Goldsmiths - University of London

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FAQs

Why do I need to authenticate?

Webmail authentication

In order to try to combat spam abuse, Goldsmiths have stopped people who were not physically on our network from being able to use our SMTP server (the server used to send rather than receive emails). This is why when you are sending emails from home you must use your ISP's SMTP server (eg. smtp.btinternet.com). However, in the continuted battle against spammers, a number of ISPs are now requesting that all outgoing emails are authenticated against their SMTP server. This means that you must provide them with their own username and password - NOT your Goldsmiths username and password - before they will allow the email to be sent.
Error message example
The simplest solution is not to use an email client (eg. Mulberry or Eudora) when sending Goldsmiths emails from home, but rather to use webmail as this bypasses the need to use your ISP's SMTP server (http://webmail.gold.ac.uk). However, there are some advantages to using a client with which you may wish to continue. The solutions for Eudora, Apple Mail and Mulberry are relatively simple.

Setting up Eudora to authenticate for SMTP

These instructions assume that you have already set up Eudora to use your Goldsmiths account as your default (Dominant) account for incoming email. This process creates an alternate personality, used only for relaying/authenticating against your ISP's SMTP server. If you have set up Eudora to use additional accounts or your default (Dominant) account isn't your Goldsmiths account, you may have to modify the instructions accordingly. Note: If your version of Eudora does not allow the creation of alternate personalities you must upgrade to a later version.

  1. From the Special menu select "Settings".
  2. In the Settings window select "Personalities" (you may have to scroll down to find this.
  3. Click on "New" to create a new personality.
  4. Give your personality a name (eg. BTInternet)
  5. In the "User Name" box enter your ISP's username that you were given when you first signed up to the agreement (eg. piglit@hg7.btinternet.com).
  6. Leave the "Mail Server" blank unless you also wish to read incoming emails from your ISP's account.
  7. Deselect "Check Mail on manual checks" unless you also wish to read incoming emails from your ISP's account.
  8. Leave the "Real Name" box empty unless you also wish to send emails from your ISP's account.
  9. In the "SMTP Server" box enter the smtp server of your ISP (eg. smtp.btinternet.com).
  10. Leave the "Email Address" box empty unless you also wish to send emails from your ISP's account, in which case enter the email address from your ISP (eg. piglit@btinternt.com).
  11. Ensure that "Allow Authorization" is ticked.
Examples of settings page
  1. In the left hand window scroll back up to the top and select "Sending Mail"
  2. From the drop-down menu named "SMTP Relay Personality" select the personality you have just created (eg. BTInternet). This will now override any server listed in the "SMTP Server" box.
  3. Click "OK"
Example of settings page

Now when you create a new message you will see that your Goldsmiths account is called "Dominant" because there is now an 'alternate' personality as well as the main, default personality. The first time you try to send an email after you have logged in a box will pop up asking for a password to authenticate the SMTP server. This is your ISP's password NOT your Goldsmiths password that you would have entered when you first logged into Eudora. Each subsequent send will not require a password until the next login.

Setting up Apple Mail to authenticate for SMTP

  1. From the Mail Preferences select the "Accounts" tab.
  2. Select "Account Information".
  3. Assuming you have already set up to use your ISP's SMTP server (eg. smtp.btinternt.com) and that it is the current server, click on "Server Settings"
  4. From the drop down menu named "Authentication" (probably set currently to "None") select "Password".
  5. In the "User Name:" box enter your ISP's username (eg. piglit@hg7.btinternet.com.
  6. In the "Password:" box enter the password allocated by your ISP. This is NOT your Goldsmiths' password.
  7. Click ok.

You should now be able to send emails using your ISP's SMTP server without being prompted for a password.

Setting up Mulberry to authenticate for SMTP

NOTE: If you use version 4.0.4 of Mulberry provided by the College, the following is no longer necessary as this release can authenticate with Goldsmiths' SMTP server

  1. Go to Mulberry Preferences, ensure that Advanced Preferences is selected, and then select the Accounts tab.
  2. Using the drop down menu next to "Account:" select SMTP.
  3. The "Server" should already be set to your ISP's SMTP server (eg. smtp.btinternet.com).
  4. Select the "Authentication" tab.
  5. Currently next to "Method:" the drop down menu will have "Anonymous" selected. Click on the menu and select "Plain Text".
  6. Additional boxes will appear. Next to "User ID:" enter your ISP's username that you were given when you first signed up to the agreement (eg. piglit@hg7.btinternet.com).
  7. Tick the "Save User ID" checkbox.
  8. Click the "Save Default" button.
  9. Click "OK". Note: you may have to log out and log in again.
Now, the first time you try to send an email after you have logged in a box will pop up asking for a password to authenticate the SMTP server. This is your ISP's password NOT your Goldsmiths password that you would have entered when you first logged into Mulberry. Each subsequent send will not require a password (assuming you remembered to check "Save User ID"!) until the next login.
Preferences example page

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