XGEN: Microsoft Exchange Client UNIX Platform Support

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Exchange Windows 3.x client, version 4.0
• Microsoft Exchange Windows 95 client, version 4.0
• Microsoft Exchange Windows NT client, version 4.0
• Microsoft Exchange Server, version 4.0

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**                          - WARNING -                        **
**    THE INFORMATION BELOW IS PRELIMINARY AND HAS NOT BEEN    **
**    CONFIRMED, EDITED OR TESTED BY MICROSOFT.  USE ONLY      **
**    WITH DISCRETION.                                         **

The following article contains information on the use of Microsoft Exchange with third-party products or configurations that have not been tested and are not supported by Microsoft.

If the steps or procedures described in this article do not function properly, contact the manufacturer of the third-party product for more information.

SUMMARY

This article is reprint of a market bulletin prepared by the Microsoft Exchange Server Product Management Team, July 1996.

Microsoft Exchange UNIX Client Platform Support:

UNIX as a Client Platform

Microsoft is committed to providing access to Microsoft Exchange services from the widest possible array of client desktops. Research shows that the following are the top three requirements of customers that have UNIX as a client platform: Schedule+ support, performance equivalent to a 486 Intel computer without interrupting background processing, and product availability shortly after the release of Microsoft Exchange Server.

Microsoft determined that current efforts to develop a native UNIX client would fall short of these expectations. A "port" of the Microsoft Exchange client would take at least six months, and would only deliver functionality on par with the MS-DOS client. Microsoft also ruled out current emulation technologies as being unable to deliver the necessary performance. Emulation solutions also typically kill background procession and terminals. Microsoft, therefore, began to pursue other technologies that proved to be more promising.

Solutions Available

To provide a solution in the appropriate time frame, Microsoft looked outside the company. Microsoft found a number of third-party vendors developing a technology which, in essence, brings the X-Windows technology to Windows NT Server. These products allow 32bit Windows applications to run on a Windows NT Server, while passing the graphic output and user inputs (the User Interface) to the UNIX workstation running X-Windows. This technology meets the customer requirements, in that it supports the full 32- bit Microsoft Exchange client, including Schedule+7.0 and E-Forms Designer, it performs equivalent to a 486/66 or better processor, and is currently available.

This technology has the additional advantage of supporting not only the Microsoft Exchange client, but other Windows applications as well. For example, a company can potentially roll out Microsoft Office applications to their UNIX clients, facilitating the transfer of documents and information between users. A disadvantage to this solution, of course, is that customers would need to purchase this technology in addition to their Microsoft Exchange Server client access licenses (CALs).

Solutions In Progress

Moving forward, Microsoft will deliver a number of Microsoft Exchange technologies this year designed to better integrate Microsoft Exchange with the Internet, and consequently, better support UNIX-based clients. These technologies are expected to go into Beta in the third quarter of 1996, with feature update releases at six month intervals.

The first technology is Exchange Server POP3 support. This will allow existing Internet mail clients that support the POP3 protocols access to the basic messaging features of Microsoft Exchange Server. This technology is limited by its protocols, and does not support forms. Consequently, it does not support access to Schedule+ information either.

The second technology, the Microsoft Exchange Web Access Service (formerly known as the Microsoft Exchange Web Connector), is less limited by existing standards and has the potential to evolve rapidly. Available in 1997, the Web Access Service will allow native HTTP access to Microsoft Exchange Public Folders, authenticated access to personal mailboxes, and support for HTML queries to the Microsoft Exchange Global Address Book. It will also provide support for forms and Schedule+ viewing.

Microsoft is delivering on its commitment to provide support for those customers who wish to access Microsoft Exchange Server from their UNIX workstations. For those customers who need a solution today, and who need the rich functionality of the full 32-bit Microsoft Exchange Client, with support for Group Scheduling and Forms, Microsoft recommends third-party solutions, including those listed above, which are available today. Moving forward, Microsoft Exchange Server will be able to act as a POP3 server, making it possible to have POP3 clients connect directly to Microsoft Exchange Server.

Matrix

Technology   Availability  Features             Advantages/
                                                Disadvantages

Remote UI   Shipping       Allows Windows       Supports full 32 bit
                           applications to      Microsoft Exchange
                           run on an NT         client
                           Server, while UI
                           is driven from a
                           UNIX desktop.


POP3         Exchange 4.5  Allows POP3          Wide range of
Support                    clients to access    available clients
                           Microsoft Exchange
                           mailboxes.           Limited to basic
                                                messaging features


Web Access  Exchange 4.5   Allows Web           Wide range of
Service                    browsers to          available clients
                           natively access
                           Microsoft Exchange   Will evolve rapidly
                           mailboxes and
                           public folders.

Insignia Solutions: http://www.insignia.com

Tektronix:          http://www.tek.com
NCD:                http://www.ncd.com

The third-party contact information included in this article is provided to help you find the technical support you need. This contact information is subject to change without notice. Microsoft in no way guarantees the accuracy of this third-party contact information.