I would be prepared to bring along a Linux server running Samba and a laptop
or two running Win98 and Win2K. As you all know Samba will now authenticate
users from Win2K and NT4 clients i.e. it will act as a domain controller for
Win9X and NT/2K, which look the same but use different mechanisms.
Any medium size business can make serious savings by moving to Samba whilst
retaining existing desktop functionality this can then be used as a
stepping-stone to Linux on the desktop and NFS shares, at least during
transition you can use NFS and SMB side by side. As for cost savings, last
time I looked at medium volume a NT client license was about £20 this is a
license to log onto a NT server not a WINXX OS license which is much more
expensive. If you couple this with a similar cost for an Exchange email
license and again for a SQL licence you are now looking at serious licensing
just to allow your client to connect to your servers.
What Linux currently lacks for medium to large businesses is a replacement
for the Exchange email server / Full Outlook (not express) client. Most
companies require network viewable schedules, delegated mailbox access
permissions and public folder capabilities which to my knowledge is not
available thought IMAP clients, although I have not played with IMAP so
maybe someone could correct me if my assumptions are wrong.
It's of little benefit using a Linux POP3/IMAP client to connect to an
Exchange server, you are still required to buy a M$ Exchange license and you
still have to pay £2500 for the Exchange software. An enterprise strength
email/workflow system is desperately needed for Linux before it can compete
against Exchange, I know IBM are pushing Lotus Notes on Linux, but if you
have ever used Notes as I have you will agree it's user interface sucks.
David Bottrill
A division of HP has developed an Exchange/Outlook like client/server email
system, I've forgotten what it's called but it is available for a range of
OSs including Linux, but it's not GPL.
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