This page describes mail client configuration settings and mail access options for NWOCA email users.
All NWOCA email users have the option of using our "WebMail" interface to access their mail. If you prefer to use a web interface simply go to http://webmail.nwoca.org/ and follow the instructions. Webmail has the advantage of working on any computer in the world without any client configuration and supports encryption to ensure privacy. If you frequently use different computers at home and work, we recommend you use WebMail.
If you prefer to use a traditional email client (MS Outlook, Eudora, etc) on your desktop or portable computer, NWOCA supports all standard email access protocols (POP, IMAP, SMTP) including encrypted protocols using TLS. In most cases, NWOCA recommends you use IMAP with TLS if your mail client supports it. We also recommend using SMTP with SASL authentication and TLS. Using these options ensures that your mail communications are secured against "eaves-droppers" that may intercept your email communications or password.
In order to access NWOCA's mail services with a traditional mail client, you must configure it properly. NWOCA provides several different types of email accounts which have slightly different configuration options. Use the table below to identify the type of account and select the appropriate options.
| If your email address ends with | Incoming Mail Server | Access options | Outgoing Mail Server |
|---|---|---|---|
| nwoca.org | nwoca.org | IMAP or POP3 | nwoca.org |
| pop.nwoca.org | nwoca.org | POP3 | nwoca.org |
| email.nwoca.org | email.nwoca.org | IMAP | email.nwoca.org |
If your mail address does not end with one of the above, then contact postmaster@nwoca.org for assistance.
All modern mail clients support a feature known as "SASL" or "authentication" for outgoing mail servers. NWOCA strongly recommends that you use SASL when sending mail using NWOCA's servers. You should find this option in your mail client in the same areas as the "Outgoing Mail Server" options.
The primary purpose of SASL is to prevent "forging" of email addresses. It allows the mail system to verify that the mail was sent by an authorized user.
The second reason for using SASL is that it permits you to use NWOCA's mail services from outside of NWOCA's network. If you send mail from home or while on the road, SASL will allow you to send mail without any special mail configuration. If you receive an error message from NWOCA's mail servers that you were "denied relay", then verify that you are using the correct "outgoing mail server" and that you have enabled SASL (authentication) on the outgoing server.