- **-v, --verbose**

  *Verbose. Print out more information than usual.*

- **-z, --run-stress-test**

  *Timing test.*

- **-x file, --output-socket=file**

  *Open the named socket for the interactive portion.*

- **-X file**

  *Like -x, only close all file descriptors & daemonize the process.*

- **-w password, --password=password**

  *Password to use (if not supplied, we will prompt).*

- **-o option=value, --sasl-option=option=value**

  *Set the SASL option to value.*

## EXAMPLES

## SEE ALSO

*[imapd(8)](/imapd/8.md)*

## AUTHOR

*The Cyrus Team, Nic Bernstein (Onlight)*

## COPYRIGHT

*1993–2025, The Cyrus Team*