Configuring E-mail Clients
Generic E-mail Client Configuration Instructions
Configuring email settings may be different from program to program, but all email programs require the same basic
pieces of information. Here we list the different items required by most email programs, and the proper way to
configure them. If you have difficulty figuring out how to configure your particular client program, please consult
the documentation that came with that program, or contact the software manufacturer.
- POP3 Mail
- There are a few different methods (also known as protocols) for checking email. POP3 (Post Office
Protocol) is the most commonly used method, particularly when using an email client.
The POP3 protocol accesses a remote mail server that then downloads incoming e-mail to your computer. Think of
a POP3 account as a temporary holding bin for your e-mail. When it is prompted, the server then routes that mail
to your computer. E-mail is not stored on the remote server.
- IMAP Mail
- The IMAP protocol maintains your e-mail account on a remote server. You issue the commands to download, delete,
flag, forward, and store messages from your local computer, but your remote server does all the work.
IMAP
allows you to access your e-mail from any computer; however, it occupies disk space that you might need for
other purposes. To learn more about e-mail and how it works, visit
HowStuffWorks.
- Email Address
- This is often listed as POP account or IMAP Account, return address, or reply address,
and some programs may request this more than once. In every case, however, this is simply your username at your host
domain (for example, username@YOUR-DOMAIN.NAME.)
- Username
- Also often called POP ID or Account Name, this is your username.
- Password
- This is the password associated with your username. Some programs do not ask for the password until you check your
mail.
- Incoming Mail Server
- There are a number of different ways this may be phrased, but it is referring to the domain name where your mail
is stored. Your mail is stored on the server, so you should enter your Host domain name
- Outgoing SMTP Server
- This may also be expressed differently, but it is asking for the domain name of your SMTP server, or the server
you use to send email. This should be your Host domain name. Some ISP's may require you to use their SMTP server for
sending email. Make sure the SMTP server is set to allow SMTP-Auth.
If you prefer to use Netscape Communicator, Outlook 2000, Eudora, or any of the other e-mail clients out there,
you can configure your account to use POP or IMAP. Depending on which version of an e-mail client you are
using, actual configuration steps may vary.
Note: The default SMTP port (25) is blocked by many ISPs as a measure to prevent spam. If you find
that you cannot send mail, try changing the SMTP port to to either 587 or 5190. Ports 587 and 5190 are auxiliary SMTP
ports supported by all AlpineWeb Hosting accounts.
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