Why use e-mail?

The Internet is a global network of connected computer systems that allow people to communicate electronically

E-mail

• Allows you to communicate with millions of people worldwide
• Allows you to send files to another person and share information
• Connects you to discussions with people in your field (via mailing lists)

Like paper mail (aka "snail mail")	Unlike paper mail
compose address send read respond throw away junk (aka "spam")	instant (almost) no postage  no paper keep records multiple recipients/ discussion lists forward, blind copy

Parts of the email address: user@domain.suffix

• user
  • at UIC, this is your "netid"
    • ex. netid@uic.edu, sbronkowitz@uic.edu
• domain
  • uic.edu
  • netscape.com
  • arthritis.org
• suffix
  • .com (commercial)
  • .gov (government site)
  • .mil (military)
  • .edu (educational)
  • .net (network)
  • .org (non-profit organization)
  • .uk (United Kingdom)
  • .jp (Japan) 

How does Email get from source to destination?

Email is handled by specialized servers called SMTP servers. When you send your email, it is sent to the closest SMTP server. These servers communicate with each other and pass email notes to each other. Mail is sorted and sent to the SMTP server that is closer to the destination of the email. Soon, it reaches the SMTP server that serves the computer on which the addressee has the account and the mail is delivered. In short, email travels over the Internet from SMTP server to SMTP server until it reaches its destination. This process is usually faster than regular snail mail.

A POP server is a computer which knows where to send and keep your e-mail. If your account is on tigger, your POP server is tigger.cc.uic.edu. E-mail sent to your account is stored on tigger (or icarus or UICVM) until you download it-- via Eudora-- to a desktop PC.

Beginning with the 4.x versions of Eudora, we are now moving towards the ability to leave mailboxes on the server. An IMAP Server keeps mailboxes on the server, giving users a distinct advantage if they access Eudora from several locations.

At UIC, uic.edu is a special "alias" that knows whether you read email on tigger or icarus or UICVM and automatically forwards the email to that machine.

• tigger - a machine for staff and faculty accounts, as well as the UIC homepages
• icarus - a machine for student accounts
• mailserv - primarily for those who switched over from UICVM

How is your netid chosen?

• for students, netids are preassigned: it's their first initial of their first name, then the first five letters of their last name, then a digit. Example: sbronk99
• for faculty and staff, you choose it via your "ph contact" in your office

How do you change where your e-mail is sent?

• from a telnet connection to a UNIX machine, type "phupdate" You can also click here.
• or, for staff and faculty, consult with your "ph contact" person