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Windows, Mac and Linux Compatibility Requirements

Post Author: Joe D365 |

Thinking about running CRM on Mac OS or Linux devices? If so, you need to know the system requirements and prerequisite technologies. In today's blog, we will discuss the compatibility of key CRM features and integration points with Window OS, Mac OS and Linux OS.

1. CRM Server

A Windows server operating system is required for Dynamics CRM. Your CRM server should be installed on a Microsoft Windows server with a Microsoft Windows server active directory infrastructure. MS SQL Server 2012 or higher is required for database management. A Microsoft CRM Server cannot be installed in Linux or Mac OS environments. You can find more software requirements here.

2. Web CRM

All of the recent web browser versions will support access to Microsoft CRM. Internet Explorer can be used on Windows devices and Firefox works great on Windows and Linux. Starting from the CRM 2011 Update Rollup 12, Safari is fully compatible with CRM running on Mac OS X. Google Chrome is compatible with CRM on Windows or Google Nexus 10, however, modal dialog functions may not be available since Google stopped supporting them. More information is provided here.

3. Email Processing

A Microsoft Exchange Server or access to a POP3-compliant email server is mandatory for email processing. Unfortunately, IMAP-compliant email servers are not supported. Without MS Exchange or a POP3-compliant server you will not be able to get incoming emails into CRM, including this functionality:

  • Incoming email tracking (i.e. creating a CRM record and linking it to a CRM account or contact)
  • Email queue tracking for CRM (email queues are basically a mailbox that links to CRM queue)

If this functionality is needed for your end users, we suggest setting up a mailbox to use POP3, since most IMAP servers support older POP3-protocols.

4. Email Tracking

Email tracking requirements correlate to the previous category for email processing. With Windows OS, users will have the native ability to send emails from CRM. In addition to that, Windows users have the ability to track incoming emails by installing MS Outlook and the CRM for Outlook plugin. Mac OS and Linux users will be limited to only sending emails directly from CRM.

5. MS Office Integration

Before making a decision on where to run MS CRM, you should consider that CRM features such as export data to MS Excel or the Mail Merge functionality are only available on Windows OS with Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Office 2016, 2013, or 2010. Both features are not supported on Mac OS or Linux.

6. SharePoint Integration

The ability to integrate CRM with SharePoint has proven to be a valuable CRM feature. If you implement a SharePoint integration into your application, please note that a SharePoint Server with List Component for Microsoft SharePoint must be deployed to the SharePoint Server or use Server Side Integration.

On the client side, any supported web browser can be used for uploading and browsing files.

More information is provided here.

7. Printing Reports

The ability to print reports from CRM is only available with the Microsoft ActiveX control, RSClientPrint. This add-on should be installed for each user who wants to use the print feature in CRM. Currently, the control is only available for Windows OS, and Mac OS and Linux OS is not supported. You can find more information here and here.

8. CRM for Outlook Integration

The ability to track emails, create cases from email messages, and synchronize appointments and tasks is only available for users who work on Windows OS with installed MS Outlook 2010 or higher versions. A CRM for Outlook plugin should be installed on each Windows computer. This plugin is not available for Mac OS or Linux OS. More software requirements are provided here.

Feature

OS Compatibility

Windows Mac Linux
CRM Server Windows Server and AD is required. CRM has to be installed on a set of servers joined to AD. See the full list of requirements here and here. n/a n/a
Web CRM
  • Windows 7 or higher
  • IE 10, IE 11
  • Mozilla Firefox (latest publicly released version) running on Windows 8.1 or Windows 8, or Windows 7
  • Google Chrome (latest publicly released version) running on Windows 8.1 or Windows 8, or Windows 7, or Google Nexus 10 tablet
Apple Safari (latest publicly released version) running on Mac OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion), 10.9 (Mavericks), 10.10 (Yosemite), or Apple iPad. Firefox and Google Chrome (redirects to CRM Mobile).
Email Processing Requirements
  • MS Exchange or POP3 (IMAP is not supported)
  • Outgoing emails (such as workflow notifications, campaign emails, etc.) are sent through SMTP server

Without MS Exchange or POP3 you will not be able to get incoming emails into CRM. This includes:

•Tracking incoming emails (i.e. creating CRM record and linking it to CRM accounts/contacts)

•Won't be able to create email queues for CRM (email queues are basically a mailbox that links to CRM queue)

•If this is needed, one option is that you probably can set up this mailbox to use POP3, most IMAP servers would support older POP3

  • The same as for Windows
  • Any type of SMTP should work for outgoing emails
  • The same as for Windows
  • Any type of SMTP should work for outgoing emails
Email Tracking
  • Ability to send emails from CRM
  • Ability to track incoming emails through MS Outlook and CRM for Outlook plugin
Only sends emails from CRM Only sends emails from CRM
Integration Features
  • Microsoft Office 365
  • Microsoft Office 2016 (CRM 2016)
  • Microsoft Office 2013
  • Microsoft Office 2010
Not Supported Not Supported
SharePoint Integration
  • SharePoint server on the server side
  • Any supported browser for uploading/browsing files on the client side
Apple Safari (latest publicly released version) running on Mac OS X 10.8, 10.9, 10.10, or Apple iPad
  • Firefox
  • Google Chrome redirects to CRM Mobile
Printing Reports

The Reporting Services Microsoft ActiveX control is required to print reports.

Not Supported Not Supported
CRM for Outlook

MS Outlook 2010 and higher and CRM for Outlook plugin installed on each Windows computer

Not Supported Not Supported

As you can see, MS CRM is fully compatible with Windows OS only. If you decide to implement Dynamics CRM for Mac OS or Linux OS, please be aware of features and functionality that end users may lose.

An alternative solution for running CRM on Mac OS and Linux OS would be to install a virtual machine running Windows OS within Mac or Linux OS. Check out our blog on this option, and reach out to us if you have questions about implementing a Microsoft Dynamics CRM system.

Happy CRM'ing!

Joe CRM
By Joe D365
Joe D365 is a Microsoft Dynamics 365 superhero who runs on pure Dynamics adrenaline. As the face of PowerObjects, Joe D365’s mission is to reveal innovative ways to use Dynamics 365 and bring the application to more businesses and organizations around the world.

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