diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 12009b6..d14be81 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -2,4 +2,5 @@ VERKADA_API_KEY=This should be your API Key==
 ELASTIC_PASSWORD=At least six characters long
 KIBANA_SYSTEM_PASSWORD=At least six characters long and you will need to set in Kibana refer to README
 KIBANA_ENCRYPTION_KEY=Create Key using command "openssl rand -base64 32" in linux or wsl==
-EMAIL_PASSWORD = Password for the email account you are sending the dashboard from
\ No newline at end of file
+EMAIL_PASSWORD = Password for the email account you are sending the dashboard from
+WINDOWS_IP=This is the IP for your device
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/config.ini.example b/config.ini.example
index fadeaa1..d01ecd9 100644
--- a/config.ini.example
+++ b/config.ini.example
@@ -1,14 +1,14 @@
 [Email]
-EMAIL_TO=receiver_email@example.com
-EMAIL_FROM=your_email@example.com
-EMAIL_BODY_PREFIX=Click the link below to access the Kibana dashboard:
-EMAIL_SUBJECT=Subject for the Email
-EMAIL_SEND_TIME=09:00
+email_to = email@example.com
+email_from = email@example.com
+email_body_prefix = Click the link below to access link:
+email_subject = Subject Line goes here
+email_send_time = 14:40
 
 [Verkada]
 # Default number of days to pull on first run or if index is empty
-TIME_DELTA_INSTALLATION=365
+time_delta_installation = 3
 
-# This is how often you want to update elasticSearch (in 24-hour format)
-# i.e. every 15 minutes -> ELASTIC_UPDATE_INTERVAL=00:15
-ELASTIC_UPDATE_INTERVAL = 00:15
+# This is how often you want to update elasticSearch
+# i.e. every 15 minutes -> ELASTIC_UPDATE_INTERVAL=15m
+elastic_update_interval = 15m
diff --git a/scripts/cron_creation.sh b/scripts/cron_creation.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..9b122d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/cron_creation.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Run this from the root of the repo
+
+# Exit on errors, prevent undefined variables, and fail if any command in a pipeline fails
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Move into repo root
+cd "$(dirname "$0")/.."
+
+# for reading time fields
+declare update_interval
+declare cron_command
+declare cron_expression
+
+extract_field()
+{
+  echo "$(grep -i "$1" config.ini | cut -d '=' -f2 | xargs)"
+}
+
+fail() {
+    echo
+    echo "ERROR: $1"
+    exit 1
+}
+
+parse_email_time_field()
+{
+  local h_or_m=$(extract_field "EMAIL_SEND_TIME" | cut -d ':' -f$1)
+  if [[ "$h_or_m" =~ ^[0-9]{2}$ ]]; then
+    local stoi=10#$h_or_m
+
+    # handle cases where hour > 23 and minute > 59 
+    if (( ("$1" == "1" && $stoi > 23) || ("$1" == "2" && $stoi > 59) )); then
+      echo "-1" 
+
+    else
+      echo $((10#$h_or_m))
+    fi
+
+  else
+    echo "-1"
+  fi
+}
+
+write_cron_job()
+{
+  cat <(fgrep -i -v "$cron_command" <(crontab -l)) <(echo "$cron_expression") | crontab -
+}
+
+echo "Creating cron job for ETL..."
+
+update_interval=$(extract_field "ELASTIC_UPDATE_INTERVAL")
+
+CRON_EXEC="$(which "docker")"
+CRON_TARGET="$(realpath "compose.yaml")"
+
+cron_command="${CRON_EXEC} compose -f ${CRON_TARGET} up -d"
+
+case $update_interval in
+  *m)
+    minutes=${update_interval%m}
+    cron_expression="*/$minutes * * * * $cron_command"
+    ;;
+  *h)
+    hours=${update_interval%h}
+    cron_expression="0 */$hours * * * $cron_command"
+    ;;
+  *d)
+    days=${update_interval%d}
+    cron_expression="0 0 */$days * * $cron_command"
+    ;;
+  *)
+    fail "Invalid ELASTIC_UPDATE_INTERVAL"
+    ;;
+esac
+
+write_cron_job
+echo "ETL cron job created!"
+
+
+echo "Creating cron job for email sender..."
+
+CRON_EXEC="$(pwd)/.venv/bin/python"
+CRON_TARGET=$(realpath "src/email_sender.py")
+
+cron_command="${CRON_EXEC} ${CRON_TARGET}"
+cron_expression="$(parse_email_time_field "2") $(parse_email_time_field "1") * * * ${cron_command}"
+
+# check if cron_expression contains "-1", this means we reached an edge case
+# so send time format is invalid
+if [[ "$cron_expression" == *"-1"* ]]; then
+  fail "Invalid EMAIL_SEND_TIME, must be in 24-hour format"
+fi
+write_cron_job
+echo "Email cron job created!"
+
+
diff --git a/scripts/get_ip.sh b/scripts/get_ip.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..4318dad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/get_ip.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# Run this from the root of the repo
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Move into repo root
+cd "$(dirname "$0")/.."
+
+WINDOWS_IP=$(/mnt/c/Windows/System32/ipconfig.exe | sed -n '/Wireless LAN adapter.*:/,/IPv4 Address/s/.*IPv4 Address[^:]*: //p' | head -n 1 | tr -d '\r' | xargs)
+
+if [ -z "$WINDOWS_IP" ]; then
+    WINDOWS_IP=$(/mnt/c/Windows/System32/ipconfig.exe | sed -n '/Ethernet adapter.*:/,/IPv4 Address/s/.*IPv4 Address[^:]*: //p' | head -n 1 | tr -d '\r' | xargs)
+fi
+
+if [ -z "$WINDOWS_IP" ]; then
+    echo "ERROR: Could not determine Windows IP"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+grep -q "^WINDOWS_IP=" .env && \
+    sed -i "s|^WINDOWS_IP=.*|WINDOWS_IP=$WINDOWS_IP|" .env || \
+    echo "WINDOWS_IP=$WINDOWS_IP" >> .env
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/initial_setup.sh b/scripts/initial_setup.sh
index fd0218d..dd52451 100755
--- a/scripts/initial_setup.sh
+++ b/scripts/initial_setup.sh
@@ -7,17 +7,52 @@ set -euo pipefail
 # Move into repo root
 cd "$(dirname "$0")/.."
 
+if crontab -l >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  echo "Cron jobs exist"
+  echo "Deleting Cron jobs"
+  crontab -i -r
+else
+  echo "No cron jobs"
+fi
+
 echo
 echo "Running dependencies check..."
 sudo apt update
 sudo apt install -y unzip openssl
+sudo apt install python3-venv
+sudo apt install python3-tk
 echo "Dependencies check complete..."
 
+echo 
+echo "Setting up Python virtual environment and installing dependencies..."
+if [ ! -d ".venv" ]; then
+  python3 -m venv .venv
+fi
+source .venv/bin/activate
+pip install python-dotenv
+
+echo
+echo "Getting Windows IP"
+./scripts/get_ip.sh
+echo "Windows IP added to .env"
+
+echo
+echo "Ensuring config.ini exists..."
+cp -n config.ini.example config.ini
+
+echo
+echo "Ensuring .env exists..."
+cp -n .env.example .env
+
 echo
 echo "Launching setup dialogue box..."
 python3 ./src/dialogueBox.py
 echo "Setup dialogue box entry complete..."
 
+echo
+echo "building images from compose.yaml..."
+docker compose build --no-cache
+
 echo
 echo "running elastic_setup.sh..."
 ./scripts/elastic_setup.sh
@@ -30,5 +65,9 @@ echo
 echo "Starting normal secure stack..."
 docker compose up -d
 
+echo 
+echo "running cron_creation.sh..."
+./scripts/cron_creation.sh
+
 echo
 echo "Setup complete."
diff --git a/src/Application.py b/src/Application.py
index e79984d..62b0412 100644
--- a/src/Application.py
+++ b/src/Application.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 import os
 
 from Verkada import VerkadaContext
-from ConfigReader import config
+import configparser
 from datetime import datetime, date, timedelta
 
 ELASTIC_PASSWORD = os.environ.get("ELASTIC_PASSWORD")
@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@
     print("ERROR: ELASTIC_PASSWORD has not been set, exiting...")
     exit(1)
 
+config = configparser.ConfigParser()
+config.read("/config.ini")
+
 def init():
     args = CLI.setup_cli()
 
diff --git a/src/ConfigReader.py b/src/ConfigReader.py
index 99633a2..4b3f40b 100644
--- a/src/ConfigReader.py
+++ b/src/ConfigReader.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import configparser
+import Utils
 
 config = configparser.ConfigParser()
-config.read("/config.ini")
+config.read(Utils.get_project_root() / "config.ini")
diff --git a/src/dialogueBox.py b/src/dialogueBox.py
index bf8ca0a..51df303 100644
--- a/src/dialogueBox.py
+++ b/src/dialogueBox.py
@@ -18,15 +18,15 @@ def Save_Button():
         newTo = inpTo.get()
         newFrom = inpFrom.get()
         newSubject = inpSubject.get()
-        newMessage = inpMessage.get("1.0", "end-1c")
+        newMessage = inpMessage.get("1.0", "end").strip()
         newSendTime = inpSendTime.get()
         newFreq = freqVar.get()
         newFreqUnit = timeUnit.get()
         newEmailPass = inpEmailPass.get()
-        newVerkAPI = inpApiKey.get("1.0", "end-1c")
+        newVerkAPI = inpApiKey.get("1.0", "end").strip()
         newElastPass = inpElastPass.get()
         newKibPass =inpKibPass.get()
-        newKibEnc = inpKibEnc.get("1.0", "end-1c")
+        newKibEnc = inpKibEnc.get("1.0", "end").strip()
 
         #Updates config values
         co["Email"]["EMAIL_TO"] = newTo
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ def Save_Button():
         dotenv.set_key(dotenv_file, "ELASTIC_PASSWORD", newElastPass)
         dotenv.set_key(dotenv_file,"KIBANA_SYSTEM_PASSWORD", newKibPass)
         dotenv.set_key(dotenv_file,"KIBANA_ENCRYPTION_KEY", newKibEnc)
+        
+        dotenv.load_dotenv(dotenv_file, override=True)
 
         #Writes new config values to file
         with open(os.path.join(BASE_DIR, '..', 'config.ini'), "w") as f:
@@ -59,8 +61,8 @@ def generate_kibana_key():
 
     co = configparser.ConfigParser()
     co.read(os.path.join(BASE_DIR, '..', 'config.ini'))
-    dotenv.load_dotenv()
-    dotenv_file = ".env"
+    dotenv_file = os.path.join(BASE_DIR, '..', '.env')
+    dotenv.load_dotenv(dotenv_file)
 
     root = tk.Tk(screenName=None, baseName='VerityBot', className='VerityBot', useTk=1)
     frame = tk.Frame(root)
diff --git a/src/email_scheduler.py b/src/email_scheduler.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 3ec00b0..0000000
--- a/src/email_scheduler.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,40 +0,0 @@
-import datetime
-import logging
-import os
-import sys
-
-from crontab import CronTab
-from ConfigReader import config
-
-cron = CronTab(user=True)
-logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
-
-def _verify_time_format(date_str: str) -> list[str]:
-    try:
-        datetime.datetime.strptime(date_str, '%H:%M')
-    except ValueError:
-        logging.error("Invalid EMAIL_SEND_TIME, must be 24-hour format")
-        exit(1)
-    return date_str.split(':')
-
-def create_cron_job():
-    mail_time = config ['Email'] ['EMAIL_SEND_TIME']
-    hours, mins = _verify_time_format(mail_time)
-
-    script_path = os.path.abspath("src/email_sender.py") 
-    # double check to make sure this is the path to the right executable
-    python_executable = sys.executable
-    command = f"{python_executable} {script_path}"
-
-    job = cron.new(command=command, comment='Kibana Dashboard Email')
-
-    # schedule the job to run every day at EMAIL_SEND_TIME
-    job.minute.on(int(mins))
-    job.hour.on(int(hours))
-    job.day.every(1)  # Run every day
-    # the other fields (month, day of week) default to '*'
-
-    # write the job to the crontab, critical
-    cron.write()
-
-create_cron_job()
diff --git a/src/email_sender.py b/src/email_sender.py
index 47f2df3..1579b16 100644
--- a/src/email_sender.py
+++ b/src/email_sender.py
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 import os
 import smtplib
 import socket
+import subprocess
+import Utils
 
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
 from email.mime.multipart import MIMEMultipart
@@ -12,21 +14,40 @@
 sender_email = config ['Email'] ['EMAIL_FROM']
 email_subject = config ['Email'] ['EMAIL_SUBJECT']
 
+domain_to_server_mapping: dict = {
+        "gmail.com": "gmail.com", 
+        "outlook.com": "office365.com",
+        "louisville.edu": "office365.com",
+        "shslou.org": "office365.com"
+}
+
 message = MIMEMultipart()
 message["From"] = sender_email
 message["To"] = recipient_email
 message["Subject"] = email_subject
 
+def domain_to_server(email: str) -> str | None:
+    if '@' in email:
+        domain = email[email.index('@') + 1:]
+        smtp_server = domain_to_server_mapping.get(domain, None)
+        return smtp_server
+    return None
+
 def send_email():
-    try:
-        with smtplib.SMTP("smtp.gmail.com", 587) as s:
-            s.starttls()
-            s.login(sender_email, str(email_password))
-            s.sendmail(sender_email, recipient_email, message.as_string())
-            s.quit()
-    except Exception as e:
-        logging.error(f"Unable to send email: error code {e.args.index}")
-        exit(1)
+    smtp_server = domain_to_server(sender_email)
+    if smtp_server:
+        try:
+            with smtplib.SMTP(f"smtp.{smtp_server}", 587) as s:
+                s.set_debuglevel(1)
+                s.starttls()
+                s.login(sender_email, str(email_password))
+                s.sendmail(sender_email, recipient_email, message.as_string())
+                s.quit()
+        except Exception as e:
+            logging.error(f"Unable to send email: error code {e.args.index}")
+            exit(1)
+    else:
+        logging.error("Unable to send email. Make sure the sender email is correct!")
 
 # for sending the link to Kibana through email
 # IP address is likely to change due to proxies or DHCP lease termination
@@ -44,7 +65,11 @@ def get_ip():
         s.close()
     return IP
 
-IP = get_ip()
+script_path = Utils.get_project_root() / "scripts" / "get_ip.sh"
+subprocess.run([script_path], check=True)
+
+load_dotenv()
+IP = os.getenv("WINDOWS_IP") or get_ip()
 
 # read prefix only from config (no env fallback)
 body_prefix = config['Email'].get(
@@ -55,14 +80,14 @@ def get_ip():
 <html>
     <body>
         <p>{body_prefix}</p>
-        <a href="https://{IP}">Kibana Dashboard</a>
+        <a href="https://{IP}:5601/app/dashboards">Kibana Dashboards</a>
     </body>
 </html>
 """
 
 message.attach(MIMEText(html, "html"))
 
-load_dotenv()
 email_password = os.getenv("EMAIL_PASSWORD")
 
 send_email()
+