Stalker has engineered the connector in two parts. The Loader, which runs on the client, launches when Outlook starts and makes the initial connection to the CGPro server. The server then automatically sends the main part of the connector code to the client if the client code isn't up-to-date. This architecture lets administrators place updated code on the server that is implemented automatically on the client the next time the client fires up Outlook. Reinstallations of the client connector are necessary only if Stalker updates the Loader. We tested the MAPI connector over dial-up, broadband and LAN connections to make sure this didn't cause a problem with slow connections. The 56-Kbps dial-up connection was noticeably slower when loading but very responsive otherwise, and we had no trouble with the higher-speed connections.
Once everything is up and running you can do nearly everything in Outlook you could do if you were using an Exchange Server on the back end. We shared mail, contact and calendar folders with other users and connected to their shared content. We created group meetings using real-time free/busy searches that sent mail notification to requested attendees. When we received meeting requests from co-workers, we could accept or decline the meeting with the push of a button that automatically sent our reply to the originator via mail and put accepted meetings on our calendar. The connector supports ACLs (access-control lists) that let you give some users limited access while giving others full access to your folders. What's missing? Stalker's CGPro MAPI connector cannot sort contacts by category.
CommuniGate Pro, starts at $1,698 for 25 MAPI connections, Stalker Software, (415) 383-7164, (800) 262-4722. www.stalker.com
SLOX is an integrated set of open-source products comprising Postfix, Cyrus IMAP, Apache, OpenLDAP, SpamAssassin and Linux kernel 2.4.19. The folks at SuSE have wrapped these separate products into a cohesive whole that includes a unified, browser-based administrative interface. In addition to offering standards-based e-mail via POP, IMAP and the Web, SLOX boasts a number of Web-accessible groupware features, including group scheduling, discussion forums, and task and project management. It also has a rudimentary document-management and knowledge-management system.
Because your Outlook users aren't using MAPI, they will not have the kind of functionality they'd have if they were using an Exchange server. SLOX's Outlook replication works in batch mode rather than in real-time. Real-time communication between Outlook and the Exchange replacement server is the key to up-to-the minute server-based storage of your data as well as such online activities as free/busy schedule checking when arranging a group meeting. Using replication technology, when you create a meeting in Outlook, it won't be reflected in your server store until your data replicates in batch mode and visa versa when using SLOX's browser access. Replication can be set to run on a schedule automatically or you can run a replication session manually. We tested both methods, and SuSE's replicator works fine. SLOX users also won't be able to access shared folders via the standard Outlook mechanisms. SuSE's Outlook connector promises all the missing functionality, but we'll have to wait until the end of the year to see if the company delivers on that promise.
SuSE Linux Openexchange Server (SLOX), starting at $1,249, SuSE Linux. www.suse.com
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