Difference between revisions of "Thunderbird"

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'''Note: This wiki article is rather dated, as the current version of Thunderbird is 38 or later. These instructions may not be accurate.'''
 
 
 
'''[http://www.mozillamessaging.com/en-US/ Mozilla Thunderbird]''' is a cross-platform e-mail, Usenet, and RSS reader from Mozilla.  It supports both POP and IMAP, and can be used with Virginia Tech's e-mail service.
 
 
 
The following steps outline how to use Thunderbird with Virginia Tech's e-mail services.  Thunderbird 3 is the latest version, and is far easier to set up.  However version 2 is still in wide use so Thunderbird 2 is covered as well.
 
 
 
''Note that the following screenshots are from an Ubuntu machine, however they are still applicable to most other operating systems, including Windows and Mac OS X.  The largest difference in the illustrations is that the Account Settings dialog box is located in the Tools menu in the Windows and Mac OS X versions rather than in the Edit menu.''
 
 
 
== Setting up your Virginia Tech account ==
 
=== Thunderbird 3 ===
 
 
 
Just go here:
 
http://answers.vt.edu/kb/entry/3541/
 
 
 
=== Thunderbird 2 ===
 
==== Adding the account with the account wizard ====
 
We will need to add the VT e-mail account using the account wizard.  If you have no other accounts in Thunderbird, the account wizard should start up automatically.  If not, go to the <code>Edit</code>/<code>Tools</code> menu, click on <code>Account Settings</code>, and click the <code>Add account...</code> button to make it appear.
 
 
 
[[File:Thunderbird 2 Account Wizard - Account Type.png]]
 
 
 
<code>Email account</code> should be automatically selected.  If not, select it and click <code>Next</code>.
 
 
 
[[File:Thunderbird 2 Account Wizard - Identity.png]]
 
 
 
The <code>Name</code> field will list whatever you put here in the <code>From:</code> line of those who receive e-mail from you.  Entering your full name is recommended.  Enter '''pid@vt.edu''' for the e-mail address, replacing '''pid''' with your Virginia Tech PID.  Then click <code>Next</code>.
 
 
 
[[File:Thunderbird 2 Account Wizard - Server Information.png]]
 
 
 
Be sure the <code>POP</code> button is selected, enter '''pop.vt.edu''' for the incoming server, and then enter '''auth.smtp.vt.edu''' for the outgoing server.  If you want to leave your messages on the server and use IMAP instead, click the <code>IMAP</code> button and enter '''imap.vt.edu''' for the incoming server.  Note that if you have accounts in Thunderbird already, the software will default to the outgoing server of one of your previous accounts.  This will need to be fixed later if that is the case.  Click <code>Next</code>.
 
 
 
[[File:Thunderbird 2 Account Wizard - User Names.png]]
 
 
 
Make sure your PID is entered in both fields and click <code>Next</code>.  If there are previous accounts, only the first field will appear.
 
 
 
[[File:Thunderbird 2 Account Wizard - Account Name.png]]
 
 
 
The Knowledge Base says to call your account '''VT Mail''', but you can really call it anything you want.  Thunderbird defaults to the e-mail address.  Change it if you want and click <code>Next</code>.
 
 
 
[[File:Thunderbird 2 Account Wizard - Finished.png]]
 
 
 
Make sure to uncheck the <code>Download messages now</code> box, since some extra changes need to be made before connecting.  If the IMAP option was chosen, or if an account has been set up before, the box will be absent.  Click <code>Finish</code>.
 
 
 
==== Enabling SSL ====
 
Thunderbird does not ask in the wizard if the mail server uses SSL, and assumes that it does not. However, the VT mail server does use SSL, so this will need to be enabled before messages can be downloaded. While it is not absolutely necessary to set up SSL SMTP (outgoing mail) if mail is only sent from on-campus, setting it up is recommended.
 
 
 
Get to the <code>Account Settings</code> box.
 
 
 
[[File:Thunderbird Account Settings Menu.png]]
 
 
 
Click <code>Server Settings</code> on the left, and click on the <code>SSL</code> button to the right.
 
 
 
[[File:Thunderbird 2 POP3 SSL.png]]
 
 
 
Now click on <code>Outgoing Server (SMTP)</code> on the left, find '''auth.smtp.vt.edu''' in the list, click on it and click the <code>Edit...</code> button.  If you had to skip entering it in when you made the account, click <code>Add...</code> and enter it in now.  In any case make sure that the <code>SSL</code> button is selected, <code>Use name and password</code> is checked, and your PID is in the <code>User Name</code> field.  You may optionally enter in a description if you wish.  Click <code>OK</code> when you're done.
 
 
 
[[File:Thunderbird 2 SMTP SSL.png]]
 
 
 
If you added the outgoing server in the wizard, you can go ahead and click <code>OK</code> in the Account Settings box.  If you had to add the outgoing server here, go back to your account by clicking on the account name on the left and selecting the '''auth.smtp.vt.edu''' option from the drop-down list.  Then click <code>OK</code>.
 
 
 
[[File:Thunderbird 2 Account Settings SMTP.png]]
 
 
 
Now click the <code>Get Mail</code> button in the toolbar, enter your PID password when asked, and Thunderbird will download your mail..
 
 
 
[[Category:Howtos]]
 
[[Category:Mail clients]]
 
[[Category:Needs restoration]]
 

Revision as of 03:57, 4 January 2018