Microsoft Exchange finally has decent competition?

[Lucas]

PostPath seems to have released a Linux based messaging and collaboration server that is open and compatible with Exchange Server. Right now, I'm assuming it is compatible with Exchange Server 2003, maybe not 2007, but I'll have to investigate this a little further if I can find the time.

Have a look at this video for an intro to PostPath by their CEO and here for some information on one hospital who have upgraded from Exchange Server 5.5 to PostPath and saved about 50% in Licensing costs. I do have to ask, though, why it took the hospital this long to upgrade from Exchange 5.5 that hasn't been supported for quite some time now.

What looks *really* impressive here is that PostPath is a drop-in replacement for Exchange. This is a hill that Zimbra, another Exchange competitor, cannot claim to have conquered.

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Their site makes pretty bold claims

4,000 users, 1 Linux Box
10x faster, 75% Cost Savings
100% Interoperable, 0 Plug-in



Linux-based - huge cost advantage

• 50%+ license fee reduction
• 80%+ storage & server savings
• Bottomless mailboxes, easy administration
• Leverage open source
• Standards-based filtering for compliance, antivirus & anti-spam
• Free standards-based HA & DR

I'm liking what I'm seeing.

Attn: Joey, better scrap that server

[shayward]

I've gotta take a look at this!

Could be my home email solution. (As an MSDN subscriber I have Exchange but I haven't used it yet because it's a pig)

[dljordaneku]

If you are looking for something other than Exchange take a look at Zimbra and Scalix. We use Zimbra at work and it's great. You can use either the open source which is free or purchase a network version which you get more features. We use the open source at work for about 350 users. It runs pretty much on Linux only but they do have a Mac version.

dj

[tedanderson]

This is good to know because I will eventually need a email server at the office. For a while I have been considering Exchange but I have not been able to justify the cost of the licensing. Does RothPath replace Exchange or does it just communicate exclusively with an Exchange Server as a liason to avoid having to pay the "per seat" licensing fees?