Implementing MAPI for Outlook
MAPI functionality is deactivated by default, due to the specific configurations required for its implementation. In addition, a subscription is required to benefit from this feature.
Introduction
Syncing Outlook with BlueMind no longer requires a connector to be installed on client workstations. However, a few operations must be performed on the server to allow the network's Outlook software to connect to BlueMind.
Special attention must be paid to ensuring that the prerequisites are met (see below).
We recommend that you work on virtual machines and use snapshots so that you can go back if an error occurs.
Compatibility
Outlook for Windows
Check whether your versions of Outlook are supported in our Compatibility page.
Outlook for Mac
As communication protocols vary, BlueMind only supports versions of Outlook for Windows.
BlueMind is unable to guarantee compatibility with Outlook for MacOS.
Microsoft Outlook for mobile (formerly "Outlook.com")
The Microsoft Outlook mobile app is not recommended—see the Compatibility page
Installation prerequisites
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Have installed BlueMind version 4
cautionWe strongly recommend that you carefully read the page BlueMind 4 Deployment: Points to Note, particularly the section on Outlook Inbox folders.
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The following BlueMind addresses can be reached in HTTPS from client workstations:
- external-url (external-url) of the server (for example https://mail.bluemind.loc)
- autodiscover-url: generally formed by replacing the first part of the external-url with the keyword
autodiscover(for example https://autodiscover.bluemind.loc).
This url must also point to the external url of BlueMind. Pour cela, se rendre dans la console d'administration dans Gestion du système > Domaines supervisés > choisir le domaine concerné > onglet Général et renseigner l'url d'autodiscover dans le champ "Autres urls" :
:::note Autodiscover configuration
Outlook in MAPI mode cannot function without a properly configured autodiscover. At startup, the MAPI service checks that autodiscover is configured for the domain or at least one of its aliases; otherwise, the MAPI service does not start.
To ensure that the server is correctly configured and reachable:
- check that the DNS records are active for the bm-mapi service to start
- use the Microsoft online diagnostic tool: https://testconnectivity.microsoft.com/tests/Ola/input
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When accessing these addresses from a web browser, no security warnings regarding the SSL certificate should be displayed.
:::info Autodiscover and multidomains
The mapi service requires autodiscover registration on all mail domains hosted by the server. Otherwise, you can bypass the autodiscover records check by creating the empty file /etc/bm/non.blocking.checks and then restart bm-mapi.
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Implementation
:::tip Quick implementation of an evaluation environment
Find out how you can quickly set up an evaluation environment in our blog article: BM 4.0 beta + Outlook: step by step
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To install MAPI :
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Install the required packages:
Note: BlueMind does not need to be restarted- Debian/Ubuntu
- Redhat/CentOS
$ aptitude install bm-mapi$ yum install bm-mapi -
Assign the Outlook Connector Sync role to the desired users, via group management or individually by user. :::caution Importance of the role
The role is required to enable users to connect their Outlook using MAPI: without this authorization, the connection will be refused by the server.
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Please refer to the following page to configure Outlook workstations: Configuring Outlook
Setting up Windows for an organization
Configuring Windows workstations using GPO
If the organization has an Active Directory, the following GPO can be applied to facilitate Microsoft Outlook deployment:
| Font | attribute | value | reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disable authentication with Office 365 servers | signinoptions | 3 | link admx.help |
| Force advanced configuration interface | disableoffice365simplifiedaccountcreation | 1 | link admx.help |
| Force manual account configuration | disableaccountsettingsdetectionservice | 1 | link admx.help |
| Force autodiscover on on-premise instance | enableoffice365configservice | 1 | link admx.help |
| Autodiscover settings adapted for Bluemind | excludelastknowngoodurl | 1 | admx.help |
| excludescplookup | 1 | admx.help | |
| excludehttpsrootdomain | 1 | admx.help | |
| excludeexplicito365endpoint | 1 | admx.help | |
| disableautodiscoverv2service | 1 | admx.help | |
| excludehttpsautodiscoverdomain | 0 | admx.help | |
| excludehttpredirect | 0 | admx.help | |
| excludesrvrecord | 0 | admx.help | |
| Force exclusive use of MAPI protocol (disable imap fallback) | disablerpctcpfallback | 1 | link admx.help |
| Disable personal Microsoft accounts | disableexchangeconsumeraccounts | 1 | link admx.help |
| Force the use of a single mapi account per profile | maxnumexchange | 1 | admx.help link |
| Define offline caching | cache mode | 1 | admx.help link |
| Activate logs in case of conflicts | enableconflictlogging | 3 | admx.help link |
Configuring workstations using registry keys
To facilitate Outlook deployment with Bluemind, save the following registry keys on workstations:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
;; DISABLE AUTODISCOVER
;Outlook 2013
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Outlook\AutoDiscover]
"ExcludeExplicitO365Endpoint"=dword:00000001
"ExcludeHttpsAutoDiscoverDomain"=dword:00000000
"ExcludeHttpsRootDomain"=dword:00000001
"ExcludeScpLookup"=dword:00000001
"ExcludeSrvRecord"=dword:00000001
;Outlook 2016 and Office365
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\AutoDiscover]
"ExcludeExplicitO365Endpoint"=dword:00000001
"ExcludeHttpsAutoDiscoverDomain"=dword:00000000
"ExcludeHttpsRootDomain"=dword:00000001
"ExcludeScpLookup"=dword:00000001
"ExcludeSrvRecord"=dword:00000001
;; CACHE MODE ALL, DISABLE MULTIPLE EXCHANGE ACCOUNTS
;Outlook 2016 and Office365
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\cached mode]
; Prevent adding non-default Exchange accounts
"DisableMultipleExchange"=dword:00000001
; The time-window of email messages that Outlook synchronizes to users' computers is set to All
"SyncWindowSetting"=dword:00000000
;Outlook 2013
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\policies\microsoft\office\15.0\outlook\cached mode]
; Prevent adding non-default Exchange accounts
"DisableMultipleExchange"=dword:00000001
; The time-window of email messages that Outlook synchronizes to users' computers is set to All
"SyncWindowSetting"=dword:00000000
;; SHARED MAILBOX CONFIGURATION
;Outlook 2016 and Office365
; Save messages sent from a shared mailbox to the Sent Items folder
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences]
"DelegateSentItemsStyle"=dword:00000000
; Store deleted items in owner's mailbox instead of delegate's mailbox
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Options\General]
"DelegateWastebasketStyle"=dword:00000004
;Outlook 2013
; Save messages sent from a shared mailbox to the Sent Items folder
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Outlook\Preferences]
"DelegateSentItemsStyle"=dword:00000000
; Store deleted items in owner's mailbox instead of delegate's mailbox
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Outlook\Options\General]
"DelegateWastebasketStyle"=dword:00000004
;; DOWNLOAD FOLDERS IN CACHED MODE
;Outlook 2016
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\outlook\cached mode]
; Enables Public Folder Favorites synchronization in Cached Exchange mode
"SyncPfFav"=dword:00000001
; Download shared non-mail folders
"DownloadSharedFolders"=dword:00000001
;Outlook 0213
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\softwarepolicies\microsoft\office\15.0\outlook\cached mode]
; Enables Public Folder Favorites synchronization in Cached Exchange mode
"SyncPfFav"=dword:00000001
; Download shared non-mail folders
"DownloadSharedFolders"=dword:00000001
; DISABLE HYBRID SEARCHING
;Outlook 2016 -> 2021
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Search]
"DisableServerAssistedSearch"=dword:00000001
- Save this content as a .reg file or download mapi-bluemind.reg
- Deploy this file on Windows workstations
:::note References
- Disable autodiscover
- ExcludeExplicitO365Endpoint
- ExcludeHttpsAutoDiscoverDomain
- ExcludeHttpsRootDomain
- ExcludeScpLookup
- ExcludeSrvRecord
- DisableMultipleExchange
- SyncWindowSetting
- DisableServerAssistedSearch
- SyncPfFav
- DownloadSharedFolders
See below for parameters DelegateSentItemsStyle and DelegateWastebasketStyle.
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Setting up shared mailbox functional folders
By default, messages sent on behalf of a shared mailbox are automatically copied to the shared mailbox's "Sent messages" folder by BlueMind. In this way, the email sent will be present in the user's "Sent messages" folder AND in the shared mailbox folder.
The following registry keys (included in the settings above) can be used to set behavior when using shared mailboxes:
DelegateWastebasketStyle: configure Outlook so that messages deleted from the shared mailbox are moved to the shared mailbox's recycle garbage can and not to the user's recycle bin. For the suppression to work properly, this key must be positioned on the workstation.DelegateSentItemsStyle: configures Outlook so that messages sent to the name of the shared mailbox are copied or not to the shared mailbox's "Sent Messages" folder:- absent or set to 0 (default and recommended setting): Outlook will not copy messages itself to the "Sent Messages" folder, the user benefits from the default behavior (see above).
- set to 1 : Outlook will copy messages to the "Sent messages" folder IN ADDITION to the default behavior, so the duplicate message will be found in the shared mailbox.
:::caution Upgrade for BlueMind and Workstations
As the behavior of these keys has been modified compared to previous versions (<4.8.17), we draw your attention to the importance of checking the settings of these keys on the workstations on which they have been installed.
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Find out more
If you have any problems, please consult the following guides: