On Campus

If you are using an e-mail client such as Eudora, Netscape Messenger, or Outlook (Express) while on campus and on the upenn.edu network, then you can use smtp.sas.upenn.edu as your SMTP server when configuring your client. Use of SMTP authentication is required.

When using SMTP authentication with smtp.sas.upenn.edu, use of SSL or Kerberos for SMTP are required. You are not required to use SSL for SMTP (outgoing mail) if you are using an SMTP server provided by your ISP, but you will need to do so for incoming mail (POP or IMAP server).

Off Campus

Background Information

Outgoing mail from clients such as Eudora, Netscape Messenger, or Outlook (Express) use a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) server to send outgoing mail. SMTP servers need to be protected to ensure that they are used only by authorized users so that they are not used by others to send spam. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) use a number of approaches to protect their servers and networks from unauthorized use. This can complicate using these e-mail clients from off of the Penn campus, or from multiple locations.

Please see the information below to assist you with determining how to configure your e-mail client for off campus use. Please also be aware that if you have problems using one of these clients off campus to send mail, you can use the SAS Webmail service to access and send mail, at least as an interim solution.

Please also be aware that we can not provide one set of directions that will work with every e-mail client when paired with every possible ISP. We do aim to cover the most common cases. If you continue to have problems with this issue, please contact your Local Computing Support Provider (LSP) letting them know what e-mail client you use and who your ISP is.

Using SMTP Authentication

With many ISPs, you can configure your e-mail client to use the smtp.sas.upenn.edu SMTP server and enable SMTP authentication (which is supported in all current versions of widely-used e-mail clients). Use of SSL when using SMTP authentication is required. Directions for enabling SMTP auth and SSL are detailed in the client specific configuration directions.

We recommend using an ISP who allows the use of external SMTP servers in most cases and especially for anyone who uses a single machine (e.g. a laptop) both on and off campus, as it simplifies things greatly.

Using SMTP server provided by your ISP

Some ISPs do not allow for the use of external SMTP servers (such as smtp.sas.upenn.edu) from their networks and instead require you to use an SMTP server provided by them. Please note that most ISP's do not support SSL on their SMTP servers, so you do not need to enable SSL for outgoing mail if you are using your ISP's SMTP server.

See below for a list of common ISP's SMTP servers. Please keep in mind that the SMTP server information may not be up to date. You should check with your ISP to be sure and then feel free to let us know so we can update the table.

**If you use AOL's, Earthlink's, or Verizon's smtp servers, you need to configure your client for smtp authentication and enter your ISP account's username for the smtp server username. Please see AOL's Email Help Web Site****, Verizon Online's Help & Support SMTP Authentication Web Site or Earthlink's Support Center Web Site or you may need to contact the ISP by phone for more accurate information.

****For AOL, you also need to change the outgoing mail (SMTP) port number to 587. You will need to see AOL's Email Help Web Site for information on how to make this change in your email client.

Other ISPs (including Compuserve and Earthlink in some configurations)

Other ISPs (including those listed above and possibly others) neither provide an SMTP server for you to use nor allow you to use an external one. Instead, no matter what SMTP server you configure your client to use, the ISP's network redirects your outgoing e-mail traffic to one of their servers which then delivers the message. This can cause various complications.

In general, we'd recommend that if you must use an ISP who handles SMTP traffic in this way that you:

1) configure your client to use smtp.sas.upenn.edu as the smtp server

and

2) DO NOT configure your client to use SMTP authentication or SSL for SMTP.

That configuration should allow for your machine to be used off-campus on that ISP, since you won't actually be using smtp.sas.upenn.edu when connected to that ISP. This configuration will work only with select ISPs, such as those named above.

Local Computing Support Provider (LSP)

For more help with this, if you are a student, you may fill out the SAS Computing Help Request Form for Mail.sas Problems or contact the SAS Computing Help Desk directly. If you are faculty or staff, please find your LSP here.

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Last modified: Wednesday, 15-Mar-2006 11:39:36 EST