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Last Updated: October 22, 2009

Protocol Support

The ITCS Exchange Service supports the following email protocols:

MAPI the proprietary Exchange protocol used by Outlook 2000 and Outlook 2003
secure IMAP common email protocol supported by many email client
HTTPS web access to Exchange email using Outlook Web Access (OWA)
RPC/HTTPS for use by off campus clients to access the Exchange server using MAPI (i.e. by Outlook)
WebDAV used by Entourage 2004 client for the Macintosh

NOTE: The POP3 protocol is not supported on the ITCS Exchange Service.

Client Support

Exchange supports a large number of different clients for Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Mobile Clients and various web browsers.

Windows

  • Outlook 2003 on Windows XP — this provides the most features and best performance. This is the only client that supports RPC over HTTPS, which allows access via Outlook from off campus.
  • Outlook 2000 SP3 and above
  • Outlook Web Access Premium requires IE v6 web browser — reasonably good client, most Outlook features, no PDA support.
  • Secure IMAP — no calendar or PDA support
    Clients:
    • Mulberry
    • Eudora
    • Pine
    • Outlook Express

Macintosh

A chart comparing the various options and listing pros and cons is available here as Exchange4Macs.pdf.

  • Entourage 2004 — provides most of Outlook's features. Early versions had performance and data loss issues, so make certain you are using at least version 11.2.1 update (but not 11.2.3). Check your Entourage version number.
    11.2.3 BUG: Anyone using Entourage 11.2.3 should perform a free upgrade. Check for the latest Microsoft Office 2004 update.
  • Outlook Web Access Basic — available through any browser — does not provide the full functionality of the Premium client above, no PDA support.
  • iCAL — Provides calendar function when used with IMAP client. Included with Macintosh.
  • GroupCAL — third party add-on to enhance iCAL features such as creating group meetings (http://www.snerdware.com/groupcal/).
  • Outlook 2003 with Virtual PC — supports almost all features as Outlook 2003 on Windows. Not sure if it supports PDA sync and RPC over HTTPS.
  • Outlook 2003 with Terminal Servers — supports almost all features as Outlook 2003 on Windows. Probably does not support PDA sync. Department needs to provide their own Terminal Server.
  • Secure IMAP — no calendar or PDA support
    Clients:
    • Mail.App
    • Eudora
    • Mulberry
    • Pine

Linux

Linux clients have not received the same amount of testing as Windows and Macintosh clients. There is no official support for Linux clients, but the following methods are worth looking at:

  • Secure IMAP — no calendar or PDA support
  • Evolution Desktop — Mail and Calendar
  • Outlook Web Access Basic through any browser — does not provide the full functionality of the Premium client above, no PDA support.
  • Pine — text based, no calendar or PDA support

Mobile Clients

Many wireless enabled PDAs and Smart Phones have the ability to use email and calendaring with Exchange.

  • Secure IMAP — no calendar support
  • Outlook Mobile Web Access (OMA) — very Basic mail and calendar from any mobile web browser.
  • Exchange ActiveSync — mail and calendar on supported devices
  • BlackBerry

ITCS support of mobile devices on Exchange is described more fully here.