SuSE Linux
Openexchange Server 4
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MS Outlook Connection
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General Information
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Scope of the Connection
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Connecting MS Outlook to SuSE Linux
Openexchange Server
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Technical Implementation
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Supported Versions
1. General Information
Apart from the utilization by way of the web interface, SuSE Linux
Openexchange Server is suitable for use with Microsoft Outlook as
client, supporting operations such as creating, editing, and deleting
personal appointments as well as replicating addresses and tasks. These
groupware functionalities of SLOX can be utilized immediately.
Furthermore, additional forms are integrated in order to represent at
least part of the much more extensive functionality of SuSE Linux
Openexchange Server in MS Outlook.
Without requiring any additional software, SuSE Linux Openexchange
Server supports the use of MS Outlook as mail program and the
utilization of the LDAP directories on the server side.
For registered customers, the replication software and the
documentation is available free of charge in the Maintenance Web.
2. Scope of the Connection
Currently the connection covers mail, contacts, tasks, and personal
appointments.
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Mail
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The utilization of MS Outlook as mail client with all standard
functionalities is possible via IMAP/POP3.
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Contacts
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The replication includes the synchronization of addresses and
contacts in both directions. As valid read/write permissions are
taken into consideration, only the data that are released for the
respective user will be visible on the client/server. Possible
conflicts such as the deletion of a contact without the required
write permission are intercepted, thus ensuring full data integrity.
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Tasks
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Tasks are synchronized to the extent that is supported by the
functionality of MS Outlook. Some features that are available on the
SuSE Linux Openexchange Server cannot be represented entirely, as
they are not supported by MS Outlook. This includes the delegating of
tasks to other team members.
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Appointments
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Personal appointments can be created, edited, and deleted as usual
and are also available on the SuSE Linux Openexchange Server by way
of replication. The creation of group appointments is not yet
possible in MS Outlook. However, this functionality is expected to be
integrated shortly (see item 6). Group appointments created in the
web frontend of SuSE Linux Openexchange Server are displayed in MS
Outlook together with a complete list of the individual participants.
3. Connecting MS Outlook to SuSE Linux Openexchange Server
The connection is set up by installing the replication software on the
client host. Needed settings such as the specification of the leading
system, whether or not data on the server may be overwritten, etc. can
easily be configured by the user by means of an assistant. However, the
configuration can also be performed by creating a configuration file
and distributing it to all hosts, thus minimizing the workload on the
user side and avoiding configuration errors. The structure of the
configuration file is described in the documentation of the replication
software.
The replication can be launched manually or by a fully automated
background timer. The time intervals can be selected by the user.
4. Technical Implementation
The replication is performed with the help of web services via the http
port in combination with SOAP. Furthermore, the SLOX access API that
establishes the connection with the database is utilized on the server
side. The SLOX data to be replicated are located in the database.
The actual replication logic is located on the server side. The
replication logic starts the web service in order to receive data from
the server and synchronize these with the existing data in MS Outlook.
Depending on the selected option, the server data are transferred to
the Outlook database by means of the Outlook access API or the Outlook
data are transferred back to the server.
Replication between MS Outlook and SuSE Linux Openexchange Server
5. Supported Versions
Currently the replication software supports MS Outlook 98, 2000, and XP
and MS Windows 98, ME, 2000, and XP.
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