Next Previous Contents

3. TriLUG Mail Server

These are general questions about the TriLUG Mail Server

3.1 What is the TriLUG mail server?

Thanks to the generosity of many individuals and companies (see www.trilug.org/donations.php), TriLUG now offers a mail server to its members. Special thanks go to Inflow ( www.inflow.com), one of our Platinum sponsors, which provides co-location and Internet bandwidth for our server cluster.

3.2 How do I get an account?

See the Overview section for information about obtaining a shell/mail server account.

3.3 What information do I need to login?

3.4 What mail clients can I use?

You can use any mail client that supports IMAP via SSL or TLS. If your client doesn't support IMAP over SSL, but does support IMAP, you can use stunnel to make the SSL connection. Here are a few clients that we've tested:

Evolution

Works nicely but will give you an error about the SSL certificate the first time you connect. This is normal, since we're using a self-signed cert. Just OK it and you'll be fine on subsequent connections. You will probably have to restart Evolution after adjusting your settings, otherwise you won't get any new mail.

Be sure to check the "Use SSL" boxes for both the "receiving mail" and "sending mail" tabs. You'll also need to check "Server requires authentication" box in the Sending Mail tab.

Mozilla

To enable SSL for the IMAP (incoming mail), open the Mail & Newsgroups Account Settings dialog, click on "Server Settings", and check the "Use secure connection (SSL)" box. If you get a message about a problem with the certificate, choose the "Remember this certificate" option to keep it from reoccurring.

If you want to use the TriLUG server for outgoing mail, click on the "Outgoing Server (SMTP) Settings", specify the server name, the checkbox for "Use name and password," and the radio button for "Use secure connection (SSL) - always"

Pine

You can run pine from the shell server without any special configuration. The default settings should load up your TriLUG folders just fine.

Here are directions for configuring pine on another computer: Add a new folder collection (type S, then L, then A from main menu). For "server name" put "moya.trilug.org/user=USERID/ssl/novalidate-cert" where USERID is your username. You probably want to delete the "local folder" collection which was the only way I could get INBOX to appear in the right place.

Then, go to the "Config" section of the Setup screen (type S, then C from main menu). Change the inbox-path variable to read this:

{moya.trilug.org/user=USERID/ssl/novalidate-cert}INBOX

where USERID is your username. You may need to restart pine after making these changes.

I've not tested pine with the authenticated SMTP part of the setup (you don't need it if you're running pine directly on the TriLUG servers).

Mutt

User contributed directions appreciated. Here's what I've tried in my  /.muttrc for the IMAP part of the setup: 

set imap_authenticators="login" ;
set spoolfile=imaps://jeremy@moya.trilug.org/INBOX ;
set folder=imaps://jeremy@moya.trilug.org/ ;
It prompts you about the SSL cert each time -- there's probably a way to fix that too. See http://mutt.sourceforge.net/imap/ but not everything on there is quite right. I don't know how to get it to easily navigate to other folders.

Outlook Express

You are not allowed to use Outlook Express with the TriLUG mail server. Just kidding! It actually seems to work pretty well. Here's some info about using OE with IMAP folders: http://www.usc.edu/dept/gero/AgeWorks/distance-education/email/outlook/outlookex5win.html. (Ignore the site-specific comments.) Be sure to enable SSL as with other clients.

Other

please contribute information about other mail clients

Also, you can access your mail through web mail (coming soon).

3.5 What mail add-ons can I use?

Currently, the following add-ons are installed:

Next Previous Contents