Center for Information Technology Services

Open WebMail Replaces UMnet as Main Campus Email
The Center for Information Technology Services is pleased to announce that UMnet, the campus server that hosts email accounts for students as well as many faculty and staff members, has been replaced with a new system called Open WebMail.

UMnet was the first campus-wide email system available to students, faculty, and staff and was deployed on the UM Professional Schools campus back in 1992. At the time, the official campus name was UMAB and the email server was known as UMABnet. Over the years the server was upgraded/replaced several times and the name was changed to UMnet, but the core software suite, for the most part, remained the same. The migration to the new server and software suite brings significant changes and benefits to the system. These include much-improved functionality, security, performance, and expandability for the future.

Important Changes and Help
Pine, Telnet, SSH, and FTP are no longer available on the new system. A new web email application called Open WebMail has replaced the previous Webmail client. This client offers far greater functionality and choices to users.

Previous users of Webmail can either access the new system via the Open WebMail client or install an IMAP or POP client (such as Outlook Express, Outlook, Netscape or Eudora). Click here for the client configuration instructions for these clients. If your mail had been set up to forward to another email address, your email will continue to be forwarded to that email address.

All of your email and folders have been converted to the new system. If you previously used Webmail, your address book has also been converted. If you previously used Pine, read Address Book Benefits using Open WebMail, which is available from the Webpage "UMnet Instructions Provided by ASC" for instructions on how to import your Pine address book into Open WebMail.

If you need to change your password, please read Changing Your Password/Password Security on UMnet, which is available at the same Website.

If you need to forward your email to another email address, please read Mail Forwarding on UMnet.

If you have any questions about the new email system, please contact the Assistance and Service Center Help Desk Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM at 410-706-HELP(x6-4357), or send email to help@umaryland.edu. You may also visit our website at www.umaryland.edu/helpdesk and click on UMnet Help.

Campus Website Acknowledged
The University of Maryland Baltimore Website www.umaryland.edu was featured as "Site of the Week" on the EDUCAUSE homepage http://www.educause.edu during the week of January 12, 2004. EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology. Membership is open to institutions of higher education, corporations serving the higher education information technology market, and other related associations and organizations.

The week of January 12 was a very opportune time to be featured, because EDUCAUSE held its annual Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel from January 13th to 15th. This conference brings together Information Technology Professionals, Librarians and Policy makers in the higher education community to discuss recent trends and future opportunities. The campus' visibility to these professionals was nicely displayed during their visit to Baltimore.