Audodiscover for non-MS systems?

gareth · 25 Sep 2023, 08:23 PM

Is it possible to set up autodiscover for a shared web hosting-type email service? I can't find much documentation for non-MS systems.

Thanks
Gareth

JeremyNicoll · 25 Sep 2023, 09:46 PM

Auto discovery of what?

gareth · 25 Sep 2023, 09:57 PM

autodiscover is a technique whereby mail client config settings are automatically discovered on setting up a new mail account.

For non-MS (and possibly MS) systems I think this is achieved via a DNS pointer to a server providing the info - see for example:

$ dig @8.8.8.8 autodiscover.fastmail.fm
[...]
;; QUESTION SECTION:
;autodiscover.fastmail.fm. IN A

;; ANSWER SECTION:
autodiscover.fastmail.fm. 300 IN A 103.168.172.65

But I can't find any info on how to set this up outside of MS Exchange but it does seem to have a life beyond Exchange, as in the above example.

Thanks
Gareth

TenFour · 25 Sep 2023, 10:17 PM

I've wondered this myself. Many phone apps have the ability to automatically fill in the correct settings for a wide variety of email providers.

jdtaylor · 26 Sep 2023, 05:56 AM

iOS offers exchange as an independent choice. Although desktop outlook/windows mail does this.

Not sure about other apps. I prefer outlook myself.

SideshowBob · 30 Sep 2023, 04:00 AM

Maybe RFC 6186. e.g.:

$ dig +short _imaps._tcp.fastmail.com srv
0 1 993 imap.fastmail.com.

I don't know how widely it's supported.

25 Sep 2023, 08:23 PM	#1
gareth Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: UK Posts: 190	Audodiscover for non-MS systems? Is it possible to set up autodiscover for a shared web hosting-type email service? I can't find much documentation for non-MS systems. Thanks Gareth

25 Sep 2023, 09:57 PM	#3
gareth Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: UK Posts: 190	autodiscover is a technique whereby mail client config settings are automatically discovered on setting up a new mail account. For non-MS (and possibly MS) systems I think this is achieved via a DNS pointer to a server providing the info - see for example: $ dig @8.8.8.8 autodiscover.fastmail.fm [...] ;; QUESTION SECTION: ;autodiscover.fastmail.fm. IN A ;; ANSWER SECTION: autodiscover.fastmail.fm. 300 IN A 103.168.172.65 But I can't find any info on how to set this up outside of MS Exchange but it does seem to have a life beyond Exchange, as in the above example. Thanks Gareth Last edited by gareth : 25 Sep 2023 at 11:24 PM.

25 Sep 2023, 09:46 PM	#2
JeremyNicoll Essential Contributor Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Scotland Posts: 486	Auto discovery of what?

25 Sep 2023, 10:17 PM	#4
TenFour Master of the @ Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: USA Posts: 1,734	I've wondered this myself. Many phone apps have the ability to automatically fill in the correct settings for a wide variety of email providers.

26 Sep 2023, 05:56 AM	#5
jdtaylor Master of the @ Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,693	iOS offers exchange as an independent choice. Although desktop outlook/windows mail does this. Not sure about other apps. I prefer outlook myself.

30 Sep 2023, 04:00 AM	#6
SideshowBob Essential Contributor Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 278	Maybe RFC 6186. e.g.: $ dig +short _imaps._tcp.fastmail.com srv 0 1 993 imap.fastmail.com. I don't know how widely it's supported.