FAQ - Email: Changing SMTP Servers

Table of Contents Changing SMTP Servers Frequently Asked Questions I use IMAP (or POP), do I still have to change my SMTP server? I use AOL; what should I do? I travel a lot. Does this mean I have to get a different ISP for everywhere I go? I use myisp.net. What do I have to do? I use Eudora on a laptop; sometimes I use it at UIC, sometimes with a commercial ISP. What do I do?

Question 1.1 I use IMAP (or POP), do I still have to change my SMTP server?

• Yes. IMAP and POP are for incoming mail only. Your SMTP server takes care of your outgoing email and is completely independent of what you use for your incoming email.

Question 1.2 I use AOL; what should I do?

• See About AOL.

Question 1.3 I travel a lot. Does this mean I have to get a different ISP for everywhere I go?

• Well, if you don't mind the long distance charges, no. You can use the UIC dialin lines when you're travelling.
• But if you travel a lot, it would be a good idea to sign up with a nation-wide ISP, one that offers local dialin lines every where you go. (If you want to use a personal computer email program such as Eudora or Outlook when you're travelling, be sure you pick an ISP that has SMTP servers for you to use.)
• Or you could just use WebMail when you're travelling. WebMail works everywhere, and you don't need to run it on your own personal computer -- you could borrow a personal computer or rent access in an Internet cafe or the like.

Question 1.4 I use myisp.net. What do I have to do?

• Follow the instructions in What Should You Do? on the ACCC's "SMTP Servers and Open Relays" Web page.

Question 1.5 I use Eudora on a laptop; sometimes I use it at UIC, sometimes with a commercial ISP. What do I do?

The best answer is to use the ACCC's authenticated SMTP server, since it works both on and off campus. See Using the mail.uic.edu Authenticated SMTP Server for instructions on how to set it up for Eudora for Macs and for Mail.app.

If you don't want to use mail.uic.edu, here are a few other suggestions.

1. For when you're using your normal ISP: Set Eudora's outgoing SMTP server to the SMTP server of whichever ISP you use most of the time. (When you use the UIC dialin lines, we're acting as your ISP. So your "normal ISP" is whichever of the two -- the UIC dialin lines or your commercial ISP -- that you use more often.)

2. And then do one of these when you want to send email using the other ISP:
   • Use WebMail when you connect the other way; WebMail always works. (That's it's best feature!)
   • Set up a Eudora Personality that uses the other ISP's SMTP server, to use when you dialin the other way. This isn't an entirely fool-proof way to do things, because Eudora's New Message icon always uses the dominant personality. See Using Alternate Personalities in Eudora for more information.
   • If your laptop is a Mac, check out the MacOS locations option.

Need Additional Help?