Fun Project: Replace Exchange and Fax Services

[Steven E. Protter]

I have a good friend and private customer that has been forking money over to Microsoft for a while.

Current Product set:
Microsoft Exchane 5.5
Winfax 10.02

Microsoft Exchange has been reliable and served well, but Microsoft upgrades are just too expensive.

So.

I'd like to build a Linux alternative server.

I'd like to get an open source solution that replaces Exchange's mail storage and appointment calendar functionality.

I'd like to migrate the data from the exchange database.

I'd like to receive faxes and share them with windows clients on the rest of the network.

I've looked at openexhange but am unsure if it will solve the problem. I have no idea what kind of fax servers are available.

To earn a bunny:
Provide a solution with a link where I can download the product. That gets you to 8.

The last two points can be earned with practical experience or good documentation.

Ideal OS Fedora Core 3.

SEP

[Fred Ruffet]

None simple all-built-in project seem to fit, but with a little bit of intgration, their way be a way... Problem will be projects still in beta-phase.

Mozilla in its wanting to migrate into multiple little client is starting a project for calendar management. If you use in parralel a free IMAP server, you will have a good start.

I imagine you already know, but from link to link you can start from here :
http://freshmeat.net/

Regards,

Fred

[Fred Ruffet]

check this one :
http://www.courier-mta.org/

Regards,

Fred

[Steven E. Protter]

Found this:
http://mirror.open-xchange.org/ox/EN/community/download.htm

SEP

[Fred Ruffet]

Seems very cool :)
I will give it a try.

I would really be interrested if you plan to test to have your feedback.

Regards,

Fred

[Steven E. Protter]

I'll let you know Fred.

Picking out hardware right now.

Maybe we can collaborate.

21 pts coming your way.

SEP

[Fred Ruffet]

Next week will be a little hot for me. But starting the week after, I will try to install and see what it looks like.

Regards,

Fred

[Steven E. Protter]

Same here.

Since Thursday is a day off for me that doesn't stick me in synagogue all day, I've got a product that needs to be documented. Linux based of course. I'll get the hardware Thursday and handle the base OS install and see what I can do afterwards.

SEP

[Oskar Teran · Accepted solution]

I'd suggest www.bynari.com
It's not free, but it's packaged VERY well. It uses cyrus/postfix combo along with their own programming for features like shared calendar, shared to-do lists, global-address books, etc.

It costs MUCH less than exchange.

for faxing I'd suggest www.faximum.com
Again, it's not free - but they take a lot of the PITA factor out of doing a fax server on linux.
If you have LOTS of time, yea - do Hylafax, Cyrus, Postfix, create your own methods for sharing calendars, todo lists, etc.
Also, don't forget LDAP and make it all nice and pretty with a VERY slick web interface.

IF this is a business....sometimes it's wiser to get a quality finished product instead of dealing with the raw stuff.

Just a thought..
Oskar

[Ranjith_5]

Hi SEP,

I am attaching a TAR file. Its faxmail.
README file also there in the same file.
I havenot tested it in my linux box. But the site says its worth.

Regards,
Syam

[Andrew Merritt_2]

Not free, but you can download it for evaluation, www.scalix.com. Based on OpenMail (originally on HPUX, from HP), exclusively on Linux.

Also based on OpenMail, with a Linux version among others, but you may need to login to download a trial version, is Samsung Contact (www.samsungcontact.com).

Andrew

[Steven E. Protter]

Good Stuff.

Just because I handed out a bunny for meeting question criteria, doesn't mean this is closed. Your ideas are appreciated.

SEP

[Francisco J. Soler]

Hi SEP,
take a look to this links:

1.- http://www.clarkconnect.org/forums/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=groupware
and search for the subject: Alternative to exchange.

2.- Exchange4linux:
http://www.exchange4linux.org/billworkgroup/home
http://sourceforge.net/projects/exchange4linux
http://www.exchange4linux.com/exchange4linux/Home

3.- http://rhems.sourceforge.net/rhems.htm

hope this helps
Frank.

[Ranjith_5]

Hi SEP,

A few more tips. have you tested my last attachment? I dont have a big linux setup at my place; its mainly of HP stuff. I only tested the installation on a linux PC. Its going OK.


Website:http://www.ahinc.com/hylafax.html

All the information about the config details are availale on the website.

Software Name:Hylaxfax
Software Type:LICENCE REQUIRED


Configuration Tips:-
--------------------------
Hylaxfax supports sending faxes that are triggered from other Linux, Unix or AIX operating systems. This is done by a remote server sending an email message with a special format. On the Linux server running Hylafax, patches need to be installed in sendmail to accomodate this technique.

The following is a sample executable script that sends an email message from the remote server to the Linux server running Hylafax.

username = $1
phonenumber = $2
subject = $3
cat - | mail -s"${subject}" "${username}"@${phonenumber}.fax

where the variables represent....

username = the name of the fax receipent
phonenumber = fax phone number you are sending to.
subject = the subject of the fax
Example usage:

Assume you saved the above script as lpfax

to fax the file faxdoc
to joe smith
at 16305551212
with the subject please review
Enter the following from the command line...
lpfax "joe smith" 16305551212 "please review" faxdoc

Changes to sendmail configuration (for SuSE Linux)

cd /usr/share/sendmail/mailer
If the file fax.m4 exists, change accordingly, otherwise create a new file
ifdef(`FAX_MAILER_ARGS',,
`define(`FAX_MAILER_ARGS', faxmail -d -Mr=.25 -n -p 10pt -W 8.5 $u@$h $f)')
ifdef(`FAX_MAILER_PATH',,
`define(`FAX_MAILER_PATH', /usr/local/bin/faxmail)')
ifdef(`FAX_MAILER_MAX',,
`define(`FAX_MAILER_MAX', 100000)')
POPDIVERT
# FAX Mailer specification
VERSIONID(`@(#)fax.m4 8.11 (Berkeley) 5/19/1998')
Mfax, P=FAX_MAILER_PATH, F=DFMhu, S=14, R=24, M=FAX_MAILER_MAX, T=X-Ph
one/X-FAX/X-Unix,A=FAX_MAILER_ARGS
LOCAL_CONFIG
CPFAX



More Links:-BUT THESE ARE NOT FREEWARE
----------------------------------------

http://www.esker.com.au/fax_server_solutions/solutions-unix.asp?cid=701300000000DJN&src=Ad%20-%20Electronic

http://www.svamsoftware.com/newsvam2/products/vsi/default.asp

http://www.actfax.com/en/

http://www.biscom.com/products_solutions/faxcom_linux_faxserver.htm

Regards,
Syam