Problem with connection to zimbra exchange

[koudi]

Hello,

I'm trying to connect to Zimbra Collaboration Suite, using exchange protocol. Account creation fails with ErrorFolderNotFound error, because Zimbra doesn't report back all requested folders.

Request and response are attached.

I'm not sure whether this is zimbra or aquamail problem (I already opened zimbra support ticket), but other clients can connect to zimbra.

[Kostya Vasilyev]

The problem is this part:

        <GetFolderResponseMessage ResponseClass="Error">
          <MessageText>outbox could not be mapped to a Zimbra
          folder.</MessageText>
          <ResponseCode>ErrorFolderNotFound</ResponseCode>
        </GetFolderResponseMessage>

Exchange has a built-in "outbox" folder - and Aqua checks for that. The ironic part is that we actually don't need it and only detect so it can be skipped.

This kind of thing has come up before - there are several companies that claim their servers "support Exchange protocols" but in practice it's patchy.

Even if we got past this issue - there could be others (similar situation with Kerio).

The only "non-Microsoft Exchange" that works at all (in my experience) is Amazon's Work Mail.

---

As for "but all other apps work" - they probably use Active Sync, which is a simpler protocol, and probably is emulated by Zimbra with better fidelity.

[koudi]

Thank you.

As for "but all other apps work"

I didn't say all of them . But yeah, I didn't check deeper and assumed the newer apps use EWS instead of AS. I might check this later.

Exchange has a built-in "outbox" folder - and Aqua checks for that. The ironic part is that we actually don't need it and only detect so it can be skipped.
Even if we got past this issue - there could be others (similar situation with Kerio).

So, does this mean it won't be "fixed" in aqua?

[Kostya Vasilyev]

Exchange has a built-in "outbox" folder - and Aqua checks for that. The ironic part is that we actually don't need it and only detect so it can be skipped.
Even if we got past this issue - there could be others (similar situation with Kerio).

So, does this mean it won't be "fixed" in aqua?

I can look into adding a workaround for this issue specifically - in next version 1.15, not the 1.14 we're currently rolling out.

But I'm not optimistic because I've seen this "EWS emulation advertised, but doesn't actually work" before.

Question is how much effort are you willing to put into it? Running a test version when there is one (1.15-dev)? Creating a test account for me on this server (if you can)?

[koudi]

I can look into adding a workaround for this issue specifically

Thank you.

But I'm not optimistic because I've seen this "EWS emulation advertised, but doesn't actually work" before.

I assume there might be some more bugs and I'll open them in zimbra bug tracker, but this one is major since it blocks even creating an account. In the first post you made it sound like it shouldn't be too complicated; I hope it won't bother you too much.

Question is how much effort are you willing to put into it?

Aqua mail is my favourite client and we'll probably migrate to zimbra, so yes, I'd like it to work and will try to help.

Running a test version when there is one (1.15-dev)?

Absolutely.

Creating a test account for me on this server (if you can)?

This might be a bit trickier but yes, I'ts possible.


Thank you.

[Kostya Vasilyev]

I assume there might be some more bugs and I'll open them in zimbra bug tracker, but this one is major since it blocks even creating an account.

In that case why not open a ticket for this one - just to see what kind of response you get, so we know what to expect with any subsequent bugs?

I mean "outbox" is an Exchange specific feature - but all of EWS is Exchange specific.

And if Zimbra claims that they emulate EWS, shouldn't they also emulate the Outbox folder?

[koudi]

In that case why not open a ticket for this one - just to see what kind of response you get, so we know what to expect with any subsequent bugs?

I already did (the same day as this one). So far, no response.

https://bugzilla.zimbra.com/show_bug.cgi?id=108872 [nofollow]

[Kostya Vasilyev]

I just made the necessary change (for "outbox not there? ha, no big deal, move along") in our code.

Please keep an eye for "1.15-dev" under "development builds" - soon, can't say when exactly, but I'm thinking 1-2 weeks.

And then let's see how far that gets us.

In addition to initial account setup - and receiving mail - there is a whole bunch of other things that _should_ in theory work, but whether they do would depend on Zimbra:

- Uploading drafts
- Sending mail
- Marking messages read/unread/starred/unstarred
- Moving messages between folders
- Calendar sync and upload (server to app and app to server)
- Contact sync and upload (ditto)
- Messages to sync set to "N messages" vs. "N days" (use different commands)
- Push mail (uses so called push subscriptions)

Every one of those can in theory run into some sort of incompatibility.

And I'm afraid that for Zimbra (and Kerio, btw) - "we support EWS" might really mean "we support one app that uses EWS" and that "one app" is Outlook (for Mac I guess?)

But coming back to the beginning - the "outbox" issue should be fixed and posted as 1.15-dev soon.

[koudi]

Thanks a lot! I'll wait for the dev build and report back.