Configure Gmail on your N900

Here is a little guide to setup Gmail on your N900 using the Email application that comes by default on N900.

I am writing this because I could not find a working solution when I tried Google-ing "how to configure n900 for gmail".

Basically, I just helped my N900 to resolve imap.gmail.com and smtp.gmail.com
So here goes the steps...


1. Connect to the internet on your PC/laptop and ping imap.gmail.com & smtp.gmail.com. Note down the IP addresses of both. Here is a screen shot of the command prompt

2. Now on your N900 launch the Terminal and gain root access (if you don't know what I am telling, read this Rootsh)
3. Edit the file /etc/hosts (I use vi to edit)
4. Add following two lines to the file (do not delete any lines already existing in the file)
72.14.213.109   imap.gmail.com
74.125.53.109   smtp.gmail.com
(Replace the IP addresses in the above lines to what you noted down in the 1st step)
5. Save the file and exit the editor
6. Launch the Email application on N900. Follow the wizard that it shows by selecting Gmail in the list of providers that it shows.
7. Enter your user name and password and go till you click finish.

The account you set up should work fine. If not, tap on Edit settings for the account and make sure the settings are as shown in the screen shot below