---
type: concept
title: Central Email Service
tags: [email, communication, protocols, infrastructure, urz]
related: [groupware, universitatsrechenzentrum-urz, smime, imap, smtp, starttls, groupware-email-settings]
created: 2026-06-30
updated: 2026-07-01
sources: ["output/rz_uni_greifswald_de_dienste_allgemein_e_mail.md", "output/rz_uni_greifswald_de_dienste_allgemein_e_mail_e_mail_einrichten.md", "output/rz_uni_greifswald_de_dienste_webdienste_groupware_module_email_einstellungen.md"]
---

# Central Email Service

The **Central Email Service** is the university-wide communication infrastructure (described as an email communication system in the existing version) provided and managed by the [[universitatsrechenzentrum-urz]] for all users of the [[universitat-greifswald]]. It supports a variety of access methods, from local clients to web-based interfaces.

## Access Methods
Users can access their email through two primary methods:
1. **Webmail**: Browser-based access provided via the [[groupware]] platform.
2. **Third-Party Clients**: Configuration of external software using standard protocols.

### Supported Clients
The URZ provides configuration guidance for:
- [[mozilla-thunderbird]] (Recommended)
- [[microsoft-outlook]]
- [[macos]] (Mac E-Mail Client)
- [[android]]
- [[ios]]

## Configuration Layers
The service is configured at two distinct levels:

### Client-Side
Settings configured within specific software (e.g., [[mozilla-thunderbird]], [[microsoft-outlook]]), such as:
- Account authentication.
- Local folders.

### Server-Side
Settings managed via the [[groupware]] web interface (see [[groupware-email-settings]]), which include:
- **Display names and signatures**.
- **Email aliases**.
- **Automation rules**: Including email forwarding (redirecting incoming mail to another address) and out-of-office replies (setting up automated absence notifications).

*Note: The existing version specifies that out-of-office replies and email forwarding are administrative functions not available in third-party clients and must be configured through the [[groupware]] system.*

## Technical Specifications
The service utilizes standard protocols for interoperability:

### Protocols
- **[[imap]]**: Used for retrieving and managing emails on the server.
- **[[smtp]]**: Used for sending emails.
- **[[starttls]]**: Used for securing the connection.

### Client Configuration Settings
To configure an external email client, the following settings are required:

**Incoming Mail ([[imap]])**
- **Server**: `imap.uni-greifswald.de`
- **Port**: 143
- **Encryption**: [[starttls]]

**Outgoing Mail ([[smtp]])**
- **Server**: `smtp.uni-greifswald.de`
- **Port**: 587
- **Encryption**: [[starttls]]
- **Authentication**: Required

## Support
Technical assistance for the email service is available through:
- The URZ Ticket System (hosted within [[groupware]]).
- The URZ Hotline (extension 1420).