What Would you do if Novell GroupWise to Exchange Co-Existence Solution Fails?

Read time 5 minutes

Novell GroupWise is a feature-rich email and collaboration platform preferred by large organizations. It’s compatible with both Windows and Linux operating systems, offering more than just email services, including instant messaging, calendar management, and personal information management. Additionally, it provides convenient access to GroupWise mailboxes and data via web access and mobile devices.

While Novell GroupWise boasts numerous features, organizations may consider deploying it. However, when we delve into other aspects and compare it to Microsoft Exchange Server, the latter stands out with its remarkable and user-friendly features.

Microsoft Exchange Server is a highly efficient mail server known for its seamless management of collaborative services like calendars, contacts, and appointments. It offers enhanced security and simplicity compared to Novell GroupWise and seamlessly integrates with the Active Directory database.

However, there are occasions when a company must consider technology migration due to various factors, including:

• Companies decision to shift from Novell GroupWise to Exchange Server
• Financial constraints leading to adopt an inexpensive MS Exchange Server
• Urgent requirement of a client which necessitates the deployment of Exchange Server

Contrasting Differences Between Novell GroupWise & MS Exchange Server

If you are considering migrating your Novell GroupWise-based mailboxes to the MS Exchange Server platform, it’s essential to conduct thorough research on the features and functionalities of both email applications. Take a look at the following table to understand the key differences between them:

After examining the notable differences between MS Exchange Server and Novell GroupWise Server, you might consider running both technologies simultaneously within a single IT infrastructure to harness the benefits of both email servers. Those who opt for this coexistence approach, rather than immediately migrating from GroupWise to Exchange, can achieve it through the utilization of Novell GroupWise coexistence functionality. Now, let’s explore the configurations and technical aspects involved in the Novell GroupWise and Exchange Server coexistence solution.

The implementation of GroupWise and Exchange coexistence enables users to access either of the mail servers for email and collaborative services. To establish this dynamic and compatible functionality, you must configure the two critical components included in GroupWise 2012 SP2 (users should upgrade existing versions). These key components are explained in the following points:

• Address Book Synchronization: In the coexistence solution, the initial step to ensure seamless email exchange is Address Book synchronization. This process maintains a shared database of email user accounts by synchronizing the Exchange Server Global Address List (GAL) and the GroupWise Address Book. It enables uninterrupted email communication between users on different email server platforms.
• GroupWise Free/Busy Service: This service requires configuration to provide efficient appointment management services to users, regardless of their email server platforms. To exchange crucial appointment information between the two platforms, GroupWise employs Internet Free/Busy URLs. Consequently, GroupWise users can utilize the GroupWise Busy Search feature to review Exchange user appointments, while Exchange Server users can access Outlook Scheduling Assistant to confirm GroupWise user appointments.
  Note: The Address Book Synchronization code is a section of Message Transfer Agent (MTA) and the GroupWise Free/Busy capability is built into the GroupWise Windows and Web Access Client.

In addition to configuring the two fundamental components of the GroupWise/Exchange co-existence solution, you can also set up and synchronize messaging and calendaring applications. However, implementing a co-existence environment between GroupWise and Exchange introduces numerous incompatibilities and complexities that can only be fully resolved by transitioning to a single email platform. Moreover, organizations looking to deploy Microsoft Exchange Server need more than co-existence solutions to provision Outlook mailboxes. For a fast and secure GroupWise to Exchange migration, experts frequently recommend utilizing third-party email migration software.

For organizations looking to export their GroupWise email items to Exchange Server mailboxes, Kernel for Novell GroupWise to Exchange is the ideal solution. This software features sophisticated algorithms that facilitate the seamless conversion of various GroupWise email items such as contacts, appointments, drafts, emails, calendars, and more into Exchange mailboxes. Additionally, this exceptional email migration utility offers the flexibility to save output files in either Outlook PST format or directly to live Exchange Server, all through a user-friendly software interface. It is compatible with all versions of Exchange Server and GroupWise for migration. You can find comprehensive information and access the trial version on its official website.

Summary

In this blog, we’ve explored the significance of two email data management platforms, Novell GroupWise and Exchange Server. We’ve delved into feature comparisons, detailed the co-existence deployment scenario, examined potential challenges and the necessity for migrating from Novell GroupWise to Exchange Server. Finally, we introduced a straightforward, robust, and automated solution: Novell GroupWise to Exchange Server software.