Alternative to Microsoft Exchange?

[RbSX]

Hey guys,

My company is upgrading their server and my boss was shocked at the price of MS Exchange, are there any cheaper or freeware alternatives?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Yes for mail, not sure about the other "features."

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Exchange is $1000 + $350 per 5 additional users. You'll pay that and then some the first time you need to call in a consultant for half a day to figure out why your Linux shareware app isn't receiving e-mail.

With Exchange 2003 you also get an amazing Outlook Web Access. Free Anti-Spam that works very very well. Calendaring, public folders, tasks, easy backup and restore, seemless integration with Windows Networking and Active Directory.

And e-mail is NOT one of those things you want to have to be constantly fixing. Seriously, if Exchange is too costly an investment then how are they gonna be able to afford your salary next month?

 

[nweaver]

Hula is a good solution. It's also (iirc) supported by the Novell Suse team. Exchnage breaks more often then you would care to know, and if you arn't an experienced exchange admin, you will still call that consultant in for half a day.


Import thing (either way) to remember is to build a test enviorment, and use it to test ALL patches (OS and application) and use it to plan.

 

[Genx87]

How many people will be using this exchange box?

I may suggest SBS 2003 if it is less than 70 people.

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: Genx87
How many people will be using this exchange box?

I may suggest SBS 2003 if it is less than 70 people.

I'll second this. SBS 2003 is a great value for small businesses.