# Setting up your synchronization system

Synchronization presents you with two issues you'll need to address. First, your computer needs to recognize and access your handheld. At this time, Ximian Evolution only supports PalmOS devices like the Palm Pilot and the Handspring Visor. Secondly, you should decide what sort of synchronization behavior you want.

If you haven't used a handheld device with your computer before, you'll need to run the GNOME Control Center by selecting System Settings, and make sure that Pilot Link is properly configured. You will need to make sure that you have read and write permissions on the device, which is normally /dev/pilot. If that does not work, check /dev/ttyS0 if you have a serial connection, or /dev/ttyUSB0 for a USB connection. You can do this by becoming root and running the command: `chmod 777 /dev/ttyUSB0`.

Once your computer and your PalmOS device are talking happily to each other, select the conduits you want under the Pilot Conduits section of the Control Center. You may use conduits to synchronize data with several applications; the Ximian Evolution conduits are labeled EAddress, for the contacts in your address book, ECalendar, for your calendar, and ETodo, for your task list.

To enable a conduit, click the Enable to enable it, and click Settings to change what it will do when activated. Your options may vary depending on the conduit, but typically they will be:

Disabled:

- Do nothing.

Synchronize:

- Copy new data from the computer to the handheld, and from the handheld to the computer. Remove items that were on both systems but have been deleted on one.

Copy From Pilot:

- If there is any new data on the the handheld device, copy it to the computer.

Copy To Pilot:

- Copy new data from the computer to the handheld.

Merge From Pilot:

- Copy new data from the handheld to the computer, and remove any information from the computer that has been deleted on the handheld.

Merge To Pilot:

- Copy new data from the computer to the handheld, and remove any information from the handheld that has been deleted on the computer.

Select the behavior you want for each conduit you choose to use. If you're not sure, go ahead and stick with Synchronize. Then, put your handheld on its cradle and press the HotSync button.

## Data Loss Prevention

It's always a good idea to make a backup. To do that, make a copy of the `evolution` directory inside your home directory.