Accessing Zimbra Collaboration Server with Thunderbird: Difference between revisions

mNo edit summary
 
(47 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
With the Zimbra Collaboration Suite, you are able to access your email using Mozilla Thunderbird messaging and collaboration client. Optionally, you can view your Zimbra Calendar using the separate Lightning Add-on for Thunderbird.
__FORCETOC__
<div class="col-md-12 ibox-content">
=Accessing Zimbra Collaboration with Thunderbird=
{{KB|{{ZCS 10.0}}|{{ZCS 9.0}}|{{ZCS 8.8}}|}}


This guide shows you how to access to your Zimbra Mail and Calendar using Thunderbird 2 with the Lightning 0.5 Add-On.
This guide shows you how to access to your Zimbra Mail, Contacts and Calendar using Thunderbird 102.


=Before You Begin=
This guide assumes that you have already installed Thunderbird. For more information on downloading and installing this software, go to Mozilla's Thunderbird page, '' https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/'' .
 
This guide assumes that you have already installed Thunderbird 2 and, optionally, have already installed the Lightning Add-on. For more information on downloading and installing this software, go to Mozilla's Thunderbird page, '' http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/thunderbird/'' .
 
To access your email, you must have the following information:


You will need:
* '''Your Zimbra email address and password'''.
* '''Your Zimbra email address and password'''.
* '''Incoming mail server'''. This is usually in the form of mail.domain.com.
* '''Your Zimbra mail server domain'''. This is usually in the form of mail.domain.com. It is likely the same as what you use to sign-on to Zimbra web interface.
* '''Outgoing mail server (SMTP)'''. This is usually in the form of smtp.domain.com.


Your system administrator will be able to give you this information if you do not already have it.
Your system administrator will be able to give you this information if you do not already have it.


=Accessing your Zimbra Mail with Thunderbird=
=Adding your Zimbra Email to Thunderbird=
 
To access your Zimbra Mail, you must first create an account in Thunderbird. The following steps guide you through setting up a new account in Thunderbird.
 
====To create a new account in Thunderbird====
 
1. Go to '''File>New>Account'''. This will open the Account Wizard.
 
If you have just opened Thunderbird for the first time, the Account Wizard will automatically open.
 
2. Select '''Email account''' in the New Account Setup dialog. Click '''Next'''.
 
:[[Image:TB_New_Account_Setup.png]]
 
3. Enter the name you want to appear in the '''From''' field of your outgoing emails in the '''Your Name''' field. Enter your Zimbra email address into the '''Email Address''' field. Click '''Next'''.
 
:[[Image:TB_Identity.png]]
 
4. Select '''IMAP'''. Enter the name of your incoming server in the '''Incoming Server''' field. If this is your first time using Thunderbird, type the name of your outgoing server in the '''Outgoing Server (SMTP)''' field. Click '''Next'''.
 
'''''Note:''' By default, Thunderbird will not use a secure connection for your incoming and outgoing servers. If your servers require a secure connection, such as TLS or SSL, you must set this after you exit the Account Wizard. To change your secure connection setting, see [[Accessing Zimbra Collaboration Suite with Thunderbird#Changing Your Server Settings|Changing Your Server Settings]].''
 
'''''Note:''' If you have an existing outgoing server already set as a default, the Account Wizard will automatically use this information. You can change this after you have created your account. To change this setting to the correct outgoing server, see [[Accessing Zimbra Collaboration Suite with Thunderbird#Changing Your Server Settings|Changing Your Server Settings]].''
 
:[[Image:TB_Server_Information.png]]
 
5. Enter your incoming user name from your email address into the '''Incoming User Name''' field. If this is your first time using Thunderbird, enter your outgoing user name in the '''Outgoing User Name''' field. This is the first part of your Zimbra email address. For example, if your email address is '''john.doe@example.com''', your incoming user name is '''john.doe'''.
 
:[[Image:TB_User_Names.png]]
 
6. Enter the name you want to call this account in the '''Account Name''' field.
 
:[[Image:TB_Account_Name.png]]
 
7. Verify that the information displayed is correct. If any information is incorrect, select '''Back''' and update the information. When the account information is correct, click '''Finish'''.
 
:[[Image:TB_Congratulations.png]]
 
Your settings are saved, and the Account Wizard closes. You are now able to access your Zimbra Mail.
 
If your incoming server and outgoing server use secure connections, you will need to configure this before you are able to access your mail. Additionally, if you did not specify an outgoing server when you were setting up your Zimbra email account, you will not be able to send outgoing messages yet. See the next section in order to change your server settings.
 
=Changing Your Server Settings=
 
If your incoming server and outgoing server use secure connections, you will need to configure this before you are able to access your mail.  Additionally, if your Outgoing Server (SMTP) is not set to the correct server, you will not be able to send outgoing messages. Use the following directions to change your server settings.
 
====To change the secure connection settings for your incoming mail server====
 
1. In Thunderbird, go to '''Tools>Account Settings'''.
 
2. Select '''Server Settings''', which is located under your Zimbra email account profile, listed on the left. Your Server Settings are displayed.
 
:[[Image:TB_server_settings.png]]
 
3. Under '''Security Settings''', select whether to use '''TLS if available''', '''TLS''', or '''SSL'''. Select '''Never''' if you do not want to use a secure connection.  Select whether to use secure authentication.
 
4. Click '''OK''' to save your settings.
 
====To change the secure connection settings for your outgoing mail server====
 
1. In Thunderbird, go to '''Tools>Account Settings'''.
 
2. Select '''Outgoing Server (SMTP)''', which is located at the bottom of the Settings list on the left. Your Outgoing Server (SMTP) Settings are displayed.
 
:[[Image:TB_Account_Settings.png]]
 
3. Select the outgoing server for your Zimbra email account, and click '''Edit'''.
 
4. In the SMTP Server dialog, under '''Security and Authentication''', select whether to use '''TLS if available''', '''TLS''', or '''SSL'''. Select '''No''' if you do not want to use a secure connection.  Click '''OK'''.
 
:[[Image:TB_SMTP_Server.png]]
 
5. Click '''OK''' to save your settings.
 
====To add an outgoing server to your Zimbra email account====
 
1. In Thunderbird, go to '''Tools>Account Settings'''.
 
2. Select '''Outgoing Server (SMTP)''', which is located at the bottom of the Settings list on the left. Your Outgoing Server (SMTP) Settings are displayed.
 
:[[Image:TB_Account_Settings.png]]
 
3. Click '''Add'''.
 
4. In the SMTP Server dialog, enter the following information:
* '''Description'''. Enter a name for your outgoing server.
* '''Server name'''. Enter the name of your outgoing server. This is usually in the form of smtp.domain.com
* '''Port'''. This is 25 by default. If your SMTP server has a different port number, enter it here.
* '''User Name.''' Enter your Zimbra email account user name.
* '''Secure Connection'''. Select whether to use '''TLS if available''', '''TLS''', or '''SSL'''. Select '''No''' if you do not want to use a secure connection.
 
Click '''OK'''.
 
:[[Image:TB_SMTP_Server.png]]
 
5. In the Account Settings dialog, select your Zimbra email account, located in the Settings list on the left.
 
6. Select the Zimbra outgoing server from the '''Outgoing Server (SMTP)''' drop-down list in your Account Settings.


:[[Image:TB_Account_Settings_2.png]]
To add Zimbra mail to Thunderbird follow these steps:


7. Click '''OK'''.
https://blog.zimbra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ConfigureZimbraInThunderbird.gif


=Viewing your Zimbra Calendar using Lightning=
Please note this is an example video, this means:


The following steps show you how to read your Zimbra Calendar with Thunderbird using the Lightning Add-on. These instructions assume that you have already installed Lightning 0.5.
* You have to replace zimbra10.barrydegraaff.nl and admin@barrydegraaff.nl with values provided by your administrator or provider.
* In most cases you can leave the port fields empty and Thunderbird will find the correct ones! I only typed the SMTP port value as in my case port 25 would work, but for most people it would not. Which is why I typed 587 in the above video.


====To view your Zimbra Calendar using Lightning====
=Adding your Zimbra Calendar to Thunderbird=


'''''Note:''' These instructions will allow you to view your calendar using Thunderbird with the Lightning Add-on. You will not be able to create or edit appointments, meetings, or events.''
Once your calendar is added in Thunderbird you can


1. Open the Zimbra Web Client, and click on the '''Calendar''' tab.
* Create appointments
* Edit appointments created from the Web Client or another device
* Delete appointments
* Move appointments
* Dismiss appointments
* Accept and send calendar invites


2. Right click on '''Calendar''' in the Calendar List pane and select '''Share Calendar''' from the right-click menu.
To set up your Zimbra calendar in Thunderbird follow these steps:


The URL of your Calendar is located at the bottom of the Share Properties dialog. Write down or copy this URL.
https://blog.zimbra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ConfigureZimbraInThunderbirdCalendar.gif


:[[Image:TB_Share_Properties.png]]
Please note this is an example video, this means:


3. Open Thunderbird.
* You have to replace zimbra10.barrydegraaff.nl and admin@barrydegraaff.nl with values provided by your administrator or provider.


4. Click on the '''Calendars''' tab, in the lower left of your Thunderbird application.
The URL to use for the default Zimbra calendar is:
https://zimbra.example.com/dav/<YOUR USERNAME HERE>/Calendar


:[[Image:TB_Lightning_Pane.png]]
If you use multiple calendars or have accepted calendar shares from other users, you can subscribe to them all at once or select the calendars you want to subscribe to by omitting the calendar name. In this case Thunderbird will ask you what calendars you want to subscribe to. Use the URL as follows:


5. Click on '''New'''. A Create New Calendar dialog will display.
https://zimbra.example.com/dav/<YOUR USERNAME HERE>/


6. Select '''On the Network'''. Click '''Next'''.
=Adding your Zimbra Contacts to Thunderbird=


:[[Image:TB_Create_New_Calendar.png]]
To add your Zimbra Contacts (Address Book) to Thunderbird  install the [https://addons.thunderbird.net/en-US/thunderbird/addon/cardbook/ CardBook Add-on] for Thunderbird. If you have trouble installing the add-on please read the help document provided here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/installing-addon-thunderbird


7. Select '''iCalendar (ICS)'''. In the '''Location''' field, enter the URL of your Zimbra Calendar. Click '''Next'''.
Once it is installed add your Zimbra address book to Thunderbird following these steps:


:[[Image:TB_Locate_Your_Calendar.png]]
https://blog.zimbra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ConfigureZimbraInThunderbirdContacts.gif


8. Enter a name for your Zimbra Calendar in the '''Name''' field. Then, select a color for your Calendar. Click '''Next'''.
Please note this is an example video, this means:


:[[Image:TB_Customize_Your_Calendar.png]]
* You have to replace zimbra10.barrydegraaff.nl and admin@barrydegraaff.nl with values provided by your administrator or provider.


9. Enter your username and password, if you are prompted.
The URL to use for the default Zimbra calendar is:


'''''Note:''' if you are not prompted, and access to the calendar fails, a workaround that I found is using a Calendar URL in this scheme - not elegant to put a password inside this URL; but the only way that worked for me ([[User:HenningSprang|HenningSprang]]):''
https://zimbra.example.com/dav/<YOUR USERNAME HERE>/Contacts
<pre>
webcal://<USERNAME>:<PASSWORD>@zimbrahost.example.com/home/<USERNAME>/Calendar
</pre>


10. Click '''Finish'''.
=Shared Calendar & Tasks in Thunderbird=


=====Accessing your Zimbra Calendar using Lightning with CalDAV (Only works with ZCS 5.0+ and Lightning 0.8+)=====
{{warning|1=This section has not been verified in Zimbra 10 and/or Thunderbird 100+.}}
As of some recent build of Lightning (v0.8+), and a recent build of Zimbra (v5.0+) you can also use CalDAV to connect. This appears to fix some problems with deleting events as well.  


To use CalDAV, just follow the above steps but use a CalDAV URL of the below form:


<pre>http://<USERNAME>:<PASSWORD>@zimbrahost.example.com/dav/<USERNAME>/Calendar</pre>
You can use as well all the Zimbra sharing power with Thunderbird and CalDAV, for example: Imagine that you are the Responsible Person for one Department and you want to create a Calendar per each Technician, and a Tasks List, like in the next diagram:
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">https://wiki.zimbra.com/images/a/a0/Thunderbird-share.png</div>


* ''(note from alfa_sw33: (ZCS 5.0.10) I use the URL without password: <pre>https://zimbrahost.example.com/dav/USERNAME/KalendarName</pre> so you won't have to save your password in cleartext...
The Responsible must create each Calendar or Tasks List and share with the rest of Technicians, giving them the read-only or read-write permission. You must be careful with the location of the Calendars, or Tasks List, for example if you create the Tasks List called Technician Bob, inside your own Task List, the URL to share will be > '''https://zimbra.example.com/dav/RESPONSIBLEUSERNAME/Tasks/Technician%20Bob''' You can see here an example:
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">https://wiki.zimbra.com/images/7/7c/Thunderbird-tasks-008.png</div>


=Feature Differences When Using Thunderbird=
In this example, the Responsible creates a Tasks List for Technician Bob, is the same procedure for Calendars as well. Go to the Responsible Tasks, and right-click > New Task List
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">https://wiki.zimbra.com/images/5/5a/Thunderbird-tasks-003.png</div>


If you have used the Zimbra Web Client, note that the following features are different when using Thunderbird as a client.
Then, write the name for the Tasks List, in this case Technician Bob, you will need later the %20 in the URL, if you can, it's much better to use - or _ instead space.
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">https://wiki.zimbra.com/images/b/b5/Thunderbird-tasks-004.png</div>


* To view mail folders that you have created using the Zimbra Web Client, you must subscribe to them.
Edit then the new Tasks List with right-click > Properties and select Add share
* Thunderbird may not always expunge deleted items or old drafts. These messages will be visible if you access your mail using Zimbra Web Client.
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">https://wiki.zimbra.com/images/6/66/Thunderbird-tasks-005.png</div>
* Lightning does not use notifications for upcoming events and meetings.
* The Lightning Add-On may not automatically refresh your Zimbra Calendar. To see the most recent version of your Calendar, right-click and select '' Reload Remote Calendars'' .
* Lightning only records a single set of authentication information for all remote calendars. If you have already set up access to another remote calendar using Lightning, you may encounter authentication errors when attempting to view your Zimbra calendar.


In the email field, select the Bob's emails address, and select the role you want for Bob, read-only or read-write.
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">https://wiki.zimbra.com/images/3/3d/Thunderbird-tasks-006.png</div>


{{Article_Footer|ZCS 4.5.7|10/10/2007}}
Now, you can tell to Bob the URL that he must use to connect to the shared resources, Calendar, Tasks, etc. The URL will be the Responsible one, like '''https://zimbra.example.com/dav/RESPONSABLEUSERNAME/Tasks/Technician%20Bob''' even if the URL points to the Responsible, because Bob has access to that concrete resource, Bob just need to write his credentials when Thunderbird asks about them.
<div class="thumbnail img-thumbnail">https://wiki.zimbra.com/images/6/6f/Thunderbird-tasks-007.png</div>


[[Category: Clients]]
{{Article_Footer|ZCS 10.0, 9.0, 8.8|10/10/2007}}
[[Category: Pending Certification]]

Latest revision as of 10:53, 5 September 2023

Accessing Zimbra Collaboration with Thunderbird

   KB 2255        Last updated on 2023-09-5  




0.00
(0 votes)
ZCS 10.0 Article ZCS 10.0

This guide shows you how to access to your Zimbra Mail, Contacts and Calendar using Thunderbird 102.

This guide assumes that you have already installed Thunderbird. For more information on downloading and installing this software, go to Mozilla's Thunderbird page, https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/ .

You will need:

  • Your Zimbra email address and password.
  • Your Zimbra mail server domain. This is usually in the form of mail.domain.com. It is likely the same as what you use to sign-on to Zimbra web interface.

Your system administrator will be able to give you this information if you do not already have it.

Adding your Zimbra Email to Thunderbird

To add Zimbra mail to Thunderbird follow these steps:

ConfigureZimbraInThunderbird.gif

Please note this is an example video, this means:

  • You have to replace zimbra10.barrydegraaff.nl and admin@barrydegraaff.nl with values provided by your administrator or provider.
  • In most cases you can leave the port fields empty and Thunderbird will find the correct ones! I only typed the SMTP port value as in my case port 25 would work, but for most people it would not. Which is why I typed 587 in the above video.

Adding your Zimbra Calendar to Thunderbird

Once your calendar is added in Thunderbird you can

  • Create appointments
  • Edit appointments created from the Web Client or another device
  • Delete appointments
  • Move appointments
  • Dismiss appointments
  • Accept and send calendar invites

To set up your Zimbra calendar in Thunderbird follow these steps:

ConfigureZimbraInThunderbirdCalendar.gif

Please note this is an example video, this means:

  • You have to replace zimbra10.barrydegraaff.nl and admin@barrydegraaff.nl with values provided by your administrator or provider.

The URL to use for the default Zimbra calendar is:

https://zimbra.example.com/dav/<YOUR USERNAME HERE>/Calendar

If you use multiple calendars or have accepted calendar shares from other users, you can subscribe to them all at once or select the calendars you want to subscribe to by omitting the calendar name. In this case Thunderbird will ask you what calendars you want to subscribe to. Use the URL as follows:

https://zimbra.example.com/dav/<YOUR USERNAME HERE>/

Adding your Zimbra Contacts to Thunderbird

To add your Zimbra Contacts (Address Book) to Thunderbird install the CardBook Add-on for Thunderbird. If you have trouble installing the add-on please read the help document provided here: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/installing-addon-thunderbird

Once it is installed add your Zimbra address book to Thunderbird following these steps:

ConfigureZimbraInThunderbirdContacts.gif

Please note this is an example video, this means:

  • You have to replace zimbra10.barrydegraaff.nl and admin@barrydegraaff.nl with values provided by your administrator or provider.

The URL to use for the default Zimbra calendar is:

https://zimbra.example.com/dav/<YOUR USERNAME HERE>/Contacts

Shared Calendar & Tasks in Thunderbird

Warning: This section has not been verified in Zimbra 10 and/or Thunderbird 100+.


You can use as well all the Zimbra sharing power with Thunderbird and CalDAV, for example: Imagine that you are the Responsible Person for one Department and you want to create a Calendar per each Technician, and a Tasks List, like in the next diagram:

Thunderbird-share.png

The Responsible must create each Calendar or Tasks List and share with the rest of Technicians, giving them the read-only or read-write permission. You must be careful with the location of the Calendars, or Tasks List, for example if you create the Tasks List called Technician Bob, inside your own Task List, the URL to share will be > https://zimbra.example.com/dav/RESPONSIBLEUSERNAME/Tasks/Technician%20Bob You can see here an example:

Thunderbird-tasks-008.png

In this example, the Responsible creates a Tasks List for Technician Bob, is the same procedure for Calendars as well. Go to the Responsible Tasks, and right-click > New Task List

Thunderbird-tasks-003.png

Then, write the name for the Tasks List, in this case Technician Bob, you will need later the %20 in the URL, if you can, it's much better to use - or _ instead space.

Thunderbird-tasks-004.png

Edit then the new Tasks List with right-click > Properties and select Add share

Thunderbird-tasks-005.png

In the email field, select the Bob's emails address, and select the role you want for Bob, read-only or read-write.

Thunderbird-tasks-006.png

Now, you can tell to Bob the URL that he must use to connect to the shared resources, Calendar, Tasks, etc. The URL will be the Responsible one, like https://zimbra.example.com/dav/RESPONSABLEUSERNAME/Tasks/Technician%20Bob even if the URL points to the Responsible, because Bob has access to that concrete resource, Bob just need to write his credentials when Thunderbird asks about them.

Thunderbird-tasks-007.png
Verified Against: ZCS 10.0, 9.0, 8.8 Date Created: 10/10/2007
Article ID: https://wiki.zimbra.com/index.php?title=Accessing_Zimbra_Collaboration_Server_with_Thunderbird Date Modified: 2023-09-05



Try Zimbra

Try Zimbra Collaboration with a 60-day free trial.
Get it now »

Want to get involved?

You can contribute in the Community, Wiki, Code, or development of Zimlets.
Find out more. »

Looking for a Video?

Visit our YouTube channel to get the latest webinars, technology news, product overviews, and so much more.
Go to the YouTube channel »


Jump to: navigation, search