Using the SCS IMAP server
Note: This document describes the new SCS IMAP server, imap.srv.cs.cmu.edu, that was deployed in March, 2004.
SCS Facilities provides an IMAP server, imap.srv.cs.cmu.edu, for use by the SCS community. Some advantages of using IMAP are:
- Mail is stored on the server, not a local machine;
- You have uniform access to your mail from any client machine;
- Mail is automatically backed up on the server;
- Authenticated access to your mail is possible.
Our IMAP mail architecture closely follows the services offered by campus Computing Services. The IMAP server runs the Cyrus version of the IMAP server, and our server has (or will have) similar functionality to what is offered by campus.
Mail filtering
The SCS IMAP server supports Sieve, a language for doing server-side mail filtering, including filtering of SPAM. See our Sieve documentation for details on how to use it.
If you would like to have your mail delivered to a UX server, and then resent to the IMAP server, you will need to put the following line in your ~/.maildelivery file:
* - pipe ? /usr/local/bin/resend <username>+@imap.srv.cs.cmu.edu
Supported Clients
Clients that are supported by the Facilities Help Desk are:- Microsoft Outlook version 6 (Windows)
- Mozilla version 1.2.1 (Linux and Windows)
- Evolution (Linux)
- Pine (Linux and Solaris)
- Macintosh native mail client
Webmail interface
In addition to clients that run on a desktop system, the new IMAP system includes access through a webmail interface. Using the popular "SquirrelMail" package, webmail offers convenient and secure access to the IMAP server from any web browser. To use the webmail interface, connect to the URL webmail.cs.cmu.edu (off-site link, will open in a new window) and enter your SCS userid and the password for your .mail kerberos instance. Online help is available for common questions and problems. To set up your web browser to use the webmail service, you should download the CMU certificate (off-site link, will open in a new window).
Client Settings
The list of recommended clients, along with the recommended settings for connecting to the new IMAP server, is as follows:
Windows Clients
| Setting | Value |
| Mozilla | |
| Server Type | IMAP Server |
| Incoming Server | imap.srv.cs.cmu.edu |
| Outgoing Server | smtp.srv.cs.cmu.edu |
| User Name | your CS account |
| Security | (under "Server Settings") Check "Use SSL" |
| Notes | You will use your ".mail" instance password |
| Outlook Note: See our detailed Outlook for IMAP setup instructions for more information. | |
| Server Type | IMAP |
| Incoming Server | imap.srv.cs.cmu.edu |
| Outgoing Server | smtp.srv.cs.cmu.edu |
| User Name | your CS account |
| Password | <unselect "Remember Password">/td> |
| Security | (under "More Settings..." on the advanced Tab) select "Server requires a secure connection" |
| Notes | You will use your ".mail" instance password. |
Linux Clients
| Setting | Value |
| Evolution | |
| Server Type | IMAP |
| Host | imap.srv.cs.cmu.edu |
| SMTP Host | smtp.srv.cs.cmu.edu |
| User Name | your CS account |
| Use Secure Connection | Always |
| Authentication Type | Password |
| Notes | You will use your ".mail" instance password |
| Mozilla | |
| Server Type | IMAP Server |
| Incoming Server | imap.srv.cs.cmu.edu |
| Outgoing Server | smtp.srv.cs.cmu.edu |
| User Name | your CS account |
| Security | (under "Server Settings") Check "Use SSL" |
| Notes | You will use your ".mail" instance password |
| Pine (text based) | |
| Import MH settings | no |
| Access method | IMAP |
| Mail server host | imap.srv.cs.cmu.edu |
| User on mail server | your CS account name |
| Mailbox on mail server | INBOX |
| Set up MH folders | no |
| Set up Andrew bboards | no |
| MH/exMH | |
| TBD | TBD |
Macintosh Clients
| Setting | Value |
| Mac Native Mail | |
| Description | <Whatever you like> |
| Email Address | <your CS account address> |
| Full Name | <your name> |
| Incoming Mail Server | imap.srv.cs.cmu.edu |
| User Name | <your CS account> |
| Password | <your .mail instance password> |
| Outgoing Mail Server | smtp.srv.cs.cmu.edu |
| Use SSL (under "Advanced" tab) | Checked |
How to
- Set IMAP access control lists
- Use Sieve to do server-side filtering of mail, including SPAM filtering
- Set up Outlook to use the SCS IMAP server
Related documentation
- How to create Kerberos instance passwords
- How to create a .mail instance password with Jeeves (needed to authenticate to our IMAP server).
- Setting your SCS e-mail forwarding
- How to set your SCS e-mail forwarding so your mail goes to the IMAP server. Note that you'll need an account on this server for this to work.
Additional information
The following off-site links will open in a new browser window
- Project Cyrus at CMU
- Information about the Andrew Cyrus IMAP infrastructure
- The Sieve filtering language
- Sieve is a language for use in mail filtering. This site has technical information and RFCs about the language.
- The IMAP connection
- Technical and other information about IMAP and IMAP-related products.