Recommends for mail server for company..

[aceO07]

What's a good mail server for a small company?

Here are the features I want to have:
1. Easy to use (add/remove/configure users), good UI
2. Good amount of features and configurations.
3. Decent price for a large or unlimited number of accounts.
4. Not too system intensive (500mhz seems the recommended now).

I'm currently looking into Argosoft, Mdaemon and MS Exchange. Linux based packages are an option, but I'd prefer to use Windows for the time being, since it's easier for most people to use.

How does Exchange work? Any good reads for it? I can't really get enough usable information for this product; features, costs. How does its licenses work? Does it need a license for each account or it is unlimited?

I can test ArgoSoft and Mdaemon since they have trial versions, however Exchange is a different story.

 

[kevnich2]

After using it, my personal recommendation is desknow. The site for this is www.desknow.com This is an excellent mail server program and SO much easier to use than exchange. Take a look at it.

 

[aceO07]

Originally posted by: kevnich2
After using it, my personal recommendation is desknow. The site for this is www.desknow.com This is an excellent mail server program and SO much easier to use than exchange. Take a look at it.

How well does it work with Outlook? Under what environment do you use Desknow, Home or Office?

Edit: Is it accessible only by browser? Their screenshots don't show any admin tools.

 

[kevnich2]

It works great with outlook. It has IMAP/POP/SMTP services. It can be used in both home and office. It does have a VERY feature rich web interface for both management and use but work very well as IMAP/POP3 access as well. The free version is excellent, supports unlimited users and unlimited domains. It can also integrate with active directory on a server level.

 

[Garion]

What are you functional requirements? Need scheduling or simple e-mail? Remote access via webmail? POP access? IMAP services? Central directory / phonebook? How much storage per user? Integration with any other directory (AD, NDS, etc.)? How many users? Built-in Spam or AV protection?

Can you define "decent price"? If you want a simple mail server, build a Linux box and use some of the freebies that support POP/IMAP. If you want the next step up, look at something like MDaemon. If you want the cadilac that can handle very high volume of users (ISP-class), look at Ipswitch collab suite (formerly called IMail).

- G

 

[Agamar]

For integration with windows, you really won't be able to beat Exchange. It drops right in with the Active Directory, has a good webmail service, and is pretty easy to setup. (at least it was for me). How many total users are you looking at? Going to cost ya some big money if you have like say, 1000 or more.

 

[aceO07]

Unfortunately this is a project in progres, so I don't really know much of my requirements... The initial plan was to just set up mail server to provide email access (used by webform) that is more reliable than our current email service, which isn't 100% working right now. We may potentially switch all our email account over to our mail server if it proves to be a good solution. So, for me, it's still vague. We could have it at bare minimum, but maybe we could use it for other stuff as well.. It also depends on cost and benefits. If the total price (PC, OS, Software) isn't over $2000, then anything goes.. To answer some of your questions.. (Most of which are based on if the price is right..)

What are you functional requirements? - Windows and reliable for small traffic
Need scheduling or simple e-mail? - Just need simple reliable email, but more is better..
Remote access via webmail? - For inital purpose, no, but would be good to have.
POP access? - Yes
IMAP services? - Not really
Central directory / phonebook? - If the price is right
How much storage per user? - For inital purpose, under 5MB
Integration with any other directory (AD, NDS, etc.)? Nope
How many users? - ~25
Built-in Spam or AV protection? - Spam filter initally.

 

[kevnich2]

I would seriously look at desknow in your case. The free version has all of the above features, spam and virus protection is free only for 30 days, after which you do have to purchase a license, but the license is still well below your 2,000. Desknow free version has remote access, remote administration via web, has POP, IMAP acccess for all accounts, has a central directory/address book which every user can see every other use on their specific domain by default, storage depends on what the administrator sets, but default is unlimited, it integrates with active directory and supports unlimited users and unlimited domains (free version as well as licensed version). The installation for me was under 10 minutes which included 3 domains and 35 users. The web-interface is what impressed me the most.

 

[JackMDS]

I think that a decision has to be making whether it is an Ad-Hoc solution for email.
In such a case I would install DeskNow and give a try. The basic version is free and not very hard to set.

Otherwise, a long run planning has to be made that includes consideration of Server OS etc.

As an Example for a long run and modest expense (might be within the budget that you mentioned) with the ability to expand I would suggest to take a look ate Microsoft Small Business server, it can come with Exchange and other Goodies with room to expand. A very good solution for a company with 10 -75 computers.

Link to: Windows Small Business Server.

Contact your local Microsoft office they might give you a trial version of Windows2003 Small Business server and Exchange.

:sun:

 

[aceO07]

Thanks guys. I guess I will give DeskNow a try. Install it, try it, and see how it works instead of deciding now and not doing anything.. =) I'll see how things go.

JackMDS, I have looked into MS SBS 2003, however, they have a limitation of 15CAL.

 

[stash]

SBS supports 75 clients. Do you mean your client will only purchase 15 CALs? SBS would still be cheaper, since the 75 CALs are included, as well as Exchange.

 

[Garion]

Originally posted by: STaSh
SBS supports 75 clients. Do you mean your client will only purchase 15 CALs? SBS would still be cheaper, since the 75 CALs are included, as well as Exchange.

Actually, when you buy SBS 2003 you get 5 CAL's out of the box then you add licenses for users beyond the initial 5. If you just want Windows and Exchange for 25 users, it would be about $2,400.

SBS 2003 pricing page

- G

 

[stash]

D'oh! My bad. I was confusing the limit of CALs on SBS with the number that come with the product initially.

 

[Nothinman]

Yay, isn't licensing fun?

POP access? - Yes
IMAP services? - Not really

I would really reconsider that, using IMAP and leaving the mail on the server is a huge benefit and makes central backups, webmail, server-side filtering, etc much easier.

Central directory / phonebook? - If the price is right
Integration with any other directory (AD, NDS, etc.)? Nope

This would also probably be a good thing, global address books are pretty much a requirement these days.

If I had to build a network and email infrastructure and was forced to use Windows, I would probably just suck it up and go for Exchange. For better or worse it's the defacto-standard and the Exchange admins where I work aren't the sharpest knives in the drawer and they seem to make it work pretty well. And AD also gives you a lot of power to enforce policies, push apps, etc with member machines.

If I wasn't forced to use Windows, I would most likely grab a Debian CD and put together a custom solution. The initial setup would be a bit of a pain I'm sure as LDAP really sucks, but you only have to go through the initial setup pains once if you do your job properly and document everything you do. Then if someone else had to do maintenance I would throw on something like webmin or a custom web front end (perl is your friend) if I had the time. I believe there are some custom distribution that handle most of that for you out of the box, but I can't for the life of me think of what they're called. The only real cost would be the hardware and you're time, if the project isn't time crunched you might want to play around with a Linux solution, what could it hurt?

 

[skyking]

RE nothinman's post about using debian or any other distro:
If you had the machine conveniently located, most of the stuff that would be a pain to transfer to a webmin interface could be done directly through the console GUI. Put it on a KVM with the admin's desktop, and use the standard tools for adding users, stopping, starting and restarting services, etc.

 

[aceO07]

I think we're leaning towards Exchange. Possibly MS Windows SBS 2003.

Anybody know if I'd need Exchange CAL for SBS if I want to use Exchange? If so, does it come w/ 5CAL like SBS, or does it have 1 or 0 licenses included?

Lets say I have 8 people in the office who will potentially use Outlook to access the Windows SBS, what licenses would I need from the standard Windows SBS 2003 software package? MS site isn't very good about telling me what other licenses I would need.

Also, where would be a good place to purchase this package?

I got lots of questions. Thanks, in advance.

 

[Garion]

SBS 2003 comes with 5 CAL's. IF you want 8 people to access it, you'll need to buy three more CAL's, or (preferrably) another 5 pack to give you some headroom.

Buy it anywhere that's reliable and cheap, but I bet you won't find much variance in prices. Be sure to read the different licencing versions, however. Very important. If I had to pick, I'd buy the Open NL license with Software Assurance. Gives you upgrades, etc.

MS SBS 2003 pricing and licensing page

- G

 

[aceO07]

Originally posted by: Garion
SBS 2003 comes with 5 CAL's. IF you want 8 people to access it, you'll need to buy three more CAL's, or (preferrably) another 5 pack to give you some headroom.

Buy it anywhere that's reliable and cheap, but I bet you won't find much variance in prices. Be sure to read the different licencing versions, however. Very important. If I had to pick, I'd buy the Open NL license with Software Assurance. Gives you upgrades, etc.

MS SBS 2003 pricing and licensing page

- G

What about the Exchange Server in SBS? Do I need to get licenses for that too? I'm confused on the type of licenses I need for SBS. If I purchase 5 more licenses for SBS, will that cover the Exchange too? Or do I need to purchase separate Exchange licenses?

 

[Garion]

A SBS CAL (Client Access Licnese) gives you the right to use all the services provided by the server for that user - Terminal services, file services, print services, Exchange, etc. That's the only way to buy client licenses for a SBS. 10 CAL's = 10 users. On the link there's details about user vs device CAL's that you should read, to understand the difference between them.

- G

 

[addragyn]

What's a good mail server for a small company?

That really depends. But you've got good questions below.

Here are the features I want to have:
1. Easy to use (add/remove/configure users), good UI
2. Good amount of features and configurations.
3. Decent price for a large or unlimited number of accounts.
4. Not too system intensive (500mhz seems the recommended now).

I'm currently looking into Argosoft, Mdaemon and MS Exchange. Linux based packages are an option, but I'd prefer to use Windows for the time being, since it's easier for most people to use.

Of the 3 you listed I only know Exchange.

Exchange is none of the things you ask. Exchange administration is a whole job unto itself. Please do not be another business out there who set's up an Exhange machine just because it's "easy and runs on Windows". Remember Nimda and NetSky? Exchange is also (relatively) expensive and is not know for being light on resources. Excahnge has some very good capabilites, which don't apply in this situation.

Mercury Mail is THE light Windows mail server. It's got a great rep, has been around forever and is a known quantity. It's also free.

Stalker Software has a great rep for a being robust , simple, and scalable.

You have lots of great Open Source options too.

My suggestion. If you need mail right away setup Mercury. Setup a Linux box. I reccomend you add MailScanner on top of it. You'll then have spam & virus protection on the server. Good stuff and all free.

How does Exchange work? Any good reads for it? I can't really get enough usable information for this product; features, costs. How does its licenses work? Does it need a license for each account or it is unlimited?

Doesn't the whole "can't really get enough usable information" raise a red flag? Here's some info, Exchange stores run on JET. :thumbsdown:

- - -

Reccomendations to run Exchange for 25 light POP3 mailboxes is Liberacchi ghey and Jacko crazy.

 

[DarkTXKnight]

OP I am an have been an Exchange admin since the days of MSMAIL and I agree with addragyn's post. Exchange for your setup is massive overkill and there are other alternatives out there. I am normally a completely pro windows guy too but sometimes a small linux server for mail would be a better arrangement . I mainly say this because as far as Windows is concerned Exchange is really the most stable and robust package you can find, but it's pricey AND add to that the limitation of SBS 2003. It insists on being the primary server in your domain. this is great for awhile but if you ever plan for a larger network your exchange box will always be your main DC, which in some situations will affect performance. Even MS reccomends that in a normal domain the main controller NOT share duties with an Exchange server because Exchange is resource hungry. Also by putting your mailserver on a small linux box and into a corner unto itself you will save yourself from a lot of issues that plague windows servers in general. you can treat this machine like an appliance and not have the extra worry of everyone else jumping on you when the mail server is down. Do all machines have issues? Sure , but Windows boxes do seem to take a little more daily attention right now to make sure that they runcorrectly. There is so much information on the web for setting up a simple rock solid mailserver on Linux that you should find it quite easy to follow and go .

Just my .02cents