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Unless you HAVE to use Exchange use Zimbra. Even in it's free version you get tons of Exchange functionality and you also get outside of the Outlook lock-in as well.
Great browser interface and range of interoperable clients beyond Outlook.
After 10+ years of Exchange support I can tell you the easiest and most scaleable solution is (now) to use a server that's won't fall down:
http://www.zimbra.com/demos/zimbra_tour/
It will integrate with and auth against AD with a simple Hostname/UN/PW. Then your email troubles are over. I have many in place that haven't required anything but patching in the last 3 years. You basically install, migrate, tune and forget.
Since it sits on a Linux OS (or vm) it's essentially impervious to viruses. It comes with crazy AV/AS that can be tuned, but defaults are usually air tight. Now you're actually SAVING money by not having to buy AV/AS software.
Then your life can become what it should be: sane. My MCSE instructor told us years ago, there are 2 types of admins: 1) works 12 hrs/day and is always in reactive mode, 2) Reads documentation, tests, implements, and mostly goes golfing.
It's your life - your network, be the second kind of admin.
http://www.zimbra.com/demos/zimbra_tour/
It will integrate with and auth against AD with a simple Hostname/UN/PW. Then your email troubles are over. I have many in place that haven't required anything but patching in the last 3 years. You basically install, migrate, tune and forget.
Since it sits on a Linux OS (or vm) it's essentially impervious to viruses. It comes with crazy AV/AS that can be tuned, but defaults are usually air tight. Now you're actually SAVING money by not having to buy AV/AS software.
Then your life can become what it should be: sane. My MCSE instructor told us years ago, there are 2 types of admins: 1) works 12 hrs/day and is always in reactive mode, 2) Reads documentation, tests, implements, and mostly goes golfing.
It's your life - your network, be the second kind of admin.
Zimbra was acquired last year by VMWare, so how long will it take to cease to be free and VMWare dicide charge fees for the application?
I think another point to consider is the cloud.
Depending on the size of the company, is an alternative that can save costs of infrastructure and support.
Regards. GDP.
I think another point to consider is the cloud.
Depending on the size of the company, is an alternative that can save costs of infrastructure and support.
Regards. GDP.
It's true, Zimbra has been picked up more times than an LA party girl but if VMware starts charging for Zimbra tomorrow it will have been free 5 years longer, and have a more stable track record that Exchange. Hardly a relevant point.
Besides that, they've gone WAY out of their way to make it easy for (non-Zimbra) developers to contribute code and zimlets. As long as these contributions keep coming in, it is therefore 'open' and they will continue to give an 'open-source' install away for free.
Remember - only Microsoft thinks they have all the good ideas. The other camp openly accepts all good ideas and, as a result, makes more stable software
Besides that, they've gone WAY out of their way to make it easy for (non-Zimbra) developers to contribute code and zimlets. As long as these contributions keep coming in, it is therefore 'open' and they will continue to give an 'open-source' install away for free.
Remember - only Microsoft thinks they have all the good ideas. The other camp openly accepts all good ideas and, as a result, makes more stable software
Zimbra is great, but if you can't push it past management, or if you need features that you need to pay for from Zimbra then look at Novell's Groupwise works quite nicely thank you. I can not foresee a day when I will openly embrace Microsoft Exchange. My Novell Groupwise Server has been running for over 5 years, and has been down 1. when we moved to a new building across town, 2. When we have had extended power outages (twice). Other than that it just works, plain and simple.
I also agree if you are a small shop say 10 users, I would look at the cloud services, unless your just dying to make work for yourself.
I also agree if you are a small shop say 10 users, I would look at the cloud services, unless your just dying to make work for yourself.
When you see the customer list it's hard to say no:
http://www.zimbra.com/learn/customer-list.html
I always end with, "If comp-sci universities are using it, there must be something to it."
But having a demo up and running doesn't hurt either; it shouldn't take more than an hour to set one up. (Then you plug your AD auth info into the Zimbra interface and guess what - it's auto-magically using your AD. Just add accounts for the managers you're presenting to.)
They can log in and see all the stuff they grumble about OWA is worked out of the system. I once got a hug from a user after a deploy; crazy.
http://www.zimbra.com/learn/customer-list.html
I always end with, "If comp-sci universities are using it, there must be something to it."
But having a demo up and running doesn't hurt either; it shouldn't take more than an hour to set one up. (Then you plug your AD auth info into the Zimbra interface and guess what - it's auto-magically using your AD. Just add accounts for the managers you're presenting to.)
They can log in and see all the stuff they grumble about OWA is worked out of the system. I once got a hug from a user after a deploy; crazy.
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