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Setting Up Mail on OS X

This page will guide you through setting up Apple Mail on OS X 10.7 "Lion", OS X 10.8 "Mountain Lion", and earlier versions. Apple Mail is only available on OS X. If you are looking for help with using Apple Mail, you may be more interested in our guide to using Apple Mail.

Setting Up Mail in OS X 10.7 "Lion"

  1. Apple Mail Icon To begin, launch Mail by clicking its icon (see icon to the right), found either in the Dock, or in your Applications folder.
  2. If you are launching Mail for the first time, you should be presented with a window resembling the one shown below. Note that the "username" indicated in this screenshots refers to your Kerberos username. In order to continue with the setup, you will need to know your network username and password. If you are uncertain of either, please feel free to e-mail CUS or call us at x7525.

    Setting Up Mail

    Click Continue when you are ready.
  3. The new window will allow you to choose what kind of e-mail account you wish to set up. For Reed accounts, select IMAP from the Account Type dialogue. You can enter the account description according to personal preferences. If you plan on having multiple accounts, it is advisable to keep your account descriptions unique for each account. Enter the incoming mail server information as imap.reed.edu and also enter your email address and password.

    General Information

  4. After clicking Continue, you will be taken to the Outgoing Mail Server window. Enter smtp.reed.edu as the Outgoing Mail Server. Check the Use Authentication box and enter your network username and password.

    Outgoing Mail Server

    Click Continue to proceed.

  5. The next dialogue should be the Outgoing Mail Security page. Check Use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and select Password from the dropdown menu.

    Outgoing Mail Security

  6. Finally, you will be presented with a summary window showing your current configuration. Clicking Create will finish setup and take you out of the wizard.

    Summary Page

  7. In the Mail menu, select Preferences. You will see the following window. Click on the Accounts tab.

  8. The panel should show the information that you entered in Step 1. Under the SMTP dropdown dialogue, choose Edit SMTP Server Settings. In the window that follows, click the tab that reads Advanced.

    Tiger Mail Preferences (Accounts)

    Check the Server Port in the field above the SSL check box. Set it to 587 if it isn't already. Click OK to store the settings.

  9. Next, select the Composing tab. If prompted, save your changes. Make sure that the box next to "Automatically complete addresses" is checked, and then click Configure LDAP....

    Tiger Mail Preferences (Composing)

  10. Click the button marked with a + symbol: Add Button .
  11. In the window titled Server Info, enter the following information as shown, without extra spaces.
    • Name: Reed LDAP Server
    • Server: ldap.reed.edu
    • Search Base: ou=people,dc=reed,dc=edu
    • Port: 389

    Tiger Mail: LDAP Configuration

    Click Save. Then click Done and close the Composing window. You have just successfully set up Mail for use with Reed's IMAP system. For more information on using Mail, see our guide to using Apple Mail.

Setting Up New Accounts on Mail in OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion

  1. Launch Mail and open the Mail menu. Select Preferences.
  2. Select the Accounts tab. Then click on the button with the + symbol: Add Button . This will open the New Account Wizard.
  3. Follow the instructions beginning with Step 2 to set up a new account for the Reed network.

Now that you've finished setting up Apple Mail, you may be more interested in our guide to using Apple Mail.