SPEED & SECURITY
While Qmail's default anti-relaying features caught my eye, what really sold me was the speed and security under which Qmail operated. For the uninitiated, Qmail is a vastly more secure MTA than Berkeley Sendmail (see the Qmail Security Guarantee). It doesn't require root to do its daily operations, and users can retain their individual mail spools in their own directories, thus sparing everyone a lot of headaches. Qmail is also much faster than the Berkeley Sendmail. Even those who may be skittish about re-learning such a commonly-used service can feel at ease: Qmail can be configured to behave just like Berkeley Sendmail in that it can support the .forward convention, /etc/aliases use, and -- if the admin wishes -- it also can configured to use /var/mail just like Berkeley Sendmail. With respect to mailing lists, Qmail will work with both Majordomo and its own Easy Mailing List Manager (EZMLM).
We configure Qmail with Imap support and Squirrelmail (webmail). We also have the most sophisticated spam prevention system available as an additional service/install that we can perform. Please see our SPAM page for more details.
As if all that weren't enough, Qmail also has a lot of user-based support with programs that utilize the Realtime Blackhole List (RBL); support the Post Office Protocol (POP3) without using system accounts, provides virus protection, and more. Commercial support for Qmail is also available.
With all that said, there are many reasons why Qmail is a viable alternative to Sendmail. Even so, many people with whom I've worked are reluctant to make the switch. They find the initial installation procedures either too complicated or too foreign to fathom. It's with those people in mind that I started providing this installation service. We can also provide remote administration and maintenance agreements for your new (or existing) Qmail system.
AFFORDABILITY
If the above isn't enough, consider the following cost comparison. The prices below were obtained directly off Microsoft's website. Lets take an organization of 1000 email users (a typical ISP would be many times larger than this). One company with 1000 users is running Microsoft 2003 with Exchange Server, the other is running Qmail. Here is what they would pay respectfully to support their customer base.
Company A has a Linux server with Qmail running. Software cost is $0.00, installation $350 and up - See our prices page for more information. Licensing fee per user is $0.00 per email user. | Company B has a Windows 2003 Ent. Server with Exchange 2003 Ent. Software cost is about $5000.00 1K for the OS and 4K for Exchange. Installation is a lengthy and costly nightmare. Licensing fee per user is $67 PER EMAIL USER!! |
The bottom line is if you have 1000 email users you can either pay Bill Gates over $70,000.00 or you can put over $69,000.00 in your own pocket if you go the Qmail route. This sounds like a nice end of year bonus back in your pocket. A small organization of 100 users or less would still spend at least $10,000.00 or more for software and licensing fees if you used Microsoft Exchange.
The choice is clear, pay Microsoft or pay yourself. See Microsoft's licensing page for yourself.
No email server will outperform a properly configured Qmail System!
Nebraska Networks
Omaha, NE
402.934.9919
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www.nenet.net
