Hi everyone. I hope your holidays are going well.
I'm looking for assistance with a rather (apparently) unique problem.
The problem:
We want to share one email message/contact repository with multiple
users
on the same computer and across different computers using the same, or
possibly a different, client (Windows Mail, , Thunderbird, Outlook?,
etc...).
What we've done in the past:
On Windows XP with Office XP Pro, we used Outlook to share a personal
folder file (.pst) across multiple user accounts on the same machine. This
worked well except that only one person could access the file at a time.
It wasn't really intended to be used this way.
For the past six months on Ubuntu Hardy/Gutsy with Thunderbird, we
used a
similar scheme, but it had some problems (copies of messages moved to
other folders coming back to the inbox, occasionally needing to update
file ownership, and some other minor annoyances). Again, it wasn't really
intended to be used this way.
Discussion:
The main purpose for this is so that my wife and I can share one
email
(pop) account and message repository (Inbox, Sent, etc...) from different
user accounts on the same computer. Any additional functionality would be
great.
Also, we are now the owners of a brand new Vista based PC (I know, I
know, but it really is the best solution for our family). Since we use
OO.o, and I'm really not inclined to give MS any more money than I already
have over the years for another version of Office just to get Outlook, so
I'm looking at a server as a possible solution to this problem. I do not
want to run a Windows server of any kind, for various obvious reasons
including maintenance.
I've spent many hours over the past several months searching for a
“better” way. I've previously installed some FOSS “groupware” servers but
was either unable to get them working the way I'd like or even working at
all in most cases (steep learning curve/lack of time).
Do any of you know of a solution that may fit my set of needs/wants?
I'll
be grateful for any help you can provide. I know that many of you on this
list are Linux consultants and I'd be willing to pay for installation
assistance for the right solution.
Available server resources:
Fedora 9 box running Amahi Server: (AMD Athlon XP 1400+ @ 850 MHz,
512 MB
Ram, 1.8 TB storage). A faster processor Athlon XP 1.4 GHz and more memory
are available but the mobo needs to be changed and I just haven't schedule
time for it yet.
This box is currently being used to serve:
DHCP
DNS (via OpenDNS)
File Server (Pictures, Videos, Music, Backups, etc...)
iCal sharing/viewing
iTunes daap server
Print Server (one printer)
VPN (via OpenVPN)
All of this functionality is provided by either Amahi or Fedora out
of
the box with some configuration on my part. Please do not misconstrue the
state of my server to mean that I am any kind of expert on anything. Like
most people, I learn as I go.
Thank you for your patience. I know this was long.
Gary Brown (Nemolomen)
