Linux alternatives to Windows SBS part two

David M Williams
Thursday, 25 September 2008 06:10

Opinion and Analysis

Kerio
Kerio Mail Server – or KMS – is another product which strives to provide exceptional mail and groupware facilities. As with others above it gives the expected mail, calendar and contacts platform with sharing and collaboration between users.

Also as with other products above, and unlike Microsoft Exchange, it includes integrated anti-virus and anti-spam control. Mobile e-mail options allow Windows Mobile and BlackBerry devices to keep synchronised over the air, as well as PalmOS handhelds.

Where Kerio differs from the other products listed is that it does not come in different versions; you just Kerio MailServer with all features unlocked from the onset. The price is $499 for 10 users with additional licenses in bundles that work out to $20 per user.

This price includes Outlook integration; there are no additional hidden fees. Again like the other products, the Outlook connection is seamless and your end users won’t be aware they’re using something other than Exchange. Kerio explicitly ties in with Microsoft Entourage on Macintosh computers as well as Windows and MacOS bundled clients like Windows Mail and Apple Mail. If you have a heterogeneous environment you’ll find Kerio provides greater interoperability between PC and Mac clients than Exchanges does.

To help you make the switch Kerio give away a free Exchange migration tool. This makes it a snap to switch from Exchange 5.5 or Exchange 2000 or Exchange 2003 without worrying about server clusters for large volumes of users, or being concerned by complex licensing schemes or having to purchase separate anti-virus or anti-spam products. The upgrade path from these versions of Exchange is simpler and more straightforward to Kerio than it is to Exchange 2007.

So, what do you think? Any personal favourites which didn’t make this list? And, if you’re an SBS consultant are you inspired to give at least one of these products a try?

Page one – introduction
Page two – Zimbra
Page three – Open-Xchange
Page four – Zarafa
Page five – Kerio and reader feedback