Using Zimbra Calendar with Linux

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The Zimbra calendar can be accessed from Linux without using the web browser. The Zimbra server offers the calendar info in the iCalendar and CalDAV formats, but requires a local Zimbra password because it is not integrated with the Kerberos/Pennkey/websec/CoSign system.

Contents

General info

Features

Features to consider when choosing a calendaring client in Linux:

  • Calendar display
  • Updating the local calendar.
    • When an meeting is added, modified, or deleted by someone else.
  • Updating the server.
    • When an meeting is added, modified, or deleted by you.
  • Accepting invitations
  • Changing a meeting
  • Sending an invitation
  • Searching for attendees
  • Free/Busy checking - Web View: https://zimbra.upenn.edu/user/ANY PENNKEY?view=workWeek&fmt=freebusy - This is public info, logging in is not required.

Zimbra Password

Zimbra's external calendar access is not integrated with Kerberos or the PennKey password system. In order for Sunbird to work, you must have a separate Zimbra username and password. The username is your Pennkey, but the password needs to be set using the Zimbra account serivces tool. If you need to set or reset your Zimbra password,

  1. go to https://services.zimbra.upenn.edu/accountservices/
  2. Login with your PennKey and PennKey password
  3. Click the "Continue" button to edit your account
  4. Click "Reset Password"
  5. Enter your new Zimbra password twice (This does not change your PennKey password)
  6. Click the "Reset Password" button
  7. Logout of the Account sevices tool

This Zimbra password is used for the calendar login below.

Apps

Sunbird / Lightning

SunBird is the Mozilla calendar app. Lightning is a plugin version of Sunbird that integrates with Mozilla's email client Thunderbird. The unbranded versions distributed by Debian are called iceowl (Sunbird) and iceowl-extension (Lightning).

SunBird can handle CalDAV and iCalendar. CalDAV seems to work well, but updates can be very slow with iCalendar.

Evolution

The GNOME app for mail, calendar and more is Evolution. Evolution theoretically supports both iCalendar and CalDAV.

Kontact / KOrganizer

The KDE program for mail, calendar and more is Kontact. The calendar-only part of the suite is KOrganizer. KOrganizer does NOT support CalDAV at this time. It does support iCalendar files and has nice popup reminders. KDE Bug to implement CalDAV. CalDAV support is expected in KDE 4.4 in late 2010.

Chandler

Chandler is a native Linux program for personal information management, but it uses an unfamiliar method of displaying the information. It can (at least) import iCalendar (.ics) files.

Orage

Orage is the calendaring program that integrates with XFCE. It supports importing .ics files and has popup reminders.

Claws-mail vCalendar plugin

The vCalendar plugin for the Claws-mail email client supports accepting and denying appointments sent by email.

See also

At Wikipedia:

Retrieved from "http://prowiki.isc.upenn.edu/wiki/Using_Zimbra_Calendar_with_Linux"
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