Some thoughts I collected over the past few months. I am not aware of any free replacements but these should be considerably less expensive and are Linux based. Hope they help. *** SuSE Openexchange Server Bynari (bynari.net) offers "Insight Server" http://www.bynari.net/Life_After_Windows.pdf *** Date: 19 Apr 2003 09:23:02 -0700 Jeremy: Here's a link to the SuSE Openexchange Server website: www.suse.com/us/business/products/suse_business/openexchange/index.html Their website has an on-line demo of the product. It's basically a portal/email server that performs the functions of Microsoft Exchange. It's really an Exchange replacement. There is also a product called Insight Server from Bynari at www.bynari.net that performs similar functions. Neither product is free, but SuSE Openexchange Server is cheaper than Bynari Insight Server and much cheaper than Microsoft Exchange. The main advantage of using these products is that you get a GUI based installation and configuration feature. Each product includes some proprietary features to make installation and configurations less challenging. If instead, you build your own email server, from Open Source components, then you are forced to manually edit the config files or create your own installation and configuration scripts. So, even in these "budget challenged" times, there is no reason to tolerate an expensive, unreliable or ineffective email server. To every professional or business person that I know, email has become a "mission critical" service. When their email server is down, their business is down. Running their own email server, allows them to take control of this important service. It becomes more attractive when you realize that you don't have to install any additional hardware in your offices to get these benefits. However, if you are already running other servers in your offices, then one more won't be a problem. Sincerely, W. E. Brooks Senior Systems Consultant WebKnowledge Consultants Email: brooksw@webknowledge.com Web: www.webknowledge.com *** Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 13:56:57 -0700 (PDT) From: Scott H Subject: MS2LINUX - some links To: PLUG Reply-To: plug-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us Hi,all. In my quest to replace MS with Linux and Open Source within a mid-sized corp, I came across a couple of things I want to pass on. First, what seems to be a better MS Exchange server replacement: Bynari's "Insight Server". I had been looking at "Communigate Pro" from stalker.com, but this product is still in beta and has a number of holes left to be filled in. I've grown frustrated trying to work through the issues, and waiting for the completed product. Bynari (bynari.net) offers "Insight Server" and the "Insight Connector for Outlook" which have been availiable since May. Insight Server will run on Intel, and IBM Mainframes. Bynari is partnering with Alt-N Technologies to produce a server that will run on Windows, as well. Insight Server has been through a few versions and patches already, and seems way ahead of Communigate Pro. I'll be testing it soon in my lab. Second, on Bynari's web site I found an excellent whitepaper for any MS System Admin considering a migration from a MS network to a Linux-based system. It's called "Life after Windows NT Server 4.0: An Alternative IT Infrastructure". It's a great explanation of the issues surrounding such a migration and how to solve them by going to Linux instead of Win2K and AD: http://www.bynari.net/Life_After_Windows.pdf There are other articles discussing MS-Linux issues and replacing MS Exchange at http://www.bynari.net/whitepapers.html *** > There is a commercial (not free but much less $$$ than MS) equivalent > (Linux) to MS Exchange. (per others) OpenMail shows promise. *** -----Original Message----- --__--__-- Message: 6 Subject: Alternitives to exchange server ? From: Entelin To: Phoenix Linux Users Group Organization: Date: 11 May 2003 20:46:09 -0700 Reply-To: plug-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us Are there any alternatives to exchange server's groupware features? my definition of an alternative would be.... Server runs on Linux Has compatibility with evolution and outlook preferably opensource -- Entelin