Replacing Microsoft Exchange with a Linux-based solution?
Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at
17:25
I wish to access my business mails (actually on the exchange server) remotely – at home or somewhere else. Due to the fact that i’m not able to configure VPN on the actual server, I am thinking of replacing the exchange server with a linux based solution.
Is it worth to do so please?
Tagged with: exchange server • Linux • vpn
Filed under: Microsoft
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Use OWA. Https://<youremailserver>/owa
It looks like the outlook 2007 client.
From your router, open a path for https (port 443) from your public address to your email server’s private address.
You need your external DNS to broadcast your OWA address and autodiscover.<yourdomain>.com
Or if you want to use your Outlook Client, use Outlook Anywhere (HTTP over TCP/IP without VPN). Setup your outlook 2007 client for outlook anywhere. via the Connections tab in the More Settings of the Outlook account configurations.
Here is some info on outlook anywhere:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb123741(EXCHG.80).aspx
I’m not sure I understand why you want to replace Exchange (although I think there are many reasons to do so)…
I think Exchange 7 supports SSL over POP3 an IMAP.
If you really what to replace exchange, I have used James. Its a free open source mail server and is part of the apache project. It requires a decent amount of configuration, but works well.
It is very worth doing. I am a linux admin and have many different linux based mail servers about. One of the best ones is postfix. You will be able to view, configure and control the server offsite with using something as simple as webmin. All that needs to be done on your windows(assuming windows) based network is to allow traffic through the webmin port.
There is also zimbra, little more difficult. Actually yahoo just bought the rights to it and that is their new email system!! I have a few of those set up too.
Great spam protection, hardly no chance of the actual email server getting a virus, and it has great and free virus checker for all incoming and outgoing mail.
The actual flavor of linux really does not matter, whether it be Ubuntu, Mandriva….. does not matter, all of them work and all are free
So very many reasons to switch. Feel free to email me if you have more specific questions.
You can use pop3, imap, webmail as clients. Outlook, Evolution…. it is compatible with ALL clients.
Here is a Microsoft Exchange OpenSource Alternative, which generally means its linux as well.
http://www.itinfusion.ca/email/zimbra-microsoft-exchange-alternative/