Educara Email Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Educara provides Internet email services as part of domain hosting services and applications support services. Educara email services are built upon industry-standard Open Source messaging applications and tools.
Please use the following Frequently Asked Questions to assist in using Educara email services. Also please review:
If you require further assistance, please email support@educara.com or call 1-888-833-8227.
NOTE: unless you are under contract with Educara for Enhanced Support services, some fees may apply to telephone support. Support via email is free to all customers with Educara email accounts. If you have no alternate email system, please use the Support Request form at http://www.educara.com/educara.cgi/support.html .
- What email services does Educara offer?
- What email protocols does Educara email support?
- What type of computer and email client programs do I need to use Educara email?
- What type of Internet connection do I need?
- Does Educara email provide SPAM protection?
- Does Educara email provide anti-virus protection?
- Does Educara offer Web-based email (WebMail)?
- Can I use the Educara email server as an outbound SMTP server?
- How do I configure my email client program for use with Educara email services?
- What types of support does Educara offer for email services?
- How do I reconfigure my email client program for use with the new Educara Email server?
- How do I reconfigure my email client program to use IMAP4 instead of POP3?
- I've lost my email account info — what can I do???
1. What email services does Educara offer?
Educara supports standard Internet email via POP3 and IMAP4 clients such as Microsoft Outlook, Netscape Mail, Mozilla Mail, Eudora, and Apple's Mail program. Educara supports outbound SMTP services for users with valid accounts. Educara does not offer Exchange services or other proprietary mail systems. Secure connections using the SSL protocol are available at no extra charge. WebMail services are available at no extra charge.
2. What email protocols does Educara email support?
Educara email servers use industry-standard Open Source mail applications supporting public protocols including SMTP, POP3 and IMAP4. Secure connections using the SSL protocol are available at no extra charge. Educara also provides WebMail services in support of certain of these protocols.
Your email client program must be configured correctly for your preferred protocols to work properly with Educara Email services. Please consult your program's Help file if you require configuration assistance.
What is a protocol? A protocol is simply a set of rules used in communications or other transactions. Internet messaging protocols are sets of rules for sending and receiving electronic mail (email) via the Internet. Your email client program must be configured to use the same protocols as the Educara Email server for your email to work correctly.
What is SMTP? The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is a standard set of rules forming the basis for all message transfer on the Internet. Your email client program needs an outbound SMTP email server to send messages. You can use either your ISP's outbound SMTP server or Educara's. We recommend you use your ISP's SMTP server for outbound messages for simplicity and optimal performance.
What is POP3? The Post Office Protocol version 3 is a set of rules for retrieving messages from an email server. Messages are downloaded to your local computer email program and are not stored on the server unless you specifically configure your program to save them there. POP3 works best for users with a single computer system and low message traffic volume. POP3 is not recommended for business users. Educara SPAM filtering is not available to POP3 users. Educara Antivirus filtering will work for POP3 users but filtered messages are not readily available due to limitations in the POP3 protocol — if your email client program uses POP3 you must view filtered virus-carrying messages using Educara WebMail.
What is IMAP4? The Internet Message Access Protocol version 4 is another set of rules, this one supporting "roving" email users by storing messages on the email server instead of a single local computer. IMAP4 is considerably faster than POP3 as it downloads only the message title and subject headers instead of the entire message upon initial retrieval, and then only gets the message body when requested. IMAP4 is highly recommended for business users or users with multiple workstations or a laptop. Educara SPAM and Antivirus filtering is built into IMAP4 account services on Educara Email servers.
What is SSL? The Secure Sockets Layer protocol is a set of rules for encrypting data during transmission. An SSL-protected email session is practically unbreakable due to the enormous resources required to decrypt messages in real-time. Most modern email client programs have an option to enable SSL encryption. The Educara Email server platform launched in September 2004 supports SSL encryption for both account authentication and message transmission, for both POP3 and IMAP4 protocols, if your email client program can be configured appropriately. See your email client program Help for specific information on configuration.
What is WebMail? WebMail is a means of talking to an email server using a common Web browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla or Firefox instead of or in addition to a dedicated email client program such as Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express, etc. Common examples of WebMail systems are Yahoo Mail, Hotmail, and Gmail. Educara Email servers support access to your Educara Email user accounts via any modern Web browser using a forms-driven menu system supporting the IMAP4 protocol. If you are traveling or cannot use your usual email client program, WebMail is an excellent alternative.
3. What type of computer and email client programs do I need to use Educara email?
Educara email services work with any computer and email client program that can connect to the Internet and use the standard SMTP, POP3 and IMAP4 protocols. Commonly used programs include Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express, Netscape Mozilla, Eudora, and Apple's Mail program. If you don't have any of these programs, you can use your Web browser such as Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Mozilla, Firefox, Safari, etc. with Educara WebMail.
4. What type of Internet connection do I need?
Educara email services will work with any Internet connection that supports the appropriate messaging protocols (SMTP, POP3 and IMAP4) or can support Web browsing for use with Web mail services. Dial-up, ADSL, cable modem, and direct network connections are supported.
5. Does Educara email provide SPAM protection?
Educara email supports SPAM filtering via the DSPAM application which runs on the Educara email server. This system provides a trainable, highly accurate anti-SPAM protection at zero cost. Your email client must support and be configured for IMAP4 to use SPAM filtering.
Please see the Educara SPAM Filter Frequently Asked Questions document for further information.
6. Does Educara email provide anti-virus protection?
Educara email supports anti-virus filtering via the CLAMAV application which runs on the Educara email server. This system provides a highly accurate anti-virus protection at zero cost. Your email client program must support and be configured for IMAP4 to view messages quaranteened due to anti-virus filtering. If your email client program does not support IMAP4, you can still view filtered virus-carrying messages using Educara WebMail.
Please see the Educara Antivirus Filter Frequently Asked Questions document for further information.
7. Does Educara offer Web-based email (WebMail)?
Educara offers the SquirrelMail Web-based email service at no additional charge. You can use this service when you are not at your normal computer, when you are traveling, or when you are on a public terminal.
Please see the Educara WebMail Frequently Asked Questions document for further information.
8. Can I use the Educara email server as an outbound SMTP server?
Please use your Internet Service Provider's outbound SMTP services for your outbound SMTP server if at all possible as this will provide you with the best performance in most circumstances. If you are traveling with your laptop or must use the Educara SMTP server for other reasons, then you must a) have a valid Educara email account; b) configure your email client to use the Educara SMTP server as the outbound SMTP system; and c) open your email program and check messages prior to sending any messages (the Educara SMTP server uses your Inbox account authentication to identify valid user accounts for outbound email). See FAQ 9 below for specific information on outbound SMTP configuration.
9. How do I configure my email client program for use with Educara email services?
Educara will provide specific details on your email server specifications when you obtain your email account. Since Educara provides email services to a wide variety of clientele, your account configuration will depend upon your particular domain name and other factors which are specific to your situation. Using this information, you may configure your email program to connect to Educara servers with minimal effort. As different email client programs vary widely, Educara cannot be responsible for supporting all email programs. See your email client program Help for specific information on configuration.
Most email clients will ask for the following information during configuration:
- Mail service protocol type (POP3 or IMAP4)
- Inbound mail server address (SMTP in)
- Outbound mail server address (SMTP out)
- User account name
- Password
In addition, most email client programs will ask for a common name (the name you want to appear in the From: field when your messages are received).
If you do not know this information, contact Educara at support@educara.com or call 1-888-833-8227.
NOTE: unless you are under contract with Educara for enhanced support services, some fees may apply to telephone support. Support via email is free to all customers with Educara email accounts. If you have no alternate email system, please use the Support Request form at http://www.educara.com/educara.cgi/support.html.
NOTE: Effective September 1, 2004 most Educara email clients can use the following server information until they obtain their specific email server specifications:
Inbound mail server = mail2.educara.com
Outbound mail server = smtp2.educara.com
These settings will not work without a valid Educara email account configured in your email client program.
10. What types of support does Educara offer for email services?
Educara provides complete support for Educara email servers, and limited support for your email client program configuration.
If you experience a problem with Educara email services, we will work with you to confirm that you can:
- connect to the Internet
- start your email client program
- connect to the Educara email server
- log into your Inbox
- retrieve email via WebMail or your email client program
- send email via Webmail or your email client program
Educara does not provide support for your Internet connection, general computer or network operations or other computer operations without an Enhanced Support Agreement. If you require further assistance, please email support@educara.com or call 1-888-833-8227. NOTE: unless you are under contract with Educara for Enhanced Support services, some fees may apply to telephone support. Support via email is free to all customers with Educara email accounts. If you have no alternate email system, please use the Support Request form at http://www.educara.com/educara.cgi/support.html to request a support call.
11. How do I reconfigure my email client program for use with the new Educara Email server?
Educara is launching a new email services platform in September 2004. This new platform provides a modern high-speed hardware platform and the latest in Open Source messaging technology, with robust, simple-to-use, low-cost anti-SPAM and antivirus tools, replacing a system dating from 1999.
If you are migrating from the previous Educara Email server to the September 2004 configuration, you will need new user account information for each user in your domain. Educara has preconfigured the new server for your account(s), but your specific login information is slightly different due to security requirements. Contact Educara at 1-888-833-8227 to arrange for receiving the information specific to your domain and users via a secure method (e.g., WebMail, telephone or fax).
Here are the general steps for migrating to the new high-performance server:
A) Get your new account info. To configure your existing email client to use the new Educara Email server, you will need the following information from Educara:
- Inbound mail server address (SMTP in)
- Outbound mail server address (SMTP out)
- User account name
- Password
At an arranged time during systems transition, Educara will disable incoming message traffic to your previous legacy server and redirect all new messages to the new system. Educara will contact you via email and/or telephone to inform you of the schedule for this transition.
B) Update your email client program to use the new account info. Educara will provide specific details on your email server specifications when you obtain your new email account info. Since Educara provides email services to a wide variety of clientele, your account configuration will depend upon your particular domain name and other factors which are specific to your situation. Using this information, you may configure your email program to connect to the new Educara Email server with minimal effort. As different email client programs vary widely, Educara cannot be responsible for supporting all email programs. We know that the new server works well with commonly used programs such as Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express, Netscape Mozilla, Eudora, and Apple's Mail program. See your email client program Help for specific information on configuration.
You will need to update your email client for the following information during reconfiguration:
- Mail service protocol type (POP3 or IMAP4)
- Inbound mail server address (SMTP in)
- Outbound mail server address (SMTP out)
- User account name
- Password
In addition, most email client programs will ask for a common name (the name you want to appear in the From: field when your messages are received).
If you do not know how to use this information, contact Educara at support@educara.com or call 1-888-833-8227.
NOTE: unless you are under contract with Educara for enhanced support services, some fees may apply to telephone support. Support via email is free to all customers with Educara email accounts. If you have no alternate email system, please use the Support Request form at http://www.educara.com/educara.cgi/support.html to request a support call.
C) Change your passwords. Your new account has been given a generic password and it needs to be changed ASAP. Contact your internal email administrator to confirm you have a new password for the new system — Educara will train each domain email administrator. If you are the admin, contact Educara for information if we have not trained you yet.
D) Use WebMail if you experience any problems during migration. During your migration, Educara will maintain WebMail services on both the new and the legacy email server. You can continue to read your old email messages by using your Web browser and your old login account info for WebMail at:
NOTE: please do not send messages from the legacy WebMail system, use it only for reading your older messages. Educara will move your old messages to the new server within 72 hours of your migration.
You can check new messages on the new Educara Email server using your new account information by using your Web browser for WebMail at:
(note the https:// denoting a secure connection). If your browser displays a dialog regarding the security certificate, click Continue or whatever other button will approve using the certificate. Once you log in you will see any new messages sent to your account during migration — your email address will appear the same to the outside world.
12. How do I reconfigure my email client program to use IMAP4 instead of POP3?
Some email client programs only support choosing between POP3 and IMAP4 at time of account profile configuration, so you will need to create a new account profile to use IMAP4 or to revert to POP3 (not recommended). See your email client program Help for specific information on reconfiguration or new profile creation.
If you are using POP3 and you just need to view filtered virus-containing messages, you can use Educara Email via WebMail to review your account temporarily in IMAP4 mode without reconfiguring your main email client program. See the Educara WebMail Frequently Asked Questions document for further information.
13.I've lost my email account info - what can I do???
If you don't remember your email log in account info, don't sweat — just contact your email administrator who has received tons of training on just such problems and can provide it for you easily. If your email administrator is not available then please contact Educara Support via support@educara.com or call 1-888-833-8227. If you have no alternate email system, please use the Support Request form at http://www.educara.com/educara.cgi/support.html to request a support call.
Please be prepared to provide some proof of identity when you call or we call you back.