Configuring mail client to search LDAP information for addresses

When using the computers within the department you can configure your email client to search the LDAP account information for email addresses. Typically this will mean as you begin to type in the To: field of the email client it will search the LDAP directory after a pause or after each character for any names that match (surnames and/or forenames). This can be very convenient both saving you time by completing email address after only a few letters and also finding correct addresses for you in the first place.

Configuring different mail clients

Pine

Start pine and press S for setup and then D for directory. Choose to add an entry setting values:

• ldap-server: ldap.maths.ox.ac.uk
• search-base: ou=people,ou=current,dc=maths,dc=ox,dc=ac,dc=uk

Then enable features use-implicitly-from-compose so pine will lookup names you type in the To: line while composing messages. If there are multiple names that match you will be prompted to select from a list of matching entries.

Thunderbird

Start thunderbird and from the menus at the top select Edit -> Account Settings. This will bring up a new dialog window. From the options at the left click on Compositions and Addresses. The corresponding settings are now displayed. In the addressing section select Use a different LDAP server and then press the Edit Directories button. This will bring up a new window from which you need to choose Add. Enter in details as follows:

• Name: Maths LDAP
• Hostname: ldap.maths.ox.ac.uk
• Base Dn: ou=people,ou=current,dc=maths,dc=ox,dc=ac,dc=uk

and click on OK to return to the settings window. Lastly click on the drop down menu next to the Edit Directories button and select the `Maths LDAP' entry.

If you now compose an email then when you type into the To: field it will search the LDAP directory as you type and display a drop down list of matching names/addresses.

Outlook

Open the Tools -> Accounts menu. Select Add directory server. Set ldap servername to be ldap.maths.ox.ac.uk. Click next,next,next and finish. You now have to set the search base. Select the newly added directory from the list. Select properties. Select Advanced. Enter into the Search base field ou=people,ou=current,dc=maths,dc=ox,dc=ac,dc=uk. Select OK.

To use it when composing a message select the To: button which will open a new window called Select Names. Select Find to open a Find People window. Select the directory you just configured from Lookup in list. Now use either the advanced or people tab to enter suitable search criteria. It will then display any matching entries.

Outlook Express

Start outlook express and pull down the Tools menu and pick Accounts. Click Add, then pick Directory Service. For Internet directory (LDAP) server, enter ldap.maths.ox.ac.uk. Go through the rest of that dialog then pull up Properties for that server and go to the Advanced tab. In the Search Base, enter ou=people,ou=current,dc=maths,dc=ox,dc=ac,dc=uk. To have OE automatically check addresses against the directory, go back to the ldap.maths.ox.ac.uk Properties menu and check Check names against this server when sending mail (To get there, pull down the Tools menu, pick Accounts, click on ldap.maths.ox.ac.uk, click on Properties and you'll see the entry.)

Now OE is setup to use LDAP for your address book. Try composing a message then click on the To: card and use Find to find someone from the directory and then view their Properties.