Frequently Asked Questions
about the changes in GatorLink
With the changes in the ability to forward your GatorLink email to
non-UF email addresses, it is important for you to understand the
options you have to check email sent to your GatorLink email
account. This FAQ was developed to answer questions and provide
information to assist you in configuring your email client so you
stay connected to the University of Florida
* Why is UF changing the email forwarding policy?
* Can I still use my AOL or Hotmail account?
* When does this policy take effect?
* Do I have any options when using GatorLink?
* I already use an email client for my other email accounts. Do
I have to stop using what I am comfortable with?
* I heard that GatorLink users get a lot of SPAM, is this true?
* How do I set up my computer to access my GatorLink email?
* What is IMAP?
* What is POP?
* Should I use IMAP or POP?
* What is SMTP?
* I keep forgetting my GatorLink password. Isn’t there a way for
the computer to do this automatically?
* I don’t have a laptop. How do I check my GatorLink mail when I
am away from my computer?
* If I can check my GatorLink email using Yahoo.com, isn’t that
the same as forwarding my email?
Why is UF changing the email forwarding policy?
We have all experienced the impact of SPAM. Under the old UF email
policy students where allowed to forward their email to other mail
servers. When SPAM arrived at the GatorLink mail server destined
for a particular user, the GatorLink mail server would turn around
and send it to the mail forwarding address for that user. To the
outside world all SPAM that arrived at the GatorLink email server
and was forwarded to other mail servers made it appear that UF was
the sender of a large amount of SPAM.
Large email providers such as AOL and Hotmail often choose to
reject all email from mail servers that send large amounts of
SPAM. With 48,000 students and a high percentage of the student
GatorLink accounts forwarded to these providers, UF appeared to be
responsible for sending large amounts of SPAM. The reality,
however, was that the mail servers were forwarding incoming mail
messages including SPAM. The big email providers have blocked all
email from UF on many occasions due to the forwarding of SPAM.
Email has become a critical communication tool for the University
of Florida to send important information to students. As a result
of the email providers’ actions, we can no longer allow
email to be forwarded to them. This is why the University was
forced to change its email forwarding policy. The result should be
reliable email communication from the University to the student
body.
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Can I still use my AOL or Hotmail account?
Yes. Many people will prefer to have personal mail go to their
“off campus” email accounts. However, the University
of Florida will not forward messages to these or other third party
services. UF will only send messages to your GatorLink email
account. You will have to either check your GatorLink email
account separately or set up the email software on your computer
to access GatorLink using IMAP or POP. (For instructions visit
http://www.it.ufl.edu/training/email/index.htm, or see
http://docweb.cns.ufl.edu/docs/d0141/d0141.html).
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When does this policy take effect?
The policy is in place now. It is recommended that you visit the
GatorLink website (http://www.gatorlink.ufl.edu), select "Change
Account Settings", and make sure you are not currently forwarding
your email to a third party provider. On October 1, 2005, UF will
no longer forward your email to a third party provider and if you
have not turned off this function, you may miss important
information about deadlines, athletic tickets and financial aid.
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Do I have any options when using GatorLink?
Mail sent to your GatorLink email account can be read using email
clients such as Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, Netscape,
Mozilla and many others. You can get detailed instructional guides
for configuring common email clients for GatorLink at
http://www.it.ufl.edu/training/email/index.htm or see
http://www.helpdesk.ufl.edu/. Select "Online Handouts" then
"Gatorlink Services".
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I already use an email client for my other email accounts. Do I
have to stop using what I am comfortable with?
If you already use Outlook, Outlook Express, Netscape or Mozilla
to check email now, it is very easy to add GatorLink as an
additional email account for your email client to check. Your
incoming email is then organized in folders by your email client
based on the email account being checked. You can have multiple
email accounts with a variety of settings being checked from one
email client.
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I heard that GatorLink users get a lot of SPAM, is this true?
The GatorLink mail server is running a spam scoring program that
will grade each email sent to your account where higher number
indicates a higher likelihood of SPAM. Items that would score
higher than 9 are blocked at the mail server. You can configure
your email client to automatically sort or screen email based on
the spam score. You can find detailed information at
http://www.cns.ufl.edu/spam
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How do I set up my computer to access my GatorLink email?
You can get detailed instructional guides for configuring common
email clients for GatorLink at
http://www.it.ufl.edu/training/email/index.htm
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What is IMAP?
The GatorLink email service supports both IMAP and POP email
protocols. It is important for you to understand the difference
between IMAP and POP when checking email. IMAP traditionally will
store all your email on the mail server. This is convenient if you
check email from multiple computers (like a friends house, a
computer lab or when traveling). IMAP does require that you manage
your email regularly. Unless you move email from the IMAP server
to your local computer’s folders or delete old email, you
are likely to reach your storage quota on the GatorLink email
server. If you reach your quota, you will not be able to receive
more mail until you delete some email from the server.
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What is POP?
When using POP, your email is downloaded to your computer each
time you check your email. Alternatively, it is possible to have
POP leave your email on the mail server and download copies of all
email each time you check your email. If you plan on using POP
make sure you select “delete your mail messages from the
server when downloading”. This means that your computer will
have the only copy of your email. You can use POP if you always
check your email account from the same computer and you do not
want to store your email on the mail server.
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Should I use IMAP or POP?
IMAP is the newer method and somewhat more reliable. If you check
your email frequently from public access computers, while
traveling, or at a friend’s house, you will find that using
IMAP and storing your email on the GatorLink mail server where it
is backed up, will work best. If you only check your email from
your own computer, (for instance, when you go home at night) you
may find that POP will be sufficient for you.
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What is SMTP?
This stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol and is the way you
send your email to other users. If you are using UF's dialup,
labs, walk-up ports or wireless network, set the outgoing or SMTP
server name to “smtp.ufl.edu” and check the option to
require authentication. This requires you to provide your
GatorLink username and password in order to send email. If you are
using another Internet Service Provider, like EarthLink, DSL, or
Cable Modem, you can use the authenticated smtp.ufl.edu outgoing
mail service or your can use your provider's outgoing mail server
name in your setup. If you live in a residence hall or a village
community and you are using a DHNet Housing connection, set the
outgoing or SMTP server name as specified on the DHNet page,
http://www.dhnet.ufl.edu
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I keep forgetting my GatorLink password. Isn’t there a way
for the computer to do this automatically?
The email program can store your username and password for future
use and will prompt you for this option. This practice is not
recommended since your account may be compromised if your computer
is accessed by another person or program. It is best practice to
enter your password each time you use a service that requires
authentication.
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I don’t have a laptop. How do I check my GatorLink mail when
I am away from my computer?
To check your email when you are on campus or when you do not have
use of your primary computer, http://webmail.ufl.edu is a good
option. It works in a manner similar to Hotmail or other web based
email programs. Other web based email services can also be
configured to check you GatorLink email.
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If I can check my GatorLink email using Yahoo.com, isn’t
that the same as forwarding my email?
No. When you forward your email to a third party, a copy does not
remain on the UF server. When delivery fails or the third party
server does not accept it for delivery, the message is gone and
cannot be retrieved. If you configure a client like Yahoo to
access GatorLink using IMAP or POP, you will never miss important
announcements from UF and student organizations.
Last Updated May 5, 2005
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