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Aug 21, 2008

HOWTO: Configure Microsoft Exchange and Outlook Web Access for Thunderbird

PLEASE READ:

If you have a problem with the add-on, please contact the guys over at http://groups.google.com/group/thunderbird-webmail-extension They will be able to help you more than I can. They’re the developers of this add-on.

Microsoft has an amazing way of wasting my time. See Microsoft Atlas Cheats on Online Reach Prediction Research Paper and Wow, My Windows Vista Self-Destructed.

It took me a full hour to configure my Microsoft Exchange/OWA email account for Thunderbird and lucky for you I wrote a set of easy instructions for you to follow!

1) First download the WebMail Thunderbird add-on (ex. Web-Mail-x.x.x) which will help you connect your Thunderbird to your web-based email accounts (ex. Gmail)

Note: If you’re new to installing add-on’s for Thunderbird, simply right-click the link that leads to the add-on and select “Save Link As…” Then, go to Tools in Thunderbird followed by a visit to Add-Ons, then to Install on the bottom.

2) After installing it, you’ll need an add-on for the add-on. Sounds funny doesn’t it? You can download it here. There will be a list of add-on’s that you can choose from (there’s even one for Gmail), but for our purposes download and install the file that starts with ‘owa’. The installation should be the same as for any Thunderbird add-on. This time, you will need to restart your Thunderbird for the add-on’s to initiate.

3) We now need to configure the Webmail add-on’s add-on. Go to Tools -> Add-ons, select Webmail-OWA and click Options. Visit the Domains tab and click Add.

In the Domain field, enter whatever follows at the end of the @ symbol of your email address (ex. gmail.com)

In the URI field, enter the URI of the Outlook Web Access address (ex. http://www.yourwebsite.com/exchange or http://mail.yourwebsite.com)

4) Now you’re ready to start creating your account (Tools -> Account Settings -> Add Account) . When presented with the new window, select Webmail as the account type and set youremail@yourwebsite.com as the Incoming User Name. Hit Finish when you’re done.

5) Go back to the Webmail add-on’s add-on option screen (Tools -> Add-ons, select Webmail-OWA and click Options) and now access the Accounts tab. If you had set up everything correctly in the step above, you should see your recently created account. There are additional settings there that might need tinkering and depending on how your Microsoft Exchange was set up you might not need to change anything at all. If your account can’t connect to the server, then just come back and select some of the options. Unfortunately, trial-and-error is the only way here.

6) At this point, you should be able to read emails. In order to write emails, go to Account Settings again (Tools -> Account Setting) and click Outgoing Server (SMTP). On the top right-side, hit Add…

In the Description field: Enter the name that will describe this account. (ex. Gmail Account)

In the Server Name field: Enter ‘localhost’

Port should be set to the default of ‘25′

Check the User name and password box, and type in your User Name in full (ex. youremail@yourwebsite.com)

Leave the rest alone and hit OK.

7) Last step! With the Account Settings window still open. Click on your Web Mail account and in the Outgoing Server (SMTP) drop-down, select the description name you provided in the step above and voila! You’re done!

A little bit complicated if you ask me, but it’s all worth it. You can now use Microsoft Exchange or your Outlook Web Access account on Thunderbird!

How’s that for my first tutorial?

Peter Kao

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