MeetingMaker-Migration (other than individual PST import)

[mephisto]

Hi,

we are a medium sized business with about 40 users. Our current solution is based on meetingmaker and an IMAP mail server. We are in a process to decide between an Exchange based solution and Scalix.

One big thing is the migration of our current MeetingMaker-based calendar data to the future solution. I found a company that offeres a migration path from meetingmaker to Exchange - or for the same price to individual PST files.

I read on the forums that individual PST import into Scalix is an option. So this way I can merge each calendar manually using sxpro.exe and my IMAP data using an IMAP2IMAP sync-tool of my choice. Is that right? More importantly: is it relatively painless?

I also see another option: The migration partner I mentioned will give me a file that I can import into scalix. Are there any documented formats for this (CSV or something)? As for the Exchange migration, he offered to generate an (Access)Db that they would import into Exchange using their proprietary tool. Could the same file be imported into Scalix? I don't want to lose any calendar data and if scheduled meetings wouldn't be converted into individual meetings for all attendees, this would be a big plus.

Any thoughts on that or previous experience?

Regards,

Frederik[/url]

[mephisto]

Any thoughts on this? This is quite a pressing matter for us as we want to decide pretty soon.

[ScalixSupport]

Mephisto,

Yes Scalix can import a pst file using the Outlook client. Scalix used this feature in a successful proof of concept for a Meeting Maker migration with a large semicondcutor company. In this case we leveraged a tool by a company called Simpler Webb. It exported the Meeting Maker data to a pst and more importantly translated the addresses to smtp format. Then imported the calendar items into Scalix.

Hope this helps

Art

[mephisto]

Thank you for your answer. What do you mean by translating the addresses into SMTP format? Meetingmaker does not handle eMail, I would import my IMAP mails using an OS application called imapsync.
As for the server sided import: is there any documented file format for doing so?

[mephisto]

Another note: The two products mentioned on the Simpler Webb website are described as solutions for migrating TO Exchange and they do not mention MeetingMaker there.

[florian]

We have no direct import for calendar data on the server side at this point.

However, Outlook can export/import calendar data as CSV, PST and a variety of other formats. Our MAPI provider will usually work with such imprted data as well.

Cheers,
Florian.

[mephisto]

Pity. While single user data import seems possible according to your comments, I would really prefer a server sided migration. If each user simply imports his own calendar entries, all meeting entries are converted to single user entries. This way all attendees to planned meetings will have to be re-invited.

[florian]

Well, when you do a PST-based migration, all MAPI properties will be imported as well. Included in this will be information about meeting participants, organizer, etc., so the links might work. This depends on how meeting maker sets those up, though - haven't done it myself, but if it works with Outlook and PST (which i believe is true), you should give it a try and chances are it'll take over the information.

for the number of users you mention a manual process seems feasible. Scalix offers migration tools for migrating calendar data automatically for many users from Exchange, Groupwise and Lotus Notes.

cheers,
Florian.