August 20, 2009 - How to Setup an LDAP Directory for Thunderbird or Outlook

Utilizing LDAP in your standard email client, such as Mozilla Thunderbird or Microsoft Outlook, you can perform instant searches for users and addresses.

Mozilla Thunderbird

Setup:

Go to Inbox.
From the Tools menu, select Account Settings...
Go to Composition & Addressing.
Under Addressing select Use a different LDAP server.
Click the Edit Directories button and click the Add button.
Under the General tab enter the following:
- Name: mail.lebanon.k12.mo.us
- Hostname: mail.lebanon.k12.mo.us
- Base DN: o=mail.lebanon.k12.mo.us
- Port number: 389
Under the Advanced tab enter 500 next to Results.
Press OK button, press OK again.
Back at Composition, Addressing, Directory Server, choose mail.lebanon.k12.mo.us
Press the OK button to close Thunderbird Preferences window.

Usage:

When you compose a new email message, within the To: field, enter a portion of a name or address. If the desired name appears press Enter or Tab; depending on whether you wish to enter more addresses or tab down to the Subject: field; otherwise if you see multiple results, move up or down, and as before Enter or Tab to continue.

Alternatively, click the Contacts button. Under Address Book select mail.lebanon.k12.mo.us, under Search For enter a portion of a name or address. Some results will appear instantly, otherwise press Enter to prompt it to search more thoroughly. Select a result and click the Add to To: button. Click the Contacts button again to make Contacts go away.


Microsoft Outlook 2007

Setup:

Go to Tools menu, Account Settings, Address Books tab, and click New...
Choose LDAP and click Next>
Under Server Name type mail.lebanon.k12.mo.us
Press the More Settings button.
In the Microsoft LDAP Directory window, click on the Search tab.
Under Server Settings, Specify the maximum number of entries, enter 500.
Under Seach Base, click Custom, and enter o=mail.lebanon.k12.mo.us
Click OK, Next, Finish, and Close.
REBOOT your computer.

Usage:

When you compose a new email message, click the To: button, under "Address Book" choose mail.lebanon.k12.mo.us, and under "Search" enter a portion of the name or address. Click the GO button, and within the results select one or more names and click TO, CC or BCC, then OK.