In addition to allowing inbound mail access from Exchange directly into SharePoint libraries and lists, SharePoint 2007 and Exchange 2007 also contain several other integration points. These include the capability to relay outgoing alert messages through the Exchange server and the capability for personal sites to link directly to Exchange inboxes, calendars, and other information directly from a SharePoint site.
Using an Exchange Server as an Outgoing Email Server for SharePoint
SharePoint needs an external SMTP server to relay alerts and reports to farm users. This server needs to be configured to allow access and relaying from the SharePoint server. To set up an outgoing email source within a SharePoint farm, do the following:
- Open the SharePoint Central Administration tool from the server console (Start, All Programs, Microsoft Office Server, SharePoint 3.0 Central Administration).
- Click the Operations tab.
- Under the Topology and Services category, click the Outgoing Email Settings link.
- From the page shown in Figure 18.9, enter the FQDN of the outbound SMTP server (the Exchange server). Enter a From address, a Reply-to address, and leave the character set as the default. Click OK to save the settings.
Figure 18.9 Enabling an outgoing email server.
Linking to Calendars, Contacts, and Inbox Items in Exchange 2007 from SharePoint Sites
SharePoint 2007 web parts provide smooth integration with Exchange Outlook Web Access (OWA), allowing for inboxes, calendars, and other mail data to be accessed directly from a SharePoint site. SharePoint 2007 contains built-in web parts to link to Exchange OWA content and integrates best with Exchange 2007 OWA. Older versions of Exchange, such as Exchange 2003 OWA, are supported, but the integration is not as tight.
Using SharePoint 2007 to Replace Exchange Public Folders
As previously mentioned, SharePoint 2007 is listed as the successor to public folder technology in Exchange 2007. SharePoint functionality has slowly been replacing all of Exchange's public folder functionality, and is close to providing all of the functionality that was previously provided by public folders. With the concept of email-enabled content, where emails are automatically added to content libraries and lists, SharePoint moves even closer to this goal.
6 TIPS IN 6 MINUTES: INTEGRATING EXCHANGE 2007 AND SHAREPOINT 2007
Home: Introduction
Tip 1: Enabling incoming email functionality in SharePoint
Tip 2: Working with email-enabled content in SharePoint 2007
Tip 3: Understanding Microsoft Exchange Server 2007
Tip 4: Planning for an Exchange Server 2007 environment
Tip 5: Integrating Exchange 2007 with SharePoint 2007
Tip 6: SharePoint 2007 and Exchange 2007 best practices
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This chapter excerpt from Microsoft SharePoint 2007 Unleashed, by Michael Noel and Colin Spence, is printed with permission from Sams Publishing, Copyright 2007.
Click here for the chapter download or purchase the book here. |
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