From StackWiki
Stack provides a number of ways to access email stored in your mailbox. Mail can be managed from your Stack unix account, using webmail, or using an external program such as Outlook, Evolution or Thunderbird.
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Using webmail
It is possible to access any Stack mailbox from the web using the Stack Webmail service at https://webmail.stack.nl/ . It it sufficient to enter webmail.stack.nl in your browser address bar as you will be automatically redirected to a secure (HTTPS) connection.
Stack uses Horde/IMP webmail software. Horde/IMP is an extensive application suite with sophisticated webmail, task management, calendars, etc.
Mail client software, using POP3 or IMAP
Stack email can be read using a mail client or mail user agent (MUA) program. Some popular products are Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird and Evolution, but many others exist. All these programs use standardized ways to access the email on the Stack server: POP3 and IMAP.
- POP3 is used to download messages from the server to your client computer and remove them from the server (inbox);
- IMAP4 is used to access messages that then remain stored on the server. Advantages over POP3 include the use of multiple folders, and since the mail remains on the server, you can easily read the mail from different computers.
Encryption
Both POP3 and IMAP are plain-text protocols. This means that the communication session is not encrypted. In order to prevent exposure of sensitive information, including your login password, you can use POP3 and IMAP with SSL/TLS encryption functionality. Two implementations are available: TLS mode (STARTTLS) on the normal POP3/IMAP ports, and dedicated SSL ports (POP3S/IMAPS). Note that all SSL certificates used by Stack are signed by CAcert. You may need to install the CACert Root Certificate to avoid warnings on the server certificates used by Stack's servers.
Settings
Below are the settings for POP3/IMAP for members, associations and users of virtual mailboxes (i.e., additional mailboxes used by associations). In all cases, the server popserver.stack.nl is used: both IMAP and POP3, and all account types. Members and associations use their normal Unix login names and passwords. Users of virtual mailboxes need to specify the full email address instead of a short login name.
- POP3 (plain-text and TLS): Server popserver.stack.nl, port 110 (default)
- IMAP (plain-text and TLS): Server popserver.stack.nl, port 143 (default)
- IMAP (SSL): Server: popserver.stack.nl, port 993
Local clients on the Stack shell servers
Mail client software is of course also installed on the Stack shell servers. This includes the graphical (X Windows) based Mozilla Thunderbird (run "thunderbird"), while "mutt" and "pine" are popular text-based clients with completely different feels. These clients can not only be used for Stack mail but can of course also access other mail servers using the POP3 and IMAP protocols described above.
Mail submission (outgoing mail)
When configuring your email client to connect to the popserver, you will be asked for an outgoing email server. Contrary to popular belief, the outgoing, or submission server is completely unrelated to the incoming (POP3,IMAP) server. The outgoing email server to use depends on the network (ISP) you use to connect to the internet. It is however possible to always use the Stack submission server. For a full explanation and settings for the Stack submission server, please see mail submission service.
Further help
For further help configuring your mail software, or questions about the services provided, please contact the Stack helpdesk.
