Email through MSLN

• Step by Step - Setting Up Email on the MSLN Server
• Step by Step -Setting Up Email on Individual Computers
• Spam and MSLN Email

General Information about Email and MSLN

MSLN can provide email to schools and libraries or schools and libraries can set up and manage their own Email servers. The choice to maintain a local server allows schools and libraries to act on their preferences for a particular Email system. The MSLN Email servers maintained by the MSLN project are available to serve Email to schools and libraries who choose not to maintain their own mail systems. The mail through these servers will be delivered through POP (post office protocol), IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) or via web mail.

Who Can Have Email?

Email on local servers at schools and libraries is managed at the school and libraries themselves. Technical coordinators may give Email accounts to members of the site's constituencies (faculty, staff, students, patrons). Technical coordinators may give Email accounts on the central MSLN email server to faculty, staff, students or patrons. Technical coordinators can create Email ids on the central servers via the Network Management Tool (NMT). Sites with direct connections, may also provide dial-up access by modem to their networks. However, MSLN Advisory Board guidelines restrict access to the Internet Email over dial-up to faculty and staff. Students with special needs, such as illness, may have access through dial-up as deemed appropriate by the school. Please note that these modems are provided at sites that have direct connections.

MSLN Web Mail - Additional Thoughts and Information

The MSLN Web-based email is called Horde. Since Horde uses a browser (such as Netscape or Internet Explorer) to view mail you only have to set up a mail id via the NM Tool. If you already have an MSLN id you can just switch over to using Web Mail (Horde). The best thing about web-based email is that you don't have to configure email software on individual computers. You can contact any of the MSLN Circuit Riders to obtain more information about MSLN web-based email and how it may be the best choice for your school or library. If you use Web Mail (Horde) you can also access the same mail account via POP or IMAP. Many people retain Pegasus and Eudora but use the Web Mail to access from home or on the road. FYI - MSLN Circuit Rider contact information. Link to MSLN Web Mail page.

Appropriate Use of Email

The technical coordinator should make sure users know, before using Email, how to conduct themselves in a manner considered appropriate. For information on what kinds of problems a technical coordinator might encounter in administering Email and how an "acceptable use policy" may help, see: Non-Technical Issues of Internet Service at MSLN Sites.

Setting Up a Local Server

If you're interested in setting up your own mail server and would like some advice, feel free to send us e-mail at MSLN@lists.maine.edu. Be sure to tell us about your computing environment and about any file servers you are running. There is e-mail server software available for just about any file server platform. For those sites that aren't currently running a file server, there is also e-mail server software available for PC or Macintosh workstations.

There is more information on email at the MSLN Email Page.