Overview

The GFI MailEssentials SpamTag Plugin is an add-on for Microsoft Outlook that installs a toolbar on the end users' machines, giving some control to users in spam email management. The plugin also synchronizes Microsoft Outlook Junk settings with GFI MailEssentials.

This article provides the manual installation steps as well as to install the extension in bulk via Group Policy (GPO).

 

Prerequisites

The client PC's where SpamTag is to be installed must meet or exceed the following specifications:

Hardware	Processor – 1Ghz or more Memory – Minimum 512MB, Recommended 2GB Physical Storage – 50MB physical storage dedicated to SpamTag
Supported operating systems	Windows 10 Windows 8.1 Windows 7 Windows Server 2016 Windows Server 2012 R2 Windows Server 2012 Windows Server 2008 R2
Supported Microsoft Outlook Versions	Microsoft Outlook 2016 Microsoft Outlook 2013 Microsoft Outlook 2010
Connection with GFI MailEssentials	SpamTag connects with GFI MailEssentials on port 80 over HTTP. To confirm the connection, from the client's browser ensure that you can open the GFI MailEssentials URL.
Other software	Microsoft.Net Framework 4 - this is downloaded and installed automatically if not found.

 

Process

Installing SpamTag manually

1. Browse to the following location to find the SpamTag installer: <GFI MailEssentials installation folder>/Outlook.
2. Copy the installer GFIMailEssentialsSpamTag.exe to the client machine.
3. Close Microsoft Outlook.
4. Right-click on the installer and select Run as administrator.
5. In the first screen, choose the language for the installation.
6. Read the License Terms and Conditions and if you agree, check the option I have read and agree to the License Terms and Conditions. Click Next.
7. Enter the URL used to connect to GFI MailEssentials (e.g. http://<ip address>/MailEssentials or http://<mygfiserver.mydomain.com>/MailEssentials). Wait for the installer to verify the connection with GFI MailEssentials via the specified URL and click Next.
8. Specify the location to install SpamTag and click Install.
9. On completion, click Finish.
10. Start Microsoft Outlook and enter the user's credentials. SpamTag is now available in the Microsoft Outlook Home ribbon.
11. For more information, click Help from SpamTag.

 

Installing SpamTag via GPO

Use Group Policy (GPO) to install GFI MailEssentials SpamTag on multiple machines. This procedure is supported on Microsoft Server Windows 2008 R2 and later:

Prepare the MSI and ADM files:

1. From the GFI MailEssentials server, go to the GFI MailEssentials installation folder and open the 'Outlook' sub-folder.
2. Copy the MSI and the ADM files to a shared folder that is accessible by all users that will have SpamTag installed. Ensure that the users have at least Read permissions.

Deploy SpamTag:

1. On the domain controller, launch Server Manager.
2. Go to Server Manager > Features > Group Policy Management > Forest > Domains > domain name. Right-click the domain name or an organizational unit and choose Create a GPO in this domain and Link it here...
3. Enter a name for the new Group Policy Object (GPO) (e.g. GFI MailEssentials SpamTag). Click OK.
4. Right-click the newly created GPO and click Edit.
5. In the Group Policy Management Editor window, go to Computer Configuration > Policies > Software settings > Software Installation. Right-click Software Installation > New > Package to configure the GPO to install on login.
6. Enter the network path of the shared folder that contains the SpamTag MSI package. Click OK.
7. The set up should now be complete. SpamTag is installed. Once Outlook has been restarted you will find additional GFI MailEssentials options.
   
   

 

Confirmation

To check the installation, verify that the SpamTag toolbar is visible in Microsoft Outlook and that it connects successfully to GFI MailEssentials.

Once you click on the console it will prompt to sync the MailEssentials account: