connect directly to Exchange (2003)

[Helge Hess]

... this properly belongs on a Kontact list, not on the Kolab one,  
but anyway ...

On 30. Nov 2005, at 14:27 Uhr, Lasse Riis wrote:
> So the first thing I tried was Evolution, as this seems to be the  
> designated Outlookkiller of FOSS (I never understood why though).  
> But alas, it seems Evolution accesses Exchange using the web- 
> interface and then parses the HTML(this sounds insane, but may be  
> the only way to do it?).

This is (mostly) incorrect. The Evolution connector for Exchange (2000 
+) uses the WebDAV API of Exchange. It does not parse HTML for the  
far majority of the data, the only exception are some preference  
pages (eg to configure delegation).

Kontact also has a resource plugin which uses the WebDAV API to  
connect Exchange. I think its not as elaborate and well tested as the  
Evolution one though (not that the Evolution one works w/o  
issues ..., search Google for this)

However to enable the WebDAV API of Exchange, you need to enable the  
web interface (and that implies IIS). So if you can't do this, those  
plugins are no option.

> However, this particular exchange server is not set up to serve a  
> webinterface so it's not really an option using evolution.

There is another option, the Brutus plugin:

   http://www.omesc.com/content/downloads/evolution-brutus.png

This plugin directly uses MAPI to connect Exchange. I have no idea  
how well it works in practice and what state it is in.
AFAIK it does not implement MAPI directly but rather uses a proxy  
server running on a Windows computer (its basically a MAPI<->CORBA  
bridge).

Maybe Kontact could also add a Brutus resource. Not sure whether this  
makes a lot of sense. (and no motivation to discuss this ;-)

> Or maybe you know of a completely other option?

Maybe a remote desktop option like VNC / NX / whatever?

Greets,
   Helge
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