Secure IMAP and POP3 Connections to Exchange

To access your mailbox on the Exchange system, you can use any IMAP or POP email program (Outlook Express, Thunderbird, Eudora, etc.) that can encrypt data using SSL and that will allow you to specify an outgoing SMTP server. AT&T/SBC DSL users will also need to make sure that their email program will allow them to specify a port for the SMTP server.

The following instructions will help you set up IMAP connections using popular email programs that meet these requirements. The configuration of an existing connection involves setting authsmtp.ku.edu for your Outgoing server and turning on SSL (or TLS) so that your information is encrypted as it is sent to the Exchange system.

Using these settings will give you the ability to access the Exchange Public Folders in your folder structure. In some programs you will see these folders automatically, in others you will need to subscribe to see them.


Connecting to your KU email on a mobile device

Here are the IMAP settings that can be used to connect to Exchange from email programs not listed above:

  • Incoming mail server = imap.ku.edu
  • Outgoing mail server = authsmtp.ku.edu
  • Turn on SSL for both incoming and outgoing mail servers.
  • Turn on username and password authentication for outgoing mail server (do not turn on Secure Password Authentication (SPA))
  • AT&T/SBC DSL users must change the outgoing mail port from 25 to 587
The listed programs include LDAP configuration instructions for connecting to the KU Address Book. Here are the LDAP configuration instructions for connecting from other email programs:

  • Directory server (LDAP server) = whitepages.ku.edu
  • Turn on SSL
  • Port = 636
  • Search Base = ou=people,dc=ku,dc=edu
No authentication is needed for an LDAP connection

If you need further assistance, please call the IT Customer Service Center at 864-8080.



FAQ