Adding a second server to the Network without losing the groupware features

[TheChosenOne]

Hi,

we use ZCS Open Source 6.0.5 in our company. Now some users want to use Outlook as Groupware-Client. Because the Outlook connector is only available in a paid version of the Zimbra-Server we need to install a second one as paid version.
Now my question: Is it posible to run two Zimbra-Servers (the "old" open source server and a new one with the capability for the Outlook connector) working together? We just want to move approximately 15 Users to the new server for the Outlook capability. Of cause all groupware features need to work also betwen the two servers.

Maybe someone has a hint for us how to do this? Thanks!

[phoenix]

Originally Posted by TheChosenOne

we use ZCS Open Source 6.0.5 in our company. Now some users want to use Outlook as Groupware-Client.

Why don't you use Zimbra Desktop as the client instead of Outlook?

[TheChosenOne]

Hi Phoenix,
thanks for your quick answer. The users who want to use Outlook are from the Management. We already presented Zimbra Desktop to them. Thay still want to use Outlook.

[LMStone]

Originally Posted by TheChosenOne

Hi Phoenix,
thanks for your quick answer. The users who want to use Outlook are from the Management. We already presented Zimbra Desktop to them. Thay still want to use Outlook.

You can solve the mail flow issue through the use of subdomains, but a Zimbra system is licensed either as Network Edition or Open Source Edition. You can't mix licensing on one integrated Zimbra system.

The other benefit of NE over OSE is supported online backups.

Perhaps the script with which to go back to management is that you have a plan to automate the company's backup of the entire email system AND provide management with integrated Outlook - for only the cost of the Zimbra licensing.

If you have 1,000 mailboxes, paying for NE for all of them just so 15 managers can continue to use Outlook is a significant cost -- unless you can demonstrate other benefits from NE (like backups).

If the company is a regulated entity, has email retention requirements or has been involved in litigation, the Archiving and Discovery component of NE may also provide management with significant benefits.

Hope that helps, and keep us posted,
Mark

P.S. You can "install" NE over your existing Zimbra system with no loss of configuration. You just put the license in place, run the NE installer (same version as you have for OSE) and the installer will "upgrade" your system from an OSE system to an NE system.

[TheChosenOne]

Hi LMStone,
thanks for your reply. Youre absolutely right. Of cause we need to present some more benefits if we change the license for the whole system. So we will need to talk about that in our company. I'll keep you up to date here
Thanks again!

[TheChosenOne]

Hi, i told you that i will keep you up to date, so here i go...
Because its not posible to mix up Licenses and the upgrade for all users would be to expensive the request has been stoped.

But thank you for your help!