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POP and IMAP

Home > ITS Software Release > Eudora Program Update > POP and IMAP

POP and IMAP
There are two ways to access your UCSC email – by an email program (Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or Outlook) or by the CruzMail web browser client (accessible at http://cruzmail.ucsc.edu).

How can I tell what I have now?

Thunderbird PC users -
Go to the Tools menu and select Account Settings... Click on Server Settings on the lefthand side and it will show POP or IMAP for Server Type.
Apple Mail users -
Go to the Mail menu and select Prefereneces... Click on Accounts along the top and it will show POP or IMAP under Account Information.
Eudora users- (Please note ITS support for Eudora ended in January 2009. Please contact the ITS Support Center for more info.)
On the Mac, go to the Special Menu and then to Settings… Click on “Checking Mail” in the left hand column and on the right, it will show either POP or IMAP checked.
On the PC, go to the Tools Menu and then to Options... Click on “Incoming Mail” in the left hand column and on the right, it will show either POP or IMAP checked.

For other email programs, please contact the ITS Support Center at help@ucsc.edu or 459-HELP (4357).

Settings for use of email client programs with CruzMail:

Username Your Cruz ID (do not include @ucsc.edu)

Incoming Mail Server (POP, IMAP)

IMAP recommended

 cruzmail.ucsc.edu
SSL (Incoming) 993 (IMAP) or 995 (POP)
Return Address username@ucsc.edu
Outgoing (SMTP) Mail Server cruzmail.ucsc.edu
Outgoing mail authentication Use Password Authentication (SMTP-AUTH)
Secure Password Authentication Do not use SPA
SSL (Outgoing or SMTP) Required, alternate port (465)

If you check email from only one computer - POP can be used.
If you check email from more than one computer (home, office, traveling) – IMAP is recommended.

POP (Post Office Protocol) means email is downloaded from the mail server and to the local computer. This keeps the server inbox empty until new mail arrives.

POP Advantages
If you only use one computer, POP will contain all your mail when it’s downloaded from the server. If you are offline, you will still see all your downloaded mail.

POP Disadvantages
When you read your email using POP, it will only be stored on the local computer you are using. If you go to different computer, such as at home, you will not be able to view it. However, POP can be configured with “leave mail on server” checked. This downloads it to the local computer and keeps a copy of the email at the server. With this checked, you can now view the email from another location (example: using CruzMail on the web).

Another disadvantage for POP is that you will not be able to view your Sent Mail in another email program. The Sent Mail is only kept in the email program you used to send it. For example, your Sent Mail folder at work will not be visible from your home computer.

Isn't POP with "leave mail on server" checked the same as IMAP?
There is a small, but important difference. "Leave mail on server" only stores a copy of your mail you've received on the server. But IMAP keeps track (on the server) of everything you've done with your mail, like replying, forwarding and deleting. IMAP can also be set up to track your Sent Mail.

IMAP (Internet Mail Application Protocol) means email is not downloaded and stays on the mail server and any connection can view it from there.

IMAP Advantages
If you have multiple email connection points, IMAP will allow you to access your email from each of them. This is good for home/office use or users who travel. You can check your email from any Internet connection using the CruzMail web client. This will also keep the Sent Mail on the server and will be viewable from everywhere.

Also, if something happens to your computer (hard drive failure, stolen), since it is stored on the server, your mail would not be lost. You could use a different computer to access it.

IMAP Disadvantages
When you are offline, only locally stored/filed mail is accessible. Also, IMAP is a bit more involved to configure.

It is suggested not to mix these protocols if you have more than one email program.
Having POP at work and IMAP at home could cause confusion of where your email is going!

Reminder: ITS has ended support for Eudora on January 30th, 2009. ITS is helping users migrate off of Eudora - please contact the Support Center for assistance.