Alternatives to Exchange Server

[Brian Chabot]

Dan Coutu wrote:
> I'm researching solutions that provide the functionality
> of MS Exchange but run on a Linux server. It must interoperate
> with Outlook and provide full Calendar capability (not
> just email capability.)

I know this isn't going to help you in this case, but...

I've found in *most* (not all) situations, no one ever uses the 
integrated calendar functionality in Outlook.

In smaller companied, where I can influence the requirements, I've had 
success in two directions:

1. Use a web interface.  One client I had was impressed that you never 
had to install software on the client machines AND that you  could check 
email from home with zero setup.I hooked them up with a somewhat limited 
install of PHP Groupware and they were very pleased.

2. My current client is a VERY new company and has not needed to 
establish inter-office communications, as it's just 4 of us.  I'm having 
them test both PHP Groupware and Mozilla with the Calendar plugin to see 
if they like it.  Mozilla Calendar uses an interesting implimentation of 
iCal that uses FTP (or WebDAV) to sync your various calendars.  (File 
permissions on the FTP server are how access is handled.)

My personal preference is for something web based because of the reduced 
IT costs in setting up clients, but the geek in me likes Mozilla.


...just my unrequested $.02

Brian

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