Problems sending Gmail from Evolution

[mrs1179]

I have configured Evolution to use my Gmail account. I am able to read my Gmail, but I have not been able to send email. I have found instructions to do this from several sources, which include the Gmail website and Ubuntu help at

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UsingGmailWithEvolution.

The instructions from all sources have been consistent:

Instructions for Sending(smtp) Mail from Gmail:
1. Server: smtp.gmail.com
Note: Some ISPs block port 25, if you are having a problem sending mail, substitute smtp.gmail.com:587 for the server information above.
2. Server requires authentication: Checked
3. Security: TLS encryption
4. Authentication: Plain or Login
5. Username: johndoe@gmail.com

I have also tried using port 587 and 465 as alternates. When I try to send an email, there appears to be two stages: it successfully completes the first stage that refers to POP, but gets stuck on the second stage that refers to SMTP.

Any ideas where I went wrong?

[bigtomrodney]

I'm running mine using SSL and it's working perfectly. It says in the offical HOWTO to use STARTTLS which is referred to as SSL so you might try that one.

Configuring other mail clients - Gmail Help

[mrs1179]

Thanks for the reply. I had previously referred to the document that you linked, but I did not make the connection that STARTTLS is referred to as SSL. I have changed this, but I still get the same result. I'm still not sure what the problem is.

[whitethorn]

I just setup my account in evolution as well. I had to use smtp.googlemail.com:587 and with tls. Hope this helps.

[mrs1179]

I just setup my account in evolution as well. I had to use smtp.googlemail.com:587 and with tls.

I just gave this a try, and still no luck.

I then decided to start over from the beginning to make sure I didn't leave anything out. I started in Gmail and enabled POP, then saved the setting. Then I deleted my configuration in Evolution, so that I could use it's setup wizard. I still ended up with the same result. I can read my Gmail with Evolution, but I can't send.

It seems like this should be so simple.

[whitethorn]

That's really wierd. Do you think you could give try getting it to run, with thunderbird or kmail?

[mrs1179]

Do you think you could give try getting it to run, with thunderbird or kmail?

I just installed Mozilla Thunderbird and gave it a try. I get the same results. I can read email from Gmail, but when I send an email it gives a "Status: Connecting to smtp.gmail.com..." and the Progress line just keeps going across, over and over again.

At least it is being consistent with different applications. Either Gmail is not allowing my SMTP or perhaps my ISP is blocking it. I'm not sure how to go about determining what this issue is. Any ideas would be appreciated.

[mrs1179]

Update: I was able to connect to the internet using a public wireless location and try Evolution there. Evolution was able to send email from my Gmail account from that ISP, so I have narrowed the problem down to being caused by my Internet provider, which is Windstream. I have a Windstream email account that I never use, so I have set it up in Evolution to see if it will work. Indeed, I am able to send and receive email to the Windstream account using Evolution.

Based on this new information, any ideas why I can send mail from my ISP-provided email but not Gmail?

[whitethorn]

That is interesting. Have you sent them an email asking them about it? I have no idea really.

[mrs1179]

It took a while, but it looks like everything is resolved. I spoke with my ISP Windstream, and they were not much help at all. I mentioned Evolution, Gmail and LInux. They never heard of Evolution, so they don't support it, don't support Linux or Gmail. The one good tidbit of information they gave me was that they do not block any ports.

I decided to rerun the installation CD from Windstream that sets up the DSL modem to see if there were any settings I could change. During the setup, I found that the modem has firewall settings, which I initially had set to medium. This time, I set it to low. This DSL modem firewall setting seems to have resolved the issue. I can now send email using Evolution from my Gmail account. My assumption is that the medium firewall setting was blocking the SMTP traffic to Gmail, but allowed the SMTP traffic to my ISP email account because it required me to enter my ISP email address and password upon initial installation.

Thank you for your replies.