The Ximian Connector for Microsoft Exchange allows Ximian Evolution clients to access accounts on Microsoft Exchange 2000 servers. It is available through Ximian Red Carpet in its own channel, but cannot be used without a license file. The license file may be purchased from the Ximian online store at store.ximian.com. Unlike the regular Ximian Evolution client, the Ximian Connector for Microsoft Exchange is proprietary software and source code is not available.
The Ximian Connector offers a significant price advantage over other Exchange access methods for Linux and UNIX systems:
The purchase of a second computer for each client imposes a very heavy expense burden and is exceptionally inconvenient.
Installation of multiple operating systems in a dual boot or virtual machine configuration (such as VMWare) also increases licensing and administration costs. Users often complain that such a system is inconvenient, slow, and not integrated with the rest of their operating system.
Outlook Web Access is a web interface for Exchange servers, but works best in Microsoft Internet Explorer. Outlook Web Access also is not integrated with the rest of the host operating system and offers only limited groupware functionality.
The Ximian Connector offers a low cost, fully integrated, option for Exchange 2000 server access in heterogeneous client networks. This chapter will explain how to install, configure, and use it.
| Exchange Client Licenses |
Each user will need a valid Microsoft Exchange2000 server account and license. |
Ximian Connector supports the most often used features of Microsoft Exchange:
General
Allows you to access mail, address book (including Global Address List folder), and calendars, and task folders on an Exchange 2000 server from Evolution.
Supported for Contacts and Calendars on Exchange.
You may use the Microsoft Exchange mail transport protocol to send email. Make sure that the address you have entered as your email address is exactly the one that the Exchange server has on file. This may be "yourname@exchange-server.ximian.com" rather than "yourname@ximian.com.a"
Calendar
Allows Evolution users to schedule meetings and view attendee availability for other users (Evolution or Outlook users) on Exchange.
If you receive an iCalendar meeting request and add it to your calendar, it will be saved to your Exchange calendar.
Contacts
Supported for your Exchange Contacts folder. Not yet supported for the Global Address List.
If you receive a vCard attachment and click Save in Address Book, it will be saved to your Exchangeaddress book.
There are, however, some features which are not available:
Access to shared and public folders is not available, although the Global Address List is available.
Journal and Notes components are not available.
Work Offline (disconnected mode) support is not functional.
"Recall Message" function does not work yet.
Creation of an automatic "out-of-office" reply messages is not available.