SuSE's Linux Email Server III is an SMTP mail server that builds on the basic mail handling facilities already included in the Linux distribution and adds support for multiple domains.

It has an integrated Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) server, plus POP3 and LDAP4 client access using the Cyrus Internet Message Access Protocol server.

A web-based client with integrated groupware functionality is also included. Everything is configured and managed using a simple browser-based interface.

Hardware requirements will depend on the number of users to be supported, with an always-on internet link recommended for larger installations.

For smaller companies, a modem/ISDN link can also be configured and there are facilities to schedule the collection of email from standard and multi-drop POP3 mailboxes if required.

There are no limits to the number of domains or email users that can be configured. However, it is not possible to install eMail Server onto an existing host.

Instead, the supplied CD-Rom includes an optimised implementation of SuSE Linux Enterprise Platform 7, although nothing is left out and other services and applications can be run on the eMail Server system if required.

Installation is a highly automated procedure, with little user intervention. The graphical YaST2 configuration utility makes light work of this process, asking for little more than suitable IP addresses, a default domain name and an administrator password.

The server is available for use as soon as the install is completed, but some work is required to configure domains and users. This is done via a browser with a single interface to manage all the components involved.

Again, it's easy to implement, although the graphical interface does restrict the possibilities. For instance, users can only be added individually which is going to be very time consuming, although advanced users will be able to circumvent this using scripts and utilities to populate the LDAP directory directly.

At the client end, any POP3 or IMAP4-compatible software can be used, such as Microsoft's Outlook or Eudora, but Outlook scheduling and shared calendar features aren't supported. Such facilities are on offer, but only when using the integrated SkyrixGreen web client from Skyrix (www.skyrix.com).

Shared folders can be configured on the server and there are facilities to enable users to create private folders and filter incoming messages based on size and text in the header fields.

Users can also set up automatic 'vacation' replies and arrange for incoming mail to be forwarded. Other options include the ability to set quota limits on user mailboxes.

A copy of Arkeia backup software is supplied, which can be used to protect the complete server and individual mailboxes. Antivirus scanning can also be added, as can content filtering facilities, although third-party software will be required.

Price: £639 (ex. VAT)

Specifications:
Minimum hardware: Pentium II or AMD K6; 128MB of Ram; 2GB free disk space.
Recommended hardware: Pentium III or AMD Athlon/Duron; 256MB of Ram; 9GB free disk space.
Software requirements: None, SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 7 included.
Supported clients: Any POP3/IMAP4 client, integrated Skyrix web access client.

Contact: SuSe 020 8387 4088
www.suse.co.uk