These pages cover configuring Apple Mail to connect to Nexus via the IMAP protocol. Users of Mac OS 10.5 and below should use IMAP to connect to their Nexus email and should follow the instructions below. Mac OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) users are able to use the Exchange Web Services protocol to access their Nexus email and should therefore follow the instructions for using Nexus with Apple Mail on Snow Leopard.

Mail is the email client preinstalled on every Mac computer as part of Mac OS X. To configure Mail, open the programme, either from the dock or by finding it in the Applications folder. If this is the first time you have opened mail, the Setup Assistant will start automatically.

Otherwise, you can add a new accounts by clicking on the [File/Add Account...] from the Mail menu.

Adding a new account to an existing Mail configuration

You will then be taken to a screen that is very similar to the initial setup assistant, though one is headed Welcome to Mail and the other New Account. These screenshots continue as though you were adding a new account.

The next screen prompts for general informatioon. On the Account Type drop-down menu, select IMAP. Description is for your own use only, so select something which makes sense to you; in the example below, IMAP Nexus Account has been used.

The screen also prompts you for your Full Name and your Email Address which should be of the form first.last@unit.ox.ac.uk.

First screen to add an account prompting for account type, description, name, and email address

Once you have entered your details, click Continue.

On the next screen you will need to enter technical details. In the box next to Incoming Mail Server, type imap.nexus.ox.ac.uk

Next to User Name, you need to enter your Single Sign-On (SSO) username, this will usually be of the form abcd1234. Next to Password, enter your Single Sign-On (SSO) password.

Second screen to add an account prompting for incoming mail server details

Click Continue.

The next screen requires you to enter the details for your Outgoing Mail Server. Next to Outgoing Mail Server, enter smtp.ox.ac.uk.

The option Use Authentication needs to be ticked, and the same Single Sign-On User Name and Password that you entered previously for incoming mail need to be entered in the respective fields.

Third screen to add an account prompting for outgoing server details

Click Continue.

A final Window will now appear that summarises the details you have entered.

Account Summary screen listing account details

Click Continue. If you see a conclusion screen telling you that your email account is ready for use with Mail simply click Done to return to the Mail window.

To ensure that you are able to use your Mail client to send outgoing messages on any network, whether you are in Oxford or on another network, e.g. at home, you will need to do a final piece of configuration. To get to Mail's configuration screen click on [File/Preferences...] from the Mail menu.

Accessing Mail's configuration page

This will bring up the 'Accounts' screen. Make sure that the IMAP account that you have just created is selected in the left hand pane and then click the Server Settings... button found towards the bottom of the right hand pane.

The main accounts screen accessed via preferences

This will bring up a screen that allows you to specify the outgoing mail server settings. the only thing that needs to be changed in this screen is the value for Server port, this must be set to 587. No other settings should need to be changed.

Screen to specify settings for the outgoing mail server

Click OK to save these settings and return to the main Accounts window.

Your Mail account is now ready to use.

Note: When you send an outgoing message you may be prompted for the password to use smtp.ox.ac.uk as an authenticated SMTP server. If you see a screen like the screen below then enter your password as prompted and tick the box marked Remember this password in my keychain and you shouldn't see this screen again.

Screen prompting for password for outgoing authenticated SMTP