Chapter 5. Administering Mail Client Users

Table of Contents

The Client Preferences Manager Interface
Configuring Mail Clients
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 4 “Managing Clients” in the Administrator's Guide and the Client User's Guide.

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:

https://hostname/msg

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

Note

SSL (Secure Socket Layer) connections are enabled by default in the Messaging Server, allowing you to log in to the Server Manager immediately using an https URL. We strongly recommend that client users log in with secure SSL connections provided by the https URL whenever possible.

Figure 5.1. The Preferences Manager Screen

The Preferences Manager screen includes menus for:

  • setting and modifying user Preferences:

    • Change passwords.

    • Configure aliases.

    • Configure vacation mail.

    • Configure mail forwarding.

    • View mail configuration information.

  • viewing other system Users.

  • viewing and managing Aliases.

It also includes:

  • a general HELP link that connects to the Client User's Guide.

  • screen specific Help screens that connect to individual topics in the Client User's Guide.

  • a LOGOUT button.

Configuring Mail Clients

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

  • Outlook 2000

  • Outlook 98

  • Outlook Express

  • Outlook XP

  • Netscape Messenger version 4.7 on Windows, UNIX, and Linux

  • Netscape Messenger version 6.0 on Linux and Windows

  • Eudora Mail

  • KMail (version shipped with KDE2)

  • IMP, a web-based IMAP mail client included with Caldera OpenLinux and configured by default.

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

If Steltor CorporateTime Server is installed with the Messaging Server, the Outlook Configuration Tool automatically configures Outlook XP, Outlook 2000 and Outlook 98 clients for Steltor calendar services. However, Outlook 2000 and Outlook 98 clients must be configured in Corporate/Workgroup mode to use the Steltor Outlook Connector. If CorporateTime Server is not installed, these clients must be configured in Internet Email Only mode. Outlook XP clients automatically configure themselves for the appropriate mode.

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 https://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 the Administrator's Guide.

Managing Mail Client Users

If granted User Access privileges, 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:

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.

Note

Outlook 2000 and Outlook 98 clients must be configured in Corporate/Workgroup or Internet Email Only mode depending on whether Steltor CorporateTime Outlook Connector is being used. For more information, see Chapter 6 “Calendar Configuration” and the Steltor documentation.