Using The Central Staff Email Service - Client Configuration

Introduction

The central staff email service runs on a dedicated server that provides access to email using the Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP). With IMAP, all mail is managed and stored on the server and can therefore be accessed from multiple devices and locations using a variety of email programs or 'clients' such as Thunderbird, Microsoft Outlook or Webmail.

The service also provides for access to email using the older Post Office Protocol (POP) in which all mail is downloaded from the server and managed locally. Use of POP restricts the management of email to the single PC on which the email client is installed and is therefore not recommended.

Outgoing messages are sent via a separate outgoing server using the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).

Configuring Email Clients

In order to connect to the IMAP (or POP) server to read email and the SMTP server to send mail, it is necessary to set-up an email client of your choice using the following information:

* Currently required only when off-campus but good practice to use for all connections.

You will also need to know: 

• Your central staff (IMAP) account username, as given to you by IT Services.
• Your password for the above username, as chosen by you.

Specific IMAP configuration details for some popular email clients are given in the following web pages:

• Mozilla Thunderbird (Recommended)
• Eudora
• Outlook 2003 (2007)
• Outlook Express
• Apple Mail
• Windows Mail
• Pegasus
• PC Pine
• WebMail - enables you to access your email from anywhere using a web browser but some basic configuration is required when you first log in. It is not recommended as a main method of accessing mail but is convenient when away from your normal access devices. Webmail uses the idcheck system for login purposes so does not have its own login page.
  
• Mobile Devices - The server settings in the table above can also be used for email clients running on mobile devices such as PDAs and smartphones (iPhones etc). Due to the very many makes, models and clients available it is not possible to cover them specifically, but remember that any connection will need to use SSL or TLS and that the Outgoing (SMTP) server may need to be that specified by your ISP or mobile network provider.

Changing Email passwords

You can change your password, set out-of-office replies and set up spam filters via One-Stop Links on the ITS home page.

Managing Email Using IMAP

If you are new to using IMAP to read your email, there are basic instructions available for managing mail using the most popular email clients.