Create a UW IMAP e-mail account

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Please note this article refers to UW (University of Washington) IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol).
Zybert servers from the end of 2008,  use Cyrus IMAP (Carnegie Mellon University).

Please check with Zybert or your reseller before setting up IMAP in your e-mail client.

There are many different e-mail clients e.g. Outlook Express, Outlook, Thunderbird, Eudora and many others. Not only are there many clients, there are also a number of versionsfor each. It is difficult to cover them all therefore the example used here is for Outlook Express 6.

It is essential to set the 'Root folder path' (IMAP server directory) to mbox

To add an IMAP e-mail account to Outlook Express 6: Start Outlook Express. Choose Accounts from the Tools menu. The Internet Accounts window will open.

Click the Mail tab. This will show you any e-mail accounts that are currently set up in Outlook Express (in this example there are no accounts as yet).

Outlook Express 6 Mail Tab

Click the Add button. A menu will pop up, choose Mail.


The Internet Connection wizard willstart, guiding you through a series of configuration steps for the e-mail address you want to add.

Enter the user's name as you want it to appear in e-mails being sent (e.g. John Smith). Click Next.

Enter the e-mail address you want to add (e.g. johnsmith @ mydomain.com), then click Next.

Enter the following information: My incoming mail server is a: IMAP (using the drop down list box)

Incoming mail (POP3 or IMAP) server: mail - outgoing mail (SMTP) server: mail

OE6 Server Setting
Click Next.


Enter the following information: Account name: Your account name on your Zybert server

Password: Your password for this account, tick 'Remember password' as appropriate

Deselect the option entitled "Logon using Secure Password Authentication".

OE6 Username and password

Click Next, click Finish.


It is essential to set the 'Root folder path' (IMAP server directory) to mbox - though not doing so apparently has no effect on the e-mail account, it is saving to the wrong area on the server leading to excessive usage of space.

In the column entitled Account, highlight the new account you just created and click the Properties button.

Click the IMAP Tab. In the Root folder path: type mbox

Ensure Check for new messages in all folders is not ticked

Outlook Express

OE6 IMAP tab

Thunderbird 2

Thunderbird mbox setting

  • Tools
  • Account Settings...
  • Under the relevant account select 'Server Settings'
  • In the 'Server Settings' section choose 'Advanced...'

Set everything as per the image above.