wait until
a year from now
where you say,
“Holy fuck,
I can’t believe I was going to kill myself before I etcetera’d…
before I went skinny dipping in Tennessee,
made my own IPA,
tried out for a game show,
rode a camel drunk,
skydived alone,
learned to waltz with clumsy old people,
photographed electric jellyfish,
built a sailboat from trash,
taught someone how to read,
etc. etc. etc.”

The red washing
down the bathtub
can’t change the color of the sea
at all.

by Derrick C. Brown

• I wanted something secure
• I wanted to get away from web-based applications (read: Gmail)
• I still wanted to be able to view my email from work or from the road
• I didn’t want to use anything like Squirrel Mail
• I wanted to keep it simple

It’s quite a tall order to fill, and a text-based solution like Mutt fit the bill wonderfully.  I thought about using something like Evolution or Thunderbird, but they’re difficult to check remotely unless I used a remote desktop application; and if I was going to use remote desktop I’d rather just use SSH. My solution involved installing Mutt on my headless Ubuntu server in my home, then configured it to use IMAP over SSL/TLS to procure email from my email host.

What I’m writing here does not include how to SSH into your Ubuntu box like I do, but only covers installing and configuring Mutt on Ubuntu 12.04.

Install Mutt

sudo apt-get install mutt

Create the .muttrc file (config file)

This file is not created by default when you install Mutt, so we’ll create it and then edit it.

touch ~/.muttrc

vi ~/.muttrc

.muttrc contents

Anyone new to Mutt (like me) would be forgiven for feeling a little overwhelmed by the sheer volume of configuration options in the man page. I, However, merely wanted basic functionality to start with. I found a few people who had published their .muttrc files and I’ve shamelessly used them to create something that works for me. My .muttrc file is below and has been configured for my personal email host which happens to be A Small Orange.

# A basic .muttrc for use with A Small Orange hosting

# Change the following six lines to match your account details
set imap_user = "MY_ADDRESS@domain.com"
set imap_pass = "MY_PASSWORD"
set smtp_url = "smtp://MY_ADDRESS@domain.com@mail.domain.com:587"
set smtp_pass = "MY_PASSWORD"
set from = "MY_ADDRESS@domain.com"
set realname = "MY NAME"

# Change the following line to a different editor if you prefer.
set editor = "nano"

# Basic config
set folder = "imaps://mail.domain.com:993"
set spoolfile = "+INBOX"
set imap_check_subscribed
set hostname = domain.com
set mail_check = 120
set timeout = 300
set imap_keepalive = 300
set postponed = "~/.Drafts"
set record = "~/.Sent Mail"
set header_cache=~/.mutt/cache/headers
set message_cachedir=~/.mutt/cache/bodies
set certificate_file=~/.mutt/certificates
set move = no
set include
set sort = 'threads'
set sort_aux = 'reverse-last-date-received'
set auto_tag = yes
set mail_check=60           # check for new mail every 60 seconds

ignore "Authentication-Results:"
ignore "DomainKey-Signature:"
ignore "DKIM-Signature:"
hdr_order Date From To Cc
alternative_order text/plain text/html *
auto_view text/html
bind editor <Tab> complete-query
bind editor ^T complete
bind editor <space> noop

Please comment below with corrections or suggestions.

Update 3/11/13: I wanted to update here that I did, in fact, pass this exam.  It was substantially harder than any of the CompTIA exams.

Step 1: Set up a media server

I wrote previously about how to set up Ubuntu Server for a basic home file server.  After that initial install I installed two more pieces of software.  The first is Subsonic, the second is Plex.  Subsonic is hands-down the best solution for music streaming that I’ve found, but it’s crap with video.  Plex, on the other hand, is by far the strongest choice for serving up video content, but it’s crap with music (lack of a playlist feature being the major deal breaker for me).  So I use both apps in tandem and utilize each in the area where they’re strongest.

Keep in mind I’m running these services on a PC with an Intel Core2-Duo processor and 2GB of RAM.  They’re very lightweight and well written.  As such, I can’t recommend them more highly.

Setting up the media server may take a while, especially if you’re not familiar with the technology involved.  But when you’re done you’ll have a centralized digital repository for all your movies and music.

Step 2: Set up a Roku

I needed some way to get the content from my media server to my TV, enter Roku.  Roku is a little device that packs quite a punch when it comes to serving you media.  Its strength lies in the ability to install custom channels.  If you’ve ever used a Wii or a blue-ray player to connect to Netflix or other channels via the internet then you’re familiar with the concept of streaming video from an online provider (i.e. Netflix, Hulu, etc).

Roku will do the same but can take it a step further by allowing you to install channels that are non-standard.  Notable examples being the Plex channel and the Subsonic channel.  Install both on the Roku.  Configuring them is easy, really.

Step 3: Subscribe to Netflix

This step is optional, but recommended.  There are times when you want to stream content you don’t already have.  Of all the available channels I’ve found Netflix to be the most satisfactory.  Hulu Plus is pretty horrid and much of what Hulu can offer is provided better by Netflix and an HD TV antenna.

I’m looking forward to seeing what happens with the Redbox channel I’ve heard rumors about, but at the time of this writing it hasn’t dropped yet.

Step 4: Set up an HD TV antenna

If you’re going to cut the cable, you’ll miss out on some good local programming unless you get an antenna.  Now, the first thing people think of when someone mentions “TV antenna” is either the old-school tree style roof antenna or the rabbit ears that sat on top of the TV.  Today there are many types of antennas and they all have varying degrees of reception and difficulty in set-up.

I chose an indoor antenna instead of an outdoor unit for simplicity and ease of installation.  In the future there’s a good chance I’ll invest a little more in an outdoor antenna if it means better channel reception.

As it stands now I get all the major stations in my area in HD.  Namely I get ABC, NBC, CBS, GPB and a few other odds and ends.  It’s the basic spread but they all come in great.  The closer you live to your local major city the more channels you’re likely to receive.  Just be aware that you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on an antenna to get legitimately good reception.  My unit is in the sub-$100 range and does just fine.

Also understand that in addition to an antenna you may need a digital TV converter if you have an older television.  Mine is about 10 years old so I swung by WalMart and picked up an RCA digital TV converter.  It’s working like a champ.

Step 5: Call the cable company

The last thing to do is call your cable comany and drop the TV package they’re over-charging you for.  Obviously you’ll want to retain your internet for Netflix and, well, your internet access.  Just keep in mind that many times you can reduce your download speed without noticing much, if any, difference in your web surfing while still shrinking your internet bill every month.

Have you cut the cable?  Would you like to but don’t know how or are uncertain about something?  I’d love to hear about it, leave a comment below.

Fast forward to 45:23 to get to the part regarding Linux and Steam.