How to Set Up Vacation E-mail Messages

Engineering Accounts: engr.arizona.edu

If you are already forwarding e-mail from this account to another e-mail address, also follow the special instructions indicated by ### below in addition to the standard instructions.

First Time Use

1. Login to your Engineering account by connecting to the Engineering mail server using an SSH client, such as SSH Secure Shell [ instructions and download here ].

Enter engr.arizona.edu for the host name and your user name in the appropriate field. If your e-mail address is joe@engr.arizona.edu, your user name is joe.

When prompted, enter the password that you use to check your e-mail. If you have forgotten it, e-mail help@engr.arizona.edu for further assistance.

2. Once logged in, enter the command pico vacation.msg to edit the vacation message.

An example of what to use for a message follows:

Subject: I am on vacation

I am on vacation until July 5. I'll read your e-mail when I return. If you have a situation that requires immediate attention, please e-mail John Doe at doe@engr.arizona.edu.

- Joe

Note that the text that follows Subject: will be the subject of the e-mail that is sent back automatically.

To save the message and exit the editor, type CTRL-X, then y and finally hit  enter to save any changes.

3. Type the command vacation. Because you just wrote your vacation message you can answer no to the questions asking if you would like to see and edit your vacation message. The last question will ask you if you want to enable vacation -- press y and hit enter.

4. The vacation program has now been enabled and configured. For the procedure to disable the program on your return, see below.

Future Use: Returning from Vacation

1. Type the command vacation. You can skip seeing and editing the message, but the last message will ask you if you want to disable the vacation feature. Answer yes, and your vacation is off.

University Accounts: email.arizona.edu

If you are already forwarding e-mail from this account to another e-mail address, also follow the special instructions indicated by ### below in addition to the standard instructions.

First Time Use

1. Login to your University account by connecting to the University mail server using an SSH client, such as SSH Secure Shell [ instructions and download here ].

Enter u.arizona.edu for the host name and your user name in the appropriate field. If your e-mail address is joe@engr.arizona.edu, your user name is joe.

When prompted, enter the password that you use to check your email. If you have forgotten it, you can reset it by using the Reset a forgotten password link.

### Once logged in, enter mv .forward .forward.orig

2. Once logged in, enter vacation

You will be automatically sent to an editing program; enter :q! to exit from it.

3. Enter pico .vacation.msg

This is the message that will be sent to whoever just sent you an e-mail. An example of what to use for a message follows:

Subject: I am on vacation

I am on vacation until July 22. Your mail regarding "$SUBJECT" will be read when I return. If your e-mail requires immediate attention, please contact John Doe at doe@email.arizona.edu.

-- Joe

Note: $SUBJECT will be replaced by the subject of the original message sent to you.

4. To save the message and exit the editor, type CTRL-O to saves changes and CTRL-X to exit.

### Enter pico .forward

You should see something like username, /usr/bin/vacation username where username will be replaced by your actual username.

### Below this line, type in the e-mail address that you were originally forwarding your email to. For example, type in joe@yahoo.com if you were forwarding your University e-mail to this e-mail address.

### Save and exit the editor by using CTRL-O and CTRL-X.

5. The vacation program has now been enabled and configured. For the procedure to disable the program on your return, see below.

Future Vacation Usage - Returning from Vacation

1. Repeat Step 1 above, then enter mv .forward .forward.vacation (carefully note where the spaces go).

### Enter mv .forward.orig .forward (carefully note where the spaces go).

2. The vacation program has now been disabled.

Future Vacation Usage - Going on Vacation

1. Repeat Step 1 and Step 2 above, to update the vacation message, if required.

### Enter mv .forward .forward.orig (note the spaces).

2. Enter mv .forward.vacation .forward (note the spaces).

3. The vacation program has now been enabled