Zimbra Alternative

[dkarp]

If you're interested in a HTML-only no-Javascript "Zimbra-lite", please feel free to vote for bug 7003. As of now, nobody's voted for it.

[scottnelson]

Done, though isn't this already in the works for the next release?

Scotty

[KevinH]

Originally Posted by scottnelson

Done, though isn't this already in the works for the next release?

Scotty

It may not be ready for prime time but we should be able to have a beta of some sort available for review/testing.

[kabucek]

Originally Posted by phoenix

There is no competition for ZImbra.

There might be :P

check this out :

The Groupware Server for Web 2.0 - Citadel.org

CITADEL..


However I like zimbra, because its simple, but if you could provide me with simple guide how to install it on newest edition of ubuntu server then I will choose zimbra instead of citadel..

grats..

[mmorse]

Welcome to the forums,
Of course I'm biased but I have to say Zimbra beats that hands down.
-Just give the Hosted Demo a spin!

Old thread...some here are now employees and the 'HTML lite' web-client mentioned above has taken fruit/been out a while (as well as refined since 4.5.x with new stuff for 5.0.x).

Anyways, official quick-start guide & documentation: http://www.zimbra.com/products/documentation.html

Here's a community guide: Ubuntu 6.06 Server (Dapper Drake) Beginner's Install Guide - Zimbra :: Wiki

For the Network Edition, (and thereby some good quality assurance testing) Zimbra uses Ubuntu LTS (Long Term Support) versions; 6.06 being the current (supported till 2009 for desktops and 2011 for server versions), the next being 8.04 (supported 2011 for desktops & 2013 for servers).
Compare ZCS Editions

Originally Posted by kabucek

However I like zimbra, because its simple, but if you could provide me with simple guide how to install it on newest edition of ubuntu server then I will choose zimbra instead of citadel.

Don't know what you're defining as 'newest ubuntu' so in short:
You can physically run on Ubuntu 7 for either NE or FOSS, but you won't receive any assistance from technical support if your a NE customer.
Save yourself the headache later - use a supported platform

But if you want them:
Ubuntu 6.10 (Edgy Eft) Shell Changes - Zimbra :: Wiki
Ubuntu 7.04 & 7.10 (Feisty Fawn & Gutsy Gibbon) Install - Zimbra :: Wiki

Ubuntu releases new versions every six months, and supports those releases for a relatively short amount of time with patches to critical bugs, etc. There are also LTS releases, which have three years support for the desktop version and five years for the server version; of course daily security updates as needed. The wiz-bang new features go into these 'in-between releases' and if their good enough, make it to the LTS. (Well that's a given for the most part, unless they would be difficult to support for 5 years etc.)

7.10 was officially released on october 18th of last year.
7.04 is only supported till 2008, and 7.10 only until the start of 2009 (no difference for desktop vs server versions on those dates).

6.10 is also just till 2008. Most just don't have time to upgrade platforms on a mailserver every year, and companies just don't have the time to test every new instance; so 6.06LTS to 2011 is nice & ensures the longest help for everyone. For starters, on a mailserver you don't need the latest desktop UI...you get the idea, I assume you're not new to linux, sorry for being repetitive!

As you can see by the wiki doc it really doesn't take a whole lot besides tricking the installer - unless you go 64bit, but we got something coming for that
We do try to keep the wiki updated with as many tips as possible, so if you find something new let us know in the forums or even add it to the article/talk pages yourself!

If you're curious:
Coming soon to a FOSS download near you with the release of 5.0.3: Bug 16666 - 64-bit Ubuntu 6.0.6 LTS build
Ubuntu's release schedule: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardyReleaseSchedule
Already planned: Bug 23154 - Ubuntu 8.04 - Hardy Heron (after Ubuntu get's their final bits released)
Other planned platforms get noted in PMweb.

[kabucek]

that's nice.
Currently I'm in stage of testing LDAP+SAMBA from this page:

Ubuntu Server 7.10: OpenLDAP + SAMBA Domain Controller - Ubuntu Forums

and instead of postfix I want to install Zimbra.


I will test it both version 6.. and 7.. and see which one will be more
efficient.
This is very time consuming, so if you have some direction that can save me
some time then I appreciate it.
Hopefully I will get that done by Monday.. lol .
If you have any suggestions,
please tell me )

Thanks !!

[mmorse]

Originally Posted by kabucek

Currently I'm in stage of testing LDAP+SAMBA from this page: Ubuntu Server 7.10: OpenLDAP + SAMBA Domain Controller - Ubuntu Forums
and instead of postfix I want to install Zimbra.

FYI Zimbra uses it's own OpenLDAP (I wouldn't put another ldap instance on the same box - you could run one inside a VM instead.)

Originally Posted by Ubuntu forums

This tutorial does achieve the goal: A central LDAP Authentication server that even a Windows client computer can use.

Originally Posted by kabucek

This is very time consuming, so if you have some direction that can save me some time then I appreciate it.

How about: UNIX and Windows Accounts in Zimbra LDAP and Zimbra Admin UI - Zimbra :: Wiki

Originally Posted by Zimbra (Greg)

This document describes how you can configure Zimbra Collaboration Server (ZCS) and Samba to act as a primary domain controller (PDC) that uses LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) as a central password database for authenticating users on Linux and Windows desktops.

[kabucek]

interesting..
I will check this out.
Thanks for advice.

I'll try that then.

[mmorse]

4.5.x video but still pretty good to look at: http://gallery.zimbra.com/zimbra_samba/zimbrasamba.html - Created by Camtasia Studio 4

[kolon]

Sorry about the bump...

...but you could always use CommuniGate Pro. There is a community edition available to download, and it is much smaller in size than Zimbra (20mb~ compared with 300mb~ ).

It uses proprietary services, and the setup menu structures takes some getting used to, but all in all is very stable and not resource hungry.

It has IMAP/POP access, calendaring, basic html (default) and a Flash based front end, LDAP if you need it, can act as a VoIP PBX if needed, loads of platforms supported and also does clustering like Zimbra. It does all kinds of network setup stuff (NATing, load balancing, proxying etc.), it is so quick and easy to backup, upgrade and restore, you can serve streaming media (never done it) and setup file server access (using ftp I think, again never done!) and has very comprehensive logging if you turn it to "debug"...

Only downside for the free version - only 5 actual accounts but loads of aliases.

Out of the box, i think it takes 2-3 settings to get it functioning as a fully fledged mail server. And it doesn't keep complaining about DNS records when you only want to test it!!

A comercial license costs €750 for 25 users, and virus/spam filtering costs extra from third party plugins... Apparrently, you can plug in the open source virus and spam filters, but never done that so not sure how easy it is...

We are thinking of moving from Communigate/Outlook to Zimbra, but only so we can offer it as a nicer looking "built-in" web service with our thin client CRM/distribution software...