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Information Technology
Zimbra - Frequently Asked Questions
Why Zimbra?
On May 15, 2008, Dr. Ivory Lyles
formed an Ad Hoc Committee to evaluate extension’s current Email Software. The
Committee would make a recommendation to the Executive Team based on their
evaluation.
The committee began working in
August 2008 and spent approximately 116 hours evaluating several email
programs.
During the course of its
meetings, the committee, various members and invited guests provided
examples of how other institutions have executed similar searches and the
results of those actions.
The committee also wished to
hear the preferences of extension staff members who use GroupWise. The
committee designed and administered an online survey to assess those
preferences.
Here are the Conclusions of the
Committee:
- We should outsource
our email. This would increase our disaster recovery capability, as well as
provide redundancy beyond what extension resources currently allow for
regulatory compliance. Outsourcing will a) allow quicker updates and nearly
universal availability for users; b) eliminate weekend maintenance routines
and; c) free network staff to dedicate more time to bandwidth management and
the increasing challenges related to security.
- We should adopt Zimbra
Collaboration Suite (ZCS). In reviewing other collaboration application
suites and in keeping with their recommendation that extension outsource its
email, the committee sees ZCS as the best solution for our varied needs.
Among its advantages:
- Cost. This solution
costs nearly 66% less than other solutions.
- Multi-platform
compatibility. This solution works well with Mac and other platforms, in
additions to Windows.
- Desktop vs. web use.
User will see a familiar interface whether checking mail online through a
web browser or at a desktop.
- Mobiles. ZCS has a
mobile web client and has Windows Mobile, Blackberry, and iPhone support for
push email, calendars, and contacts in ZCS.
- Contact Management. ZCS can import and export vCards, CSV contact lists, and manage contacts in
web browser or through a desktop client.
- Calendars. ZCS can
offer both individual and group scheduling. All features currently found in
the GroupWise calendars are also available in ZCS.
- Dependability. Zimbra
hosted through Zimbra Educational hosting offers 99.9% uptime. This allows
for uninterrupted communication in the event that a power or network outage
affects the LRSO. Counties and other users would not be impacted by this
outage. Even in a severe case of damage to the LRSO building, outside
communication would not be affected.
- Storage. The default
storage is 2GB (2000MB). Currently, each GroupWise account has 125MB.
- Keep our domain. Using ZCS would allow extension to retain its identity through its uaex.edu
domain.
- It works for other
institutions. Zimbra is currently in use at Stanford (45,000 users), Texas
A&M (70,000 users), Georgia Tech (50,000 users), and Kansas State (30,000
users).
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