Linux in a Windows World

Supplementing a Microsoft Exchange Server

Linux can fit into a network’s email picture in any of several ways. One obvious way is to function as your domain’s primary mail server, handling SMTP and, if you desire, POP or IMAP. Used in this way, the Linux mail server will most likely communicate with Windows desktop systems as POP or IMAP clients. This configuration can work quite well, but many Windows networks already have a Microsoft Exchange mail server. At first glance, there seems to be little reason to deploy a Linux mail server if you already have a working Microsoft Exchange server. Sometimes, though, a Linux server can be used to help an Exchange server.

Tip

Microsoft Exchange provides features that are most readily used by Microsoft email clients, and that aren’t fully replicated by non-Microsoft servers. Thus, depending on your needs, a Linux server might not be an adequate replacement for an Exchange server. Some projects are underway to change this. Specifically, the SuSE Linux Openexchange Server (SLOX; http://www.suse.de/en/business/products/openexchange/), Kroupware (http://kroupware.org), and the Open Source Exchange Replacement (OSER; http://www.thewybles.com/oser/) are projects intended to replace the Exchange server, while otlkon (http://otlkcon.sourceforge.net) aims to provide Linux client features. Note that these projects aren’t quite drop-in replacements or aren’t yet finished. Thus, Linux can’t yet replace an Exchange server, but Linux can supplement one. ...