Mail Servers

Before you buy Microsoft Exchange...

consider the costs:

• Windows Server 2003 and Exchange Server - starting around $2,000, usually more
  
• CAL (Client Access Licenses)  - in the neighborhood of $125 each
  
• You will probably need to buy a new server to host all this enterprise software.
  
• Microsoft Outlook for each person using the email system (included in some versions of Office - about $250 per person.
  
• Email Backup: an entire backup schema using an expensive backup program and tape drive is needed
  
• An expert to set this all up for you - $180 per hour. A basic setup will take at least a full workday.
  

Open Source solution: hMail Server

costs: 

• software: free
  
• runs on any windows PC (even an old Pentium3)
  
• protocols: IMAP (This works so well that many large corporations use it instead of Exchange)
  
• Email Backup: All Email can be mirrored to a second drive or computer on your network- free and simple.
  
• An expert to set this all up for you - $100 per hour. It takes about 3 hours or less!