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Configuring Your Email Client for AuthSMTP

NSIT is retiring its old outbound mail (SMTP) server, smtp.uchicago.edu, in favor of a newer authenticated server: authsmtp.uchicago.edu. This new outgoing mail server requires the use of a CNetID and password, provides additional security, and shouldn't run into as many problems with commercial Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

NSIT no longer supports Eudora. This program was discontinued by its manufacturer, Qualcomm. While Eudora may continue to work with NSIT's servers, we cannot guarantee reliable performance. We will not be providing update instructions for AuthSMTP.

This page provides instructions to reconfigure some common email programs to take advantage of this new email server. Please note the following:

  • We do not recommend or support Outlook and Entourage for use with cMail, only xMail.
  • If you have an unknown or third-party server in your email client's configuration, contact your local support group or ISP with questions before making any changes.
  • Webmail, Pine, and standard xMail users do not need to make the changes described in this document, but individuals who use xMail via IMAP should update their configuration as described

Mozilla Thunderbird 2.0 (PC or Mac) – recommended

  1. Go to Tools → Account Settings.
  2. In the left sidebar, click on Outgoing Server (SMTP).
  3. Under Outgoing Server (SMTP) Settings, click on the Add... button.
  4. In the window that pops up, enter the following information:
    • Description: Uchicago AuthSMTP (or any name you can use to easily identify the new entry)
    • Server name: authsmtp.uchicago.edu
    • Port: 465
    • Make sure Use name and password is checked, then enter your CNetID for the user name.
    • Use secure connection: SSL.
  5. Click OK. Make sure to set your new SMTP server entry as the default using the Set Default button, then delete any older entries for smtp.uchicago.edu. Click OK again to save your new account settings.

Outlook 2003 – not recommended for cMail

  1. Go to Tools → Account Settings.
  2. In the E-mail Accounts wizard, select "View or change existing email accounts" and click Next.
  3. In the list of accounts that appears, select your University account and then click Change.
  4. On the account settings window, replace smtp.uchicago.edu with authsmtp.uchicago.edu in the "Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP)" blank.
  5. Click on the "More Settings..." button.
  6. Click on the Outgoing Server tab. Check the box that says "My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication." Make sure "Use the same settings as my incoming mail server" is checked.
  7. Click on the Advanced tab.
  8. Click on the checkboxes under "Incoming server (IMAP)" and "Outgoing server (SMTP)" that say "This server requires an encypted connection (SSL)." The server port number for the Incoming server (IMAP) should change from 143 to 993. Make sure to change the Outgoing server (SMTP) port number 465. Once that's done, click OK.

Outlook 2007 – not recommended for cMail

  1. Go to Tools → Account Settings.
  2. Select your University of Chicago email account from the account list, then click Change.
  3. In the "Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP)" blank, replace smtp.uchicago.edu with authsmtp.uchicago.edu.
  4. On the Change E-mail Account screen, click More Settings....
  5. In the Internet E-mail Settings window, select the "Outgoing Server" tab. Check the "My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication" option. Make sure "Use same settings as my incoming mail server" is selected.
  6. Select the "Advanced" tab. Under the "Server Port Numbers" section, change the Outgoing Server (SMTP) port to 465, and select "SSL" from the "Use the following type of encrypted connection" dropdown menu.
  7. Click OK to close the Internet E-mail Settings window, then click Next Finish.

Apple Mail (OS X 10.4 & 10.5) – not supported

  1. Go to Mail → Preferences.
  2. Click on the Accounts tab. Near the bottom of the Accounts tab, select "Edit Server List..." from the Outgoing Mail Server (SMTP) dropdown menu.
  3. On the screen that pops up, click the +.
  4. On the "Account Information" tab, enter authsmtp.uchicago.edu for the Server Name.
  5. Click on the "Advanced" tab. Enter 465 for the Server Port and check "Use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)". The Authentication should be set to "Password." You may also enter your CNetID and password in the User Name and Password blanks if you want Apple Mail to store them for later use.
  6. Delete any other entries for smtp.uchicago.edu from the server list by clicking on them and using the - button.
  7. Press OK to save your changes to the server list. Make sure "Use only this server" is checked, and that your new authsmtp.uchicago.edu entry is selected. Close the Accounts window.

Entourage 2004 – not recommended for cMail

  1. Go to Entourage → Account Settings.
  2. In the Account Settings window, select your University email account and press Edit.
  3. Select the Account Settings tab. In the "SMTP server" blank, replace smtp.uchicago.edu with authsmtp.uchicago.edu.
  4. Click on the button that says "Click here for advanced sending options," and configure it as follows:
    • SMTP service requires secure connection (SSL): checked.
    • Override default SMTP port: checked, and enter port 465.
    • SMTP server requires authentication: checked.
    • Select "Use same settings as receiving mail server."
    • Leave "Domain for unqualified addresses" blank.
  5. Click on the "Edit Account" window to close the advanced sending options, then click OK to save your changes.

Manual server settings – advanced users only

SMTP Server: authsmtp.uchicago.edu

AuthSMTP uses SSL over port 465 and requires a CNetID and password.

Last updated: 5/08/08