Dovecot VS ImapSync

Mail server using Postfix, Dovecot, and Rspamd

Eventually I will set up Dovecot as a local IMAP server, pointing to that Maildir. When I've done this before, I've set up a self-signed certificate so Apple Mail wouldn't complain.

You might want to use dovecot for this if I understandyou correctly

If you really want to try it (and keep it up to date for security fixes, check and handle any relay issues or possible spam attackers) then look at Dovecot or Kerio

An IMAP server. I have a strong preference for dovecot for this.

I'd do it with a local IMAP server in conjunction with a webmail client that connects to it. Dovecot is a fantastic and easy to use IMAP server. Webmail clients are a pretty personal thing, but the last time I used Roundcube it seemed pretty good.

For the record, I'm using dovecot (https://www.dovecot.org/) for IMAP and Haraka (https://haraka.github.io/) for SMTP.

self hosting mail is always a pain and can take up a lot of support time and you really need to know your stuff. I always use Plesk witch configures Dovecot. But if there is anyway you can push them to use an external service you should do that.

I run a mail server on DigitalOcean for a few domains using a fairly standard FreeBSD setup running dovecot and postfix. If you're set up your preferred stack on another hosting provider before, you're aware of all the pitfalls:

You see this https://imapsync.lamiral.info/ ? It's only for mails but it's a great solution.

I've had to do large email migrations before and honestly, imapsync is the way to go - https://github.com/imapsync/imapsync

Do your parents have a domain, or are they just using the provider's domain? I've set up my 1522+ to backup our mail accounts using MailPlus on the Synology, and IMAPSYC running on my lab server. But it's backup only, not archiving. That technology could be used to get to your desired state, but there's some work involved to make a secure connection from the internet to your Synology possible, sync/archive the mail, configure you parent's devices to find your device, etc.

Check out imapsync (https://imapsync.lamiral.info/) - I am using it since years and migrated tousands of mailboxes without any problems.

Check https://github.com/imapsync/imapsync

I would use https://imapsync.lamiral.info/ for email and sure there is another tool for contacts and calenders.

There are two solutions for this 1. Using a tool called imap-sync to sync all your emails (it has a great incremental sync). You can run it periodically via cron 2. Using the same or similar tool and export to a database.

If you want to sync from one IMAP server directly to another, there's also the very popular imapsync: https://github.com/imapsync/imapsync

Have a look at imapsync. Source: former web hosting sysadmin. Used this many times to move email.