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Novell To Release Ximian Connector Under GPL
ashmodai9 writes "According to this article on LinuxToday.com as well as this press release directly from their site, Novell announced that its "Connector for MS Exchange Server would be integrated into Evolution 2.0 and made available as open source, beginning today with the current Connector 1.4." Apparently, downloads will be available for the current version of Evolution starting May 14th."
Thanks to reader crafterm, a snippet from Novell's Connector website: "With the Connector for Microsoft Exchange installed, Evolution functions as an Exchange client, enabling users to become full participants in company-wide group scheduling and other collaborative tasks. Linux and Solaris users can access public folders, Global Address Lists, email, calendar, task lists, and group scheduling information." Update: 05/11 17:58 GMT by T :
In related news, ChiralSoftware writes "Codeweavers' long-awaited sequel to Crossover 2.1 is here. Just like the old version, the new version lets you install MS Office on Linux desktops. The new version adds support for Outlook XP, Lotus Notes and Microsoft Project."
Download the source now!
Novell bought Ximian in August last year; Ximian wrote evolution, and the exchange connector plugin.
Remember kids, it's all fun and games until someone commits wholesale galactic genocide.
Well we ended up with an Exchange 2003/Outlook 2003 solution here...an expensive solution, but once they spent the money - well It's actually been quite good! Active Directory seems to be a bit of a headache ;) But Exchange/Outlook really is running well! Two things stand out (well having different mail views in OL2K3 is awesome - for example having a view of "follow up" items, or "unread" items separate from the folders they are in):
One is cached mode - no more online/offline dicking around - it really works *well*. I have not had any screwy problems as of yet. (Basically Outlook caches your email - a seamless synchronization of your folders and it automatically detects a connected state)
The other thing is the RPC over HTTP - so I can get full exchange functionality over the internet, just as if I was using IMAP or POP standards, but with the full exchange server deal: contacts, calendars etc. It's really been handy - no opening VPN connections or using webmail to check my work mail on my laptop.
Are these two features available with Novell's solution? Even if they aren't I'm sure they will be. And having the option is great for the future even though, we are on the MS road for the time being. But for now, Exchange 2003 has worked very well, certainly better than our Linux pilot (Debian/FetchMail/Exim etc. with Thunderbird) - but our Linux pilot was kneecapped by having to operate in a mixed environment (which these new connectors would fix), and obviously going with Exchange cost us a whole lot more money! (Like $20K or thereabouts instead of free - consulting and hardware fees would've been required in both cases - and the Linux consulting was a lot cheaper believe it or not)
Before this, Evolution was already available on OS X in the past (Install X11, then use Fink to get Evolution).
To complete it, just build yourself a Connector package.
It's been tested internally at Ximian and Novell in the past, although it was determined it wouldn't be worthwhile to release it as a product. But now that it's free, you can do it.
a.
OpenGroupWare.org is a great open source project tackling this effort.
Groupwise does the trick. I might not fall in your definition of affordable though...
Also this might be of interest
From the KDE 3.3 Release Plan:
Redesign filters to use Sieve internally. Allow editing of Sieve scripts on IMAP servers to get rid of the bug reports a la "KMail doesn't support IMAP folders for fitering"
My other account has a 3-digit UID.
Uhhh yea i think you did miss a few things..
Novell Buys Ximian
And later Novell buys SuSe
So obviously, since Evolution is a product by ximian, it is now owned by Novell
According to this interview with Miguel de Icaza at OSNews, "Ximian is working on a native port of Evolution 2.0 to Windows using the WIMP engine to make the application look XP-native."
I imaging the reference to WIMP is the WIMP-GTK theme for GTK-on-Windows that mirrors the look of Windows.
This is how Gaim handles their Windows "port" (thought I don't think "port" is really the rigtht word.
Another good news for Linux in the Enterprise came from CodeWeaver's CrossOver Office 3.0. It now supports Lotus Notes 6.5.1 on Linux.
/ change_log/
CodeWeaver is happy to announce that today we have shipped version 3.0 of CrossOver Office.
We've added new, official, support for Outlook XP, Microsoft Project, and Notes 6.5.1. Unofficially, we're excited by users comments that far more applications are working now. These include programs like Framemaker and Microsoft Money. You can see the full list of changes here:
http://www.codeweavers.com/site/products/cxoffice
Further, this version marks some fairly ubstantial changes in our CrossOver Product line. First, we have merged the CrossOver Plugin product into the CrossOver Office product offering, so now all non server versions of CrossOver automatically provide
the Plugin functionality.
Well, Mail.app already has Exchange support. You can download an exchange connector for Address Book -- since Address Book already uses LDAP, you can just configure it to query the Active Directory server. It should be tied together better, but the pieces are in place.
- oZ
// i am here.
cannot believe, there are not 10.000 alarm bells ringing in redmond right now.
Ximian Connector has been listed on Microsoft's website for a long time as a partner product, so they have no reason be suprised. Connector uses APIs which MS built in for the explicit purpose of interoperatbility.
Be clear on one thing (bolded for emphisis): In order to use Ximian Connector, you need to buy an Exchange CAL and a Windows CAL.
MS gets paid whether you are using Outlook or not -- in fact they get paid more because Unix cilents aren't using a free IMAP server or something.
AFAIK Mozilla only works with Exchange Server via IMAP. Many companies turn off IMAP/POP3 on their servers. The only way to grab your mail is to use outlook or a connector.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, I'll load up mozilla now and try it.
http://www.opengroupware.org/ ?
New things are always on the horizon
No it isn't, because Evolution also works with OpenGroupware etc... so no reinforcement there.
Ask 8 slackers a question, get 10 awnsers (a citation, but I can't remember from who)
Been awhile since you've worked on an Exchange box? First, in Exchange 2000 it is enabled by default. Second, the user CAL will satisfy the user access for OWA.
Care to point out an MS article that dictates otherwise?
This is great news for OpenGroupware. It's a full featured calendar, email and groupware server.
Previously, the only end to end open source solution you could set up with OpenGroupware was using Mozilla Calendar, another iCalendar app, or by using the built in web client. The Mozilla/iCalendar support is good, but "provides little "groupware" functionality and the support for it is to be consider experimental".
There are plugins for Outlook and Evolution, but they were both not open source. It was actually pretty funny, an open source server, an open source client (evolution), and a closed source, very expensive connector to get the two to talk to each other! Look for "Ximian Connector" in their FAQ:
http://www.opengroupware.org/en/users/faq
OpenGroupware will not be able to use this Evolution connector directly, but since it is open source, it will be adapted for this purpose. Helge Hess the main developer for OpenGroupware has said as much.