Thunderbird for SVSU Groupwise and Vmail
Email clients provide users more robust features than typical web browser interfaces, such is the case with the WebMail template for Vmail. An email client will allow you to save or archive messages into a folder on your local computer, reducing the space limitations imposed on your account (not to mention the various policies that pertain to dated messages, see our ITS Policies page here.
Microsoft software (especially Outlook) has a history of being targeted with malicious attacks; making your system and your personal data vulnerable. Mozilla Thunderbird is a very popular email client alternative to web browsers and Outlook. It provides you access to IMAP mail protocols (SVSU policy is to uses IMAP), and the client provides HTML formatting of messages. Thunderbird also provides spell checking, as well as message filtering and mail folder management. Integrated Junk Mail filters help to decrease spam from coming into your inbox. Another built-in feature is anti-phishing, protecting you from common email scams (those messages that try to fool you into providing personal information and account passwords). Attachments never run, unless you explicitly permit it - further protecting your system from many worms and viruses (but do not trust it to take the place of anti-virus software).
Below are the instructions for downloading and configuring Thunderbird for SVSU. Read them thoroughly.
Download Thunderbird
- Visit www.mozilla.com/thunderbird
- Click the version you need for your system (Windows, Linux, Mac OS X)
- Save the file to your computer (remember the location where you save it)
Install Thunderbird
- Navigate to where you saved the Thunderbird Setup.exe file and double-click the icon to begin the setup process.
- Follow the prompts for installing (accepting the license agreement and so on), clicking NEXT until you see the Install Complete dialog box
- Click the Finish button to launch Thunderbird
Configuring Thunderbird for SVSU Groupwise and Vmail
- Upon launching Thunderbird, you'll be presented the Import Wizard dialog box.
- If you have an existing mail client like Netscape or Outlook, you're given the opportunity to migrate (import) the existing mail to Thunderbird. Choose the appropriate option, or choose Don't import anything
- Click the Next button
- The Account Wizard New Account Setup dialog box will display
a. Click the Email account radio button, and click Next
- In the Account Wizard Identity dialog box, you'll want to enter in the information being requested.
a. Enter in Your Name - the name you want displayed in your email messages:
e.g. John Q Public or JohnnyQ
b. Enter in your SVSU email address: e.g. jqpublic@svsu.edu
c. Click Next
GROUPWISE SERVER CONFIGURATION INFORMATION
- Account Wizard Server Information for Groupwise:
a. Click the IMAP radio button
b. Incoming Server:
Groupwise: gw.svsu.edu
c. Outgoing Server: smtp.svsu.edu (on campus, your ISP is SVSU)
d. Port: 993
e. Click Next
VMAIL SERVER CONFIGURATION INFORMATION
- Account Wizard Server Information for Vmail
a. Click the IMAP radio button
b. Incoming Server:
Vmail: vmail.svsu.edu
c. Outgoing Server: smtp.svsu.edu (on campus, your ISP is SVSU)
d. Port: 993
e. Click Next
NOTE: The outgoing server setting is for on-campus systems. Off-campus configuration should use the smtp settings of your ISP (Internet Service Provider) [e.g. smtp.charter.net]. For a list of other SMTP server settings reference: http://www.thedomainworks.com/smtp_settings.php
- Account Wizard User Names
a. Type your SVSU username in the Incoming User Name field (e.g. jqpublic)
b. The Outgoing User Name will need to match the username used for your ISP.
For SVSU on-campus users, type your SVSU username (e.g. jqpublic)
c. Click Next
- Account Wizard
a. Enter in a description of this Account to display within Thunderbird
b. Click Next
Account Wizard Congratulations!
Verify the information presented in this dialog box. If incorrect, click Back and correct it. Otherwise, if everything looks okay - click Finish. (You're not done yet, so please read on...)
Final Configurations Needed
When you first launch Thunderbird, it will ask you if you want to use it as the default mail application. You should answer Yes, so that your system knows to use it instead of another email program like Microsoft Outlook.
The first time in, you're going to get a dialog box informing you that Vmail has disabled login and that you may need to connect via SSL or TSL. Click OK and the Thunderbird client displays the account you just created.
- Click Tools in the menu bar and then select Account Settings
- Click on Server Settings
a. Under Security Settings, click the radio button next to SSL
b. Click to select the Check for new messages at startup checkbox
c. Type 5 in the Check for new messages every... field
d. Select Move it to the Trash folder under When I delete a message:
d. Click to select the Empty Trash on Exit checkbox
- Click OK
If you have questions or concerns, contact the ITS Support Center at 989-964-4225.