Configuring Netscape 4.x to Access the Mail Server

IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)

You can use the IMAP method to access your mail directly from the mail server. With IMAP, your messages and folders will appear the same whether accessed from the web interface or from separate mail software.

1. In Netscape Messenger, go to the "Edit" menu, and then select "Preferences".

2. In the Preferences area, under "Mail and Newsgroups", click "Identity" and fill in your name and e-mail address as required. (If the Identity section is not displayed, click the "+" sign in front of the "Mail and Newsgroups" to expand the tree.)

3. Next under Mail and Newsgroups, click "Mail Servers" and click the "Add" button under "Incoming Mail Servers".

4. Under the "General" tab, Fill in the information requested as follows:

   Server Name: imap.albany.edu

   Server Type: IMAP server

   User Name: <enter your username>

   If you check the box that says "Check your mail every xx minutes", please use an interval of 15 minutes or longer.

5. Next, click the IMAP tab and select your message deletion options. Most users elect to use the "Trash" option. For added security, you may also check the box at the top to "Use secure connection (SSL)".

6. When you’re finished, click OK to exit the "Mail Server Properties" dialog box.

7. You should still be in the Mail Servers area. Under "Outgoing Mail Server," enter smtp.albany.edu as your outgoing mail server if you are using Netscape from an on-campus machine. If you are using an off-campus machine, you must use the server specified by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Consult your ISP to request the name of their outgoing (SMTP) server.

8. Click "OK" again to exit the Netscape Preferences area.

You have now successfully configured Netscape to access mail from the mail server.

If you have already used the web interface to create folders, Netscape will read your folder list automatically once you connect to retrieve your e-mail.

POP (Post Office Protocol)

If you use the POP method to access mail on your mail account, messages will be downloaded onto your personal computer and removed from the server unless you specify otherwise. If messages are removed from the server, you will not be able to access them via the web. If this is problematic, use the IMAP method instead.

Setup for POP in Netscape is nearly identical to setup for Netscape. For Steps 4 and 5, substitute the following:

1. Under the "General" tab, Fill in the information requested as follows:

   Server Name: imap.albany.edu

   Server Type: POP3 server

   User Name: <insert your username>

    

2. Next, click the POP tab to select whether you want messages left on the remote server in addition to being downloaded to your local machine.

Continue from Step 6 above.

You have now successfully configured Netscape to access mail from the mail server.

If you have already created folders in the web interface, please note that Netscape will not be able to see your folder list using POP. The POP protocol can only be used to download mail from the Inbox. Folders in Netscape are kept on the local machine under "Local Mail."

If you have chosen to use a POP connection, your mail client will be unable to tell whether your messages were read or not, so all messages downloaded will appear as unread.

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