What is Evolution?

Evolution is an Personal Information Manager/email client for Gnome that is included in Gnome-based installations of many Linux distributions. It features such options as a personal contact manager, email, address book, and a task list.

Setting up Email in Evolution:

Lets take a look at setting up an email account in evolution.  To setup an email account in evolution, follow the instructions below(this setup is performed in Ubuntu 8.04 with Evolution 2.22.3.1, the look and feel of your setup may vary):

This Version of Evolution:

1.Launch Evolution:

A. Click on “Applications”

B. Point to “Internet”

C. Click on “Evolution Mail”

2. Click on “Edit” then click on “Preferences”:

3. You will be presented with the “Evolution Preferences” dialog box:

4. Click on the “Add” button:

5. You will be presented with the “Mail Configuration” box:

6.   Click on “Forward” to continue:

7. You will be presented with the “Identity” box:

8. Enter your account information:

9.  You will be presented with the “Receiving Email” box:

10. Select the type of email servers you will use to receive your emails ( This is typically a POP/POP3 server):

11.  After successfully entering your email settings, click on the “Forward” button:

12. You will be presented with the “Receiving Options” box:

13. Select the options you would like and click on the “Forward” button ( Depending on your situation, you may wish to leave the email on the server to act as a non-official backup for instance):

14. Select the type of server you will be using to send your mail: (typically SMTP)

15. If you need to confirm your identity/use a form of authentication to send your email, select your authentication type and click on “Forward”:

16. You will be presented with the “Account management” box:

17. Give your email account a descriptive name, this will help you if you have more than one account setup:

18. You will be presented with the “Done” box:

19. Click on “Apply” to complete the setup:

20. You should see your account setup in the “Evolution Preferences” Dialog box:

21. Here is the email account (inside the red box) for clarification:

22. Click on close, your email account should be functional at this point:

23. Here is a view of the inbox:

Your TrueStar Technology Expert

What is DDWRT?

What is DD-WRT?  DD-WRT is a free Linux based Operating System for a fairly broad range of routers.  Basically what you’re looking at is: DD-WRT upgrades the performance / capabilities of your router.  Most standard, retail-class routers come with basic options that are suitable for end-consumer/home-user class applications.  Many more technically-minded individuals would like increased functionality from their hardware (with preferably, minimal expense).

Router Operating Systems

Your router is controlled by the OS (Operating System) / Software that tells that router what to do.  To increase the functionality of that router therefore, one may consider replacing or editing the existing Operating System with another operating system featuring more capabilities.  DD-WRT is one such operating system and may be an option for you if you have or purchase a router that is compatible with it.

Selecting Your Router’s Operating System

How do I upgrade or replace my router’s OS (Operating System)?  In most cases, you may not have the time or knowledge necessary to create an operating system for your router.  You may therefore wish to obtain such a resource from someone that specializes in that field of development.   One of the more popular operating systems that meet such requirements is the DD-WRT OS which is developed by the DD-WRTCommunity. To determine whether DD-WRT will work on your router, visit their website and browse their list of supported routers.

Installing DD-WRT on Your Router:

1. Download the version of the firmware/OS for your model of router.

2. Follow the specific instructions (based on your router and version of the firmware you are installing) to install your new OS.

Installing DD-WRT V24 SP1 on a Linksys WRTGL:

1. Download the DD-WRT V24-SP1 from the DD-WRT website here.

2. Plug in/power-on  your Linksys WRT54GL Router and connect to it via a LAN port with an ethernet cable.

3. Open a browser such as Firefox and access the web interface (typically by typing 192.168.1.1 into the address bar or whatever IP range your router is set to).

4. Click on the “Administration” tab:

5. Click on the “Firmware Upgrade” sub-tab:

 

6.Be sure you are connected to your router via ethernet and NOT via Wireless. Click on the “Browse” button and select the file that you downloaded and click on the “upgrade” button.

7.  You will be presented with the new interface once your router has rebooted (if you had any settings in your router, all your settings should remain in place):

Your TrueStar Technology Expert