Thunderbird, Icedove if you are on Debian is an excellent choice for an email client especially as it is capable of connecting using SSL or TLS and SMTP AUTH.  Many email clients are not able to do that.  Why TLS, well it is all about encrypting your password and data when you connect to your mail server.  In addition, when you use SMTP AUTH, you can travel and your mail server will allow you to send email because you have authenticated.

Create an account with Thunderbird.

Enter a name for the account and the email address you want to use.

In the example, IMAP is the server of choice which means your mail stays on the server.  This allows you to retrieve mail and also leave the mail on the server so you could share accounts.  An important setting is the “Incoming Server”.  Make sure you enter a FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name) which means it must have a hostname and domain name.

Now configure an incoming user name.

Check your account settings, one important setting is the “Outgoing Server” at the end of the file.  The “Outgoing Server” is the server that will authenticate the mobile user and allow you to send email through the mail server.

If you do not have anything set for the ”Outgoing Server” just skip down in the tutorial to see how to set it up.

The “Server Settings” is how you will retrieve mail.  Note that the server  is listening on port 993 so that it is secure, IMAPS.  Also note to select SSL in this setting so the port is changed.

Here is how to configure the “Outgoing Server”.  Note the port number, the User Name that you will authenticate with and that TLS is selected.

If your mail server and client are configured correctly you will be able to send and receive mail, securely.  If it is not configured correctly you will see this message.  You will not  be able to relay through the mail server, in other words you cannot send mail.