Yahoo's secret Google Docs killer: Zimbra

I was looking for the replacement of existing eMail Server - SuSE OpenExchange 4.1 and starting investigating different collaboration suits available in the market. Microsoft Exchange was the default alternative, and at the same time I was looking towards Linux solution as well. Thus I found a new product that is counted as one of the top rated Collaboration suite among Linux products - Zimbra.( www.Zimbra.com )

The product is very attractive and its website contains a lot of information to explore its feature. Its online demo made me more comfortable to look this as an alternative option for MS-Exchange. Now, I'm waiting for its commercial detials that will enable me to work-out one-to-one comparison with MS Exchange and if its TCO is reasonably lesser than MS Exchange, then I would look into Zimbra.



Another concern related to Zimbra is the recent news about the possible takeover of Yahoo! by Microsoft. If Microsoft “swallow” Yahoo!, the fate of this attractive product is certain to get scrapped. This will be known only by August 2008, and I don’t want to wait till then. Hence, a tough decision need to be done. If TCO of this product is reasonably less than the giant MS-Exchange, then it may be worth taking the risk.

Some information abount Zimbra found at Wikipedia

My first encounter with Ubuntu Linux

Last week I had a requirement to provide a solution on a network that would temporarily or permanently solve the client access limitation on a UTM device. Since it was an immediate quick-fix solution, we were suggested to find a way without any extra cost. The UTM device had a ten user lisence, and hence any eleventh PC accessing internet via this device would cause problem.

I've decided to put a Proxy Server behind the UTM thereby proxy communicates to UTM on behalf of other PCs in the network. This enables to minimise the communication to UTM and thus, solves my problem. All PCs in the network should access Internet via Proxy. Solution seems simple and requested to provide a PC to configure the Proxy. This was the time I've decided to venture with Ubuntu Linux Server.

Having past experience working with SuSE Linux, I was confident completing my new task within a day and started downloading the image file from Ubuntu site. After burning the image file (.iso) to a bootable CD using Nero software, I started installing Ubuntu Server 7.10 edition.

Now starts my problem. I found that the Server edition does not install GUI and has to work with command prompt. Else, I need to separately install any of the available GUI. Since Ubuntu Linux is the variant of Debian Linux, packages are not in .rpm format. I was familiar with only .rmp format. There were some more new commands to be known before one start working on Ubuntu Server without GUI. Thanks to the elaborate documentation available with Ubuntu Site and User Forum. After doing a few hours reading exercise, I could start my work and could able to complete my task.

Few commands to be known before starting with Ubuntu Linux on command lines are

1.Sudo https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RootSudo

2.APT https://help.ubuntu.com/community/AptGetHowto?highlight=%28apt%29

My objective were:

1. Setup Linux Server

2. Install Squid Proxy Server

3. Configure Squid Server

4. Install Webmin for remote administration

During the installation, I've opted to install LAMP. Since Server installation automatically picked-up network drivers, it made my remaining work more simple. All I need was to set my Broadband modem as a gateway to this Server and download the required packages.

$ sudo /etc/init.d/networking stop

$ sudo vi /etc/network/interfaces

set the values for static IP address for the server, Gateway.

address 192.168.1.100

netmask 255.255.255.0

gateway 192.168.1.120

$ sudo /etc/init.d/networking start

ping to find if I'm able to reach my Broadband modem.

$ ping 192.168,1,൧൨൦

My next step is to install Squid proxy. During Ubuntu Server installation, these packages are not installed, hence need to install seperateley. Detailed documents are found here : https://help.ubuntu.com/7.10/server/C/squid.html