Resource Scheduling

[kiwicmc]

Hi,

I was thinking of using the Zimbra platform for a resource scheduling application I am developing. At a basic level a user would login as a resource user and create an appointment, set a variety of resource parameters. Once the appointment is saved an external process would be triggered to "poke" those parameters at the resource.

So my question(s) are these.
What are the hooks at the Zimbra server side like for triggering some RPC style program to connect to my resource?
What are the hooks like on the client side to add a new tab into the Appointment pane to collect the data I need?
Does Zimbra provide support (paid of course) to assist in such a development or would we be on our own?

If the above is all possible then can we use Zimbra with another mail system. i.e. can I populate the Contacts list straight from an external LDAP or AD server? and the use this list to Invite in attendees for the appointment?

Thanks in advance - Zimbra looks really nice and I hope all the above is possible without too much pain. We've done plenty of Java/Web/Mail style application development so it should all be doeable, just a question of how much effort.

Regards,
Chris

[KevinH]

If resource means conf rooms, projectors, etc then I'd recommend you just wait a little. We are working on that as we speak so might be easier than trying to write it yourself. Either way if there are other specific needs you need you can ping sales@ to make sure your requirements are recorded.

[kiwicmc]

So, I should be able to do what I want with this mechanism eh? I shall read further

C

[kiwicmc]

Thanks for your reply Kevin,

I'll shoot sales a email as well, but whatever way we go there will be development of some sort. The resource I wish to schedule is a conference appliance that can be controlled through a web service. So what I want is when a conference (AKA Meeting, Shared Appointment or what have you) is scheduled, then a call is made to the appliance to reserve ports on the appliance and set various other parameters.

So while some of the resource scheduling requirements may be met by your enhancements, there is no way all of them will.

With zimlets, I can see how I can call a JSP and pass it parameters - hopefully all the appointment parameters as well. What I'm still a little shaky on is how to extend the client side and add panels (?) to the Appointment page.

I've found the sms sample zimlet that seems to show a lot of what I want and am downloading the VMWare player edition of Zimbra, but at 12 KB/s I've still got 28 hours to go! There's not a faster mirror somewhere is there?

Anyway I shall keep reading and learning,
Thanks
Chris

[KevinH]

Originally Posted by kiwicmc

I've found the sms sample zimlet that seems to show a lot of what I want and am downloading the VMWare player edition of Zimbra, but at 12 KB/s I've still got 28 hours to go! There's not a faster mirror somewhere is there?

That file is sitting on Akamai so doubt you'll find a faster mirror. What kind of connection are you on? Even at home I think it only takes an hour to download, but I've got a decent cable modem. If you want a smaller download you'll need to do the install yourself.