Open-Xchange

Open-Xchange Server

Open-Xchange portal interface
Developer(s)	Open-Xchange Inc.
Stable release	6.18.0. (stable) / (2010-08-30)
Operating system	SLES, RHEL, Debian
Type	Groupware
License	Dual license (GPL)
Website	open-xchange.com

Open-Xchange Server is an open source project sponsored by Open-Xchange, Inc., developing collaboration software; i.e. email, calendaring, address book, etc. Product offerings based on Open-Xchange Server are marketed under the brand of Open-Xchange Server and various other names, e.g. 1&1 MailXchange, Network Solutions Business Email and others. Open-Xchange Server is part of the Lisog open source stack initiative.

Overview

Open-Xchange Server is an open source collaboration software stack that features an integrated web 2.0 e-mail user interface, calendar, contact, and task management functions. It also offers basic document management and sharing.

Open-Xchange Server supports free standards and proprietary environments like Apple iSync and Microsoft Outlook via commercial extensions.

The latest Open-Xchange Server beta versions provide social networking capabilities, enabling automated publish and subscribe capabilities between instances of Open-Xchange Server and social networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and various Google services. The service runs on the backend, i.e. on the server, so that data connections stay active even if a user goes off line.

These social capabilities are available at the preview server [1] – the place with the most recent development releases from Open-Xchange.

History

The company was established in 2000 to provide a Linux-based, open source alternative to Microsoft Exchange, SUSE-Linux-Open-Xchange-Server (SLOX, an OEM version of Open-Xchange, 2002–2005) and Comfire before that (2000–2002).

At CeBit 2006 Open-Xchange and 1&1 jointly agreed to build a product for hosted deployments. Programming was done by Open-Xchange, testing and optimization - including large scale user studies - by 1&1. The result was a platform independent, browser based GUI and server software. In 2009, Open-Xchange claims to have more than 15 million users as results from deals with software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers including Versatel, Dotster, NameCheap and others.

All components are available as open source and also as readily compiled packages for many Linux distributions for download.

Awards

In 2005, Open-Xchange is CNET Networks' Finalist in the Technology sector.^[1]

In 2006, Open-Xchange receives Product Excellence Award from LinuxWorld.^[2]

In 2007, Linux Readers' Choice Award.^[3]

In 2009, Linux Magazine listed Open-Xchange among the "Companies To Watch".^[4]

In 2010, Open-Xchange is named to Lead411's New York City Hot 125.^[5]

In April 2010, the company receives April 2010 Editor’s Choice Award of the website findmyhost.com.^[6]

Technology

Open-Xchange Server consists of a Java-based backend, implemented as an OSGi bundle, a frontend implemented in JavaScript and various extensions.

Backend

The backend can be deployed as a single-instance server or as a scalable, fault-tolerant cluster providing up to several million virtual instances of Open-Xchange Server for many tenants concurrently. The backend supports a comprehensive range of protocols for configuration and communication with the frontend. Details can be found at [2].

Since March 2006 Open-Xchange Server supports SSL and TLS, thereby enabling encrypted communication between the clients and the Groupware server.

Frontend

An AJAX based user interface enabling operating system independent, installation free deployment via Web browser. Alternatively end users can access Open-Xchange Server via client software like e.g. Mozilla Thunderbird, Apple Inc. iSync or Microsoft Outlook.

SaaS

A core capability of Open-Xchange Server is the ability to run in hosted environments, providing highly scalable Software as a Service (SaaS) offerings via service providers. Local servers for Groupware solutions become redundant and can be replaced by much more efficient and cheaper installations at data centers.

Social OX

Centrally hosted web applications are challenging from an integration perspective. From version 6.10 Open-Xchange Server supports Server Side Mashups, addressing these challenges in a generic and simplistic approach. End users can configure data integration by cutting and pasting URLs from one instance of Open-Xchange Server to another. The same applies for 3rd party applications supporting SocialOX. This enables an open data ecosystem, an open data cloud in a standards compliant ecosystem for private data sources and company data alike. A preview can be found at ox.io

Community

Development of Open-Xchange Server is mainly sponsored by Open-Xchange, Inc. in Olpe, Nürnberg, and New York together with implementation partners and the Open Source community around Open-Xchange Server.

Open-Xchange Server is produced in the openSUSE Build Service environment and can be downloaded from there or from Open-Xchange, Inc.

There are three commercially supported versions of Open-Xchange Server available:

• one version for local installations, replacing the previous edition, Open-Xchange Server 5: Open-Xchange Server Appliance Edition
• one version targeted at integration partners. This version only contains Open-Xchange Server, but for example no e-mail stack: Open-Xchange Server Edition
• one version for hosted offerings, run in data centers in multi tenant configurations: Open-Xchange Hosting Edition

Licensing

As of August 2004 the Open-Xchange Server Backend has been released under the GNU General Public License, version 2. The Open-Xchange Server Frontend is released under Creative Commons Share Alike, Non Commercial, Attribution. These licenses allow free use, also in commercial environments. The restriction to Non Commercial in the Creative Commons license for the Frontend restricts re-distribution to third parties, i.e. hosted deployments for third parties.

Functional Overview

• Portal
• Appointments
• Contacts
• Tasks
• Document Management
• WebMail
• UWA Widgets
• WebDAV-Interface
• Java API
• Outlook- and MacOSX-Plugin (commercial offerings)
• SyncML-Interface (for fee, via partners)

See also

• SOGo

External links

• Website of the Open-Xchange Project
• Technical Overview at Open-Xchange, Inc.
• Online Demo
• Open-Xchange at Freecode

References

1. ^ Open-Xchange reviews on CNET
2. ^ The Linux Week in Review – SYS-CON.TV and LinuxWorld Product Excellence Awards 2006
3. ^ Open-Xchange Receives Readers' Choice Award for 'Best Linux Groupware Server'
4. ^ Linux Magazine Selects Open-Xchange among "20 Companies to Watch in 2009"
5. ^ New York City Hot 125
6. ^ Open-Xchange Receives Editors' Choice Award