PC Adm: Setting Passwords Using the Administrator Program

Last reviewed: October 27, 1994
Article ID: Q118927

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Mail for PC Networks, versions 3.0 and 3.2

SUMMARY

An administrator of a Microsoft Mail for PC Networks postoffice can use the Mail Administrator program (ADMIN.EXE) to set two different kinds of passwords. Each postoffice will have one password to control dial-in access to the postoffice, and each mailbox will have a password to provide security for the users' mail. This article provides information about the two kinds of passwords and how you can change them.

MORE INFORMATION

The sections below list the ADMIN.EXE program commands you can use to manage these passwords. For information about how to start the Mail Administrator program, please see the Microsoft Mail for PC Networks "Administrator's Guide."

Postoffice Password Commands

The following command

   Config, Password, Sign-on password to this postoffice:

sets the postoffice password to provide security for dial-in access via modem (for example, Microsoft Mail Remote for Windows users, or when you use the External Mail program with a postoffice connected via modem.)

For additional information about setting passwords using the Mail Remote client, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q97894
   TITLE     : PC WRmt: Remote Mail Password Dialogs

When you add an external postoffice and configure it as a direct route type via modem, use the following command to specify the password for the external postoffice it will dial to:

   External-Admin, Setup, Enter network name:, Password

You do not need a password for indirect route postoffices or direct route postoffices via an MS-DOS drive.

Mailbox Password Commands

The following command

   Local-Admin, Options, Password, Password:

is the default password for new users. If you would like the default password for the postoffice to be something other than "password," you can change it here.

When you create a new mailbox, the "Password:" field contains the default password. You can change the password with the following command

   Local-Admin, Create, Mailbox name:, Password:

or let the user change it using Microsoft Mail for Windows.

If a user forgets his or her password, you can reset it to the default using the command:

   Local-Admin, Recover, <mailbox name>, Yes

To change the password for a mailbox that already exists, you must use appropriate client software:

   Client                  Command
   ---------------------------------------------
   MS-DOS                  Options, Password
   Windows                 Mail, Change Password
   Macintosh               File, Change Password
   Presentation Manager    Mail, Change Password

In each product, you will be asked to enter the old password, then enter the new password twice for verification.

References

For more information about this topic, please see the Microsoft Mail "Administrator's Guide":

Version 3.0

   Default passwords, page 95.
   External Admin Setup command, page 113.
   Lost passwords, page 99.
   Postoffice password, page 134.

Version 3.2

   Default passwords, page 101.
   External Admin Setup command, page 119.
   Lost passwords, page 104.
   Postoffice password, page 74.

Additional reference words: 3.00 3.20 admin
KBCategory: kbtool kbenv
KBSubcategory: MailPCAdm

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Last reviewed: October 27, 1994
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