SuSE vs Redhat Approach to Software
There’s an article at Open Magazine about Openexchange server from SuSE. It’s groupware to compete with Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes. Openexchange is a web-based application that uses Apache, Tomcat, Postfix, Cyrus IMAP, SpamAssassin, OpenLDAP, and PostgreSQL. Dang, I had this idea! It seems everyone is packaging Open Source Software as a commercial package nowadays. The idea is simple: core OSS components are solid, but lack packaged integration and a polished interface. I’m not happy with the way SuSE implemented this however …
This looks like the first application that SuSE is offering outside of its core Linux distribution offerings. Because I can’t find source code, I’m assuming Openexchange is a proprietary extension on an open-source base. I think this is the wrong approach. They should have made at least some components open, like, for example, the web-based e-mail.
I like what Redhat does in this area. All of their application offerings are open-source! Consider their Enterprise Applications that include a Web Application Framework, a Content Management System, and a Portal Server. Wow, these are the types of software that are current cash cows in the industry, with big players like BEA, IBM, Plumtree, and Documentum. While the corporate site gives you the marketing pitch, the developer site gives you the source under an open-source license. You can bet I’ll be checking this software out soon.
As for an enterprise mail solution, I’ll be sticking with Squirrelmail and the same open-source components Openexchange is using, minus the proprietary software.