Understanding NonWindows-Based Mail Client Options
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Understanding Non “Windows-Based Mail Client OptionsWhen enterprise network environments support non “Microsoft Windows-client operating systems, administrators must plan and support alternative means of access to Exchange mail information. To accomplish this goal, administrators can use several options available to enable support to Exchange data and calendaring information for a variety of alternative non “Windows-based clients systems. Leveraging the built-in compatibility and functionality of Exchange Server 2003, access can be accomplished using multiple familiar client options, depending on the operating system being used and the functionality needed by the individual client. Using client options such as Outlook for Macintosh, Outlook Web Access and the others listed later in this chapter, administrators can determine which method best fits the corporate mail needs of the organization, based on the operating system being used and compatibility of each solution. Because these types of clients are usually the minority in most Microsoft Exchange environments, administrators can evaluate the functionality of these client solutions and implement each based on the requirements of the nonWindows based client requiring access to Exchange Information. Supporting Mac Clients with Microsoft OutlookWhen determining which client is best for supporting Mac users and desktops, the most important consideration is the required functionality of the client and the limitations involved with each available option. To support Mac desktops with Exchange 2003, Microsoft provides the Outlook and Outlook Express clients for the Macintosh desktop operating system. Administrators can use the clients to support internal access and remote access using protocols such as Post Office Protocol (POP) and using these clients' options as is when supporting their Windows-based Outlook client cousins.
In addition to Outlook and Outlook Express, Microsoft also provides another option for connecting Macintosh clients to Exchange 2003. Using the Entourage and Entourage X clients, Mac users can access mail and calendaring information with the look and feel more familiar to Macintosh users. Not the Outlook client, this alternative to Outlook is built on a separate platform and provides access to mail and calendaring information as well as contact management. Providing Full Functionality with Remote Desktop for MacOne of the most popular options when supporting Mac clients in a predominantly Windows-based environment is the remote desktop for Mac. When Mac clients require the full functionality of the Windows Outlook client, the one option that can easily provide this is the remote desktop client for Mac. Using this option, administrators can not only provide access to Windows Outlook, but they can also provide full functionality of a Windows desktop to a Mac client. Through the remote desktop client, Mac users can access a Windows session using Terminal Services functionality, which enables the Mac client to see and use Windows through a remote connection. This function also gives Mac clients the ability to cut and paste information from the Remote Desktop Connection to the Mac operating system as well as full printing functionality to local connected Mac printers. One other benefit to the Remote Desktop Connection functionality is the ability to provide network access to all shared Windows resources without the need to support additional Mac services in the enterprise. Using the Internet for Exchange ConnectivityOne effective option available when you need only to provide access to Exchange information is leveraging the Outlook Web Access (OWA) functionality built in to the Exchange Server 2003 operating system. Because using this option is enabled through Internet Information Services, users can access OWA as they access a Web page from both the internal network and the Internet. By using Web-based access to provide Exchange 2003 client functionality, administrators can consider this solution for a variety of different non “Windows-based client systems with Internet browsing enabled. Outlook Web Access provides a limited set of Outlook functions and requires no additional client software to be installed. NOTE Enabling Web Access to support non “Windows-based clients for both internal network access and access from the Internet requires additional configuration of the Exchange 2003 server and network firewall. For detailed information on how to design and enable Outlook Web services with Exchange 2003, see Chapter 10, "Outlook Web Access 2003." Comparing Client Functionality and CompatibilityWith each option and method of access to Exchange 2003, there are different options and functionality. As mentioned in the review of each method of access, some methods enable full functionality and others are limited. Review the operating system requirements in Table 27.1 to determine whether the Mac operating systems meet the required revision for the method of access being considered . Table 27.1. Client Compatibility
NOTE The Mac Operating System OS X Classic is the additional software component that enables application compatibility for Mac OS 9 and earlier versions. Determine the required functionality by using Table 27.2 to compare the features of each client access method. Review the functionality of each method and compare the result with the Mac OS you are working with. Table 27.2. Client Functionality
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EAN: 2147483647
Pages: 393