In the last year I have been working on a project where we migrated a Apache webserver with virtual domains to a more advanced ISP solution where installation, maintenance, domain renewals, billing, reminders, account deactivation and deletion are fully automated. I even got the system reprogrammed to have export functionality to external accounting programs. Am about ready to go live, just need to fine tune reseller, wholesales and affilliate features.
At first I used Dmail as mailserver, but was not compatible with what the controlpanel required, though it for sure could be programmed to deal with it. But to keep things simple I agreed to start working with Postfix. And am happy so far.
On top of Postfix the system uses Spamassasin, Maia, Antivirusscanning and SquirrelMail. All is integrated by the packages that are predefined when a vhost is beeing installed with a webpackage from the product list.
So, basically I have things in place..
But, one need to look forward, and I see that many companies start leaning towards cytrix based office solutions. In stead of managing a Windows Enterprise server with associating CALs, they outsource the entire package. By loging on the the remote terminal, they use the entire office package (Outlook,shared Calendering, Word, Excel, PPT,... and shared document storage space to open the documents from).
So, to stay one top of things, i wondered if i could test a case where I can offer a likewise solution without having to lean towards Microsoft. I still haven't found a way to offer web based Office-like solutions with the speed of a desktop application, but one need to start somewhere, so why not e-mail...
What I don't understand is how Scalix works together with Postfix. Our controlpanel doesn't touch the individual apps on the server. F.ex. Apache. If we would decide not to use the CP, we just can continue to use the webserver. All the CP does is to store all information in a database, and modifies all entries in de apache.conf files accordingly. The same goes for e-mail. When in the userinterface a email account is created in the virtual domain, it is the script that tells postfix to create the account according to the information in the database. What and where. And when a account or domain is deleted, the script changes the postfix settings, and deletes all related files on the server. The same for Maia, that controles the spam and virus enduser interface.
So where does Scalix fits in? I need to understand the architecture in order to get the programmers to do the job right. Is working Scalix as a shell over postfix? Are the email accounts created in postfix automatically vissible in Scalix? Or is Postfix just having the task as gateway, and is all email creation done in Scalix? Or do we need postfix at all in the first place?
Then there is the push technology. Though I think this question about how and what with Funambol is more an off-topic in this thread, it is all within the same "architectural" question. When Scalix creates a user, are then the userdetails automatically loaded into Funambol, or this program living its own life, meaning that it needs to be entered manually on a per user basis? Kind of: if you need it you need to set it up in the userprofile (on the funambol server)?
Taking in consideration that the email app I am lookig for needs to be an alternative for the remote terminal Outlook solution, I wonder if it works for me when using standard users since a users isn't using a local installed outlook, or do I need to offer services with premium users? (looks like I found he answer myself already )
Can I use the free open source to achieve all this, or are the restrictions in what one can do with this version. I'm running on low low budget...
Still lots of questions going through my head, but I'll leave it for now. Looking forward to get some constructive feedback in what could become a very exciting journey
Regards,
Harry