Connect to Exchange with a Macintosh
RIT's Microsoft Exchange system offers advanced features that can tie together e-mail, calendaring, address books, and a host of other interesting capabilities. However, Exchange is different from the systems RIT has used in the past because of the way it integrates Internet messaging, address book contacts, calendaring, task lists, and some Microsoft-specific technologies.
Select an application
To connect from a Macintosh, you will first need to understand which programs work, and how to set them up. The answers are not quite as simple as on Microsoft Windows, where choosing Microsoft's Outlook application provides the most compatibility with Exchange. While you can accomplish most of what Outlook on Windows does from a Macintosh, you may not be able to do it all in one program.
RIT's Microsoft Exchange system works with standard IMAP e-mail clients, but not all features are available from a standard Internet e-mail program. For more information on how to set up your chosen client, see Set up an Exchange account in Mac OS X.
To help in your decision-making process, you should consult our pages on Microsoft Entourage Exchange servers and protocols and Exchange MAPI and IMAP access from a Macintosh. Since calendaring is an important distinguishing factor between applications, we suggest you read about Exchange calendar access from a Macintosh, which may also help with your choice.
You are not locked into one program for working with your Exchange account, but there may be one application which is better for your use most of the time. So, even if you use primarily use Microsoft Entourage 2004, you may also open up Apple Mail or even Microsoft Outlook on Windows from time to time.
Set up an Exchange client
The following Mac OS X programs can be used to connect with Microsoft Exchange accounts at RIT. They provide different levels of capability, but at least support e-mail access. Get the instructions for setting up each to work with an Exchange account:
- Set up an Exchange account in Microsoft Entourage 2004
- Set up an Exchange account in Microsoft Entourage v.X with Exchange Update
- Set up an Exchange account in Apple Mail for Tiger — support expected but TBA
- Set up an Exchange account in Apple Mail for Panther
- Set up an Exchange account in Apple Mail for Jaguar — instructions coming soon (see Exchange Mail Client Settings Quick Reference Guide in the meantime)
Use Exchange
If you are using a standard e-mail program, you may continue to use Exchange in the same manner you have used past RIT mail systems. Exchange will act as an IMAP mail system -- just like those RIT has used since the late 1990's. Standard e-mail programs typically do not provide full access to Exchange's specialty features.
You may find it helpful to understand Exchange MAPI and IMAP access from a Macintosh and how to get Exchange calendar access from a Macintosh.