CITA 320 -Network Administration

Fall 2005

Open Source Email Solutions

Casey Hofmann


Table of Contents

1) Introduction

Key Points Covered

2) Email Server Applications

Current Open Source Email Server Applications

Server Comparison

Choosing the Right System

4) Comparing E-Mail Client Applications

Client Requirements

Features, Advantages vs. Disadvantages

4) Why Open Source?

Reasons for Choosing an Open Source System

Disadvantages of Open Source

5) Conclusion

6) References

1)Introduction

There are many different commercial e-mail server and client packages available today. Proprietary server applications, such as Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes/Domino maintain significant market share, but are generally more expensive than open source solutions.

Key Points Covered

Savings on licensing and software costs are driving businesses to look elsewhere for low cost email packages. Price competitive solutions do exist for open source applicationsand are becoming a more popular alternative answer to common ‘closed-source’ email packages.

However, Installation and configuration is an issue that most businesses consider in purchasing and integrating email packages into their network; and open source servers and their clients have been stereotyped as configuration ‘heavy,’ lacking significant functionality and technical support. This document will discuss and address the research, comparison, and purchase options, as well as reasons for investment in an open source email system to fit common business needs.

2)Email Server Applications

Current Open Source Email Server Applications

The abundance of open source applications and systems has been steadily growing as an alternative to Windows and other closed source systems.

There are many current open source e-mail server and client applications available, here are a few:

Server Applications:

  • OpenMail Email Server by Hewlett-Packard
  • Scalix Corporate Edition
  • ExchangeIt! by Net Integration Technologies
  • The Open-Xchange Email Server Series

Client Programs:

  • Thunderbird
  • Evolution Client
  • KDE Kmail

Server Comparison

OpenMail

OpenMailis highly scalable email server that was offered by Hewlett-Packard (HP). Originally designed for UNIX systems, OpenMail has been adapted to be compatible with Linux systems. OpenMail’s Linux version is primarily designed for small to mid-size organizations and HP claims that its email application can scale to massive numbers (up to one million or more) with an enterprise upgrade to the UNIX version. Intended as a Linux alternative to MS Exchange, OpenMail’s advantages include open source customization, large scalability (to Unix systems), Technical Support through HP. Disadvantages are the fact that it is not officially offered by HP, and is limited to the Red Hat series in Linux.

Scalix

The Scalix Corporation offers one of the most well-known open-source email server applications, whichis based off of HP’s OpenMail, from which Scalix acquired the license to, and molded into, its current two editions: Community and Enterprise.

The Community Edition is the basic free edition and is a scaled down version of the Enterprise Edition. It provides basic server and client functionality, including a GUI installation and configuration base, Personal Calendar features, and basic Anti-Virus capabilities. Their primary customer bases are small to mid-size organizations and can run on Fedora, SUSE, and Red Hat operating systems.

The Enterprise Edition focuses on interoperability and scalability with an organization. It supports ‘ecosystem support’ with Windows. Scalix’s ecosystem support allows its Enterprise Edition to interoperate and coexist with Microsoft’s Active Directory and Outlook email client. This coexistence is the primary advantage of Scalix it provides a low cost replacement for Microsoft Exchange without loss of the Outlook client, Active Directory accounts, and enterprise level functionality, all for considerably less than MS Exchange.

ExchangeIt!

Part of the Net Integrator OS (NIOS) offered by Net Integration Technologies Inc. (NITI), ExchangeIt! is an email server application similar to MS Exchange (hence the name). It uses the NIOS (Linux based operating system) as a base for email and other services. It’s competitively priced and supports many clients including MS Outlook, but requires the NIOS as a base to run. This can add overhead cost to the TCO, and may be difficult for novice users to install, configure, and manage.

Open-Xchange

Open-Xchange is an open source email server that offers two versions, community and commercial. As with most, the community version is a free, but scaled down version of the commercial version. An important difference between Open-Xchange and other email server applications is the popularity of it. Commonly bundled with Red Hat Linux and recently Novell’s SUSE Linux, Open-Xchange is becoming the main open source competitor to Exchange. The package offers significant collaboration and synchronization to existing infrastructures and also supports many popular clients including Thunderbird, Kontact, and Outlook.

Choosing the Right System

The right system depends on the environment it will be used in. See Table 2-1 on the following page for more information.

Table 2-1

Open Source
Email Server Applications / Advantages / Disadvantages
OpenMail / Very Scalable, customization options / Not officially supported by HP, limited to Red Hat flavors of Linux
Scalix / Scalable, comes in two editions to fit diverse needs; coexists with and supports Active Directory and MS Outlook / Free version is feature-limited. Licensing costs for commercial version are comparable to competitors
ExchangeIt! / Support for multiple clients. / Requires the NIOS operating system to run, may be difficult to install for novice users
Open-Xchange / Comes in two versions to fit diverse needs, often bundled with Popular Linux OS’s, supports multiple clients / Free version is feature-limited. Licensing costs for commercial version are only slightly less in comparison to major competitors

Administrators in larger environments with multiple users and an existing infrastructure (such as Windows) may be drawn to a system similar to Scalix, as it offers integration and support for Windows applications as well as a worthy tech support system. Mid-size or smaller organizations may take interest in applications such as Open-Xchange which is bundled with common open-source network operating systems, and supports basic integration and functionality with existing infrastructures.

3)Comparing E-Mail Client Applications

Client Requirements

Email client requirements should be a major consideration when researching and choosing a Client Email package. Understanding the underlying infrastructure, including Budget, Operating System, and Technical Ability limitations, as well as interoperability issues is important to selecting the right system. Popular email client programs include Thunderbird, Ximian and Novell’s Emailclient, and KDE’s Kmail.

Features, Advantages vs. Disadvantages

Thunderbird

Mozilla’s Thunderbird email client is one of the most popular email clients because of its functionality, its costs, and its feature sets. Thunderbird is supported in Windows, Mac, and Linux systems and is freely available for download on the Internet.

Available features include built-in spell checking, IMAP and POP3 support (including Yahoo, Hotmail, and GMail accounts), changeable themes, and downloadable extensions to provide extra functionality to the client. The main advantage to Thunderbird is its multiplatform support, and available features. Although it provides many features, it lacks in-depth customization offered by other open source competitors.

Evolution

Evolution is a powerful email client for Linux/UNIX with IMAP and POP3 support. Created through a joint effort between Ximian and Novell, Evolution is meant to be the ‘Outlook version for Linux.’ Advantages include the ability to connect and communication with a variety of email servers, including MS Exchange, Calendar and Address book functionality, Spam Filtering, and a virtual file and folder infrastructure designed to easily organize and find stored messages. The primary limitation of Evolution is the requirement of G-Nome to run the application.

Kmail

Kmail is an email package for the KDE (Desktop Environment). It features filtering, encryption abilities (PGP, others), Address book, Spam fighting tools, and HTML support, as well as the customization options of a Linux application. Kmail is a fairly popular application and comes prepackaged with the KDE

Desktop Environment. The only weakness or disadvantage of Kmail is that because it’s package with KDE, it’s not a stand-alone application. See Table 3-1 below for more information.

Table 3-1

Open Source
Email Client Applications / Advantages / Disadvantages
Thunderbird / Free to download, easy to use, Multi-Platform Support, has SPAM tools and POP Email Support / Early versions offer limited customization and extension support
Evolution Client / Outlook clone for Linux, Supported by many Email Server applications. / Limited to Linux/Unix OSs, requires G-Nome
KDE Kmail / “Cleaner” Outlook clone, supports encryption, automatically packaged with KDE / Not a stand alone application (requires KDE)

4) Why Open Source?

Reasons for Choosing an Open Source System

There are many reasons and advantages for investing in an open source solution for an email system. The most common would be savings in terms of licensing and software costs, as well as the customization options available in free/low cost packages.

As open source applications advance, so does the reliability and support that is offered. Companies like HP, Scalix, and Novell are embracing open source packages that incorporate the same functionality and the technical support/ documentation that was formerly only unique to proprietary systems. This savings in TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) and ease of manageability is drawing more and more businesses to consider open source solutions.

Disadvantages of Open Source

Open source applications are not without disadvantages though, and should be weighed in considering choosing a new email system. Integration is a common issue with open source solutions in environments where (especially with proprietary applications like Windows) existing infrastructures limit deviation from standard operating systems and standards.

Technical know-how is another consideration for the TCO and the available resources in an organization. Having staff (or being willing to hire staff) knowledgeable in Linux and other open-source systems is almost always a must for configuring and managing a non-proprietary email system. This is where proprietary systems win over open source.

Furthermore, issues of backup software and available technical support are another aspect of open source that is still lagging behind proprietary systems. Having the ability to backup Email settings, accounts, mailboxes, and other information is a key requirement for most businesses. Finally, the lack of significant tech support for most packages is non-existent, as most open source solutions are a collaboration of code from many people and organizations, and thus there is no set infrastructure for support.

5)Conclusion

Recommendation

Open source email applications are viable solutions to proprietary packages. The right solution for a specific organization depends on the needs of the organization.

For a small business of 100 or less people, the Open-Xchange Server package would be best as it is supported by multiple Linux flavors and is compatible with many client applications including the popular Thunderbird and Outlook clients. This would be simple to install and would be well-suited to an existing Windows or Linux infrastructure.

For a larger organization or 500 or more people, Scalix would be a better suited program. It has simple scalability and offers two editions to fit the needs of the business. It also works with Microsoft’s Active Directory and Outlook (as well as multiple Linux Clients for a Linux infrastructure). If the organization has an existing Microsoft infrastructure, Scalix can be a comparable alternative to the high-cost MS Exchange.

Summary

Open source solutions are continuing to expand as technology expands. As businesses look to lower costs, non-proprietary solutions are becoming more and more lucrative, especially for commodity services, like email. This demand for lower cost email packages has driven businesses and organizations to create open source solutions to meet this demand. By saving on licensing and software costs, open source packages are becoming more logical solutions. Finally, with businesses offering non-proprietary email packages with features and support that match proprietary systems, more and more businesses will invest in open source solutions.

6) References

Email Servers:

OpenMail

Open Xchange

Open Groupware

NIOS – ExchangeIt!

Scalix:

Email Clients:

Evolution

Thunderbird

Kmail

Other:

ZDNet Whitepapers

Open Source TCO Analysis

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CITA 320 Term Paper C. Hofmann October 20th, 2005