How move from Lotus Notes to Thunderbird?

Get Started..

We assume that you have an account at the VM (currently this host is called lapis) running all required scripts (e.g., fetchnotes). You will start by copying your *.id file to lapis

scp -p lotus/notes/data/chcon482.id lapis.zurich.ibm.com:~/.fetchnotes/chcon482.id

Now you are ready to login to lapis using SSH:

ssh lapis

You will have to enter the password specifically chosen for this machine (when you joined the «Club of non-Notes users»). When you are authenticated you will run the setup with:

/usr/local/bin/fetchnotes-setup -k .fetchnotes/chcon482.id -e pbi@zurich.ibm.com

If everything worked correctly, you can run once:

~/bin/runfetchnotes

Now you fire up your email program (preferably thunderbird) and enter the server information for the pop server as well as you account information.

server: popsrv1.zurich.ibm.com
port: 110
username: pbi
password: AIX password

If the mail retrieval works, you turn back to lapis and enter:

crontab -e

In this file you uncomment the following line:

*/3 * * * * $HOME/bin/runfetchnotes >/dev/null
debug information

If you need debug information for the fetchnotes deamon you can start it with the options:

fetchnotes -d --debug DEBUGALL
crontab problem

One problem that may arise is that the command crontab -e does not work. This can be solved by the administrator by adding the user (pbi) to the «cron» group.

mailbox size problem

Please note that if your inbox is too large when you start using the pop server, you will not be able to fetch the mail from it. In this case, you can ftp your mailfile from the pop server. It is easier, though, if you archive your inbox in Notes before and start clean.

After changing the Notes Password..

Copy your *.id file to lapislazuli

scp -p lotus/notes/data/chcon482.id lapis.zurich.ibm.com:~/.fetchnotes/chcon482.id

Login to lapis using SSH

ssh lapis

Then you will have to enter the password specifically chosen for this machine (when you joined the «Club of non-Notes users»). When you are authenticated you remove the .fetchnotes directory and start the fetchnotes deamon.

rm .fetchnotesrc 
bin/runfetchnotes

Now it fetchnotes will try to access your notes database, where it needs you notes password. Upon being asked you enter the notes password.