Penn Computing: How to Configure Thunderbird for IMAP Email (Mac OS)
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How to Configure Thunderbird 2.0.0.x for IMAP Email and Penn Online Directory (Mac OS)

This document provides instructions for configuring Thunderbird for IMAP email and the Penn Online Directory. In IMAP mode, your email remains on the server allowing you to access your mail from any computer.

Thunderbird 2.0.0.x is one of several email clients in use on campus and is not supported by all Schools and Centers. For the recommended email client you should use, see Email Specifications by School or ask your Local Support Provider (LSP).

Important: Most Mac OS users on campus choose either Thunderbird or Mail as an IMAP email client. You do not need to configure both for email. Instructions for configuring Mail are in Configuring Mail 2.1.x for IMAP Email and Configuring Mail 3.3.x for IMAP Email.

If you've run the Thunderbird installer from the PennConnect DVD or the Supported Products web site, Thunderbird is already installed in the Applications folder on your hard drive.

Configuring Thunderbird 2.0.0.x for IMAP Email

  1. Launch Thunderbird from your Applications folder (Go → Applications → Thunderbird 2.0.0.x). The New Account Setup window for Mail displays. The Account Wizard will now assist you in setting up Thunderbird as your IMAP email client.

    2. Note: If the Import Settings and Mail Folders From dialog box displays, leave the Don't Import Anything option selected and click the Continue button. The next screen is New Account Setup.

  2. Ensure the Email account radio button is selected, then click the Continue button. The next screen is Identity.
  3. In the Your Name: field, enter your name as you wish it appear on outgoing messages.
  4. In the Email Address: field, enter your full email address, e.g. username@pobox.upenn.edu
  5. Click the Continue button. The next screen is Server Information.
  6. Click the IMAP radio button.
  7. Using the table below, enter your incoming server name in the Incoming Server: field. If your server name is not listed, contact your School, or Local Support Provider (LSP).

    8. If your email address ends with The incoming IMAP mail server is
    @dolphin.upenn.edu mailbox.zimbra.upenn.edu
    @wharton.upenn.edu see Wharton instructions
    @mail.med.upenn.edu mailbox.zimbra.upenn.edu
    @pobox.upenn.edu mailbox.zimbra.upenn.edu (Zimbra)
    imap.exchange.upenn.edu (ISC Exchange)
    @sas.upenn.edu see SAS instructions
    @seas.upenn.edu see SEAS instructions

    Using the table below, enter your outgoing SMTP server name in the Outgoing Server: field. If your server name is not listed, contact your School, department, or Local Support Provider (LSP).

    Note: If you are using an Internet Service Provider (ISP) other than Penn (for example, Comcast or Verizon) to connect to your mail account, you will use different SMTP servers than those listed for Penn. Please follow the instructions in the document Sending Email: Selecting and Configuring Your SMTP Server.


    If your email address ends with The SMTP server is
    @dolphin.upenn.edu mailbox.zimbra.upenn.edu
    @wharton.upenn.edu see Wharton instructions
    @mail.med.upenn.edu mailbox.zimbra.upenn.edu
    @pobox.upenn.edu mailbox.zimbra.upenn.edu (Zimbra)
    smtp.exchange.upenn.edu (ISC Exchange)
    @sas.upenn.edu see SAS instructions
    @seas.upenn.edu see SEAS instructions
  8. Click the Continue button. The next screen is User Names.
  9. Confirm your incoming and outgoing user names and click the Continue button. The next screen is Account Name.
  10. At the Account Name: field, either leave the account name as displayed or optionally, enter another name.
  11. Click the Continue button. The next screen is Congratulations!
  12. Verify your email settings, then click the Done button to save your settings and exit the Account Wizard.

    13. In most cases you will receive a message stating that the server has disabled login. Click the OK button and continue with the configuration.

  13. From the Tools menu, select Account Settings....
  14. In the left panel, click on Server Settings.
  15. In the right panel on the Server Settings window:
    • Select the SSL radio button to activate this option for Use secure connection:.
    • Ensure the Use secure authentication: option is unchecked.
  16. In the left panel, click on Outgoing Server (SMTP).
  17. In the right panel of the Outgoing Server (SMTP) window, highlight the SMTP server you are using for this account and click the Edit... button. The Server window displays.
  18. Leave the Description: field blank.
  19. Leave the Server Name: field as displayed.
  20. For ISC Exchange users only, change the Port: to 587.
  21. Ensure the Use name and password checkbox is selected.
  22. Enter your user name in the User Name: field. (This is the name that appears to the left of the @ symbol in your email address. For example, type smithj)
  23. For dolphin, mail.med, and pobox accounts (both Zimbra and ISC Exchange), choose the TLS radio button for the Use Secure Connection field; other mailboxes at Penn typically choose the SSL radio button. If you are unsure of the correct setting, check with your LSP.
  24. Click the OK button to close the Settings window.
  25. Click the OK button.

Next, configure Thunderbird for the Penn Online Directory.

Configuring Thunderbird for the Penn Online Directory

Configuring Thunderbird for the Penn Online Directory will allow you to automatically look up a person in the Penn Online Directory and transfer their contact information into your Address Book. Each time you search the Penn Online Directory you will need to authenticate with your PennKey.

  1. Click the Address Book icon located on the menu bar. The Address Book window displays.
  2. From the File menu, select New, then select LDAP Directory... from the dropdown menu. The Directory Server Properties window displays.
  3. In the Directory Server Properties window, make sure the General tab is selected.
  4. In the General window, do the following:
    1. In the Name field, type Penn Online Directory
    2. In the Hostname field, type directory.upenn.edu
    3. In the Base DN field, type the following, making sure that the "P" in People is capitalized:
      ou=People,dc=upenn,dc=edu
    4. In the Port Number field, type 636
    5. In the Bind DN field, type the following, where username is your actual PennKey name:
      uid=username,ou=PennPeople,dc=upenn,dc=edu
    6. Click the Use secure connection (SSL) checkbox to activate it.
  5. Click the Advanced tab.
    1. In the Don't return more than results field, enter 100
    2. Ensure the Subtree radio button is selected.
    3. Click the OK button to close the Directory Server Properties window and save your settings.
  6. Quit Address Book.
  7. From the Tools menu, select Account Settings.
  8. In the left panel under the server name (e.g. pobox.upenn.edu, dolphin.upenn.edu, mail.med.upenn.edu), click Composition & Addressing.
  9. Select the Use a different LDAP server: radio button, choose Penn Online Directory from the dropdown list, click the OK button to close the window and save your settings.
  10. From the Thunderbird menu, select Preferences....
  11. Click the Composition icon.
  12. Click the Addressing tab.
  13. In the Address Autocompletion section, click the Directory Server: checkbox, choose Penn Online Directory from the dropdown menu, then click the OK button to close the window and save your settings.

You can now explore Thunderbird or quit the application. You have successfully configured Thunderbird 2.0.0.x for email.
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