Linux Exchange Server Alternative

[oliver79]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has any information/thoughts relating to the following:

I want to replace Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 with a Linux alternative - the issue I now have with Exchange is it's limitations in creating multiple domains.

I need to have the ability to create multiple domains/sub domains; the version I have is for small business users and I'm limited to one - the next version up takes me into the £4k bracket and here I'm limited to 5!!

So, I have been doing some digging and I have found the following providers of middleware which will allow for seamless integration of Outlook sharing via IMAP:

Zarafa Outlook sharing on Linux - Home
www.bynari.net - Insight Connector for calendar sharing
PostPath: New Home Page

On initial investigation there is no mention of these products and if they have constraints on domain creation? Does anybody know of such a product which will allow for unlimited or at the very least 50 domain creations, compatible with Outlook and will run off Red Hat Enterprise Linux?

Many thanks,
Oliver

[RobinVossen]

WikiPedia
Is quite usefull..

[oliver79]

Indeed; however I have reviewed that when I first began investigations...

Anyhow, it would appear that Bynari do offer the ability to create multiple domains; however, the question will be how many???

Thanks anyhow,
Oliver

[oliver79]

Hi,

I have dropped an email to Bynari; therefore I will post their response here, just in case anybody else want to know.

Oliver

[groupSPARK]

Have you looked into a hosted solution? Depending on your specific needs it may be an inexpensive altenative.

[oliver79]

Hi,

Yes, I initially did; however, I wanted to have total control as opposed to the domains being run on an external server; anyhow I have spoken with the guys at Bynari and they have reputably informed me that there is no limitation when it comes to creating domains - the only limitations one may have is hardware - so great news and I have successfully installed Insight Server on my RH Enterprise Linux platform and now have Outlook running my multiple accounts, less the cost of Microsoft and their licence fee's

Oliver

[optimus_prime]

Hi all,
I need to have the ability to create multiple domains/sub domains; the version I have is for small business users and I'm limited to one - the next version up takes me into the £4k bracket and here I'm limited to 5!!

That's Active Directory domains. You can have as many email domains as you want. I wouldn't want to create a new AD domain for every email domain... that would be an administrative nightmare. I'm not sure what exactly you're doing, but if you're trying to run a large operation on SBS you're better off moving to Linux.

[paulsm]

Hi Oliver,

On initial investigation there is no mention of these products and if they have constraints on domain creation? Does anybody know of such a product which will allow for unlimited or at the very least 50 domain creations, compatible with Outlook and will run off Red Hat Enterprise Linux?

I know the guys from Zarafa are working on a hosted solution, which should be ready in the beginning of 2008. I'm not sure if this supports unlimited domains.

Zarafa has packages for both RHEL4 and 5.

For a complete replacing an Exchange server, i would recommended this product. This products is completely MAPI based, like a M$ Exchange server and has therefore the best Outlook integration.

Via the opensource project Z-Push you even have push mail and native Activesysnc synchronisation with Zarafa.

What i personally like the most is the Zarafa AJAX based webaccess.


Paul