By default Thunderbird does not understand AD, so to get it to resolve the AD ID you would need to add the LDAP Directory to the Address Book.
Following Screens show the steps to configure Thunderbird to resolve AD to Email :
Now’s the time to fill up some details :
Name: Any thing that makes sense to you. Eg : OffAD
Hostname: Enter your LDAP Server here, if you don’t know it run
“nslookup” from the command prompt to get to know your default LDAP
server as shown below.
Base DN: This Is where you have the most work. Download AD Explorer ,
and select File > Connect , paste the LDAP Server in Connect To
followed by your user name and password.
Once you are connected to the Directory, Search for your User ID by
selecting attribute = Alias ; Value = your User ID.
Now Dbl-click the result, and copy the “distinguishedName”
attribute value. P S: Try removing the CN=”” from the copied value if Replication
in Address Book does not succeed.
Bind DN: Key in
your Domain\AD ID here.
Click OK again, open the address book: OffAD (which ever
name you have given), Select Offline > Replicate : If this succeeds then its
done.
To start using this Directory you have added: In Thunderbird,
open Tools > Options > Composition > Addressing and select from the drop down the one you
created , and close it by clicking OK.
Further, go to Tools > Accounts Settings > Composition
& Addressing > Addressing: select from the drop down the one you created,
and close it by clicking OK.
You have successfully configured Directory for Thunderbird,
time to test it : Write a new message , in the Contacts Sidebar type
the AD ID your looking for and Voila !