Current is&t Issue

Volume 20

No. 4  March/April 2005

Tech Tips: IMAP at MIT

The Network Notes column on page 4 details the advantages of switching your email client from Post Office Protocol (POP) to Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP). Making the switch will change some aspects of your email experience; the tips that follow can help you make the transition.

Q: How can I check my email quota?

A: All MIT account holders have 250MB of storage on the mail servers. However, POP users rarely fill their quota, because they store their messages on their computers, rather than on the server. When you switch to IMAP, you’ll need to keep an eye on your quota. You can check it on the Post Office Quota page (MIT certificate required).

Your quota is also displayed above the Inbox message listings in WebMail. You can find tips on how to manage your email quota online.

Q: How do I know which incoming mail server I’m on?

A: When you configure your IMAP mail client, you’ll need to specify your mail server. You can find this information online.

Q: How does the move from POP to IMAP affect spam filtering?

A: If you use Eudora with POP and have opted for MIT’s spam filtering, you probably have a filter in place that moves any incoming spam messages to a dedicated folder.

For IMAP users, IS&T recommends using a Spamscreen folder instead. If you have one, your spam messages will be delivered automatically to your Spamscreen folder on the mail server, rather than to your Inbox. Here’s how to make the change:

First, you’ll need a Spamscreen folder. Spamscreen folders have been created automatically on all accounts set up after October 4, 2004. If you don’t already have a Spamscreen folder, you will need to create it. If you’re using Eudora with IMAP, follow these steps.

On a Windows machine:

1. Go to Tools>Mailboxes.

2. Click on the plus sign next to <<Dominant>> to expand the subfolders list.

3. Right-click on the Inbox and choose New…

4. Name the new mailbox Spamscreen. Be sure to capitalize the first letter!

On a Macintosh:

1. Go to Window>Mailboxes.

2. Click on the arrow next to <<Dominant>> to expand the subfolders list, and select the Inbox.

3. Click on the New Mailbox button, the second button from the left at the bottom of the Mailboxes window. This will create a subfolder called “Untitled Folder.”

4. Rename this folder Spamscreen. Be sure to capitalize the first letter!

If you’re using a program other than Eudora, you can find instructions on how to create your Spamscreen folder online.

Next, you’ll need to delete your old POP-style filter in Eudora.

1. Go to Tools>Filters on your Windows machine, or Window>Filters on your Macintosh.

2. In the left-hand pane of the Filters window, locate the filter X-Spam-Flag:YES.

3. Select this filter, and click on the Remove button.

4. Close the Filters window, and save your changes when prompted.

Since the contents of the Spamscreen folder count towards your mail quota, be sure to empty it from time to time. An auto-purging option is available on the mail severs, which will do this automatically. You can configure Auto-purging and other spam settings online

Q: How does the migration to IMAP affect my backup scheme?

A: When you use POP, your email is stored locally on your computer, and so can be backed up using TSM or another method. With IMAP, your email is stored on the mail server, so your messages won’t be included in your system backups. The mail servers are backed up nightly in case of server failure, but there is no service for restoring individual messages or mailboxes. You may want to back up important messages manually, in case you accidentally delete them. You can do this by saving a copy of the messages to a local mail folder, which can be included in your TSM or other backups.

Q: Help! I switched from POP to IMAP, but no mail is arriving in my In mailbox in Eudora!

A: Don’t worry; this is normal. The In mailbox in Eudora is a local mailbox, with messages stored on your computer. When you switch to IMAP, your mail is delivered to a folder called Inbox on the mail server. To access that folder, go to the Window menu if you’re using a Macintosh, or the Tools menu on a Windows machine, and choose Mailboxes><<Dominant>>>Inbox (see screenshot).

Note: If you use personalities in Eudora, you may need to choose the personality name, rather than <<Dominant>>.

If you don’t find your new messages in the Inbox on the server, contact the Computing Help Desk at 253-1101 or <computing-help@mit.edu>.

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