Use of Stunnel to enable Agent to access news.melbpc.org.au while Internet Connection                         provided by Optus or another Cable or ADSL provider.

Most email programs, when accessing their ISP, will send usernames/passwords/data in an un-encrypted form. However, some ISP's require you to have this information encrypted.

There are various methods of encrypting this data but this guide is only interested in setting up SSL encryption, using a free program called Stunnel.

First Step

Download the following files

http://www.stunnel.org/download/stunnel/win32/openssl-0.9.7c/libeay32.dll
http://www.stunnel.org/download/stunnel/win32/openssl-0.9.7c/libssl32.dll
http://www.stunnel.org/download/stunnel/win32/stunnel-4.05.exe

from        http://www.stunnel.org/download/binaries.html
             

Now the next file you need http://www.stunnel.org/download/stunnel/win32/stunnel.pem

from     http://www.stunnel.org/download/stunnel/win32/

at the bottom of the page
Right Click            stunnel.pem
Left click Save target
 
Second Step

Create a folder called C:\stunnel and place the files you've just downloaded, ie. the Stunnel executable (*.exe), libssl32.dll, libeay32.dll and stunnel.pem files in it

You can also copy libeay32.dll and libssl32.dll into \windows\system directory.
 [\WINNT\system if using Windows XP] 
 
Using a text editor like notepad, make a file containing the detail listed below. Copy the information to your clipboard by selecting the text from    client=yes    down to   connect = mail.optusnet.com.au:465
Right click on the highlighted text and select Copy.
Use notepad to open the new file   stunnel.conf    
Paste this information into notepad.

Note: Be sure that wordwrap is turned OFF.
 

client = yes
               
[nntp]
accept = 119
connect = news.melbpc.org.au:563

[pop3]
accept = 110
connect = popa.melbpc.org.au:995

[smtp]
accept = 25
connect = mail.optusnet.com.au:465

Save the file as "stunnel.conf" (including the quotes if you're using notepad) and place it in the C:\stunnel folder. Note: The quotes prevent notepad from adding .txt to the end of the filename.

Right click on the stunnel exe file and select Create Shortcut. This will put a shortcut in the stunnel folder if using win9x. If using win xp  right click the file select Send to and Desktop

If you want to run Stunnel only when you need it, copy this shortcut to your desktop. If you would like Stunnel to run whenever your computer is turned on so it will be available whenever you need it.Copy a shortcut to the
StartUp folder.

Note: Running this program all of the time keeps certain ports open and could be a security risk. Your system will be more secure if you run it only when you need it.

Note: If you have a problem with the conf file when you run Stunnel, the txt file extension might be hidden and the file is really named stunnel.conf.txt. Open Explorer and select Folder Options from the Tools menu. On the View tab, uncheck Hide extensions for all file types. Then, locate the conf file and if it does have the txt extension, rename it to stunnel.conf.

Double click the Stunnel.exe  shortcut to start the program.
To check all is well  Right Click the icon on the Taskbar and Left click Log to see the log file which will contain information similar to the following.

 2004.04.24 18:03:01 LOG5[16040543:16215911]: stunnel 4.05 on x86-pc-mingw32-gnu WIN32 with OpenSSL 0.9.7c 30 Sep 2003
2004.04.24 18:03:02 LOG5[16040543:16210799]: WIN32 platform: 30000 clients allowed

Now we configure Agent to use the new settings.

In this page we insert Username and Password appropriate for this provider



These smtp settings can be changed tp fit the configuration required by other ISP's or other
 Cable or ADSL providers.

In the next page we insert the Username and Password for the melbpc connection.



Again we insert Username and Password for melbpc connection



Each time Agent is required first open Stunnel then Agent.

To automate the process use Notepad to create a file
stunnel.bat like the one below but with drive letters appropriate
for your setup.

@echo
cls
cd\
cd\Program Files\stunnel\stunnel
start stunnel-4.05
cd\
cd\program files\agent
start agent
cls
exit


Save the file stunnel.bat to your Stunnel folder. Right click this file
left click Create Shortcut and move the shortcut to the Desktop.

Give this a try and continue to enjoy  the speed and ease of use Agent
 provides.