Eudora vs. a Roaming Laptop

Question: Is there a better way?

Question: I do all of my computing using a laptop that I take from home to office and use on the road. My Internet connection at home comes from a commercial ISP. Because UIC no longer will relay email messages I send from home, I have to tell Eudora to use the correct SMTP server each time I log on from a new place. Thus, at my office I have to configure Eudora to use smtpservx.cc.uic.edu but when I go home I have to change it to my ISP's SMTP server. Is there a better way?

Answer: I have a couple of thoughts. The first is to create a copy of your eudora.ini file in your Eudora folder; call it, say, eudora.isp. Use a text editor to change:

 SMTPServer=smtpserv1.cc.uic.edu

in that file to your ISP's SMTP server's name.

Then create a new shortcut on your desktop named Eudora/ISP. (On Windows, right-click on a blank spot on the desktop, select New, then Shortcut.) Use this command line:

 "C:\Program Files\UICNSKit\Eudora\Eudora.exe" eudora.isp

(All on one line and substitute the name of your Eudora folder if it's different from the one above.)

After that, just use the new shortcut to open Eudora whenever you're using your ISP. But beware that your eudora.ini and eudora.isp files will probably get out of sync after a while.

Another thought is to try using Eudora "personalities," each with its own SMTP Server setting. I'm guessing that you can use identical settings from your dominant personality, except the SMTP server. Then when you want to send a message, just double-click the appropriate personality and start typing. For more information on using alternate personalities in Eudora (including with Eudora for the Mac), see: http://www.accc.uic.edu/software/eudora/eudalt/

The real solution is the new "authenticated SMTP" protocol, which will prompt Eudora for your password when you SEND a message. With authenticated SMTP you'll be able to use the UIC server from any location on the Internet. Eudora and Outlook have support for this protocol.

You may want to check with your ISP to see if they provide authenticated SMTP. If so, use your ISP's server for sending email, even while you are on campus.

Jim O'Leary, joleary@uic.edu
ACCC Operating System Support and Development