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Comcast Goes to Zimbra

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the exchange-assassination dept.

tenchiken writes "Zimbra, an Open Source enterprise messaging app, just scored a major win. Comcast will be moving mail services to Zimbra for all of their customers. Zimbra has been picking up steam for a while now, and appears to really be challenging Microsoft in a area that Exchange has been dominated in. Add in support for Samba Domain Controllers and Linux Authentication, Offline Access and Evolution Support and we might finally have our long desired Open Source Exchange killer."

8 of 143 comments (clear)

  1. Anyone here have any experiances with Zimbra? by Darundal · · Score: 2, Interesting

    What is it like setting up, using, maintaining, etc...?

    1. Re:Anyone here have any experiances with Zimbra? by Doppleganger · · Score: 2, Interesting

      You can use sunbird/lightning just fine with Zimbra's iCal support, no additional plugin needed. The only thing lacking is the ability to send out meeting invites, but that doesn't seem to be in sunbird yet. Is there any other support you've found missing?

    2. Re:Anyone here have any experiances with Zimbra? by masonjd · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I've installed the Open Source version and am using it for my family email. It works great. The web interface is really impressive but I also have some family members connecting Thunderbird to it and it works without a hitch. Set up was a breeze. I used a HowToForge guide and it worked great. As for maintaining, the forums have been extremely useful. Overall I'm very pleased.

  2. Why'd comcast change? by Red+Flayer · · Score: 2, Interesting
    FTS:

    Add in support for Samba Domain Controllers and Linux Authentication, Offline Access and Evolution Support and we might finally have our long desired Open Source Exchange killer.
    So let me get this straight -- we're finally getting an Open Source Exchange, and now you're hoping we have something that kills it?

    Seriously, though, I'd be interested to see Comcast's reasoning on changing to Zimbra from Exchange -- might make it a lot easier to justify similar changes elsewhere.
    --
    "Trolls they were, but filled with the evil will of their master: a fell race..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien on Olog-hai
  3. I would love to give it a shot by shaitand · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The only problem is that Zimbra isn't in the Ubuntu repository. In fact, none of the so called exchange killers that I could find are in the Ubuntu repository.

  4. Re:Not completely Open Source by IGnatius+T+Foobar · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Most of the open source groupware systems seem to have a non-free "pro" or "enterprise" version. If you're looking for something that's completely open source, you might want to try out Citadel [http://www.citadel.org]. It is community-developed and doesn't have the multi-tiered approach. Fully turnkey, nothing to integrate manually, and it has a nice ajax-based front end too. An Outlook connector is currently in beta, too.

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    Tired of FB/Google censorship? Visit UNCENSORED!
  5. Re:Not a comperable move by tenchiken · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Exchange is not a mail server. It is a messaging server (with integrated calendar functionality).


    And I am just going to have to conclude that you know snot and didn't RTFA, or bother looking at the links in the submission. If you did, you would notice that Zimbra is also a messaging server (with integrated calendaring functionality), that also can manage directory services and is Open Source.

    Either way, the product being touted is interesting, but your comment is crap.

  6. Re:I certainly hope ... by aztracker1 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    IIRC the plugin for Outlook (yeah, some people will still be using windows) isn't Free(Open-Source/GPL) and Evolution is Linux-Only afaik. There are some people that would switch their servers in a heartbeat, but given the commercial licensing costs of Zimbra, I couldn't recommend it over Windows Server (Web Edition) + SmarterMail... If I could get similar features in free/opensource software, for licensing costs that are less than web edition and smartermail, I would switch in a heartbeat.

    I fully realize that Zimbra is way cool, and has a lot to offer... but I can't personally afford to recommend people loose their outlook functionality, or wind up paying more for licensing. Windows on the client desktop is still a bit of an uphill battle, the server switch is far easier... getting to a point were licensing is less than alternatives, or support is greater are your only options as a first step.

    Just my opinion here, and this isn't meant to be flamebait.

    --
    Michael J. Ryan - tracker1.info