Zimbra outlook-connector review

[thorx]

Hi there.
I'm reviewing outlook connector to see if I can use it in our org. I do have lic. and all that. We are running webclient and no thick client right now.

My observation:

1. Outlook 2016 32bits + connector Version: 8.7.0.1649:
Crashes if you create one folder under the inbox. it crashes untill you delete that folder.
And I read it was some issues with 32bits outlook+connector+win10. Not sure if it fixed or not
[crashes in a different way on 8.7.0.1650 on win7 ] it worked at first. but leaving outlook on over night. The next day it crashes and won't work.
Update2. and the crash dissapeared when looking at this again after some days without doing any changes. Not sure what's going on.

2. Outlook 2016 64bits + connector Version: 8.7.0.1650 : Find shares equivalent in webclient doesn't exist :
You got Sharestatus, but that isn't the same as find shares in webclient. User need to add each user using the global address list.
https://bugzilla.zimbra.com/show_bug.cgi?id=98737

3. Outlook 2016 64bits + connector Version: 8.7.0.1650 :
Favorites works only on subitems on a share and you can't rename what you put in favorites. resulting in like similar names under favorites.Like favoriting 3 different inboxes: inbox inbox inbox.
if you favorite main share name "zimbra - username", it just gives that text under favorites and you can't click it or anything.
https://bugzilla.zimbra.com/show_bug.cgi?id=105499

[fixed with registry tweak. see bug for details ]
4. Outlook 2016 64bits + connector Version: 8.7.0.1650 :
Global address lists all aliases so that it looks messy and it looks like we got 3-4 times more employees
https://bugzilla.zimbra.com/show_bug.cgi?id=106296
https://bugzilla.zimbra.com/show_bug.cgi?id=14919

[workaround using fix in 4. ]
5. Outlook 2016 64bits + connector Version: 8.7.0.1650 :
since you can select multiple aliases on the same user when adding shares, it is possible to add same share multiple times.
if you add same alias you get "This mailbox is already mounted in the profile" could be fixed by not list all aliases in global adress list.
https://bugzilla.zimbra.com/show_bug.cgi?id=106615

6. Outlook 2016 64bits + connector Version: 8.7.0.1650 :
Update intervall for shared calender too slow
https://bugzilla.zimbra.com/show_bug.cgi?id=105890
https://bugzilla.zimbra.com/show_bug.cgi?id=74032

7. Outlook 2016 64bits + connector Version: 8.7.0.1650 :
Error on apply rules and no indication on what rule is the problem
https://bugzilla.zimbra.com/show_bug.cgi?id=106251
https://bugzilla.zimbra.com/show_bug.cgi?id=82643

8. Outlook 2016 64bits + connector Version: 8.7.0.1650 :
Abort a meeting that allready have happend dosent prompt window to update the meeting members(resource etc.). Not sure if it is a problem but the clock sure needs to not be wrong.
https://bugzilla.zimbra.com/show_bug.cgi?id=106616

9. [Not implemented yet] non-cached mode that are useful in VDI or terminalserver
viewtopic.php?f=20&t=61392
https://bugzilla.zimbra.com/show_bug.cgi?id=67769

I think this product could be much better if these bugs where fixed. I will try to find more bugs/issues. But the above is the ones I found easy.
I have reported the above bugs as both bugs and support request now (minus the 32bits crash).

If anyone is reading this could you please vote up this bug, it's one of the worst:
https://bugzilla.zimbra.com/show_bug.cgi?id=74032

[Arie Josall]

Hi Thorx,
I'm not too expert on this. As user, I need to sync Zimbra Calendar with Outlook 2016 - 32 bit, Outlook.Com & Outlook Android mobile.
Do you have any suggest which version of Zimbra Connector reliable for my purposes? I will apreciate if you can share download location address and guidance to install / setting up .

I did the installation of 8.7.0.1650 - 32 bit, but nothing happen, the calendar can not be sync.

Thank's a lot

[thorx]

Hi Thorx,
I'm not too expert on this. As user, I need to sync Zimbra Calendar with Outlook 2016 - 32 bit, Outlook.Com & Outlook Android mobile.
Do you have any suggest which version of Zimbra Connector reliable for my purposes? I will apreciate if you can share download location address and guidance to install / setting up .

I did the installation of 8.7.0.1650 - 32 bit, but nothing happen, the calendar can not be sync.

Thank's a lot

What are you running now? zimbra version? network edition?

android mobile is easy= use activesync.it's stable.
if you just need your own calender + email then you could use outlook 2013 or higher, as that outlook supports activesync as well.

activesync is available in zimbra network edition.
but also in opensource edition as an option now: https://blog.zimbra.com/2016/09/synacor ... rce-users/

if you need other users calender, sharing other resources, global addresslist etc. you would need outlook connector. after install. you need to add the mail account in outlook as you normaly would need to setup an account.
or go to controlpanel and find mail-icon there. select other, and add zimbra collaboration server account. I pretty much have the settings for the account as standard. just need to put in username, password and zimbra server address.

They have updated the userguide for the connector, however there are no pictures in the guide:
https://files.zimbra.com/website/docs/8 ... _8.7.0.pdf

[jorgedlcruz]

Hi,
Have you opened Support Cases about this issues? some of them needs logs to debug and help to fix it.

Please open a ticket per each issue you face, that always accelerates the process to have them fixed

Best regards

[thorx]

yes I did after you suggested that to me in the chat. we will see how it goes.
it's sure time-consuming provinding all info needed when bugs are filed. I have filed the 32 bits crash as well now and got a whole lot of troubleshoothing steps(logs etc) from support. have to see if I get time to look at that next week.

I'm hoping you will take my suggestion about exposing the changelog for the connector. That would help alot