[plug] Web/Mail host solution (On topic with "Exchange killer")

[Shannon Carver]

Kwaka wrote:
> Reference: http://www.icewarp.com/
>
> Although this is not a free solution, it follows multiple open protocol
> standards with seemingly smooth integration. I only witnessed it in
> use, but I haven't seen anything as nicely done as this in the linux
> groupware department. From an old thread to the tune: Opensource
> groupware stinks.
>
> Short feature list:
>
> *Internet protocol compliant:*
>   * SMTP/ESMTP/POP3/IMAP4rev1
>   * Jabber/XMPP
>   * LDAP
>   * HTTP/FTP
>   * IPv4/IPv6
>   * SNMP
>   * TLS/SSL on top of all possible protocols
>
> *Administration and remote access:*
>   * Command line wizards and setup
>   * HTTP administration interface
>   * Remote administration console
>
> *Account types and options*
>   * Multiple domains & users
>   * Mailing lists & list servers
>   * Remote accounts
>   * Executables
>   * Catalogs
>   * Notifications
>
> Complete feature list:
> http://www.icewarp.com/Products/Merak_Email_Server_Software_Linux/index.html
>
> _______________________________________________
> PLUG discussion list: plug at plug.org.au
> http://www.plug.org.au/mailman/listinfo/plug
> Committee e-mail: committee at plug.linux.org.au
>   

On this topic, I've been contacted by an old employer recently wanting 
me to put together a all-in-one hosting solution for his group of 
websites/domains (that's slowly but surely, getting a little bit too 
much to handle manually).  Think Plesk/CPanel or something similar.

I've had a fair bit of success with setting up courier IMAP/POP with 
virtual mailboxes/domains mixed with an apache/bind script to create 
domains/mail accounts/websites in the past but I'd like to be able to 
install this, then get it up and running and forget about it 
completely.  By that I mean that, even with a foolproof script/web front 
end to do all the work for him, I'd rather not have to deal with the 
problems later and would prefer an all-in-one solution.

I've taken a look over freshmeat and a few other hosting sites, and the 
only open source project that looks particularly promising is ISPConfig, 
which has a great interface, but doesn't support Virtual Maiboxes (As of 
the current version, anyway).  He's already got admin@ support@ etc etc 
over many domains (virtual mailboxes) in the current system, so the last 
thing I'd want to be dong is going back to system users, and aliases.

Now, before I go off and force him into payiing the $2000 (something 
like that) licence for CPanel, does anyone know of  a similar solution 
that might help out?  The current size of the system is about 40 
separate domains, with most having a few (1-5 email accounts), but two 
of our community domains  with 200+.  The current system works, but as 
my scripting isn't exactly perfect, far from it in fact, its not very 
scalable, and I'm really looking to cut ties completely after this is 
complete.

Any help, greatly appreciated'

Regards

Shannon Carver