I am once again trying to determine a single solution for email, groupware that will meet all of my needs, or at least most of them. I have used/tried the basic sendmail, postfix, qmail, imap solutions, as well as CommunigatePro, Webtop, Squirelmail and numerous web/php/mysql based groupware. And yes I am aware that what I have listed fall into different categories as MTA, MUA and web clients. But my needs are varied and I have not found anything that meets them all yet. I am also looking into Samsung Contact.
I have looked at Kolab and had hoped to go to the recent presentation, but was in Vancouver, so I dont have much knowledge of this solution. Started browsing the Kolab/KGroupware sites and was immediately discouraged at the quality? of documentation and that I had to download the source to get install docs and other detailed info? Yes I am Linux/Unix/Technology literate but I dont want to spend all weekend trying to work my way through a solution. As an example, trying out CommunigatePro took 5 minutes, download rpm, rpm -ivh CGatepro.rpm, service sendmail stop, service cgatepro start and go to http://server:8100 to setup accounts. Now thats the way I like to deploy and test things. And documentaion is available on site and is very extensive. The need for a simple-to-install-configure solution is for my own need to conserve time, but also so that I can confidently recommend and possibly deploy, a solution in a BC government office where I have already deployed numerous open-source and Linux solutions. There is also a possibility that I will have decision making responsibilites on a National technology project involving numerous government agencies. So a good solution for me, could lead to recommendations and deployments in various government ministries. Yes I am being vaque, intentionally. Ideally, without naming any current preferences for MTA's or clients, these are the goals I would hope to achieve with any single solution, assuming this is even possible. So, some of the things I would like to see (and please correct me if these are unrealistic or you have a better way). I am always looking to learn something new, and/or to be show a "better" way so please dont hold back. -Folder structures and filters stored on the server (IMAP and ???). -LDAP for contact lists, shared and inividual. -Seamless/transparent access through both web and client applications. -Shared calenders, contact lists and scheduling. -Other groupware tools like project management, forums, doc management etc. -Accessable through numerous clients, Outlook, Evolution, Web with ALL features. -If a database backend for email is available that would also be nice. So basically I am looking for a sort of Exchange replacement, running on Linux which can be used like a typical Outlook/Exchange deployment, with shared calendars and contact lists. And I would like to be able to go from OUtlook on Windows, to Evolution, Thunderbird etc as well as a web based interface and have ALL THE SAME functioanality, including contacts, calendars, and email filters. The email filters thing always seems to be client dependant so if I have three clients I have to setup three sets of filter rules. Can this not be located on the server like IMAP folders? So there is the challenge and there is always the possibility of paid consulting if I am given a solution that is clearly the winner, and I need some help in getting it up and running. Thanks for anyone that can help me out. OT: So did others grin with great pleasure when CERT announced to the world, "Use any other browser, than IE!!!". Reminds me of when Gartner announced "Run from IIS to ANY OTHER web server as fast as possible". ----------------------------------------------------- Open Enterprise Solutions Linux & Open Source Solutions for Business Johnny Stork Calgary, AB www.openenterprise.ca www.johnnystork.ca _______________________________________________ clug-talk mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca
