Difference between revisions of "Thunderbird"

From the Linux and Unix Users Group at Virginia Teck Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
imported>Matt
(Created page with '''Mozilla Thunderbird'' is a cross-platform e-mail, Usenet, and RSS reader from Mozilla. The following steps outline how to set up a Virginia Tech e-mail account with Thunderbir…')
 
(Undo revision 1807 by [[Special:Contributions/imported>Pew|imported>Pew]] ([[User talk:imported>Pew|talk]]))
(Tag: Undo)
 
(8 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
''Mozilla Thunderbird'' is a cross-platform e-mail, Usenet, and RSS reader from Mozilla.  The following steps outline how to set up a Virginia Tech e-mail account with Thunderbird 2.
+
'''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 ==
 
== Setting up your Virginia Tech account ==
=== Adding the account with the account wizard ===
+
=== Thunderbird 3 ===
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 Edit menu, click on Account Settings, and click the Add account... button to make it appear.  NOTE: In Windows this is in the Tools menu, and in Mac OS X is probably in the Thunderbird menu.
+
 
 +
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]]
 
[[File:Thunderbird 2 Account Wizard - Account Type.png]]
  
Email account should be automatically selected.  If not, select it and click Next.
+
<code>Email account</code> should be automatically selected.  If not, select it and click <code>Next</code>.
  
 
[[File:Thunderbird 2 Account Wizard - Identity.png]]
 
[[File:Thunderbird 2 Account Wizard - Identity.png]]
  
The Name field will list whatever you put here in the From: line of those who receive e-mail from you using ThunderbirdYou should probably go ahead and enter your full name here.  Enter pid@vt.edu for the e-mail address, replacing pid with your Virginia Tech PID.  Then click Next.
+
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]]
 
[[File:Thunderbird 2 Account Wizard - Server Information.png]]
  
Be sure the POP 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 IMAP 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.  We will need to fix this later if that is the case.  Click Next.
+
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]]
 
[[File:Thunderbird 2 Account Wizard - User Names.png]]
  
Make sure your PID is entered in both fields and click Next.  If there are previous accounts, only the first field will appear.
+
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]]
 
[[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 Next.
+
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]]
 
[[File:Thunderbird 2 Account Wizard - Finished.png]]
  
Make sure to uncheck the Download messages now box, since we will need to make some extra changes before we can connect.  If you chose the IMAP option, or if you have set up an account before, the box will be absent.  Click Finish.
+
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 ===
+
 
Sadly Thunderbird does not ask in the wizard if your server uses SSL, and assumes that it does not. However, the VT mail server does, so we will need to enable this before we can connect to it.
+
==== Enabling SSL ====
Get to the Account Settings dialog box.
+
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]]
 
[[File:Thunderbird Account Settings Menu.png]]
  
Click Server Settings on the left, and click on the SSL button to the right.
+
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]]
 
[[File:Thunderbird 2 POP3 SSL.png]]
  
Now click on Outgoing Server (SMTP) on the left, find auth.smtp.vt.edu in the list, click on it and click the Edit... button.  If you had to skip entering it in when you made the account, click Add... and enter it in now.  In any case make sure that the SSL button is selected, Use name and password is checked, and your PID is in the User Name field.  You may optionally enter in a description if you wish.  Click OK when you're done.
+
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]]
 
[[File:Thunderbird 2 SMTP SSL.png]]
  
If you added the outgoing server in the wizard, you can go ahead and click OK in the Account Settings dialog 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 OK.
+
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]]
 
[[File:Thunderbird 2 Account Settings SMTP.png]]
  
Now click the Get Mail button in the toolbar, enter your PID password when asked, and wait for the mailbox to fill up.
+
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]]
 +
[[Category:Software]]

Latest revision as of 03:10, 4 January 2019

Note: This wiki article is rather dated, as the current version of Thunderbird is 38 or later. These instructions may not be accurate.

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 Edit/Tools menu, click on Account Settings, and click the Add account... button to make it appear.

Thunderbird 2 Account Wizard - Account Type.png

Email account should be automatically selected. If not, select it and click Next.

Thunderbird 2 Account Wizard - Identity.png

The Name field will list whatever you put here in the From: 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 Next.

Thunderbird 2 Account Wizard - Server Information.png

Be sure the POP 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 IMAP 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 Next.

Thunderbird 2 Account Wizard - User Names.png

Make sure your PID is entered in both fields and click Next. If there are previous accounts, only the first field will appear.

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 Next.

Thunderbird 2 Account Wizard - Finished.png

Make sure to uncheck the Download messages now 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 Finish.

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 Account Settings box.

Thunderbird Account Settings Menu.png

Click Server Settings on the left, and click on the SSL button to the right.

Thunderbird 2 POP3 SSL.png

Now click on Outgoing Server (SMTP) on the left, find auth.smtp.vt.edu in the list, click on it and click the Edit... button. If you had to skip entering it in when you made the account, click Add... and enter it in now. In any case make sure that the SSL button is selected, Use name and password is checked, and your PID is in the User Name field. You may optionally enter in a description if you wish. Click OK when you're done.

Thunderbird 2 SMTP SSL.png

If you added the outgoing server in the wizard, you can go ahead and click OK 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 OK.

Thunderbird 2 Account Settings SMTP.png

Now click the Get Mail button in the toolbar, enter your PID password when asked, and Thunderbird will download your mail..