|
CommuniGate Pro 4.1 (CGP) is a comprehensive e-mail
platform that includes a variety of messaging services. First
and foremost, CGP provides standards-based e-mail services,
including SMTP, POP, and IMAP. E-mail can be accessed and sent
via most any e-mail client or via a Web interface. In addition
to e-mail, CGP provides an integrated LDAP directory and
calendaring (via Outlook, Web, iCAL, or vCAl) and list server.
That's not the end of Stalker Software's solution; on top of
that they offer amenities like spam filtering and virus
protection to keep users safe from malicious programs.
Not only does CGP meet a variety of messaging needs, it
also runs on a variety of platforms, including Linux, Windows,
Unix, Mac OS, and AS/400. Stalker's claim is that CGP runs on
more than 30 OS/hardware combinations. This is possible
because the software is compiled from a single code base on
multiple platforms, offering options no matter what your
server preference. That being said, Stalker does note that
their SMB customers predominantly use Linux to host their
e-mail solutions.
Many companies today deploy Microsoft server products so
that their workers using Microsoft Outlook can collaborate.
For these companies to embrace Linux they want alternatives to
their existing products with like or better functionality. CGP
hits the mark here as it offers end users the option to
continue to use whichever e-mail client they like. This is a
huge benefit for small and medium-size businesses that are
disillusioned with their Windows servers and want to implement
Linux in their data center or back office.
My policy is that unless I personally have been using a
product I won't recommend it. As for CGP, I've been using it
for more than four years to provide communication services for
my company, NeTraverse (http://www.netraverse.com/). I find it to be
very useful for a number of reasons. Above all, I like the
integration of messaging tools, including a collaborative
scheduler, list server, and Web mail on top of a robust e-mail
package. One feature that I find useful for my geographically
diverse organization is the ability to send mail via secure
SMTP. By tunneling the SMTP traffic and using client
authentication I can offer an SMTP server that our staff can
use from almost any Internet connection. I also find the
ability for users to set their own forwarding, server-side
mail filters, and vacation messages to be a boon to the end
users as well as the administrative staff.
I like Stalker's try-before-you-buy option, a free demo
that doesn't expire but does tag outgoing e-mail with a "demo"
message. Since they offer installation support and make sure
that the software is running before you purchase, there's a
high success rate in new implementations. My experience with
them was very good. I demo'd the product, and once it was
installed the decision to purchase was an easy one to make. To
unlock the demo I simply entered a key that allowed the server
software to work for my e-mail domain. If you're looking for a
quality, scalable e-mail solution that can be used on Linux
(or a number of other platforms) then I suggest you check out
Stalker's CommuniGate Pro.
Case Study: Digicon Communications Inc.Digicon
Communications Inc. (www.digiconcommunications.com/) is a
full-service Internet Service Provider in New York State.
Russell Hulsing, vice president of Digicon Communications,
notes they have chosen Stalker's CGP for a number of reasons,
but his overwhelming message is that it gives him
enterprise-class performance at a very affordable price.
Russell notes that for all his mission-critical applications
he chooses Linux unless his customers request other platforms.
Two years ago Russell made the decision to use CGP based on
the affordable price, scalability, and backing of Stalker
Software for an enterprise-class mail solution. Previous to
that Digicon used Sendmail with no real issues, but chose to
implement this commercial solution due to ease of use for his
administrative staff and, most important, his customers.
Russell's customers constitute 300-400 businesses with many
e-mail users each. He needed to provide a mission-critical
solution that was convenient for them.
Russell notes that ease of use and performance are key
factors in his satisfaction with this solution. He also holds
the spam filtering plug-in (SpamCatcher from Mailshell - http://www.mailshell.com/) in high esteem, with
the caveat that for SpamCatcher to be totally effective he
would need to spend considerable time "training" it to handle
the latest tactics of bulk e-mailers.
In summary he says, "For a smaller ISP that wants to be
able to offer higher-end mail services they [Stalker] have
been a blessing. They offer a good value without requiring you
to spend $100,000 on a mail server."
CommuniGate ProStalker
Software
www.stalker.com
Retail Price:
Starts at $499 USD.
Groupware MAPI Connector client
licenses are based on the number of concurrent users, while
spam filtering and virus protection plug-ins are licensed
based on number of messages. These licenses are on top of the
base price.
What do you think? Join the Feedback
to this item. |
Two More Winning Titles From SYS-CON Media -
Information Storage & Security
Journal
