When starting MailShelf for the first time, the Getting Started Wizard welcomes you, which allows you to set up MailShelf quickly and easily for the intended use. MailShelf can be used in a Single-User Environment as well as in a Multi-User Environment.

By clicking the Cancel button in the Getting Started Welcome screen, MailShelf will be configured to be used in a Single-User Environment. By clicking the Next button, you can choose between both modes and configure the choosen environment.

Single-User Environment (Default)

The Single-User Environment allows you to use MailShelf all alone as a single user. This mode requires no further configuration, so you can use MailShelf directly and without any additional settings as a single user. The Single-User Environment is not multi-client capable so that no additional users can be added and no individual user privileges can be set.

When operating MailShelf in the Single-User Environment, you are always the administrator. Furthermore, the archive database can not be stored on the network in the Single-User Environment, but only on your local drives. In the Single-User Environment, only the internal database can be used as database storage. If you want to use Microsoft SQL Server as a database store, the Multi-User Environment must be selected, even if you want to use MailShelf effectively as a single user.

Multi-User Envitonment

Selecting the Multi-User Environment allows you to use MailShelf with multiple users, or to connect an existing MailShelf installation to an existing database or installation, which must be a Multi-User Environment database or installation. In the Multi-User Environment, you can choose between the internal database as well as between the Microsoft SQL Server as database storage.

To set up the Multi-User Environment, select "Multi-User Environment" in the Welcome screen and click the Next button to set all other settings.

Installation Mode

The installation mode determines how your MailShelf installation is being used. You can choose between First Installation and Client Installation.

First Installation

Select this option if it is the initial installation of MailShelf and to create a new local database in which the data should be stored. Your MailShelf installation will then connect to this database. Other MailShelf installations, which may be located in your network, can then also connect to this installation in order to access the email archive together.

By clicking the Next button, you can select the database provider to be used.

Internal Database

Select this option if you want to save all data to the internal database. The internal database requires a network share so that other MailShelf clients can access the database over the network. By clicking the Next button, you can then select where the database file should be stored.

During setup, MailShelf will automatically attempt to create the required network share under the path "\\COMPUTERNAME\MailShelf", but if this is not successful, you will have to create the network share manually so that other MailShelf clients can access the database.

After the setup has been completed, the file "MailShelf Connect.mssc" is located under the path "\\COMPUTERNAME\MailShelf", which allows other MailShelf clients to connect to your MailShelf installation by a simple double-click.

Microsoft SQL Server

Select this option if you want to save all data in Microsoft SQL Server. This method does not requires a network share, but you must have the corresponding Microsoft SQL Server data available.

Client Installation

Select this option if you want to connect this MailShelf installation to an existing database or installation. If the client installation is selected, no local database is created but a connection to a database that already exists in your network is established. By clicking the Next button, you can then determine the connection mode.

Connection Mode

The connection mode determines how you want to connect a MailShelf client installation to an existing database.

Connect to Installation

The option allows you to connect an MailShelf client installation to an existing installation using MailShelf DiscoveryService without configuration. This function requires that MailShelf Discovery Service has been fully configured on the appropriate system so that the MailShelf client installation can retrieve the corresponding data on the network.

You can automatically search for existing MailShelf installations by clicking the Refresh button. All installations that have been found are listed in the drop-down meu so that you can simply select the existing installation to which you want to connect your MailShelf client installation.

Connect to Database

This option allows you to connect to an existing database by manually entering the database details. This is useful if MailShelf Discovery Service was not configured on the corresponding system and therefore, no MailShelf installations were listed under the "Connect to Installation" section. When you select this option, you need the appropriate database details, so that you can set up your client installation.

After you have selected the appropriate connection mode, click on the Next button to proceed to the next step. If you have selected the option "Connect to Installation" as well as the appropriate installation, the setup is completed. If the "Connect to Database" option is selected, the corresponding database data must now be entered in the same way as the initial installation.

After the initial setup has been completed, MailShelf automatically restarts and can now be used.