Nexus Calendars in Thunderbird using Davmail and Lightning

2.1. Installing Davmail

To install Davmail go to: http://sourceforge.net/projects/davmail/files/

If you're using Ubuntu or another Debian based Linux distribution, you'll want the file that ends in .deb. Click on it, then Open the file. It will pop up the installation box; click on Install Package. This will create a link in Applications -- > Internet --> Davmail

2.2. Configuring Davmail

Open up Davmail and it will prompt you for settings, and also put the Davmail icon (a yellow filled circle with a white lightning bolt inside it) in your system notification area. If it doesn't prompt you for settings, right-click on the Davmail icon and go to [Settings]. The options should look like this:

OWA (Exchange) URL: https://davmail.nexus.ox.ac.uk/owa

• Local POP Port: Unticked
• Local IMAP Port: Unticked
• Local SMTP Port: Unticked
• Caldev HTTP Port: Ticked - 1080
• Local LDAP Port: Ticked - 1389
• Click Save.

Exchange Protocol:

• Set this to EWS (This is only available with later versions of DavMail - 3.9.6 for instance)

Davmail needs to be running on your system before starting any email/calendaring client. We suggest that it is automatically started at system boot time. In Ubuntu add to System > Preferences > Startup applications

Also see Alerts

N.B. In some newer versions of Ubuntu, within the Default Unity desktop for instance, there is no system tray to launch Davmail. It may be necessary for you to manually edit your Davmail properties file to configure the correct URL and Exchange protocol settings. The settings probably looks something like this:

davmail.enableEws=true

davmail.url=https\://davmail.nexus.ox.ac.uk/owa

Alternatively, you can configure the Unity desktop to display the notification area.

2.3. Installing Mozilla Thunderbird and Lightning

At the command line, type:

sudo apt-get install thunderbird xul-ext-lightning

This will create a link in Applications --> Internet --> Mozilla Thunderbird Mail/News

2.4. Configuring Thunderbird for Nexus email

You can do this by following the Thunderbird set up instructions.

2.5. Configuring Thunderbird with the calendar

• Open up Thunderbird, and click on Calendar. You'll see the Home calendar which it automatically creates.
• Right click on the Home calendar then click on [New calendar]. A new window will now appear.
• Select On the Network then click Next.
• Select Caldev.
• Location: http://localhost:1080/users/firstname.lastname@dept.ox.ac.uk/calendar
• Replace firstname.lastname@dept.ox.ac.uk with your primary email address. So for example, http://localhost:1080/users/fred.carpenter@oucs.ox.ac.uk/calendar
• Then press Next. It will ask you for a name, we recommend using your own name for this (to make it easier if you have multiple calendars showing). Once done, select Next.
• It will then prompt you for you user name and password (If it doesn't double check that Davmail is currently running). Enter your single sign-on credentials and the calendar should sync.

You cannot share calendars through this; however, if you have already set up shared calendars using Outlook, then you can view other people's calendars by setting up a new one, and inserting their primary email address instead (but see below Alerts).

Lightning also allows the import of .ics calendar data so it's also an option for importing data from an existing calendar to Nexus.

2.6. Configuring Thunderbird with GAL (Address lookup)

• From within thunderbird go to [Edit] --> [Preferences] to bring up the Thunderbird Preferences screen.
• Click on Composition then the Addressing tab.
• Click on Edit Directories then Add. Settings are as follows:
  • Name: Nexus
  • Hostname: localhost
  • Base DN: ou=people
  • Port Number: 1389
  • Bind DN: Your Oxford Username
  • Leave the Use SSL Connection box unticked.
• Press OK twice to get back to the Preferences screen.
• Tick the box next to Directory Server and make sure that [Nexus] is selected from the drop down. The Add button will now become active too.

When typing emails now, it will automatically try and do a lookup on a name in the address field. (It may ask you for your password the first time; you can choose to let it remember the password.)