GroupWise

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GroupWise
Basic data

developer Micro Focus
Current  version 18.2.1
(March 4, 2020)
operating system Server : Linux and Windows
Client : Windows , Linux and Mac OS
category Groupware
License Proprietary software
German speaking Yes
Micro Focus GroupWise

GroupWise is a groupware software from the British company Micro Focus , previously known as Novell GroupWise for many years . It is used to manage e-mail , appointments, tasks, addresses and documents. An instant messenger program is also integrated into GroupWise.

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server is included in the software package as server software so that a complete groupware package can be used without additional software costs.

WordPerfect Office emerged as GroupWise in the early 1990s (developed by WordPerfect Corporation , which was sold to Novell in 1994 ). In November 2010 the product switched to Attachmate through purchase , which merged with Micro Focus in November 2014 . GroupWise is a flexible and expandable system in the LAN and WAN environment. Gateways exist for a number of protocols in order to exchange information with other systems.

Functional features

GroupWise is a communication and collaboration system for companies. It offers options for editing and managing e-mail, appointments, tasks, addresses, documents and instant messenger messages. GroupWise works as a client-server system .

The most extensive client program is available for Windows operating systems. A cross-platform client for Linux and Macintosh systems and a web client for access via web browser can also be used. The Linux and Macintosh clients have not been further developed since version 8, GroupWise focuses on the Windows and web clients from version 2012.

It is also possible to access the mailboxes with standard e-mail client programs using the POP3 , IMAP , CalDAV / CardDAV and ActiveSync protocols . This means that it is also possible to use handheld devices , smartphones and tablets to access the GroupWise server either directly via an Internet connection or indirectly via synchronization. Since version 2012 it has been possible to operate and synchronize GroupWise in parallel with Microsoft Exchange

Server programs are available for the Linux and Microsoft Windows server operating systems . With the GroupWise version 2012, support for the no longer developed NetWare operating system has been removed . As of version 2014, GroupWise is no longer dependent on the Novell directory service eDirectory , but can also use another LDAP service, e.g. B. can be operated with Active Directory , or completely without a directory service.

Technical details

GroupWise is designed for performance for use in medium and large businesses. The GroupWise system is designed to be modular and scalable. A GroupWise server can easily serve several thousand clients, and clustering also ensures high availability. The Groupwise system can be distributed across many servers, even across WAN links.

In the background, GroupWise works in a directory structure ; A relation to encrypted and compressed email objects is saved in index files for each mailbox. For example B. an e-mail only once in the post office that manages the mailboxes. The relationship that a sender or the recipient has to this e-mail exists as a reference in the index of the respective mailbox.

As a result, GroupWise is extremely economical with storage space. In addition, the amount of storage space used is only limited by the space available in the file system .

At the same time, this explains the very good performance . The overview of a client in the mailbox only requires the occasional synchronization with its own index.

The licensing is based solely on the number of configured mailboxes; There are no separate licenses for the server (except for the underlying operating system) and the associated client software. As a result, GroupWise was and is particularly flexible to install and interesting for companies with many locations.

Versions

  • 1986: WordPerfect Library 1.0
  • 1987: WordPerfect Library for DOS
  • 1988: WordPerfect Office 2.0
  • 1990: WordPerfect Office 3.0
  • 1992: WordPerfect Office 3.1
  • 1993: WordPerfect Office 4.0 - also Server for OS / 2
  • 1994: Novell GroupWise 4.1
  • 1996: Novell GroupWise 5 - integration with Novell eDirectory
  • 1997: Novell GroupWise 5.2
  • 1998: Novell GroupWise 5.5
  • 2000: Novell GroupWise 6
  • 2004: Novell GroupWise 6.5 Linux support
  • 2005: Novell GroupWise 7
  • 2008: Novell GroupWise 8
  • 2012: Novell GroupWise 2012 - no longer supports NetWare
  • 2014: Novell GroupWise 2014 - Active Directory support
  • 2015: Micro Focus GroupWise 2014 R2
  • 2017: Micro Focus GroupWise 18
  • 2018: Micro Focus GroupWise 18.1
  • 2019: Micro Focus GroupWise 18.2

Web links