After exhaustive searches, I'm suspicious that the problem may have something to do with the local domain name. The installation process said I could just make something up, so I put in "parcontre.net". I think what I need to do is change that name to "localhost". Here is the key info:
It looks like I need to edit the file /etc/exim4/update-exim4.conf.conf and /etc/mailname, and then execute /etc/exim4/update-exim4.conf.root@debian:/etc# cat /proc/version
Linux version 3.16.0-4-amd64 (debian-kernel@lists.debian.org) (gcc version 4.8.4 (Debian 4.8.4-1) ) #1 SMP Debian 3.16.43-2+deb8u5 (2017-09-19)
root@debian:/etc# hostname -s
debian
root@debian:/etc# hostname -d
parcontre.net
root@debian:/etc#
But I'm a little unsure because I don't see where "parcontre.net" stands alone by itself and can presumably be changed to "localhost". Here's the current contents of the /etc/exim4/update-exim4.conf.conf file:
To summarize, I just want to read local mail from the system in Evolution. Any thoughts or links to specific documentation would be greatly appreciated.dc_eximconfig_configtype='local'
dc_other_hostnames='debian.parcontre.net'
dc_local_interfaces='127.0.0.1 ; ::1'
dc_readhost=''
dc_relay_domains=''
dc_minimaldns='false'
dc_relay_nets=''
dc_smarthost=''
CFILEMODE='644'
dc_use_split_config='false'
dc_hide_mailname=''
dc_mailname_in_oh='true'
dc_localdelivery='mail_spool'