Complete Reference of Technical Specification, Compatibility and Migration in Novell GroupWise

In 1994, Novell debuted as an email client vendor with release of GroupWise 4.1. This email client came into existence to satisfy the business need of robust and secured information sharing. It is a strong platform that is hosted multiple specialties in synchronized thread like collaboration and messaging. It uses the platform of Novell (Vendor) that is included with numerous functionalities like personal information management, document management, instant messaging and email.

For depth understanding, we should start from basic terminologies that are associated with GroupWise client.

Compatibility with Client & Server:

As categorization of client & server computing system, this software is available in two distinct modes. In first mode, client ends software is available for Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. On other hand, Server side software is supported by Linux and Windows Server.

Vast Data Accessibility: Apart from desktop & exchange server accessibility, this email client gives alternative way of data accessibility in different platform that are:

• Web Access through email accounts
• Mobile Server Package for Smartphone

User can also operate this email client in ‘Web Access’ mode. To complete this requirement, you must have ‘Novell Data Synchronizer’ i.e. server software. After enabling this software, you can easily put you email system at hand held devices like Smartphone, tablet and PDA.

To accomplish client’s request, the server (Novell Data Synchronizer) uses protocol i.e. Exchange ActiveSync. Whereas, to access OWA email account, GroupWise depends on browser based email client.

This email system integrates all kind of functionalities in desktop client with a web browser. In 2010, Novell was released Data Synchronizer Mobility Pack with support of Exchange ActiveSync. It is a new kind of mobile gateway. This gateway was started for supporting mobile server with iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry 10.

Protocols Used for Messaging:

GroupWise supports various kind of email protocol according to their functions. For communication with another email account, SMTP (simple mail transfer protocol) is used by GroupWise. Similarly, IMAP and SOAP are used to access native mailbox of a mail account. Without synchronizing these protocols, user can’t access their mail box. Apart from these protocols, POP3 and iCalendar are also used to access data.

Technical specification with GroupWise Client:

In broad categorization, Novell gives six types for package for email system that are:

1 – Novell GroupWise Mobility Service

2- Web Access

3 – Mac Client

4 – Linux Client

5 – Windows Client

6 – GroupWise Server

1 – Novell GroupWise Mobility Service: To empower your email application with mobility, this serviced is needed. For successful installation, hardware’s compatibility also matters. Its minimum hardware requirement is as follows:

Capability of processor for the Synchronizer server:     

• x86-64 processor
• 2.2 GHz processor
• Static IP address
• Limit of server memory depends on the number of devices to be enabled by particular mobility server
• For supporting 300 devices, there is a need of 4 GB RAM
• Enabling support to 1000 devices, it is must to have 8 GB RAM at least
• 45 MB Disk Space memory is occupied by Mobility Service software
• 200 GB of disk space is advised for data storage
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 11 (64-bit). This server should be tagged under service pack 2 or service pack 3
• If you are using virtual machines then ‘Time Synchronization’ is required among servers

2- Web Access: This requirement is related to GroupWise 2012 under Windows client workstation. To implement you mailbox in OWA mode, essential things which is required mentioned below:

Browser Requirement in distinct operating system:

• Linux Machine: Mozilla Firefox
• Windows Machine: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0 or later version, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox
• Macintosh Machine: Mac OS with updated version of Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome
• Apple iPad 1 or 2: Updated version of Safari enabled with device
• For WAP (Wireless Access Protocol) enabled mobile device, it is necessary to have a browser that supports HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) 4.0 or later

3 – Mac Client: For Mac device, GroupWise 8.0 is available. To configure this email client, minimum requirements are:

• Processor: 32-bit/x86 or 64-bit/x86 with 32 bit
• Desktop Operating System: Mac OS 10.4 (Tiger), Mac OS 10.5 (Leopard), Mac OS X for Intel, Mac OS X for PowerPC
• JVM (Java Virtual Machine) is dedicated for Apple with version 1.5 or later
• 75 MB disk space/user’s workstation

4 – Linux Client:  For installing client in Linux, amendments of requirement are given below:

• Processor: 32-bit/x86 processor or 64-bit/x86 with 32-bit
• USE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10
• GNOME desktop
• 200 MB of free disk space/user’s workstation

5 – Windows Client: GroupWise (2012) is available for Windows machine as a client workstation. For setting with Windows, the minimum requirement:

• Processor: x86-32 or x86-64
• Desktop Operating System Requirement:

Windows XP is needed with 128 MB RAM

Windows Vista is needed with 1 GB RAM

Windows 7 is needed with 1 GB RAM

• Disk Space Requirement/user’s workstation: 200 MB

6 – GroupWise Server: It is about version 2012. The required needs are:

• Server Operating System:

Novell Open Enterprise Server for Linux version with latest service pack

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) 10 with latest service pack

Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2 with latest service pack

• Processor: x86-32 or x86-64
• eDirectory 8.7 enabled with LDAP
• ConsoleOne 1.3.6h with LDAP

Migrating GroupWise:

Apart from enriched functionality that is given by Novell GroupWise, it has a limitation which is its complex nature. Due to this complex nature of interface, user wants to migrate towards simplified email clients like MS Outlook, Linux Server etc. Such switching between email clients is possible only through transformation of data format.

Migration to Linux: GroupWise Server Migration Utility is used to move all available components of email system in to Linux server easily. It also works on policy of ‘zero level of error’ with intact output data.

Migration to Outlook: In GroupWise, data is represented by .GWI extension, whereas Outlook uses .PST extension. So, to start work with MS Outlook application, you need to convert existing database files of Novell GroupWise in to PST file format. After successful conversion in PST file, it can be imported in to Outlook through manual steps.