Is there tool for showing the complete protocol transfer for an POP3 email account access ?

[Peter Eisenman]

Obviously before retrieving eMails through POP3 the local eMail client has to connect to the eMail server and
to perform some protocol negotiations and authentications.

Is there a tool which reveals all these protocol transfers (in clear text)?

I assume this tool must be something like a local interceptor or proxy which writes everything to the console
or into a log file.

Peter

 

[Chuck]

Obviously before retrieving eMails through POP3 the local eMail client has to connect to the eMail server and
to perform some protocol negotiations and authentications.

Is there a tool which reveals all these protocol transfers (in clear text)?

I assume this tool must be something like a local interceptor or proxy which writes everything to the console
or into a log file.

Peter

Peter,

You are talking about a packet analyser. The best known, free, product is
Ethereal, now known as WireShark.
http://www.wireshark.org/

If you want something simpler, the paid version of Port Explorer includes a
light weight packet analyser.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/essential-tools-for-desktop-and.html#DiamondCS>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/essential-tools-for-desktop-and.html#DiamondCS

 

[John Wunderlich]

(e-mail address removed) (Peter Eisenman) wrote in

Obviously before retrieving eMails through POP3 the local eMail
client has to connect to the eMail server and to perform some
protocol negotiations and authentications.

Is there a tool which reveals all these protocol transfers (in
clear text)?

I assume this tool must be something like a local interceptor or
proxy which writes everything to the console or into a log file.

It sounds like you're describing a network protocol analyzer.
Ethereal is a good freeware solution:

<http://www.ethereal.com/>

HTH,
John

 

[Peter Demeyer]

This is quite easy in Outlook Express (tools - options - maintenance -
logging - mail) and then look for pop3.log in the folder where your messages
are stored (e.g. C:\Documents and Settings\yourname\Local
Settings\Application
Data\Identities\{EA81057B-8BBD-43BE-ADBD-7102C079EEB1}\Microsoft\Outlook
Express)

You could also use a sniffer like ethereal, but this is more complex and you
will need to filter out pop3 traffic then.

Peter