Difference between revisions of "Free Geek Email"

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(mail.freegeek.org instead of web.freegeek.org)
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== Client based email ==
 
== Client based email ==
Use the following settings to connect from an email client such as kmail, evolution or thunderbird.  The server port is included below for clarity, but is usually automatically set when you choose the encryption type.
+
Use the following settings to connect from an email client such as Evolution or Thunderbird.  The server port is included below for clarity, but is usually automatically set when you choose the encryption type.
 +
 
 
===Receiving email===
 
===Receiving email===
 
==== IMAP ====
 
==== IMAP ====
  
IMAP allows you to access your email from anywhere and leave the email on a server, but requires a separate email program.  Most email programs (even windows ones) can handle IMAP.  The main disadvantage of IMAP (and webmail) is that the messages are inaccessible when you are offline. There are options to work around this, such as [http://packages.debian.org/offlineimap offlineimap] or kmail's "disconnected imap" feature.
+
IMAP allows you to access your email from anywhere and leave the email on a server, but requires a separate email program.  Most email programs (even windows ones) can handle IMAP.  The main disadvantage of IMAP (and webmail) <del>is</del> was that the messages are inaccessible when you are offline. Any decent modern mail client has an option to sync mail locally so this is no longer a real problem. (Fun Fact:Squirrel Mail users IMAP behind the scenes).
 
 
Settings
 
  
 
*Protocol - IMAP
 
*Protocol - IMAP
 
*Server - mail.freegeek.org
 
*Server - mail.freegeek.org
*username - your entire Free Geek email address <whoyouis@freegeek.org>
+
*username - the first part of your email before the @ symbol.
 
*server port - 993
 
*server port - 993
 
*Encryption - SSL
 
*Encryption - SSL
*Authentication - Clear Text
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*Authentication - Plain Text
  
 
==== POP3 ====
 
==== POP3 ====
The "old traditional" email system.  POP downloads the email to your machine, making it inaccessible from other locations unless you choose to leave a copy of the email on the server (which does not always work well with all clients).
+
The "old traditional" email system.  POP downloads the email to your machine, making it inaccessible from other locations unless you choose to leave a copy of the email on the server (which does not always work well with all clients). There is no reason to use it and you should not do so. "I've always used it" is not a reason, never mind a good one. Use IMAP instead, and sync your mail locally.
  
 
*Protocol - POP3
 
*Protocol - POP3
 
*Server - mail.freegeek.org
 
*Server - mail.freegeek.org
*username - your entire Free Geek email address <whoyouis@freegeek.org>
+
*username - the first part of your email before the @ symbol.
 
*server port - 995
 
*server port - 995
 
*Encryption - SSL
 
*Encryption - SSL
*Authentication - Clear Text
+
*Authentication - Plain Text
  
 
=== Sending mail ===
 
=== Sending mail ===
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==== Outside the Free Geek network (or on FG wireless) ====
 
==== Outside the Free Geek network (or on FG wireless) ====
Our SMTP server (mail.freegeek.org) will not normally send outgoing messages on behalf of people outside our network, to prevent people from sending spam through our network. (But see the instructions for laptops below).
+
Our SMTP server (mail.freegeek.org) is an authenticating SMTP server, this means you can send email from anywhere as log as you log in first. This works inside the network as well. You don't need to do anything special to login  as your email program will take care of it as long as you give the correct username and password. N.B. this differs form the one you use to read your email. It needs the @freegeek.org part as well.
  
; Home Computer
+
*Protocol - SMTP
 
+
*Server - mail.freegeek.org
:Use the SMTP server provided by your ISP.  So, for instance, if you use Whiz to Coho as an ISP, use the same SMTP server as you use for your Whiz to Coho email account. If you're a Comcast customer, use the same SMTP server you use for your comcast.net email. etc.
+
*username - username@freegeek.org
 
+
*Server port - 465
; Laptop
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*Encryption - SSL
 
+
*Authentication - Plain Text
:If you have a laptop, most likely you take it lots of places, and use it on a number of networks (home, work, the coffee shop, Free Geek.) If so, using your ISP's SMTP server for sending may not be a good option, because it might not work at all those places.
 
 
 
:You can actually use Free Geek's SMTP server from anywhere, but only within 30 minutes of "logging in" by checking your mail.
 
 
 
:'''POP3:''' If you use POP3, just set your email program to check your email at least every 30 minutes.
 
 
 
:'''IMAP:''' If you use IMAP, it's a little more complicated. IMAP only "logs in" (authenticates) when you first start your email program. So after you first check your mail, you have 30 minutes to send messages out. After that, you'll need to either go "Offline" and then "Online", or quit and restart your email program, in order to have 30 more minutes to send out messages. Got that? Whew!
 
  
 
'''NOTES:'''  
 
'''NOTES:'''  
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You may receive a "greylisting" error message when sending to a freegeek address, even with your smtp server set to mail.freegeek.org.  If this happens, just resend the message after 5 minutes have passed.
 
You may receive a "greylisting" error message when sending to a freegeek address, even with your smtp server set to mail.freegeek.org.  If this happens, just resend the message after 5 minutes have passed.
  
If you go to a location that blocks outgoing SMTP, you will not be able to send email from a mail client, whether you try to use your regular ISP's SMTP server, mail.freegeek.org, or any other SMTP server. In these cases, you must use the Squirrelmail web interface to send mail.
+
If you go to a location that blocks outgoing SMTP, you may not be able to send email from a mail client, though using authenticated SMTP over SSL generally still works. In these cases, you man use the Squirrelmail web interface to send mail.
  
 
== Misc. ==
 
== Misc. ==

Revision as of 12:04, 2 December 2011

There are three different interfaces that can be used to access your Free Geek email: POP3, IMAP, and Squirrelmail. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages.

Squirrelmail

Squirrelmail is probably the easiest way to access your email, since it involves only a web browser and can be used from any location.

Go to https://mail.freegeek.org and enter your username (whoyouis) or email address (whoyouis@freegeek.org) in the Name field and your email password in the Password field.

Client based email

Use the following settings to connect from an email client such as Evolution or Thunderbird. The server port is included below for clarity, but is usually automatically set when you choose the encryption type.

Receiving email

IMAP

IMAP allows you to access your email from anywhere and leave the email on a server, but requires a separate email program. Most email programs (even windows ones) can handle IMAP. The main disadvantage of IMAP (and webmail) is was that the messages are inaccessible when you are offline. Any decent modern mail client has an option to sync mail locally so this is no longer a real problem. (Fun Fact:Squirrel Mail users IMAP behind the scenes).

  • Protocol - IMAP
  • Server - mail.freegeek.org
  • username - the first part of your email before the @ symbol.
  • server port - 993
  • Encryption - SSL
  • Authentication - Plain Text

POP3

The "old traditional" email system. POP downloads the email to your machine, making it inaccessible from other locations unless you choose to leave a copy of the email on the server (which does not always work well with all clients). There is no reason to use it and you should not do so. "I've always used it" is not a reason, never mind a good one. Use IMAP instead, and sync your mail locally.

  • Protocol - POP3
  • Server - mail.freegeek.org
  • username - the first part of your email before the @ symbol.
  • server port - 995
  • Encryption - SSL
  • Authentication - Plain Text

Sending mail

Inside the Free Geek network (plugged into the wired network)

NOTE: Wireless access, even when you're physically at Free Geek, is actually "outside" the network. So for wireless access, see the next section instead.

  • Protocol - SMTP
  • Server - mail.freegeek.org
  • Server port - 25
  • Encryption - none
  • Authentication - none

Outside the Free Geek network (or on FG wireless)

Our SMTP server (mail.freegeek.org) is an authenticating SMTP server, this means you can send email from anywhere as log as you log in first. This works inside the network as well. You don't need to do anything special to login as your email program will take care of it as long as you give the correct username and password. N.B. this differs form the one you use to read your email. It needs the @freegeek.org part as well.

  • Protocol - SMTP
  • Server - mail.freegeek.org
  • username - username@freegeek.org
  • Server port - 465
  • Encryption - SSL
  • Authentication - Plain Text

NOTES:

You may receive a "greylisting" error message when sending to a freegeek address, even with your smtp server set to mail.freegeek.org. If this happens, just resend the message after 5 minutes have passed.

If you go to a location that blocks outgoing SMTP, you may not be able to send email from a mail client, though using authenticated SMTP over SSL generally still works. In these cases, you man use the Squirrelmail web interface to send mail.

Misc.

To change your password, talk to one of the ASSes (in person).

your address plus - mail addressed to "whoyouis+stuff@freegeek.org" will get delivered just the same as mail to "whoyouis@freegeek.org". You might use this feature to give different addresses to different sign-up services. Note: You must use a "+" sign. More information on this can be found at the Wikipedia article wikipedia:E-mail address#Plus (or Minus) addressing.