Connect to a Microsoft Exchange 5.5 server using Evolution

I am trying to set up Evolution to connect to my company's Exchange server, but I got this error after entering the request OWA URL and credentials:

The Exchange server is not compatible with Exchange Connector.

The server is running Exchange 5.5. Exchange Connector supports Microsoft Exchange 2000 and 2003 only.

I read that I can use Thunderbird or IMAP if it's enabled, but that I'd lose calendar and contacts sync. I'd rather not do that.

Is there a workaround for this so that I can get roughly the same functionality I'd get using Outlook for Windows?

You'll need to use the MAPI plugin for Evolution.

sudo apt-get install evolution-mapi

I've been able to use this successfully at a previous place of employment where the only source of mail was an Exchange Server. To my knowledge contact syncing did not work - but calendar and mail services worked properly.

During the setup I needed to use the IP address of the exchange server (you can find this out by contacting your local IT or running a dig against the mail server's domain) as well as including my domain for the user login ( eg: DOMAIN\user). After setup of the account I needed to restart evolution for the sync to take place.