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 Outlook Express e-mail client to work with the mail server. Please note: Due to virus difficulties, we do NOT recommend using Outlook Express.

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.

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. The IMAP protocol is the one you will select in the majority of cases.

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.

If you're unsure about which e-mail protocol to choose, you may contact the OIT Help Desk for assistance. Call 450-8300 locally, or write helpdesk@alaska.edu. Rural areas may dial 1-800-478-8226.

Setting up your Outlook Express account

1. Open Outlook Express. Go to the Tools menu and select Accounts....

2. The Internet Accounts window opens; select the Mail tab and then click the Add button. On the submenu that appears, select Mail...

3. The Internet Connection Wizard opens. Type your name in the Display Name text field. Click Next.

4. Next, type your e-mail address. Click Next.

4. An example of typical server settings is shown below. In the majority of cases, IMAP is the protocol of choice (as explained above). POP may be used where server connections are extremely slow.

The incoming mail server field must be filled in accurately. Replace "fsabc" with your username: fsabc.email.uaf.edu

Outgoing mail server will be smtp.uaf.edu as shown below. Click Next.

5. On the Internet Mail Logon window, type in your user name. Leave the Remember password box unchecked. Click Next.

6. A Congratulations window appears after all required information is entered to set up your account in the program. Click Finish.

7. Last, your account now appears on the Mail tab. Click Close, or follow the directions below to set up LDAP directory service to use the UA Enterprise Directory.

Configuring Outlook Express to use Enterprise Directory (EDIR) Addressing

1. Select the Directory Service tab (which is found under the Tools program menu, then select Accounts...). Click the Add button and select Directory Service...

2. The Internet Directory Server Name window opens. Type edir.alaska.edu in the text field to specify the LDAP server. Click Next.

3. In the Check E-mail Addresses window, select Yes. Click Next.

The Congratulations window appears -- click Finish on that window.

4. After you've clicked Finish in the Congratulations window, the Internet Accounts window reappears. You will see edir.alaska.edu listed under accounts. Select it and click the Properties button.

5. Click the Advanced tab and enter the following in the Search Base text field:

ou=people,dc=alaska,dc=edu

Click OK.

If you have any questions or need assistance with these procedures, please contact the OIT Help Desk:

• By phone in the Fairbanks area at 450-8300 and outside of Fairbanks at 1-800-478-8226.
• By e-mail at helpdesk@alaska.edu
• By fax at (907)-450-8312.