[TriLUG] Email & Calendering for Linux & Windows Question..

[David A. Cafaro]

I've got a question concerning finding a solution for Email and
Calendering for a mixed environment of Linux and Windows machines.

What I'm trying to find is a solution that provides Email (SSL Imap or
similar) to both Evolution and Outlook as a minimum (Mozilla and other
clients are a plus but not required) as well as Individual and Group
calendering for Evolution and Outlook (this is another important
feature).  A big bonus would be an optional web interface to these
resources, but not at the expense of the desktop clients.  There is also
a need to have everything authenticate of AD, but that can be done via
samba and what ever server is hosting the solution (hopefully).

My company won't mind spending some cash on this, and expect to do so
anyways.  Sadly the default keeps heading towards running MS Exchange
since it of course has great support for Outlook and the use the the
Ximian connector gets Evolution on board.  I personally don't like the
idea of having MS Exchange as our goto for Email, specially as our
company grows and OpenSource software becomes more and more important to
our daily business (which it is..).

Here are a few things we have at least partially looked at:

MS Exchange: Reasonable support for Evolution (for now) and Outlook. 
Expensive licensing.  How will it scale, and what does MS have planned
for us?  Scalability in the future?  Standards, what standards...

Scalix: Support for Outlook and webmail, Evolution connector still in
the works for calendering (imap for email available).  Can run on
Linux.  Some cost factor in it.  Possible Candidate (Evolution users may
just have to wait for the connector to be released).

GroupWise:  Support for Outlook (mail only) and Evolution (though not
clear on shared schedules in Evolution).  Can run on Linux.  User
licenses add up (looking at 50 users now, more in the years to come). 
Authentication off of AD may be difficult.  Strict system requirements
(software wise).

OpenXchange:  Very limited support for Outlook Calendar contacts, etc. 
Immature software at this point for production use.

OpenGroupware: Not very familiar with them.  Outlooks support via an a
charged for connector, Evolution support limited and beta.  Not a likely
candidate.


Has anyone used any of these in production use and have any opinions,
warnings on them?  Are there other solutions I need to have a look at? 
Thanks for any info, I'm still researching, but I value the opinions of
those on this list.  Thanks.

-David

-- 
David A. Cafaro
dac(at)cafaro.net
Admin to User: "You did what!?!?!"