The end is near for Exchange 5.5 as Microsoft terminates product support January 1, 2006. For those who haven’t already upgraded or switched, the big question is (as always): Microsoft Windows, Linux, Apple OS X or Other?
All communities will find more highly regarded solutions for the enterprise than ever before, spanning both Open Source and Commercial worlds: Bynari Insight Server, eGroupWare, exchange4linux, FirstClass, Kerio MailServer, Kolab Server, Lotus Notes & Domino, Novell GroupWise, Open-Xchange, OpenGroupware and Scalix.
| Groupware Server | Help | Lic | Outlk | Win | Lnx | OSX | Oth |
| Bynari Insight Server | |||||||
| Communigate Pro | |||||||
| eGroupWare | |||||||
| exchange4linux | |||||||
| FirstClass | |||||||
| Kerio MailServer | |||||||
| Kolab Server | |||||||
| Lotus Notes & Domino | |||||||
| Merak Email Server Suite | |||||||
| Novell GroupWise | |||||||
| Open-Xchange | |||||||
| OpenGroupware (OGo) | |||||||
| Scalix | |||||||
| Zimbra Collaboration Suite |
Editor’s Notes concerning the table: “Help” means Migration Notes; “Lic” means License; “Outlook” means Microsoft Outlook support, which is not necessarily free. Meanings of the remaining column headings should be obvious.
And there’s always Microsoft. The Microsoft Exchange Team has consolidated all of Eileen Brown’s mini webcasts into A blogcast series on upgrading your organization from Exchange 5.5 to Exchange 2003.
If you have a favorite solution you would like us to include, add it to the list in comments. Please include the URL for the software’s feature set, and the URL for the migration instructions. Also, tell us if the server fully supports all Microsoft Outlook functions, and the operating systems it rides.
Additions:
- Merak Email Server Suite, 30 November 2005;
- Zimbra Collaboration Suite, 6 December 2005.
Background:
- Alternative to Exchange Boosts Security and Groupware Features; Dan Burger; The Windows Observer; 20 July 2005.
- An Open Look at Groupware; Jim Conley; Redmondmag; July 2005.
- Bloated Exchange 12 Begs For Atkins; Email Battles; 22 November 2005.
- Exchange Functionality for Linux; Hans-Cees Speel; Linux Journal; 18 March 2003.
- Kroupware in Your (Near) Future; Mike McCallister; Linuxworld; 1 February 2003.
- Microsoft, Linux square off in InfoWorld’s Exchange migration challenge; Oliver Rist, Jamie Bernstein; Infoworld; 11 February 2005.
- Migrating Public Administrations To Open Source Software; Paolo Zuliani and Giancarlo Succi; Faculty of Computer Science, Free University of Bolzano-Bozen.
- More users migrate from Microsoft Exchange to new Lotus Notes; Bink.nu; 24 October 2005.
- Moving to mainframe Linux; Robert L. Scheier; Computerworld; 2 October 2003.
- Novell slams Microsoft open source study; Derek Sooman; TechSpot; 22 November 2005.
- Novell steps up GroupWise commitment; Derek Sooman; TechSpot; 10 February 2005.
- Post details: Bynari Insight Server; Viraj’s Weblog; 21 February 2005.
20 comments
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January 14th, 2007 at 10:02 am
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November 23rd, 2005 at 4:52 pm
Rudolph
A number of admins I’ve talked to are still using 5.5 because they’ve dealt with it for years and in the process have learned how to overcome or work around its glitches and foibles. They’ve resisted upgrading or switching primarily to avoid having to deal with a whole set of glitches and foibles. I wonder how many will still keep their 5.5 even though it won’t be supported?
November 24th, 2005 at 3:44 am
Mark Wilson
Novell Groupwise is supported on Windows 2000 & 2003 server.
http://www.novell.com/products/groupwise/sysreqs.html
November 24th, 2005 at 8:36 am
Editor
We lost an X in the holiday rush. Thanks for finding it.
November 24th, 2005 at 7:26 pm
boris
What about OpenGroupware ?
http://www.opengroupware.org
November 25th, 2005 at 10:28 am
ToddMac
We’re still running Exchange 5.5, but we’ve hidden it behind a border device. It’s only directly accessible from inside our network.
November 25th, 2005 at 11:09 am
Ken Farmer
I’m suprised CommuniGate Pro wasn’t mentioned.
http://www.stalker.com/content/solutions.htm
Ken
November 25th, 2005 at 11:13 am
theory41
Ken, Communigate Pro is the second server listed in the table above.
November 25th, 2005 at 11:14 am
Ken Farmer
My bad. CommuniGate Pro is mentioned. Not enough coffee this morning.
Ken
November 25th, 2005 at 8:18 pm
Editor
RE: OpenGroupware added to the Exchange Server 5.5 Migration table. Also has Instant OGo CD, “which contains a complete GNU/Fedora Linux system, a fully configured OGo installation, a Cyrus server and web interfaces to administrate the server.” It’s designed to get a complete groupware server up in 30 minutes. Thanks for the heads-up, Boris. (http://www.opengroupware.org/en/instantogo/index.html)
November 25th, 2005 at 8:55 pm
Beadle
You missed Citadel open source groupware: http://www.citadel.org/.
November 25th, 2005 at 10:30 pm
Editor
We tried to include only groupware that allows full Outlook functionality, including access to mail and public folders, as well as server-side calendars and address books. Citadel says, “We are working with a third party to make a “connector” product available. In the meantime, if you store your calendar locally (on the computer running Outlook) you will still be able to send and receive meeting invitations via email, including to and from users running other client software, or via WebCit.”
http://www.citadel.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=70&Itemid=38
Sorry.
November 28th, 2005 at 1:30 pm
Bob
Another one: Merak mailserver (http://www.icewarp.com/)
November 30th, 2005 at 4:24 pm
Editor
Merak Email Server Suite added. In May 2005, Icewarp said it would be adding an Exchange Migration Tool in 30 days. Can’t find it. We linked to the generic Migration Tool. Note the pricing.
December 6th, 2005 at 8:17 pm
Editor
Anybody notice how easy Amy made it for us to add Zimbra? (hint, hint)
December 7th, 2005 at 10:33 am
Amy Swanson
Groupware server website:
http://www.zimbra.com
Exchange 5.5 migration help:
http://www.zimbra.com/community/downloads.php - 5.5 migration tools will
be available in January - Exchange 2003 is available today.
Licensing Type:
Open Source - Mozilla Public License
Network Edition - Zimbra Network License
Allows full functionality for Outlook? Y - Beta is available today and GA in January
Available for Windows platform? N
Available for Linux platform? Y - RedHat, Fedora
Available for OS X platform? Y
Available for Other platforms? N
March 16th, 2006 at 9:15 pm
Jon
Isn’t the Gordano Messaging Suite (GMS) an option? http://www.gordano.com
March 24th, 2006 at 10:21 pm
Jon
Here is another alternative:
Softalk WorkgroupShare.
http://www.softalkltd.com/products/workgroupshare/
February 7th, 2007 at 11:07 am
jim o.
Zimbra isn’t all it claims to be. Most of the people promoting it (most likely including the person who mentioned it above) actually work for Zimbra. They do a LOT of astroturfing.
October 13th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Henry
Jim O. is right. We found a lot of people on our forums talking about how wonderful Zimbra is, and they all turned out to be Zimbra employees. This is a bit sleazy.