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Thunderbird

Supported Product

Thunderbird is among several email clients in use on campus, and is not supported by all schools and units. Please refer to the document Email Specifications by School article or speak with your Local Support Provider (LSP) to find out which email client is recommended for your use.

General

All recent versions of Thunderbird automatically update to the latest version. ISC strongly suggests allowing these update processes to complete.

Thunderbird is a graphical email client for macOS and Windows that accesses mail on remote servers via either the Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP) or the Post Office Protocol (POP). To use Thunderbird, you need access to PennNet and an account on a mail server running IMAP or POP.

Download

  • Download the current version of Thunderbird from the Thunderbird.net website

Related resources

Thunderbird .current is on the supported products list in Fiscal 2016.

Product history at the University

The 2005 client/server email client evaluation team evaluated Thunderbird 1.0.x in Spring 2005 and gave it supported and recommended status for Fiscal 2006. This status was transferred to Thunderbird 1.5.0.x for Fiscal 2007. The 2007 client/server email client evaluation team evaluated Thunderbird 2.0.0.x in Spring 2007 (Thunderbird 1.5.0.x was no longer supported by Mozilla as of October 2007). They gave Thunderbird 2.0.0.x supported and recommended status when used in IMAP/POP environments for Fiscal 2008 and this status was carried forward for Fiscal 2009 and Fiscal 2010.

Thunderbird 1.5.x was the first version of Thunderbird that supported Kerberos. Thunderbird 1.5.0.4 for the Mac OS was the first version of Thunderbird with Universal binary support.

Thunderbird 3.0 was released in December 2009. Thunderbird 3.x was evaluated and documented in the University environment, making it supported and recommended for IMAP/POP environments for FY2011.

Thunderbird 5.0 was released in June 2011. Thunderbird 5.0 was evaluated and documented in the University environment over a few months, and supported and recommended for IMAP/POP environments in mid-FY2012.

In late 2014, Mozilla changed Thunderbird's numbering scheme to match that of Firefox ESR.

A warning that support for Mozilla Thunderbird may not be viable for the mid to long term, as the Mozilla Foundation moves to decouple Firefox and Thunderbird development.

 

Important: Most Windows users on campus choose either Thunderbird or Outlook as an IMAP email client. You do not need to configure both for email. The instructions in this section are for configuring Thunderbird as an IMAP email client. Instructions for configuring Outlook are linked from the Outlook product page.

Configuring Thunderbird for email

  • Start Thunderbird by double-clicking the Thunderbird icon on your desktop (or Start → All Programs→ Mozilla Thunderbird). The New Account Setup window displays; and the Account Wizard will now assist you in setting up Thunderbird as your IMAP email client.
  • Leave Don't import anything, and click the Next button.
  • Ensure the Email account radio button is selected, then click the Next button. The next screen is Identity.
  • In the Your Name: field, enter your name as you wish it appear on outgoing messages.
  • In the Email Address: field, enter your full email address, e.g. username@pobox.upenn.edu
  • Click the Next button. The next screen is Server Information.
  • Click the IMAP radio button.
  • Using the table below, enter your incoming server name in the Incoming Server: field. If your server name is not listed, contact your School, or Local Support Provider (LSP).

 

If your email address ends with The incoming mail server is
@dolphin.upenn.edu mailbox.zimbra.upenn.edu
@wharton.upenn.edu see Wharton instructions
@mail.med.upenn.edu mailbox.zimbra.upenn.edu
@pobox.upenn.edu mailbox.zimbra.upenn.edu (Zimbra)
mail.exchange.upenn.edu (ISC Exchange)
@sas.upenn.edu see SAS instructions
@seas.upenn.edu see SEAS instructions

 

Using the table below, enter your outgoing SMTP server name in the Outgoing Server: field. If your server name is not listed, contact your School, department, or Local Support Provider (LSP).

Note: If you are using an Internet Service Provider (ISP) other than Penn (for example, Comcast or Verizon) to connect to your mail account, you will use different SMTP servers than those listed for Penn. Consult with your ISP for the correct SMTP server.

If your email address ends with The SMTP server is
@dolphin.upenn.edu mailbox.zimbra.upenn.edu
@wharton.upenn.edu see Wharton instructions
@mail.med.upenn.edu mailbox.zimbra.upenn.edu
@pobox.upenn.edu mailbox.zimbra.upenn.edu (Zimbra)
mail.exchange.upenn.edu (ISC Exchange)
@sas.upenn.edu see SAS instructions
@seas.upenn.edu see SEAS instructions
  • Click the Next button. The next screen is User Names.
  • Confirm your incoming and outgoing user names and click the Next button. The next screen is Account Name.
  • At the Account Name: field, either leave the account name as displayed or optionally, enter another name.
  • Click the Next button. The next screen is Congratulations!
  • Verify your email settings, then click the Finish button to save your settings and exit the Account Wizard.

In most cases you will receive a message stating that the server has disabled login. Click the OK button and continue with the configuration.

  • From the Tools menu, select Account Settings... The Account Settings window displays.
  • In the left panel, click on Server Settings.
  • In the right panel of the Server Settings window:
    • Select the SSL radio button to activate this option for Use secure connection:.
    • Ensure the Use secure authentication: option is unchecked.
  • In the left panel, click on Outgoing Server (SMTP).
  • In the right panel of the Outgoing Server (SMTP) window, highlight the SMTP server you are using for this account and click the Edit... button. The SMTP Server window displays.
  • Leave the Description: field blank.
  • Leave the Server Name: field as displayed.
  • For ISC Exchange users only, change the Port: to 587.
  • Ensure the Use name and password checkbox is selected.
  • For dolphin, mail.med, and pobox accounts (both Zimbra and ISC Exchange), choose the TLS radio button for the Use Secure Connection field; other mailboxes at Penn typically choose the SSL radio button. If you are unsure of the correct setting, check with your LSP.
  • Click the OK button.
  • Click the OK button.

Configuring Thunderbird for the Penn Online Directory

Configuring Thunderbird for the Penn Online Directory will allow you to automatically look up a person in the Penn Online Directory and transfer their contact information into your Address Book. Each time you search the Penn Online Directory you will need to authenticate with your Pennkey.

  • Click the Address Book icon located on the menu bar. The Address Book window displays.
  • From the File menu, select New, then select LDAP Directory... from the dropdown menu. The Directory Server Properties window displays.
  • In the Directory Server Properties window, make sure the General tab is selected.

  •  In the General window, do the following:

    • In the Name: field, type Penn Online Directory
    • In the Hostname: field, type directory.upenn.edu
    • In the Base DN: field, type the following, making sure that the "P" in People is capitalized: 
      ou=People,dc=upenn,dc=edu
    • In the Port number: field, type 636
    • In the Bind DN: field, type the following, where username is your actual PennKey name: 
      uid=username,ou=PennPeople,dc=upenn,dc=edu
    • Ensure the Use Secure Connection (SSL) checkbox is selected.

  •  Click the Advanced tab.

    • In the Don't return more than results field, enter 100
    • Ensure the Subtree radio button is selected.
    • Click the OK button to close the Directory Server Properties window and save your settings.
  • Close the Address Book.
  • From the Tools menu, select Account Settings... The Account Settings window displays.
  • In the left panel, click Composition & Addressing.
  • Select the Use a different LDAP server: radio button, choose Penn Online Directory from the dropdown list, click the OK button to close the window and save your settings.
  • From the Tools menu, select Options.... The Options window displays.
  • Click the Composition icon.
  • Click the Addressing tab.
  • In the Address Autocompletion section, click the Directory Server: checkbox, choose Penn Online Directory from the dropdown menu, then click the OK button to close the window and save your settings.

You can now explore Thunderbird or quit the application. You have successfully configured Thunderbird for email.

Important: Most macOS users on campus choose either Thunderbird or Mail as an IMAP email client. You do not need to configure both for email. Follow these instructions to configure Apple Mail for email.

Configuring Thunderbird for email

  • Launch Thunderbird. A window for entering information displays.
  • In the Your Name: field, enter your name as you wish it appear on outgoing messages.
  • In the Email address: field, enter your full email address, e.g. username@pobox.upenn.edu
  • Click the Continue button.
  • Ensure that the IMAP radio button is selected.
  • Click the Manual config button.
  • Using the table below, enter your incoming server name in the Incoming Server: field. If your server name is not listed, contact your School, or Local Support Provider (LSP).
If your email address ends with The incoming mail server is
@dolphin.upenn.edu mailbox.zimbra.upenn.edu
@wharton.upenn.edu see Wharton instructions
@mail.med.upenn.edu mailbox.zimbra.upenn.edu
@pobox.upenn.edu mailbox.zimbra.upenn.edu (Zimbra)
mail.exchange.upenn.edu (ISC Exchange)
@sas.upenn.edu see SAS instructions
@seas.upenn.edu see SEAS instructions

Using the table below, enter your outgoing SMTP server name in the Outgoing Server: field. If your server name is not listed, contact your School, department, or Local Support Provider (LSP).

Note: If you are using an Internet Service Provider (ISP) other than Penn (for example, Comcast or Verizon) to connect to your mail account, you will use different SMTP servers than those listed for Penn. Consult with your ISP for the correct SMTP server.

If your email address ends with The SMTP server is
@dolphin.upenn.edu mailbox.zimbra.upenn.edu
@wharton.upenn.edu see Wharton instructions
@mail.med.upenn.edu mailbox.zimbra.upenn.edu
@pobox.upenn.edu mailbox.zimbra.upenn.edu (Zimbra)
mail.exchange.upenn.edu (ISC Exchange)
@sas.upenn.edu see SAS instructions
@seas.upenn.edu see SEAS instructions

 

 

  • Click the Create Account button. Thunderbird may ask if you would like to make it your default email program.
  • Click the Cancel or OK buttons as appropriate. The email environment will begin to load. Depending on how much mail is in your email account, this may take a while.

Configuring Thunderbird for the Penn Online Directory

Configuring Thunderbird for the Penn Online Directory will allow you to automatically look up a person in the Penn Online Directory and transfer their contact information into your Address Book. Each time you search the Penn Online Directory you will need to authenticate with your PennKey.

  • Click the Address Book icon located on the menu bar. The Address Book window displays.
  • From the File menu, select New, then select LDAP Directory... from the dropdown menu. The Directory Server Properties window displays.
  • In the Directory Server Properties window, make sure the General tab is selected.

  •  In the General window, do the following:

    • Click the Use secure connection (SSL) checkbox to activate it.
    • In the Name: field, type Penn Online Directory
    • In the Hostname: field, type directory.upenn.edu
    • In the Base DN: field, type the following, making sure that the "P" in People is capitalized: 
      ou=People,dc=upenn,dc=edu
    • In the Port Number: field, type 636
    • In the Bind DN: field, type the following, where username is your actual PennKey name: 
      uid=username,ou=PennPeople,dc=upenn,dc=edu
  • Quit Address Book.
  • From the Tools menu, select Account Settings.
  • In the left panel under the server name (e.g. pobox.upenn.edu, dolphin.upenn.edu, mail.med.upenn.edu), click Composition & Addressing.
  • Select the Use a different LDAP server: radio button, choose Penn Online Directory from the dropdown list, click the OK button to close the window and save your settings.

You can now explore Thunderbird or quit the application. You have successfully configured Thunderbird for email.

Thunderbird

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