Anyone know an automatic email checking dodad?

[wittgenst3in]

I have a question,

Does anyone know of a simple, say command line, program to query a pop3 or similar email account and see if it has mail?

The reason I want this is so I can write a batch file and have the result (yes/no new emails) flashed over some LED's connected to my parallel port. I've got these wonderfull LED's on a box that currently indicate cpu usage, and I realised this is a much more practical use for them.

I'm hoping some solution exists for a platform such as win98.

Thanks.

[Oleron]

How about a straight telnet onto the pop and smtp ports of the mailserver?

Simple POP explanation (http://www.vivtek.com/pop.html)

These commands could be batched up and used to check your mail.

[Wudang]

Try doing a websearch on biff and pop3. You should find something you like.

[wittgenst3in]

Thanks Oleron and Wudang,

just logged in manually via Telnet. I feel so l33t. :D

[iain]

No use to you at all but on Linux/Unix, fetchmail is the standard utility to do this and it works rather well.

[wittgenst3in]

Originally posted by iain
No use to you at all but on Linux/Unix, fetchmail is the standard utility to do this and it works rather well.

Thanks.

Unfortunately my linux box bit the dust, and my current one never gets turned off so dual boot isn't really an option. Kinda miss the Linux toys out there.
:)

/Remembers that semester when he tried to convert everyone he knew to linux.

[De_Bunk]

MailWasher...its free

The Pro (paid for) version will check web based as well..

DB