Mozilla Thunderbird

Thunderbird Quick Setup

Grant Basham 1/19/2010

These are quick notes on how to configure the Mozilla Thunderbird email client for the new Exchange server that we opened last week. When the dust settles and we have a bit of time you will get pretty pictures.

This is the current version of thunderbird, Version 9.  If you have an older version, I suggest you update.  Go to Help -> About Thunderbird... to check for updates.

New account setup should just work. 

   Go to the top-of-the-window menu buttons
     Tools (or Edit) -> Account Settings...
      Account Actions (bottom left) -> Add Mail Account...

         Take the defaults.  You enter name, email, password on first page.  Second page shows what it found.  They are correct, click Create. You have a new email account in your thunderbird. You will probably need to wait a bit while Thunderbird creates indexes.  Leave it running until it finishes.  If you have to shut it down, it will just restart indexing next time you log in.  Search won't work until all indexing is done.
 

If you have an existing account.

•  Tools (or Edit) -> Account Settings...
•  Double Click the account (email address line) in the left panel.
• Click Server Settings under the account line.  This MUST BE Server Type: IMAP Mail Server.  If it is POP, you must add a new IMAP account as above and use that instead. Values in Server Settings:
  • Server Name: imap.rsmas.miami.edu
  • Port: 143
  • Username: YOUR-USERNAME (no @rsmas...)
  • Security Settings: STARTTLS
  • Authentication Method: NTLM
      Defaults should be ok for the rest.
• Click Outgoing Server (SMTP) at the bottom of the list in the leftp panel. 
• Select your SMTP server in the top right panel (probably is mail.rsmas.miami.edu).  Values should be:
  • Description: Just a label that will show up in the list.  I use RSMAS
  • Server Name: smtp.rsmas.miami.edu
  • Port 587
  • Connection security: STARTTLS
  • Authentication method: Normal Password
  • Username: YOUR-USERNAME (no @rsmas...)

[OK] out. Restart Thunderbird.  You will have to re-enter your password a couple of times.