Configuring evolution for NNTP access to openSUSE forums

  1. Evolution Setup Assistant

The purpose of this HowTo is the basic configuration of evolution to access the openSUSE forum via nntp rather than via the web interface and to send a simple test post. It doesn’t cover other configuration details which is left to the end user to tweak to their liking.

Start evolution and when at the welcome screen press the forward button to commence the configuration. Then press forward to skip the restore and start by adding your identity.

The following series of screen shots go through the configuration and sending a nntp test message to the forum. If you have previously configured evolution, some information will already be present.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/4/6/2393623/evolution_1.png

The Name and email address are the only two mandatory items that need completion in the identity information if you have not configured evolution. If you use evolution then skip this and use the Evolution preferences to add the account.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/4/6/2393623/evolution_2.png

In the name field, enter you login name to the Forum. In the Email address enter your login name @ no-mx.forums.opensuse.org. Using your login name (userid) will credit your post count.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/4/6/2393623/evolution_3.png

Set your desired check for new messages time and also select the Folders option for short notation.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/4/6/2393623/evolution_4.png

Now you need to add you localhost as the mail server (sent via postfix, which is enabled via default)

http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/4/6/2393623/evolution_5.png

Enter a descriptive name for the account and press forward.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/4/6/2393623/evolution_6.png

Select your timezone and press forward to finish the setup configuration.

  1. Fetching the news group list

Now your at the main evolution GUI.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/4/6/2393623/evolution_8.png

So, select the menu item Folder, then subscriptions

http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/4/6/2393623/evolution_9.png

In the server field, select the openSuSE Forums and it will add the newsgroup list.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/4/6/2393623/evolution_10.png

Expand the list as required. In this case only opensuse.org.no-support.general-chit-chat is selected to send a test post. You can now close this dialog.

  1. Sending a test post

http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/4/6/2393623/evolution_11.png

Highlight the opensuse.org.no-support.general-chit-chat in the lefthand column and it should download all the headers.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/4/6/2393623/evolution_12.png

In the search field, fitler on nntp and scroll to the end of the list, higlight the last post and hit the reply button on the menu.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/4/6/2393623/evolution_13.png

Either clear the text, or reply to the post inline.

Press the Send button and it’s on it’s way via the nntp interface.

Press the Get Mail menu item to receive new articles. And there is your first post via nntp on the server using Evolution.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2009/4/6/2393623/evolution_14.png

Note, whilst the article appears in your news reader, it can take up to ten minutes for it to propagate to the the web interface.

Now, clear the search item, add more groups and enjoy.

For further detail please see Using NNTP (newsreader) to access these forums

<< End of HowTo >>