3.2. Outlook connection type

By default, Outlook has an ongoing connection to the Zarafa server and does not store the folders and items on the local hard drive. With the introduction of Zarafa 6.00, it is possible to synchronise all private Outlook data to the local hard drive. Email, agenda and contacts can easily be accessed even if no connection to the server is available. This functionality is only available if the offline storage is enabled (see the connection types below).

The following three options are available for the connection to the server: Online, Detect at startup and Cached Zarafa mode. These will be described in the sections below.

3.2.1. Online

The Online type works the same as in the previous versions of Zarafa. When a network connection to the server is available, Outlook can be started. Whenever the connection to the server is not available email, agenda and contacts can not be accessed.

3.2.2. Detect at startup

With the Autodetect Offline / Online type Outlook checks at startup if the server can be reached. When Outlook has a connection to the Zarafa server all items will be synchronised to the offline storage. When the connection is lost, Outlook will not automatically switch to its offline storage. In order to switch to offline storage, Outlook needs to be restarted.

When Outlook is started and there is not a network connection available, Outlook will show a pop-up message which asks if it is wanted to work offline.

Note

Whenever the “_Detect at startup_” mode decides to work offline, the behaviour for that session will be as described below in Section 3.2.3, “Cached Zarafa Mode”, effectively. In case it decides to work online, the behaviour of that session will be as described above in Section 3.2.1, “Online”.

3.2.3. Cached Zarafa Mode

The third type of connection is Cached Zarafa Mode. This type is similar to the caching mode of MS Exchange. If this type is selected, the offline storage will always be used. When there is a network connection available all items of the user`s own store will be synchronised to the offline storage. The first time the Outlook profile is being configured it is required to have a connection to the Zarafa server. After the profile is created and Outlook can be started, all folders and items will be synchronised.

Important

Please consider the limitations of the use of offline storage as described in Section 4.1.2, “Limitations of working offline”.

3.2.4. What is the best connection type to choose?

Table 3.1. Connection type options

Type of user	Zarafa profile type
User that always works on the same fixed PC in the office	Online
User that uses roaming profiles and logs in on different fixed PC’s in the office	Online
User that works with a fixed PC remote from a sub department over a small bandwidth internet connection	Cached Zarafa Mode
User with a laptop that is inside the office most of the time	Detect at startup
User with a laptop that is always out of the office	Cached Zarafa Mode
User that works on a Terminal Server	Online