[KLUG Members] starter questions from someone new to the list

[Richard Harding]

>For replacing Exchange I'd really recommend you look at a combination of Cyrus
>IMAPd and OpenGroupware.  While a little intimidating at first these two can
>replace 99.44% of Exchange's groupware/mail functionality AND do some things
>Exchange just can't.  And then there is the whole free thing. :)
>
>"Bind, LDAP, etc" are really replacing AD/Domains more than they are Exchange.
>
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>
You're right of course. I often refer to it as replacing exchange just 
because my exchange server is the DC. Really I put in exchange when I 
first got here and have regretted it ever since. The staff and students 
just don't use it like I thought and Exchange maintenance is a 
nightmare. The only thing I really need is a shared calendar system and 
I am looking at alternatives to this.

What I am wanting to do is create a system where a single 
username/password combo can be used for email access and the Terminal 
Server logins. At the same time I need web based email access 
(squirrelmail) and imap access to students at home that want to use 
their email in clients like outlook. A method of creating group lists of 
users to facilitate emailing (for instance I have a group list of all of 
the students for the current year. This way all of the staff 
automatically have a list created for them and each don't have to add 
all 30 students to their address books and create their own lists). I 
also need to be able to create some sort of scheduling method for things 
like conference rooms etc. Finally I want to be able to use this single 
database of users/people to integrate into my applications we use for 
managing student records/scheduling that is in php at the moment.

That is why I think I need to be getting an openldap server up then once 
that is set bring up a Samba DC and Exim email around it. I guess the 
whole thing is it sounds like I can do what I am planning...does it 
sound right to others that have done it?

>>What I am looking for is people to talk with about some of this. I have 
>>been trying to find any area options for training courses in things like 
>>DNS management, ldap setup and configuring, and such..practical stuff I 
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>
>I've got a document that might be helpful at -
>ftp://ftp.kalamazoolinux.org/pub/pdf/ldapv3.pdf
>
>But I'm not aware of any training programs - at least here in West Michigan, 
>I'd imagine your side has more.
>
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Thanks, the printer is humming along now.

>>Thanks a ton for any information you all might have that can help me 
>>out. I am reading my eyes out right now, but sometimes you just need to 
>>talk to someone that knows more than you.
>>    
>>
>
>Yep,  I know that feeling well.  Fortunately for you and me there are some
>superior minds on this list.
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>
Sounds great. I appreciate it.