University of Calgary

Authenticated SMTP

Submitted by teale on Thu, 2007-03-29 08:29.

IT Authenticated Outgoing E-mail Server
IT Secure connection (SSL/TLS) on Incoming and Outgoing E-mail
Webmail is always an Option
Connecting from home (Telus or Shaw) or off-campus or when Mobile
Configuring Netscape/Mozilla Clients for Authenticated SMTP
Configuring Microsoft Outlook/Outlook Express /Vista Mail Clients
Is your Windows up to date?
Troubleshooting Microsoft Outlook SMTP
Configuring other Mac Clients for Authenticated SMTP
Configuring Other Clients for Authenticated SMTP
Running (Norton) Anti-Virus Software, Firewall or Router?
Using Your ISP Outgoing E-mail Server?
Getting Help!

IT Authenticated Outgoing E-mail Server

The primary outgoing mail (SMTP) server for University of Calgary users is smtp.ucalgary.ca.

Using this server requires authentication with Information Technologies username and password --same one as you use to read your IT e-mail. Typically you will be prompted for your password when you send the first message of your session.

Authentication prevents spammers from relaying spam via our servers. As an authenticated user:

  • you will be able to send zip files and some other file types without quarantine,
  • you will be able send mail from other ISPs off-campus as if you were sending from on-campus with regards to Spam and Mailscanning controls. See note about travelling.

    • IT SSL/TLS settings on Incoming IMAP and Outgoing E-mail Server

    IT email supports SSL/TLS encryption to make your e-mail more secure in transit.  Some firewalls, routers, and antivirus software may not work with smtp SSL/TLS. Norton Antivirus users should check here.

    Selecting SSL/TLS is strongly recommended for both incoming IMAP and outgoing SMTP server.

    Webmail is always an Option

    Webmail users are not affected by secure connection and SMTP settings. All sent mail is treated as campus e-mail. Use webmail if you encounter any difficulties sending email with your email client or when travelling:

    http://webmail.ucalgary.ca
    Check about importing your Addressbook into webmail.

    Connecting from Home, Off-Campus or when Mobile 

    Telus, Shaw home connections are not able to send e-mail to smtp.ucalgary.ca through port 25.  Often port 25 is blocked by ISPs to control Virus outbreaks and Spam.

    Configure your email program to use a secure connection (SSL) and port 465.  Instructions for various email clients are described below.

    Configuring Netscape/Mozilla Clients for Authenticated SMTP

    The steps for configuring the Outgoing SMTP for authentication and SSL/TLS for each client are outlined below. The Mac and Windows versions are similar enough.

    To check and update your outgoing server settings:

    Mozilla Thunderbird PC and Mac

    • Go to Window / Mail & Newsgroups Go to Tools / Account Settings. On the left scroll to and select Outgoing Server (SMTP)
    • Type smtp.ucalgary.ca for your Server Name: Tick Use name and password and enter IT user name. For port, type 465.
    • For Use secure connection, select SSL.

     

    Configuring Outlook/Outlook Express/ Vista Mail Clients

    Is your Windows up to date?

    Because the various versions of Outlook and Outlook Express clients depend upon the version of Windows that you are running, it is recommended that you apply Windows Updates (from the Start menu) and in the case of Outlook (part of Office) perform Office updates. You can obtain these from the Microsoft Download Center:

    http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/


    Do not select Microsoft Secure Password Authentication (SPA)--it is not the same as Authenticated SMTP.

    Outlook Express 5.5 & 6.0

    • Go to Tools / Accounts... Choose Mail tab, highlight the account and click on Properties
    • Click on the Servers tab.Type imap.ucalgary.ca for Incoming mail (IMAP Server Type smtp.ucalgary.ca for Outgoing mail (SMTP) Server
    • For Account name, type your IT username in the form: dcherry
      Do NOT tick, Logon using Secure Password Authentication
    • Tick My server requires authentication
    • Click on Settings... Tick Use same settings as my incoming mail server
    • Click OK
    • Choose the Advanced tab of the Properties window
    • Under Outgoing server (SMTP), Tick This server requires a secure connection (SSL)
    • Type 465 for the port number
    • Under Incoming server (IMAP), Tick This server requires a secure connection (SSL)
    • Type 993 for the port number
    • Click OK

    Outlook 2003/2007/Vista Mail

    • Go to Tools / E-mail Accounts... Select View or change existing e-mail accounts and click on Next  (for 2007 it is Tools/Account Settings/E-mail tab) (for Vista Mail it is Tools/Accounts and Properties)
    • Select your University of Calgary e-mail account from the list and press Change...  (or Properties)
    • Under Server Information, type imap.ucalgary.ca for Incoming mail server (IMAP)
      • smtp.ucalgary.ca for Outgoing mail server (SMTP)
    • Under Logon Information, type your IT username. Do NOT tick, Logon using Secure Password Authentication
    • Tick My server requires authentication
    • Click on Settings... Tick My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication
    • Tick Use same settings as my incoming mail server
    • Click OK
    • Choose the Advanced tab
    • Under Outgoing server (SMTP), Tick This server requires a secure connection (SSL)
    • Type 465 for the port number
    • Under Incoming server (IMAP), Tick This server requires a secure connection (SSL)
    • Type 993 for the port number
    • Click OK

    Troubleshooting Outlook SMTP

    If after making the changes, the Outlook/Outlook Express client continues to reject sending a message due to failure to Authenticate, on the Outgoing Mail Server window, select Log on using, then fill in both your username and password.

    This appears to force Outlook clients to use the Authentication with the correct password. It is not recommended to save your password so you may need to remove that later unless your machine is secure from unauthorized access.

    Configuring Mac Clients for Authenticated SMTP

    Apple Mail 2.x/3.x

    • Go to Application / Preferences and click the Accounts option
    • Select the relevant account and click on Edit
    • Under Outgoing Mail Server click Options
    • For Outgoing Mail Server type smtp.ucalgary.ca
    • Tick Use Secure Sockets Layer when sending mail
    • For port, type 465.
    • For Authentication, select Password. Enter IT User name but leave password blank
    • Click OK

    Microsoft Entourage for the Mac

    • Go to Tools / Accounts
    • Highlight the account and click on Edit
    • Click Account Settings tab. Type smtp.ucalgary.ca for Outgoing mail (SMTP) Server
    • Click on click here for advanced sending options Tick on SMTP requires SSL.Tick Override default SMTP port:, for port type 465
    • Tick SMTP server requires authentication Tick Use same settings as incoming
    • Click close and OK

    Configuring Other Clients for Authenticated SMTP

    PC Pine 4.xx

    Obtain and install the latest version of PC Pine from here.
    From the Main menu screen:
    • Choose Setup
    • Choose Config
    • For smtp-server, enter server name and your IT username in the form: smtp.ucalgary.ca/ssl/user=dcherry
    • For inbox-path, enter server name and your IT username in the form:
      • {imap.ucalgary.ca/ssl/user=dcherry}inbox
    • Exit Setup

    Running Norton Anti-Virus Software, Firewall or Router?

    Please note that some virus-checking programs, for example Norton's, cannot make an SSL connection to an SMTP server. Disable the automatic checking of outgoing mail:

    • Open Norton AntiVirus, click Options
    • Select E-mail under the Internet section
    • Uncheck Scan outgoing E-mail
    • Click OK
    • Close Norton AntiVirus

    Messages on IT servers are checked before delivery. University of Calgary users are licensed to use McAfee AntiVirus which can be obtained from here.

    Please note that any changes to the outgoing host  IP(136.159.35.18) may require changes to existing Firewall controls. Contact your Network administrator.

    Using Your ISP Outgoing SMTP Server?

    When using your ISP outgoing SMTP server to send with a ucalgary.ca address there is a potential for Spam control rejects both when sending to other ucalgary.ca addresses or when sending to any domain. Note also that you may have to  unselect SSL/TLS as well as unselect Authenticated Access when sending email through your home ISP.

    IT Webmail may be the best solution in this case. 

    Getting Help!

    If you are unable to send e-mail after making the changes, please contact the IT Support Centre. Please make a note of following:

    • which e-mail program and version (check Help-> About ...)
    • which Operating system (Mac OS x, Windows XP, Windows Vista etc.)
    • which ISP (Shaw, Telus etc.).

    You can use webmail to send us an e-mail at itsupport@ucalgary.ca, or phone us at 403-220-5555.

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