[SOLVED] Migrate from MS Office Live Small Business

[todd_dsm]

Hey all,

I have a new ZCS/OSE server to install. My client is currently using Microsoft Office Live Small Business. As you might be aware, they make it very easy to get in but it's almost impossible to get out.

You literally have to cancel the service with MS, get domain keys, unlock the domain, add DNS records for your new ZCS server, then get all users connected to Zimbra.

But, by that time, you've been forced to cut your ties with MS and you've lost all of your emails. This is not a very attractive proposition.

Q: Does anyone know of an elegant migration solution for taking users FROM MS Office Live Small Business TO Zimbra?

Thanks in advance,
todd_dsm

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RFE: A place To Display the contents of 'My Documents'
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[todd_dsm]

Seems like this would be helpful for everyone. Nothing?

Thanks in advance,
todd_dsm

Don't forget to Vote for this RFE:
RFE: A place To Display the contents of 'My Documents'
Reasoning: It's new, bold, and cool.

[uxbod]

Are you able to connect via IMAP ? How does say Outlook integrate with the online Exchange version ?

[todd_dsm]

Originally Posted by uxbod

Are you able to connect via IMAP ? How does say Outlook integrate with the online Exchange version ?

All I can find on the subject is this guy (god bless him) that posted his experience migrating from Office Live. He really doesn't say what the strategy is for taking the mail with him though.

Even if you had to use IMAP to move accounts from point A to point B it seems kinda ghetto. I thought there may be another, more elegant solution that someone could impart.

It's like the Hotel California - you can get in but you can't get out. Thanks for your time.

Thanks in advance,
todd_dsm

Don't forget to Vote for this RFE:
RFE: A place To Display the contents of 'My Documents'
Reasoning: It's new, bold, and cool.

[fang0654]

Don't know how much this will help you, but this has been our method of migrating new clients, without them losing any e-mail:

First, create a dummy domain, and the real domain on the new server. Put the dummy domain as an alias on each account. For example:

Users:
john.doe@example.com
jane.doe@example.com

Aliases:
john.doe@dummy.example.com
jane.doe@dummy.example.com

Make sure you set up MX records on the dummy account to point to your new Zimbra server.

Next, migrate all of the data. Whether it be imapsync, PST import, or
however else you want to get the e-mail into Zimbra.

Then go into the current e-mail server, and set each account to forward to the dummy address. So john.doe@example.com will forward a copy of the email to john.doe@dummy.example.com, etc.

Then switch the users over to your new system. Then kill the old system (switch DNS, etc). By the time you cut ties with MS, everyone will already be working on the new server.

After everything is said and done, delete the dummy domain, and any aliases.

Caveats: While you are migrating, E-mail will come over from the old server to the new, but not vice versa. So if you move over half the employees, they won't be able to e-mail anyone still on the old system.

[todd_dsm]

Originally Posted by fang0654

migrate all of the data. Whether it be imapsync, PST import, or however else you want to get the e-mail into Zimbra.

fang0654, this is what I was looking for. I've looked into imapsync - it's awesome.

I haven't gotten it to work yet but now that I have this key word to look up I'm sure google will get me through it.

For everyone else, I found this link in the Zimbra wiki:
Guide to imapsync

As soon as I crack the nut on this mystery (specific to Office Live) I'll post here and mark it solved.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

Thanks in advance,
todd_dsm

Don't forget to Vote for this RFE:
RFE: A place To Display the contents of 'My Documents'
Reasoning: It's new, bold, and cool.

[todd_dsm]

OK, these are the basic steps. To migrate mail, contacts and calendar, you need a few things: the 'Microsoft Office Outlook Connector', Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Sunbird, and all (Office Live) UN/PW pairs for all users participating in the migration.

01) Install the Microsoft Office Outlook Connector. 
02) Setup the connection to your Office Live account (MAPI)
    a) When adding a new account in the Outlook wizard select Server type: Additional Server Type.  
    b) Here you will select the only option: Microsoft Office Outlook Connector
    c) Enter your Office Live credentials.
    d) Now Outlook is connected to the Office Live account but no information is retained in a PST file. 
    To verify, click the File Menu > Data File Management. Under the Filename column header it will say: Not available.
    e) Setup a connection to your Zimbra server now.
03) Drag-and-drop mail from Office Live Inbox to Zimbra Inbox
    Sub/additional folders are displayed as well. The folders themselves can be drug to the Zimbra connection.
04) Export .cvs Contacts file directly in Outlook
05) Import into Zimbra via the Preferences > Import/Export tab
06) Export .cvs Calendar file (Outlook supports more than .cvs but not .ical)
07) Import .cvs Calendar into Sunbird
08) Export .ical Calendar file
09) Import .ical file into Zimbra
10) A little clean-up work and you're done.

The last part is the most painful. I haven't cancelled the Office Live account, and transitioned the domain yet. I'll be posting those notes for the benefit of others, after I get the scar tissue.

I've submitted an enhancement request to get a migration tool (like the PST Importer) in the works to cut down on migration time. Vote for it if you need it.

Thanks in advance,
todd_dsm

Don't forget to Vote for this RFE:
RFE: A place To Display the contents of 'My Documents'
Reasoning: It's new, bold, and cool.