Evolution goes deaf/dumb

[Patrick O'Callaghan]

On Sat, 2008-04-05 at 04:22 -0500, Robert G. (Doc) Savage wrote:
> On Sat, 2008-04-05 at 01:10 -0400, Ric Moore wrote:
> > On Fri, 2008-04-04 at 20:39 -0600, dsavage at peaknet.net wrote:
> > > Does anyone know what would cause my Evolution client to suddenly lose its
> > > ability to send/receive mail from my ISP? The "Send/Receive" button on the
> > > upper tool bar is grayed out. So are the File -> Send/Receive and F9
> > > options.
> > 
> > I've done that. Just look in the lower left hand corner and there is an
> > icon that looks like two electrical plugs. If there is a red X between
> > them, then it's in offline mode. Just click on it, and the plugs will
> > close, putting you back into online mode, where you can send and receive
> > stuff. I've done that more times than I can count! Embarrassing,
> > especially after I raised hell on the list about evolution being
> > broke. :) Ric
> 
> Ahhh... That was it. The thorn in the paw of the lion. Thank you! (Why
> on earth doesn't 'evolution --help-all' mention that little nugget?)

A while back I complained on the Evolution list because suddenly Evo
decided to start up in offline mode, even though I specifically
requested it not to (via a Preference option). After some discussion it
turned out that the problem was

<drum roll .................>

NetworkManager!

I was running NM (without ever consciously deciding to -- it just ran
without asking) but NM wasn't actually managing my wired connection, so
it thought I wasn't connected. Evo took its word for it and thought
"hmmm, he's not connected, better start up offline". It would sort
itself out when I clicked the icon to go online, until the next time.

The solution was to let NM manage the connection. I suppose an alternate
solution would be to remove NM completely.

I mention all this because it's a startling example of how two
apparently independant universes (Evo and NM) interact. This is not a
Good Thing (tm).

poc