Chapter 5. Administering Mail Client Users

Table of Contents
5.1. The Client Preferences Manager Interface
5.2. Configuring Mail Clients
5.3. Managing Mail Client Users

Mail client software must be configured for the Messaging Server before client users can take advantage of its features. This chapter describes:

Note: Although client configuration and preferences management has been designed to be easy to use, mail administrators might want to explain Messaging Server configuration and features to mail client users.

For more information, see "Chapter 5. Managing Clients" in the Administrator's Guide and the Client User's Guide.

5.1. The Client Preferences Manager Interface

The Messaging Server includes the Preferences Manager, a web-based user interface with access controlled by the administrator. It provides client mail preference screens accessible to all users with an active Messaging Server mail account and an Internet browser. Like the Server Manager screens, it is served by the Apache webserver at:

http://hostname/msg

although logging in with a user mail account displays a different set of screens.

The Preferences Manager screen includes menus for:

It also includes:

5.2. Configuring Mail Clients

The Messaging Server has been tested with the following mail client software:

In addition, any mail client that correctly implements POP and/or IMAP protocols should be able to retrieve messages from the Messaging Server.

Mail client software must be configured to authenticate with and receive messages from the Messaging Server. You must therefore enable mail client users to run client configuration tools (for Outlook family clients) or manually enter configuration information on their personal systems. To enable a mail client user to access their mail from a Messaging Server server:

  1. Create a Messaging Server email account as described in "Managing Mail Users".

  2. In some cases, you must inform users whether to select IMAP or POP in the configuration screens of the mail client software.

  3. Provide this account information to the user so they can log into the Preferences Manager and configure their mail client software. To do so, they must click on the Client Setup in the Preferences menu. This displays configuration information used by their mail client software to communicate with the Messaging Server.

  4. If you are migrating existing mail users to a Messaging Server installation, you might need to inform them of potential changes to the appearance and behavior of their mail client software.

Client configuration procedures differ for the supported clients:

Outlook clients 

The Messaging Server provides the Outlook Configuration Tool, which supports the configuration of Messaging Server add-in functionality in these mail clients:

  • Outlook XP

  • Outlook 2000

  • Outlook 98

  • Outlook 97

  • Outlook Express with Internet Explorer 5 or later

Note: The Outlook Configuration Tool does not configure "free/busy" calendar functionality on Outlook 97 clients.

To use the Outlook Configuration Tool, simply click on Configure and follow the instructions on the screens.

Webmail clients 

The IMP (Internet Messaging Program) webmail client is enabled by default in the Messaging Server. Client users can access the IMP webmail client by pointing their browsers at http://hostname/horde/imp and entering their Messaging Server account information. For more information, see "Enabling Webmail Service" in the Administrator's Guide.

Other mail clients 

Netscape Messenger, Eudora, and KMail client users must copy the information from the Client Setup screen into their client configuration options screens. Online Help screens in the Preferences Manager provide detailed configuration instructions from the Client User's Guide.

For more information, see "Enabling mail client users" in Chapter 5 of the Administrator's Guide.

5.3. Managing Mail Client Users

Mail client users can set their own mail preferences with the Preferences Manager. When they log in with a valid mail account name and password, they are presented the same user preferences as displayed on the administrative screens, although no other configuration options are presented:

Preferences 

Your Profile 

Displays client user personal information. To modify it, enter or edit the desired fields, and click the Apply button to enter your changes.

Forward email 

When set, forwards email to the address entered in the box.

Vacation email 

When set, sends a vacation message; that is, an automatic reply for all email received during a vacation or extended absence. A list of messages sent is also maintained.

Change Password 

To change your password, enter your old password, enter a new password, retype the new password, and click on Apply.

Client Setup 

Displays information required by clients to communicate with the Messaging Server.

Note: Downloading Outlook configuration information is usually performed only once per user. Outlook client users should not repeat this step unless instructed to do so.

Users 

Find Users 

Allows you to search for users based on UserId, Name, and Email Address fields, and you can enter partial strings. You can also browse the complete list of email users by clicking the Show All. For each account listed, you can view their profile and aliases to which they subscribe.

Aliases 

Your Aliases 

Displays aliases for which you are the Owner or a Member.

Find Aliases 

Allows you to search for aliases or browse a list of available aliases.

Create Alias 

Allows you to create aliases.

Help screens are also available from the user preferences page.