29 replies to this topic

[PaulOBrien]

Here's something REALLY cool...

Quote

Z-Push ... is an implementation of Microsoft's ActiveSync protocol which is used 'over-the-air' for multi platform active sync devices, including Windows Mobile and active sync used on Ericsson and Nokia phones. Open source Z-Push enables any PHP-based groupware package to become fully syncable with any ActiveSync-compliant device.

Being an opensource project under the GPL, it allows developers to add their own backend so that Z-Push can communicate with their groupware solution.

Currently, Z-Push is available with only four backends: the IMAP and the maildir backend for e-mail synchronisation, the vCard backend for contact synchronisation and one for the commercial Zarafa package which is sold by allowing full synchronization of E-mail, Calendar and Contacts. We expect that other backends arise in the near future as the opensource community gets to grips with the new possibilities.

So what does this mean? To see what Z-Push was all about, I installed it on my test server. It's PHP, and I simply uploaded the directory to my server, tweaked the config file, added the required .htaccess and it was ready to rock. It's recommended that Z-Push points at an IMAP server on the same box, but I thought i'd do something a bit different, so I pointed it to GMail's IMAP servers

The result? Exchange Server ActiveSync Push GMail! It worked straight away, and synced my mails. But did push work? To find out, I sent an email from my main email account to my gmail account. From hitting 'Send' in Outlook to the mail appearing on my device took 11 SECONDS! I'd say it worked

If you're looking to hook Server ActiveSync Push Technology into your groupware, then z-push is well worth a look!

P

[sjeemsnl]

Paul (MVP), on Feb 8 2008, 13:37, said:

Here's something REALLY cool...
So what does this mean? To see what Z-Push was all about, I installed it on my test server. It's PHP, and I simply uploaded the directory to my server, tweaked the config file, added the required .htaccess and it was ready to rock. It's recommended that Z-Push points at an IMAP server on the same box, but I thought i'd do something a bit different, so I pointed it to GMail's IMAP servers

The result? Exchange Server ActiveSync Push GMail! It worked straight away, and synced my mails. But did push work? To find out, I sent an email from my main email account to my gmail account. From hitting 'Send' in Outlook to the mail appearing on my device took 11 SECONDS! I'd say it worked

If you're looking to hook Server ActiveSync Push Technology into your groupware, then z-push is well worth a look!

P

Hey there Paul this sounds very nice..
Any hints on what to config in the configs..
I just could not figure it out just now.. Might be my fault and I'd better look in the morning or the docs arent clear...
Erm and I was pointing at the GMail imap settings

hope you can help

grtz,
Sjeems

[PaulOBrien]

Voila! My config...

// The data providers that we are using (see configuration below)

$BACKEND_PROVIDER = "BackendIMAP";



// ************************

// BackendIMAP settings

// ************************



// Defines the server to which we want to connect

// recommended to use local servers only

define('IMAP_SERVER', 'imap.gmail.com');

// connecting to default port (143)

define('IMAP_PORT', 993);

// best cross-platform compatibility (see http://php.net/imap_open for options)

define('IMAP_OPTIONS', '/notls/norsh/ssl');

P

[sjeemsnl]

Wow
that's what I would like to call good service

Now lets hope our providers will do the same here in holland I we ask them for some info

thanks paul, Im going to try it now! Will post results!!

grtz,
Sjeems

[sjeemsnl]

Mmmm I used to be living a .Net and so Microsoft programmers life...and this Debian server won't forgive me
I'll try later.. Might have some luck with some help from friends, and hey I might learn some things
Darn I was happy about this..


thanks!

grtz
Sjeems

Edited by sjeemsnl, 09 February 2008 - 12:30 AM.

[PaulOBrien]

Don't forget you need php-imap (apt-get install php-imap IIRC).

Check out dotdeb while you're at it too, awesome

P

[rthomas]

I have uploaded it to my root, but being a noob I am not sure about the settings for config.php and cant even find the httpd.conf file. Anyone like to expand on the installation help file for an idiot like me

Thanks

[touficjohn]

Hmm this would be fantastic!
Though is there a way of adding more than one exchange server in activesync?

[Monolithix]

Nope...WM can currently only support one exchange server at a time...

[touficjohn]

Its fantastic!
I set up z-push on my server (took less than 10mins).
Got the WM5 emulator from the M$ website. E-mails (not stored locally) arrived in seconds!!!!
If only there was a way to be able to sync with more than one exchange server at a time! Surely there has got to be some sort of workaround?

Edited by touficjohn, 15 February 2008 - 02:06 AM.

[PayableOnDeath]

after much playing around i managed to get php recompiled right so that Z-push would work and its working great  

touficjohn, on Feb 15 2008, 02:05, said:

If only there was a way to be able to sync with more than one exchange server at a time! Surely there has got to be some sort of workaround?

I hope someone would be able to sort that as it would be very use full  

[Mr.Clark]

Monolithix, on Feb 14 2008, 10:55, said:

Nope...WM can currently only support one exchange server at a time...

Ah, so if you currently have an ActiveSync Exchange account AND a Gmail IMAP account, you can't turn the Gmail one into a second Push account?

Dang.

[PaulOBrien]

Sadly not!

P

[PayableOnDeath]

anyone getting a problem where it Marks Every email as read?

its sending to the phone fine, with sec's of the email how ever its not notifying me of the new email and marks it as been read :S

[Leaskovski]

Ive got a question about this.

Is the gmail account settings set for the server or is it still set on the phone?
I see that you have to tell the server that you are using IMAP and the gmail server names.

The reason for asking is...  could you in theory have 1 server that is setup for gmail and then have multiple users using that server to get their gmail via push?

[PaulOBrien]

You pass the credentials in as normal.

P

[Leaskovski]

Interesting!

Well i got an ubuntu desktop machine up and running last night and got Apache and Php running on it.  I got it working according to their pdf install doc, but the imap stuff isnt pulling yet.  I think i need to install php-imap, but it got past my bed time.

My theory is that someone should set a server up for gmail imap and then make it public for free

Somehow i dont think my sky dsl connection would handle it very well for a public one

[PayableOnDeath]

Leaskovski, on Mar 27 2008, 09:27, said:

Interesting!

Well i got an ubuntu desktop machine up and running last night and got Apache and Php running on it.  I got it working according to their pdf install doc, but the imap stuff isnt pulling yet.  I think i need to install php-imap, but it got past my bed time.

My theory is that someone should set a server up for gmail imap and then make it public for free

Somehow i dont think my sky dsl connection would handle it very well for a public one

yes you need imap, php-imap and compile php with imap support

could do a public one but as word go around am sure the bandwidth bills would go through the roof  

[PaulOBrien]

Check out dotdeb.

Add their repositories, the installing the latest and greatest of all the bits you need is a piece of cake! apt-get php-imap = job done

(/me loves dotdeb so much he's donated)

P

[Leaskovski]

Hmm, seen as Gmail got into bed with the apple and iphone guys, they should set one of these badgers up on their servers   I wish!

Speaking of gmail imap, how does it handle all the funky folders/labels and stuff?