Need some Linux help

[Carapace]

Hey all,

I need to set up an email server in an office but the problem is the office doesn't have any more money to spend. I have about 6 PCs running WinXP, with Outlook XP. I need an email server so we can have both internal and Internet email in the office. I also need something that will allow me to have roaming profiles in as well. I think Linux can help me, but I'm not sure.

Can a set up an Exchange type server using Linux?

If so, how easy, or hard would it be to do. I have successfully installed Linux on a PC and that's where my Linux knowledge ends.
Does anyone have some good, step by step documents they can share or perhaps some friendly pointers?
I'm a Linux newb so any good, easy to understand info would really help us out.

Thanks in advance.

 

[TonyRic]

If you want all of the Groupware features of Exchange, look at exchange. If it is only basic email send/receive, use postfix. Postfix is easy to configure and is included with the distribution.

 

[n0cmonkey]

An IMAP server might be the closest you can get to exchange-like abilities. It is still no where close to what large corporations need though (or what they think they need).

 

[Carapace]

I wouldn't be setting this up for a large corp........just a small credit union. I really need something in-house that could do the following:

Act as a domain controller........not so much for assigning permissions to workstations, but rather using it to process logon scripts, roaming profiles

Act as a file server for very moderate storage.......maybe 2 or 3 gigs with very little daily transfer

Needs to be VERY STABLE!! There will not be an on-site admin, so basically I need somthing that will take care of itself with minimal intervention from me as I am about 2 hours away from it. I can't be commuting all the time to repair something.

Web mail would be nice though we could live without it.

Email server......I'm thinking POP3 so we can use Outlook to send messages, keep calendars, meeting requests.......etc.

I think in the end what I really need is an Exchange server, I just hope that somehow something like RedHat can do this, and that it's easy enough for a newb to do.

 

[burnedout]

Originally posted by: Carapace
I wouldn't be setting this up for a large corp........just a small credit union. I really need something in-house that could do the following:

Act as a domain controller........not so much for assigning permissions to workstations, but rather using it to process logon scripts, roaming profiles

Act as a file server for very moderate storage.......maybe 2 or 3 gigs with very little daily transfer

Needs to be VERY STABLE!! There will not be an on-site admin, so basically I need somthing that will take care of itself with minimal intervention from me as I am about 2 hours away from it. I can't be commuting all the time to repair something.

Web mail would be nice though we could live without it.

Email server......I'm thinking POP3 so we can use Outlook to send messages, keep calendars, meeting requests.......etc.

I think in the end what I really need is an Exchange server, I just hope that somehow something like RedHat can do this, and that it's easy enough for a newb to do.

OK, I'll try to answer from my experience with Linux and Outlook:

Install either Squirrelmail or Nullwebmail for the webmail. Nullwebmail is the easiest and works well. As far as calendaring with sendmail, forget it. There is another method for uploading calendars to ftp space and updating that you can use (I don't remember it off the top of my head, but its out there on the web). Sendmail will pass the messages reliably between Outllook, Outlook Express and any other clients. IMAP is another option.

You will probably want to admin the server remotely (useradd, userdel, passwd) with either ssh off another linux box or using PuTTy on a Windoze box. Don't use telnet and disable the telnet daemon. Use ssh. The only word of caution about remote admin is just make sure one of the girls at the credit union is standing near the switch if you must reboot. Sometimes that fails. Had it happen once on a box that was an hour drive away.

The file server function is a no-brainer. We store an extremely large amount of various Windoze files, drivers, patches and updates on Linux volumes. As far as stability, I usually average uptime between 180-200 days with over 400 days being the longest. The only reason uptime isn't longer is because I physically take the servers down for periodic maintenance to blow out dust, run checks, check cabling, fans, etc.

 

[skyking]

Nice stuff there ^

 

[n0cmonkey]

If they aren't willing to get an admin, this is a losing proposition for them. No matter what system you use, there will be things an admin will have to look at daily.

 

[Flatline]

Agreed, n0c, but it sounds like that truly isn't an option here.
'nix w/samba could easily give him a file server & domain controller.
Nullwebmail, squirrelmail, or imp would work for webmail.
Postfix or sendmail would work for the email back-end (and of course if he wanted he could use Courier IMAP)
As far as exchange-type calendaring goes, however, I don't really know of a free solution...if someone here does, it would be appreciated.

 

[Carapace]

Admin is not an option in this case, mainly due to staffing budget. I can administer a Windows/Exchange server remotely like it's nobodys business, I just have NEVER dealt with Linux, but I can learn. The CEO is tech savvy enough to be dangerous, but most important is he trusts me, and he takes commands from me so I could easily instruct him to reboot or whatever.

It sounds like what I am trying to do is possible, which is good news.

One thing that would still be helpful is if someone had some good how to links.

As far as calendar, I think the best option would be just to send invites via POP3 and just make sure that everyone is ALWAYS sending out invites instead of having a public calendar.

Thanks for all the info.

 

[burnedout]

Simple Linux Networking

Very well written, step-by-step website. Covers RH-8.

Grasp command line admin concepts and you should be OK. Personally, I find administering a Linux server easier than a Win2K server box, although we have both flavors here at work.

Setup IP Chains for your firewall and work with the hosts.allow, hosts.deny plus /etc/mail/access if using sendmail. The last thing any admin wants is a spammer using their server for a relay.

 

[skyking]

As far as calendar, I think the best option would be just to send invites via POP3 and just make sure that everyone is ALWAYS sending out invites instead of having a public calendar.

An alternative to that is to set up a nice document folder in the public folder in Samba, where people can make adjustments to a schedule. This would be fairly easy to train to, I think.