Is zimbra for me?

[bong]

i hope this is the right forum to post this question. i am pretty new to this so pls excuse me if the questions are too basic.

i like the groupware features of Zimbra OS version. however in my company we do not host a mail server. We use pop mail given by our service provider. Reading through some of the messages and reading the Manuals gives me the impression that Zimbra is essentially deployed as a Mail Server. I have some questions before i start to test out if Zimbra will work for me.

1. we have no static ip in my company and our domain is hosted by hosting company, will the installation even work?

2. is zimbra's feature worth testing if my company is not hosting a mail server. can the features be used internally (internal mails) while i only have a few external pop mail account to communicate with external party?

[dkarp]

There are quite a few HSPs out there who will gladly host Zimbra for you in exchange for cash. If you're not looking to run your own mail/collaboration system, perhaps that'd suit your needs?

[bong]

Well, I would prefer to host the server on-site if it can work. i will not be going for a hosted solution. Especially if the internet is down, we will get crippled.

[gmsmith]

Well, I would prefer to host the server on-site if it can work. i will not be going for a hosted solution. Especially if the internet is down, we will get crippled.

Well if your Internet connection fails, you wouldn't be able to get e-mail anyway and you are currently using a hosted service, so there wouldn't really be a major shift in how you do business today.

You will want a static IP and a reliable Internet connection to host your own mail server.

[simonellistonball]

Another way to do this would be to use the zimbra fetchmail system. This would let you run a local system and have your zimbra server collect the pop email for you.

I believe there are instructions somewhere in the forums / wiki.

[bong]

thanks for the replies. i guess what i was really asking is, how well does zimbra perform as an intranet server with only a few users getting emails from pop servers. Well i am willing to perform the installation and try it out, i am only concern the setting up of a complete mail server is essential during the installation, that will be a showstopper for me.

[czaveri]

Yet another work around would be to use a service such as Dyndns and you have the router route mail to your mail server which has a static IP from private block.

This can work with dynamic IP but can't say how reliable it would be.

[czaveri]

you NEED to setup complete mail server to use Zimbra.

[bong]

Thanks. My considerations will be important as many of my target prospects work with just a few email account (hosted pop account normally) and a collaboration tool is what they would like to have.

Compared with other competing Mail Server. You are able to assign internal Email Address which are not valid outside the organization but used internally together with features like Shared Documents, Group Calendaring, Group Events.

The setup cost for Zimbre will be much lower and upgrading the versions will give them the full features, but i will need to evaluate how the functions add up (mainly as a collaboration tool).

If i do make any headway, i will be sure to post it up, thanks again for the replies.