Help with Mail Relay Authentication
PROBLEM:
- What is the URL used to let me send email from outside UAB?
- How do I authenticate in order to send e-mail to an off-campus address when I am also off-campus?
- How often do I need to authenticate?
A mail relay authentication is required when sending email from off-campus to an off-campus address, if you are using UAB's SMTP mail service.
SOLUTION:
The URL is: www.dpo.uab.edu/relay-info.html
The authorization is based on allowing e-mail to relay from a specific dial-up address, so you must submit the authentication once each time you connect to your ISP. Do the authentication after you connect and before you try to send mail. If you stay connected for more than a couple of hours at a time, you should take advantage of the function to automatically renew your authorization every half hour. It may be easier to set your home PC to use the SMTP server recommended by your ISP. This way, you will not have to authenticate at all.
I don't remember my password
If you have definitely forgotten your Blazerid password, click here.
If you think you remember your BlazerID password but it is not letting you log in, then click here.
How do I find my Email Headers in Outlook?
How to find email headers in Outlook 2007/2010/2011 for Mac and Outlook Web App
Outlook 2007
- Open a message.
- On the Message tab, in the Options group, select the Dialog Box Launcher.
- In the Message Options dialog box, the headers appear in the Internet headers box.
Outlook 2010
- Open a message.
- Select the File tab.
- Once on the File tab, select the Properties button.
- After selecting Properties, look under the Internet headers section for the email headers.
Outlook 2011 for Macintosh
- Control-Click (Right-click) on message. Select Source.
Outlook Web App
- Open a message
- Select the message details button (
). - Look under the Internet Mail Headers section for the email headers.
If you have any problems with delays or other issues, the email headers are a critical component in discovering the cause of an issue. Once you get the email headers, you can send them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call the helpdesk at 996-5555.
Internet Hoax-send email to everyone you know
Internet hoaxes are rumors you receive by e-mail, usually accompanied by the suggestion that you forward copies of this information to "Everyone you know".
Sometimes computer viruses are distributed this way; in other cases, this behavior constitutes a nuisance by creating large amounts of junk e-mail.
SOLUTION:
You should be suspicious of any message that encourages you to "notify everyone you know", *EVEN* when you know the person who sent you the message. Your friends may not know as much about Internet hoaxes as you do.
List of known hoaxes can be found at:
VPN Connection Dropping Issue With Windws XP SP2
In some cases when using a VPN over a network connection with a Windows XP computer, the VPN Session will disconnect after a period of inactivity (typically 10 to 20 minutes). This problem is caused by the Windows Service Pack 2 Firewall settings.
To fix the problem, the Windows Firewall needs to have the Cisco VPN Client program specified as an Exception:
Click on the START tab, and select:
Control Panel -> Windows Firewall
The following screen will be displayed. Click On (recommended) if not already on.
Click the Exceptions Tab which will bring up the following screen:
Click Add Programs which will bring up the following screen:
Click Browse and set the directory to look in to C:\Program Files\Cisco Systems\VPN Client.
Highlight the cvpnd program (single click), and then click Open .
Click OK as necessary.
At this stage the cvpnd program should have an entry as above. Click on OK to finish.
These settings for the Windows Firewall will stop the VPN session being terminated after 10 to 20 minutes of inactivity.
How to change my email forwarding address
You need to update the forwarding email account for your UAB email address.
- go to www.uab.edu/blazerid
- click on the Change E-mail Preferences in the left-hand navigation
- enter your BlazerID & password, if not already logged in
- under the section, Real host-based mailbox, follow the link that says "Click here to forward to a different mailbox."
- enter your forwarding email account in the box and click Submit
How do I test a network port to see if it is active or not? How do I test a network port to see if it is working? How do I report a problem with my network port?
There are many wall jacks with data (network) ports installed throughout UAB buildings. Usually, the only ports that are active are those in use; other ports are de-activated. How can you tell?
What if suspect your network port has developed a problem of some sort?
SOLUTION:
To check whether the port has been activated and is working:
- Send a message to
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containing the
- Building
- Room Number
- Jack Number (it is written on the face plate)
- Port position number (If there are two DATA ports, the one on the left is D1 and the one on the right is D2. If there are four DATA ports, D1 is the upper left, D2 is upper right, D3 is lower left, D4 is lower right).
AskIT will check to determine if the port is activated and whether it appears to be working correctly. If the port shows as active but does not work correctly, either AskIT (or you) can dispatch a technician to fix it by calling 4-7777.
What is a Department Network Contact, and what do they do?
Every unit at UAB with devices connected to the UAB campus network should have a "network contact" person, even if there is no department server or local area network. At least one person within your department should be designated to be responsible for communicating your requests to DC/NS, and for assisting network users with basic configuration, software installation, computer training, and problem solving.
Designate an official "network contact" person for your department.
- Each department or unit at UAB should have an officially designated "network contact" person.
- The dean, chairman or director designates who is to serve as "network contact" for your unit. The dean, chairman or director should send either a written memo or an e-mail message to
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indicating who is to be considered the official contact person.
- Data Communications / Network Services (DC/NS) recommends that the contact person be a trained computer professional.
- If the "network contact" person is not a UAB employee, the department should additionally designate a contact person who is a UAB employee.
- The "network contact" person should have access to a UAB e-mail account (hostname ends in uab.edu). All requests to DC/NS must be submitted via e-mail (
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), and for security reasons these must originate from a server registered through DC/NS.
Notify DC/NS when there is a new "network contact" person, or other changes in responsibilities.
- When there is a change in personnel or responsibilities within your department, DC/NS should be notified. The previous "network contact" may send a message to
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introducing the new person. If no replacement arrives before the old person departs, the last "network contact" should hand this function to their supervisor or other person in the department, who will then hand the job to the replacement person when they arrive. IP records, and any other records, should be turned in to the department for safekeeping.
- If the "network contact" left UAB without notifying DC/NS, the dean, director or department head should contact DC/NS with the name of the replacement contact person.
Some typical duties of a department "network contact" include:
- Manage a block of IP (internet protocol) numbers given to the department by DC/NS, and maintain records of the location for each IP number used. Requests for new IP numbers should be submitted by e-mail to
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- Request registration of host names in the UAB DNS (domain name service). Requests for DNS registration should be submitted via e-mail to
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- Communicate network problems to DC/NS, and assist in trouble-shooting and problem resolution. Please call 4-3540 to report network communications problems, and call 4-7777 to report network wiring problems. You may also report problems via web interface.
- Request and properly configure other net-wide addressing, such as Novell server names and addresses, and Appletalk zone numbers and names. Net-wide addressing requests should be submitted via e-mail to
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- Coordinate equipment installation and relocation with DC/NS.
What are the guidelines for creating a strong password?
Because your BlazerID password is used to open the door to many services and features on the UAB network, it is vital that it be strong enough to resist guessing by casual means. Someone breaking into your UAB records can be the first step toward identity theft which is being well-publicized now. To be sure you have a strong password, make sure it follows these rules:
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I am having strange network problems connecting off campus
"Strange network problems" can be caused by DUPLICATE IP ADDRESSES. If the workstation can send traffic off its segment to another subnet in our 138.26 class B address range but can not get to a location off campus, it is very possible that the workstation IP address has been incorrectly set to use the campus gateway (138.26.1.1) instead of its own address. Problems within your building network that affect only one or two machines can be caused by duplicate addresses, also.
SOLUTION:
One way to check for duplicate IP addresses is to look in the arp cache of the machine having problems. In Win 95/98 or NT, at the DOS prompt type the command "arp -a". For entry of 138.26.1.1 you should see a MAC address starting like 00-00-a2....
You can report the MAC address you find to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , and we will help you track down the "offending" machine.
