Mail clients

Clients interact with mail files on the IBM® Domino® server in different ways. All clients can create, send, and receive mail. Some clients, such as Web browsers, can only interact with mail on the server and cannot store mail locally. Some clients, such as POP3 clients, can only download mail from the server and work with it locally. Some clients, such as IBM® Notes®, IBM® iNotes®, and IMAP clients, can download mail or work with it on the server and can store mail locally.

You can use the following types of clients with the Domino® mail server:

  • Notes® clients
  • IMAP clients, such as Microsoft Outlook Express®
  • POP3 clients
  • Web browsers, such as Mozilla Browser and Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • IBM® iNotes®
  • IBM® Lotus® Domino® Access for Microsoft Outlook clients

Notes® clients

A Notes® client can interact with a Domino® server using either Notes® protocols or Internet protocols, such as IMAP, POP3, and SMTP. If your organization uses Notes® clients, select any of these protocols for server access. Enable the protocol on the server that clients use for access.

Notes® clients access the Domino® Directory using either Notes® protocols or Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). Users can create a local replica of their mail file while maintaining a complete mail file on a Domino® server. Users can work off-line and then connect to their server to replicate changes to documents and send mail.

IMAP clients

Users with IMAP clients can download mail to a local mail file or interact with and manage mail directly on a Domino® server that runs the IMAP service. They use the IMAP protocol to read and manage mail, use SMTP to send mail, and can use LDAP to access the Domino® Directory.

Enable the IMAP service and enable the SMTP listener to let IMAP clients use the Domino® server for mail.

POP3 clients

Users with POP3 clients can download mail to a local mail file and interact with it there, as well as leave a copy of the mail in their file on the Domino® server. POP3 clients retrieve mail from a Domino® server that runs the POP3 service, use SMTP to send mail, and can use LDAP to access the Domino® Directory.

Enable the POP3 service and enable the SMTP listener so that POP3 clients can use the Domino® server for mail.

iNotes® clients and Web mail clients

Users with mail files on an iNotes® server running the HTTP service can retrieve and send mail from a Web browser. All mail-related tasks and actions are transmitted to the server over HTTP and performed by the server.

From a Web browser, a user accesses mail using the standard mail template. Users whose mail files are based on the standard mail template can interact with mail on the server but cannot store mail locally.

Users whose mail files are based on the Notes® mail template and who use Internet Explorer as their Web browser can use the iNotes® mail client. On servers running Domino® Off-Line Services (DOLS), iNotes® users can create a local mail file replica and work offline. Changes made to the offline mail file are replicated to the server the next time the user connects. Users whose mail files are based on the standard mail template cannot access a local mail file replica from the browser.

Enable the HTTP service for Web clients to use the Domino® server for mail.

Domino® Access for Microsoft Outlook

Users whose mail files are based on a mail template on a Domino® server can use IBM® Lotus® Domino® Access for Microsoft Outlook (DAMO) to access mail from a Microsoft Outlook client.

Domino® Access for Microsoft Outlook communicates with the server using a Notes® MAPI service provider. Installing Domino® Access for Outlook on the client automatically creates and configures a MAPI profile associated with the user's Domino® server and mail file. Data exchanged between client and server travels over Notes® routing protocols. Users can send and receive Mail using Outlook, as well as create and update entries in the mail file's calendar view using calendaring and scheduling tools in the Outlook client.

Using Domino® Access for Microsoft Outlook, users store their Domino® data in Outlook's local .PST file, which is synchronized with the Domino® mail file on the server. Domino® Access for Microsoft Outlook can also be used offline. Any changes to the offline .PST file are replicated to the server and synchronized the next time the user connects.

For information on Domino® Access for Microsoft Outlook, see the related information.

Tip: You can also use the nupgrade.exe tool to migrate user data from Microsoft Outlook to Notes. For more information, see the technote in related information.