E-mail clients provide an easy graphical interface for you to access your e-mail over the internet. This documentation provides the basics of how to set up the Mozilla Thunderbird e-mail client to work with the mail server.

E-mail clients communicate with the mail server through protocols. There are two different protocols that you can choose when setting up an e-mail client.

Post Office Protocol (POP)

POP copies all of your messages to your local computer. By default POP clients will delete your messages off of the mail server. If you only use a single computer to read e-mail, or you reside in a rural area with a slow internet connection, you will want to use POP.

Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP)

IMAP leaves your mail messages on the email server. Since the mail messages are stored on the server, you can read your e-mail from multiple computers or e-mail clients which use IMAP. If you use the Pine mail system or Web Mail you will want to use IMAP.

If you are unsure about which choice of e-mail protocol to choose, you may contact the OIT Help Desk for assistance. (Call 450-8300 or write helpdesk@alaska.edu. Rural areas may dial 1-800-478-4667.)

Setting up your Thunderbird account

The Thunderbird e-mail client can be downloaded for free from:

http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/

1. If you've downloaded Thunderbird from the above site, you will be given the option to import your current settings and addressbook from Netscape, Outlook, or Outlook Express. You'll see the Import Wizard window, like this one:

2. Next, the New Account Setup wizard will walk you through a series of windows to collect the setup information. This wizard won't automatically open, though, if this is not a new download of the program.

If the wizard doesn't automatically open, access it by opening Thunderbird, and going to the Tools Menu. Under Tools, go to Account Settings...

Then, on the Account Settings window that opens, click Add Account. The New Account Setup wizard then opens up (if it hasn't already).

3. The first window of the Account Setup wizard asks you to select the type of account to be set up.

4. In the Identity window that appears, type your name in the Your Name field. In the Email Address field, put in your full email address, i.e., fsabc@uaf.edu. If you have an alias account, i.e., john.smith@uaf.edu, you may type that in here. Click Next.

5. In the Server Information window, select IMAP if you are on the main UAF campus. Rural areas with slow internet connections may select POP. The incoming server information to enter is: fsabc.email.uaf.edu, where "fsabc" is replaced with YOUR user name ( fsabc is used here just as an example).

6. In the User Names window, enter your user name (example below) Then, click Next.

7. The Account Name window opens. It will be filled in automatically with your email address. Click Next.

8. The Congratulations window appears and provides a recap of all the information you've provided. You can use the Back button to make any corrections. Otherwise, click Finish.

9. Before you can send messages, you'll need to click on your account name in the Account Settings window and fill in some account details for yourself.

Configuring Thunderbird to use Enterprise Directory (EDIR) Addressing

Note: By configuring your e-mail client to use the LDAP/EDIR addressing capability, you may then type in a portion of a user name in the TO field, and you'll see a list of possible accounts with that name appear. Using this feature assumes that you are within UAF network space -- or that you have established a VPN connection from off campus.

1. Access your Account Settings by either clicking on the View Settings icon (pictured below) or by going to Tools --> Account Settings... from the Menu.

2. Select Composition and Addressing from below your account folder, and on the Addressing portion of the window, select "Use a different LDAP server" and click the Edit Directories... button.

3. The LDAP Directory Servers window opens. Click Add, as pictured below:

4. Then, on the General tab of the window, fill in the following information:

Name: Edir
Hostname: edir.alaska.edu
Base DN: ou=people,dc=alaska,dc=edu
Port number will be automatically filled in.
Then, click OK.

5. "Edir" will now appear in the LDAP Directory Servers window. Click OK.

6. "Edir" now shows as the LDAP server on the Composition & Addressing window. Click OK and you're done.

Now, when you enter a name in the To field of a composition, EDIR will autopopulate possible e-mail addresses for the name (example of typing "Mary" pictured below).

If you have further questions or need assistance, please contact the OIT Help Desk:

• By phone in the Fairbanks area at 450-8300 and outside of Fairbanks at
  1-800-478-4667.
• By e-mail at helpdesk@alaska.edu
• By fax at (907)-450-8312.