iSLOX Outlook-to-Openexchange Connector
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 When SUSE LINUX needed to release a special version update for its enterprise-class groupware solution, it opted to go with SaM to resolve the daunting technical tasks by relying on SaM’s extensive expertise with both Linux and Windows.
Customer Profile
SUSE LINUX is the world’s second biggest vendor of Linux software and services, offering enterprise-class value-added Linux products and support internationally.
Business Situation
As a far-reaching initiative to provide the corporate customers with a dependable Open Source-based collaboration solution, SUSE LINUX offers its Openexchange Server, which makes a highly competitive alternative to Microsoft’s Exchange.
Version 4.1 of Openexchange released in October 2003 is an innovative, all-in-one groupware solution that includes tools for messaging, collaboration, tasks and appointments management and more, while letting business users to utilize the client software of their choice.
An important new feature of version 4.1 is the ability to use Microsoft Outlook on desktop to access the teamwork tools of Openexchange.
SaM’s Linux- and Windows-technology experts were relied upon to handle the challenging task of linking MS Outlook to SUSE LINUX Openexchange.
Solution
SaM Solutions was responsible for developing a special connector called iSLOX that allows MS Outlook users to easily access appointments, tasks and other collaborative tools available at Openexchange from the familiar environment they are accustomed to.
When developing iSLOX, SaM faced a number of serious challenges arising from the uniqueness of the task itself. To provide an effective solution where the previous contractor failed, SaM’s team had to address the following issues:
- Implement low-level compatibility of fundamentally different data models employed by MS Outlook and Openexchange;
- Provide complete Outlook look-and-feel to ensure seamless business user experience;
- Guarantee a supreme level of reliability and stability that corporate clients expect.
Results
The project took SaM about 9 months to successfully complete. The search for the most suitable technical approach alone took about 2 months of intensive investigation. Additionally, SaM had to develop its own test system in-house to ensure the product dependability, since no debugging tools for the job that unique existed.
Developed by SaM, iSLOX connector became the key component in Openexchange v.4.1, helping SUSE LINUX to deliver a best-of-breed solution in terms of interoperability, reliability and user-friendliness to its corporate clients.
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More information on SUSE Openexchange is available at www.suse.de/de/business/products/openexchange.
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