Outlook replacement

[Dustin Decker]

On Wed, 5 Feb 2003, Benjamin Fisher wrote:

> Well, so long as I go use outlook, I can send out to anybody.  It's
> using SMTP as far as I can tell.  And prob. MAPI for incoming?  Hum.

Benjamin,
I'm not sure if I misunderstand you here, or if perhaps you need help in 
understanding how SMTP, IMAP, and POP work.

For starters, SMTP is the simple mail transport protocol.  This is the
protocol used _between_ one mail server and another.  Unless you're hand
crafting spam, it is highly unlikely you will ever make use of it
directly.  The proper jargon for the server in this case is an MTA or 
message transport authority.

POP is the post office protocol.  Generally, this protocol is used by a 
mail reader to connect to the mail server, and retrieve all messages to 
local storage (although it can often be configured to leave copies on the 
server).  This protocol is also used to submit your newly composed 
messages to the server.  The server will then use SMTP to deliver it to 
the final destination mail server.  As you can see here, this probably 
isn't at all what you're dealing with.

IMAP is the internet message access protocol.  It is a method of accessing 
electronic mail or bulletin board messages that are kept on a (possibly 
shared) mail server.  This is sort of POP on steroids with better 
features.  Then again, it depends on the mail client, also referred to as 
an MUA or mail user agent.

In the case of our current topic, Outlook, you'll find that Outlook speaks 
with your exchange server via RPC (remote procedure calls) and even this 
channel is proprietary.  This is the part that has made it so hard for 
folks to develop something like Evolution with the Exchange client.  The 
point we've all been trying to make is that you aren't forced to use the 
RPC method if your admin isn't on dope.  Provided he's willing to learn 
how do to things right you can certainly use POP or IMAP to send/receive 
mail via the exchange server.  This won't require Outlook at all - you can 
use Eudora, Netscape, or any other POP or IMAP compliant mail reader.

Your admin, in my opinion, has taken the "I'll bash Microsoft products
(exchange) for being completely insecure, and nobody will notice I don't
know how to administer them" tack.  It will eventually be his undoing.  
You need to get a handful of folks to squeak enough to get this guy
greased into providing you the access you need. 
Dustin

-- 
*-----------------------------------*
| Dustin Decker                     |
| dustind at moon-lite.com       *-----------------------------------------*
| http://www.dustindecker.com |                                         |
| Moon-Lite Computing         | It is common sense to take a method and |
| 913.579.7117                | try it. If it fails, admit it frankly   |
*-----------------------------| and try another.  But above all, try    |
                              | something.                              |
                              |		-- Franklin D. Roosevelt        |
                              |                                         |
                              *-----------------------------------------*