The ChivaNet mail server is at mail.chivanet.org, and provides SMTP, POP3, and IMAP services for ChivaNet users.
Setting Up Mail
To use ChivaNet mail, you will first need to go to https://chivanet.org/mail/request_mail.cfm to request an account. Note that you will be selecting a password unique to your mail account, so it may be different from your chivanet.org website password.
Your e-mail address will be <your-user-id>@chivanet.org, where <your-user-id> represents the user ID with which you log into this website. So if your ChivaNet user ID is unixgeek, your e-mail address will be unixgeek@chivanet.org.
Once your account is requested, it should be available within 30 minutes, and most often 5 minutes or less.
Using WebMail
To use webmail, navigate to https://mail.chivanet.org (in modern browsers), or http://mail.chivanet.org for retro browsers. Note that using the http:// link instead of https:// will expose your account credentials in plain text to anyone who sniffs your credentials. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Your credentials in WebMail will be your ChivaNet account ID without the @chivanet.org, and the password you selected when requesting your e-mail account.
Configuring AIM 5.x Mail Alerts with ChivaNet Mail
Since ChivaNet Mail supports POP3, you can set up AIM 5.x on Windows to alert you when you get new mail:
In the Buddy List window, click My AIM, Edit Options, Edit Preferences...
Click Mail in the Category list on the left side of the AOL Instant Messenger Preferences window
Click Add Mailbox
Make sure Type: is POP3 Mail
Enter your ChivaNet e-mail address in E-mail Address:
Enter your ChivaNet e-mail password in Password:
Enter mail.chivanet.org in POP3 Server Name:
Optionally, click Browse... next to the POP3 E-mail Program: field in order to choose a mail client
Click Save
Click OK
In order to verify, in the Buddy List window, click My AIM, Mail Alert Window...
A window with a list of your mailboxes should appear.
Mail Client Support Policy
Mail services, like all free ChivaNet services, are provided on a best-effort basis. Since e-mail clients vary so widely in the way they are configured, we cannot provide individual support for users attempting to configure specific clients. Please use the sections below along with your e-mail program's documentation in order to configure your e-mail client.
Using with Modern Mail Clients
For modern mail clients that support IMAP and modern encryption, these are your settings:
IMAP server: mail.chivanet.org
IMAP port: 993
IMAP username: your ChivaNet account ID (no @chivanet.org)
IMAP password: the password you selected when creating your mail account
IMAP Connection security: SSL/TLS
IMAP Authentication method: Normal password
SMTP server: mail.chivanet.org
SMTP port: 587
SMTP username: your ChivaNet account ID (no @chivanet.org)
SMTP password: the password you selected when creating your mail account
SMTP Connection security: STARTTLS
SMTP Authentication method: Normal password
Using with Vintage Mail Clients
In general, older POP-only clients should work with the following settings (this has only been tested with Eudora Pro 2.1.2 on Windows for Workgroups 3.11 thus far):
POP Account: <your-account-id>@mail.chivanet.org
SMTP Hostname: mail.chivanet.org
Note that older mail clients may not support encryption, thus compromising the security of your ChivaNet account credentials! USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!
Using from Shell
Your mail account includes shell access to mail.chivanet.org via ssh.
The Alpine (pine) and Mutt (mutt) mail clients are available here.
Article Info
Last modified Feb 10, 2025 9 revisions Viewed 2928 times
Last modified Feb 10, 2025
