Spam (junk email) filtering in Debian GNU/Linux
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2. evolution- email client providing the mail user agent (MUA)

2.1. About evolution

2.1.1. Outgoing mail

You must configure evolution so that it sends all outgoing mail to your provider's SMTP server. Once this is working you do not need to make any further changes to the configuration for outgoing mail. The filtering of outgoing mail is beyond the scope of this document.

2.1.2. Incoming mail

evolutionalso receives incoming mail directly to your provider's server (usually POP3). Figure 3 shows you the major components of evolution or any other system for collecting POP3 email.

Figure 3: the major components of Evolution

The first step is to configure and test evolution so that it sends mail directly to your provider's server, and receives mail directly from it.

Later, you must change evolution's configuration for incoming mail. This is to allow other software applications to take over some of the processing of mail before it reaches evolution.

2.2. Install evolution

You can use use synaptic (X11), aptitude (console) or apt (command line) to install Debian packages. This document only describes the use of apt. It is good practice to work from a normal user account on your computer, and only switch to the root user when it is necessary. The '$' sign indicates the command line prompt for a normal user. The '#' sign indicates the command line prompt for the root user ('superuser').

Login as a normal user. Open a terminal window (eg gnome terminal). Switch user (using su) to the root user. You must enter the password for root. Use apt to install the evolution package. 

$ su
Password: *******
# apt-get install evolution

Exit from root when the installation is complete. 

# exit
$

2.3. evolution's 'Inbox' folder

Run evolution as a normal user. 

$ apt-get install evolution

Open the mail inbox. 

Menu bar
   File
      Go to Folder ...  Go to folder ... dialogue
Go to folder ... dialogue
   Inbox
OK

The inbox is shown as a folder. You can switch between folders easily using the tree display. There is grey bar below the Menu bar and the Button bar. On the left hand side there is a button showing the name of the selected folder (currently 'Inbox'). Click on the Inbox button to reveal the 'Folders' pane. There is a button on the top right hand side of the 'Folders' pane with a with a mapping pin icon. Click on the mapping pin button to keep the 'Folders' pane permanently visible.

2.4. Configure evolution to send mail to and retrieve mail from a remote server

You must tell evolution the names of your provider's POP3 and SMTP servers, and your username and password on these servers. Run evolution and configure it using the Mail Settings dialogue from the Tools menu. 

Menu bar 
   Tools
      Mail Settings ...  
         Add
Mail settings dialogue 
   Accounts tab  
      Add

This brings up the evolution Account Assistant's Mail Configuration dialogue . 

Mail Configuration dialogue
   Click "Next" to begin
   Next

In the Identity dialogue, enter the full name and email address that you use on your provider's server. 

   Identity dialogue
      Required information 
         Full name: firstname surname
         Email address: remote-user-name@example.net
      Next

In the Receiving Email dialogue, enter details of the email server that you receive emails from. (This is usually a POP3 server.) 

Receiving Email dialogue 
   Server Type: POP
   Configuration
      Host: mail.example.net
      Username: remote-user-name
   Authentication
      Authentication Type: Password
      Remember this password
   Next
   Checking for New Mail
      Automatically check for new mail every 10 minute(s)
      Receiving Email dialogue
Next

Enter details of the email server that you send emails to. (This is usually an SMTP server.) 

Sending Email dialogue
   Server Type: SMTP
   Server Configuration
       Host: smtp.example.net
Next

Enter a name for evolution to identify the account. You can choose anything within reason. One approach is to use your provider's name. You might use 'Example' if your email address is 'remote-user-name@example.net'. 

   Account Management dialogue
      Account Information
         Name: Example
         Next
   Done 
Finish

You may have other accounts that you wish to add. You will save yourself some work by waiting until the whole system is set up and working. You can add further accounts at any time in exactly the same way

2.5. Test evolution's configuration

Test evolution's configuration by sending yourself an email. It should travel from your local computer to your provider's server and back into evolution's inbox folder.

Check that you can see the current contents of the Inbox folder. Connect to the Internet using modem lights applet (Gnome) or pon and poff (command line).

Use either the File menu or New Message button to open the Compose a 'message' dialogue. 

Menu bar 
   File
      New  
         Mail Message

or 

Button bar
   New Message

Address the message to yourself. Filling in only the 'To' and 'Subject' fields is sufficient. Then send the message. 

Compose a message dialogue
   To: remote-user-name@example.net
   Subject: Evolution test 1
Send

Give the message a couple of minutes to reach the remote server and to be returned. Retrieve the email by clicking on the 'Send / Receive' button on the Button bar. Of course you may have to wait a little longer. Just repeat the request until the message arrives. 

Button bar
   Send / Receive

Move on to the next section when you are sure that the system is working correctly.

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Introduction eximand procmail