E-mail and Directory Migration to the iPlanet/Sun ONE Platform

2.13

E-mail and Directory Migration to the iPlanet/Sun ONE Platform

Overview

Internet standards-based messaging technologies are one of two major forces driving the messaging market today (the other is integrated IT infrastructure solutions most often categorized as intranet solutions or groupware). Global System Services Corporation (GSS) is the leading Messaging Integrator for Lotus and Netscape messaging solutions.

For many Lotus cc:Mail customers Lotus Notes and Domino represent an outstanding value due to it's advanced integrated groupware capabilities, while other customers remain more concerned with simple e-mail and Internet standards.

The following sections describe the unique product and service offerings of GSS for cc:Mail to Netscape migration and coexistence:

• LAN-Based E-Mail to Internet Migration
• GSS Migration and Coexistence Tools
• GSS Migration Services
• cc:Mail Compatibility with Netscape Messenger
• POP3 Versus IMAP4
• Migration Tools and Deployment Methodologies
• Remote Access (Mobile) Solutions
• Summary
• About GSS
• Contacting GSS

Whether a customer is planning to change their e-mail client application from cc:Mail to Netscape Messenger of migrate their post offices to a Netscape Messaging Server, GSS provides all of the necessary tools and services. GSS helps customers plan and build Internet standards-based messaging infrastructures and to develop and implement client rollouts and cc:Mail to Netscape migration strategies.

Migrating from Legacy LAN-based Systems

Many cc:Mail customers are comparing the costs and benefits of upgrading from cc:Mail R5 and below to cc:Mail R6 and R8 with the costs of migrating from cc:Mail to Netscape's 100% Internet standards-based messaging solution. While Lotus cc:Mail is the long-standing champion of LAN-based e-mail, that technology is essentially obsolete and Lotus has effectively discontinued the cc:Mail product line. Netscape is the unquestioned leader in Internet standards-based messaging technology.

For customers that have decided to migrate from cc:Mail to Netscape Messenger and Messaging Server, GSS offers the most complete set of migration and coexistence tools along with industry-defining e-mail migration and general messaging services.

GSS Migration Tools

Contrary to what many customers and general systems integrators believe the largest challenge of any e-mail migration is not data migration but coexistence. As a Messaging Integrator, GSS understands migration and coexistence issues. The GSS migration and coexistence toolset for cc:Mail and Netscape messaging consists of three software products:

• GSS Migration Wizard
• GSS LDAP Creator
• GSS LDAP Synchronizer

GSS Migration Wizard is the most powerful, full-featured migration tool available while GSS LDAP Creator provides cc:Mail to LDAP directory conversion and allows administrators to create address translation tables. GSS LDAP Synchronizer is a bi-directional directory synchronization gateway for cc:Mail and Netscape Directory Server.

Figure 1. Migration from cc:Mail to Netscape Messaging

GSS Migration Services

GSS offers the most advanced migration planning, system architecture and design, infrastructure deployment and related consulting services for Netscape messaging solutions. In fact, GSS was called upon by Netscape Communications to assist in the first major deployment of Netscape Messaging Server 3.0 (a 40,000 user system), and GSS has built Netscape messaging systems up to 150,000 uses in size.

As a market leader counting Fortune 100 companies and major messaging vendors as its clients GSS defines the Messaging Integrator. GSS is a Qualified Lotus Business Partner, a Certified Microsoft Solution Provider, a Netscape Solution Expert, as well as a member of key industry organizations.

Compatibility with Netscape Communicator

Using the R8 POP3 and IMAP4 servers offers customers a way to transition to the Netscape Messenger e-mail client application. However, this approach is not recommended unless POP3 is the customer's technology of choice. Versions of the cc:Mail servers prior to Release 8.2 involved performance and compatibility limitations, thus R8.2 of the cc:Mail servers is recommended.

POP3 Clients and IMAP4 Servers

The choice of POP3 versus IMAP4 decision is related to the customer's backup strategy and migration plan. The best way to keep the cc:Mail back end is by using POP3 because with IMAP4 there is no way to synchronize of folders across servers when transitioning from the cc:Mail IMAP4 server to the Netscape Messaging server (users would have two copies of mail or only retain mail downloaded locally along with the headers of mail still on the old server but inaccessible after migration).

For small and medium-sized systems, GSS recommends migrating users from the cc:Mail to the Netscape server as Messenger is rolled out thus users switch servers but retain all their mail on the IMAP4 server and avoid server synchronization issues. In larger systems, other migration strategies may be best.

Proven Methodology

GSS recommends the GSS Migration Wizard product which is without question the most powerful and full-featured migration tool available for cc:Mail to Netscape migration. With GSS Migration Wizard customers can convert cc:Mail archive files, individual mailboxes and Mobile databases or whole post offices to local Netscape POP3 folders, to a file server for later distribution, or directly to the IMAP4 message store of the Netscape Messaging Server. GSS Migration Wizard handles messages, address conversion, file attachments, personal address books, and more.

GSS LDAP Creator which ships free with GSS Migration Wizard allows customers to build an address translation table and to populate the Netscape Directory Server with your user IDs and e-mail addresses.

Figure 2. Coexistence of cc:Mail and Netscape Messaging

Once the Netscape Messaging Server is in place, deployment of a pre-configured build of Communicator 4.05 or 4.5 (assembled with Netscape Mission Control) should be planned using AutoConfig and AutoAdmin to leverage the power of JavaScript for automated client configuration and configuration maintenance. Users should then be migrated from cc:Mail and the cc:Mail post office to the IMAP4 server. This can be done by post office or other grouping or on a user-by-user basis.

Remote Access and Mobile Clients

For remote access, customers generally choose between implementing their own TCP/IP dial-up facility (RAS/PPP) or making their servers accessible over the Internet. In either case data can be secured by running IMAP4 over SSL (secure Sockets Layer). In both cases there is no necessary dependency on an ISP for anything other than connectivity. Customers that do not already have an Internet connection and firewall must compare the costs of long distance phone calls and Toll Free numbers to the cost of maintaining an Internet connection and firewall.

Experience Superior Value

With GSS customers always know what they will receive, how much they should invest, and how long it will take to achieve their goals. Let GSS help you migrate quickly and smoothly to a superior e-mail infrastructure. Over the years GSS has proven its value by helping customers successfully meet the most demanding IT challenges. GSS has relationships with major vendors that involve training and certification of GSS staff, but the certification that GSS points out most frequently is customer loyalty. GSS is successful because GSS customers are successful.

About GSS

Global System Services Corporation (GSS) is the leading provider of consulting and professional services for large-scale and distributed infrastructure systems such as email and messaging, directory services, groupware, and wireless solutions. GSS customers include Fortune 500 companies, large services providers and telecom companies, government agencies, major messaging product vendors, and innovative technology startups.

GSS provides a complementary suite of services including strategic technology consultation and competitive vendor and product analysis, product and system architecture and design, system development deployment, customization, and testing, technical support, email migration, and other IT services. GSS has been directly responsible for some of the largest global systems and solutions and counts as customers many of the largest companies in the world.

From its offices in the Silicon Valley California, GSS delivers services and solutions to customers worldwide through a network of mobile consultants and qualified GSS Affiliates. With industry certified professionals on staff, GSS is a Qualified Lotus Business Partner, a Certified Microsoft Solution Provider (MCSP), a Principal Partner in the Sun Partner Advantage program and a member of the Sun Software Partner Council, as well as a member of key industry organizations.

Contact GSS

©1995-2005 by Global System Services Corporation (GSS). Portions of this material are copyright ©1995-1999 by Ron Herardian