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Novell To Release Ximian Connector Under GPL

Posted by timothy on from the free-software-creeping-in-and-leaping-in dept.

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."

21 of 497 comments (clear)

  1. Excellent news for the FOSS community! by biglig2 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Another reason for not switching - the need to access an Exchange server - bites the dust.

    --
    ~~~~~ BigLig2? You mean there's another one of me?
    1. Re:Excellent news for the FOSS community! by mr_z_beeblebrox · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Furthermore, this creates a OSS project that now directly challeges Outlook, which will exempt users from most of Outlook's exploit issues...

      Sorry, but no. First, this 'exchange connector' depends on Outlook web access, so it is not TRULY an Exchange connector. It is more an exchange translator. Second by requiring Outlook web they will cause more sites (not less) to run Iis (internet information server) The only thing worse than a site running exchange (as an MCSE I know) is a site running exchange with Outlook Web enabled. They get all the power of exchange viruses coupled with the ease of IIS viruses for an optimal user experience Sarcasm I hope that they are pursuing a true Exchange connector.

    2. Re:Excellent news for the FOSS community! by another_mr_lizard · · Score: 5, Insightful

      As an MCSE you should also know that Exchange 2000/2003 requires IIS before it will even install. Some dependance on the NNTP service......

      --
      "My parents were strict, but they never pitted me against livestock" - Doug Stanhope
  2. Re:Apache? by rowanxmas · · Score: 5, Funny

    Why doesn't /. have a Linux section? It has an Apple section so why not a Linux one.

    It does, it is just mislabled as "main".

  3. Wonderful News by cube_slave · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This is great. A couple developers here at work are trying to get Linux for their workstations. Hooking into Exchange was always a set back. IT did not want to pay for the connector, since it already paid for Outlook.

    This is just one less hurdle to overcome. I aplaud Novel's decision.

  4. Wonderful, wonderful - alll we need is a server... by The+Breeze · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Compatibility with Exchange is wonderful, seriously.

    The promise of exchange - integrated email & calendaring, locks a lot of companies in to MS software.

    Say what you will, the ability for a clueless end-user to click "accept" on an email and automatically schedule themselves for a meeting is a Big Deal(tm).

    Now, if only we had something affordable that could do that on the Linux server side, with clients on Linux, Windows and Mac platforms...and no, webmail doesn't cut it...

    Is there anyone working on this?

    -Steve

  5. Paging Steve Jobs! by toupsie · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Stevie-baby, here is your chance to get Mac OS X into the Enterprise! One of the major problems with integrating Macs in most large scale companies is the Exchange Mail Systems in use. In the past, most Mac OS X users had to load up classic to use the G-d awful Outlook client. The new Office 2004 Entourage client is still not as cool as Stickies, Mail, iCal and Address Book working as a team and the best part, those are built into the OS -- as the connector should be.

    --
    Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.
  6. Re:That's great news! by SmilingBoy · · Score: 5, Informative
    Novell Evolution 2.0 coming in the third quarter with native GroupWise support
  7. Awesome by ChiralSoftware · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Exchange is probably MS' best and most important product that has no Open Source equivalent. I am aware of Kolab and some other works-in-progress, but none of these are even close to Exchange yet. Exchange has more than its fair share of security problems, but what it does, it does well. Now with Connector being released GPL, that will have two consequences: The free downloadable version of Evolution will be able to use Exchange's features, and hopefully other OS tools like Koffice/Kmail will pick up those abilities, too. Also, having an open source client side might help them in getting an open source server side move faster. Now I just wish that Evolution would be properly integrated with KDE. They are doing it with OOo...

    I'm a full-time desktop Linux user, and not just for coding, but for every aspect of business, so all this stuff matters to me. This week is going to be a great week in Desktop Linux: Suse 9.1 and Crossover 3 are both coming out at about the same time, and both are huge improvements over what came before.

    -------
    WAP news

  8. Re:Don't wait until the 14th. by SatanicPuppy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Heh, download it now, because you KNOW Microsoft is going to be pissed.

    --
    ad logicam Claiming a proposition is false because it was presented as the conclusion of a fallacious argument.
  9. Re:Cue Irrelevant Feature Complaints In.... by macemoneta · · Score: 5, Interesting

    How about one of the major features of Outlook that has been missing for three and a half years now? The notes/memos feature? I, and many other use it extensively, but no matter how many times it has been requested (or who requests it; check the submitter on the listed bug), it has never made it into Evolution.

    --

    Can You Say Linux? I Knew That You Could.

  10. Open SUSE and the new Distro scenario by InodoroPereyra · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Is it me ? I have the feeling that if Novell keeps opening up (as in GPL) the core of SUSE, then the (perhaps) most polished distro (according to reviews from people I respect) will become extremely popular.

    The big picture for commercial distros a couple years back was:

    • RedHat, open but not very user friendly.
    • Mandrake, even more open (in its development cycle), more polished and user friendly, not as stable.
    • SuSE, polished, stable, professional, user friendly, but with closed source bits preventing widespread use.

    With RedHat going Fedora (and resigning its mindshare), it wasn't clear what the new scenario sould be. Mandrake was in my mind the great candidate to be the king of the overall distro (from freelading and home users through enterprise solutions), assuming they released more stable corporate versions.

    Mandrake did its homework, and they announced a new development strategy with a community release and a later, more stable official release. They probably should add a slower (once a year) corporate option

    But now Novell buys SUSE, opens it up and kicks the hell out of the Chess board. RedHat backs up and announces their (late) return to the desktop. Things are getting hot my friends :-)

  11. Re:Good for KDE folks, too by Per+Wigren · · Score: 5, Informative
    Now, if KMail would just add IMAP filtering... ;-)

    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.
  12. One more step, a Win32 port of Evolution by Erik_ · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Now, they only need to release a Windows port of Evolution and even more people will be able to enjoy this awesome program.

    1. Re:One more step, a Win32 port of Evolution by sgarrity · · Score: 5, Informative

      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.

  13. Want to thank Novell? BUY from them! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So, if you really want to support Novell becuase of its very positive actions of late, here's the way:

    BUY something from SuSE, Ximian or Novell!

  14. Yast open sourced and now Ximian Connector? by plazman30 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Is Novell turning out to be a good open source neighbor, or what? I think there is finally a large commercial corporation that "gets it!"

    About time.

    How long till they open source NetWare and eDirectory?

  15. CrossOver Office 3.0 now supports Notes 6.5.1 by Erik_ · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.

    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/ change_log/

    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.

  16. Why won't you support Linux companies? by dennisr · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I see quite a few comments about "Now I am going to switch to Linux" or "I have been waiting for this for so long" and I got to thinking. What stopped you from using prior to this? It was available for download for ~30 dollars. I purchased it not only for its functionality but to support a Linux company.

  17. Re:Indeed: havoc in redmond by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.

  18. You should still purchase it! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you work for a company that would actually spend money on it, DO IT! We should financially support F/OSS companies when we are able to.

    Also, remember you'll likely be buying some support which is cheaper than going it alone.