In most enterprise environments the mail server used most often is Microsoft Exchange. This has been the de facto standard for many years. Corporations like it a lot because not only does it do mail but a ton of collaborative features as well. When connected via the Microsoft Outlook client, it is truly a powerhouse setup.

Wondering if there was any Linux messaging platform that would fit the bill as well as Exchange (or at least put up a good fight), I searched around and did in fact find something on the Linux side that’s not too shabby:

Scalix.

There are a few things I like about Scalix up front.

The enterprise version is not free (although the Community Edition is). I appreciate the fact that Scalix has a paid enterprise version because the fact of the matter is that enterprise cannot run solely on community supported stuff. Enterprise is a business after all, and where there’s money to be made, money has to be spent. Paying for an enterprise-class messaging platform is worth the money.

This is truly enterprise-class messaging we’re talking about. This is not some haphazard badly-designed mish-mosh of code. Rather it’s something that took a lot of time and effort to put together.

The fact Scalix works with Evolution, iCal, Thunderbird, MS Outlook and more is a huge plus.

I seriously dig the fact Scalix explains (even if in basic terms) that the TCO is worth checking out – particularly the last paragraph titled "Transition Seamlessly." The biggest gripe about switching over to anything in enterprise is the migration process. It is never easy, but at least Scalix went thru the effort to ensure the migration will be as headache-free as possible.

It’s the migration notes that really caught my eye here. Most Linux advocates are usually of the opinion "You’re just used to Microsoft, just switch and figure it out", which as anyone with a brain realizes is a stupid maneuver. Migrations have to be planned carefully and timed just right. Scalix even went so far as to say (more or less) "Hey, if you’re using Exchange right now, don’t worry – we’ve got tools to migrate you over."

I wish (oh do I ever) that Linux distribution OSes were more like this, as in the kind that give you a sense of confidence if you want to make the jump.

Remember the Community Edition listed above. If you’re interested in running your own enterprise-class mail server, it’s free for download if you want to check it out. Granted, you don’t get the perks of the enterprise edition, but hey, enterprise-class only a download away? Not bad if you asked me.

You’ve heard time and time again from Linux fans that "Linux can do anything Windows can do". Is this true? Yes. However what the Linux fans usually don’t mention is how to do the stuff you do in Windows in Linux.

Bear in mind that "equivalent" in this context is a subjective term, because more often than not the apps you use in Linux to do what you do in Windows usually have more features.

Also bear in mind that the apps listed here are all available from Add/Remove in Ubuntu if you use that particular distro, so they’re really easy to get and install.

MSN / Windows Live Messenger

The Windows way: Windows Live Messenger

The Linux way: aMSN

aMSN does just about everything the standard Windows Live Messenger does. And yes it’s also a really good Hotmail notifier (for notification of new e-mails). In addition, aMSN has a Windows version so if you want to try it out on Windows, you can. And when you use it in Linux, it looks and acts exactly the same as the Windows version.

Multi-protocol instant messaging

The Windows way: Trillian, Miranda, Pidgin

The Linux way: Pidgin

Pidgin is available for both Windows and Linux, but strictly speaking of Linux it’s the best IM client they have. It connects to just about every IM service on the planet – including AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, Google Talk (Jabber) and lots more.

The other IM clients for Linux (aside from aMSN) really aren’t that great. Yes, they do the job but Pidgin is the best of the lot.

IRC (chatting)

The Windows way: mIRC (for most people)

The Linux way: XChat (for most people)

I put "for most people" at the tail of each listed above because there are actually many IRC clients – however the two listed above are arguably the most used.

mIRC is the best IRC client for Windows. It’s been around a really, really long time and is very well established – but it’s only for Windows. And it’s not free either.

XChat is free for Linux. There is also a Windows version of it but you can only use it free for 30 days, after which you have to pay for $19.99 for it. But the Linux version is 100% free.

E-Mail Client

The Windows way: Microsoft Outlook Express, Windows Live Mail, Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird

The Linux way: Evolution, Mozilla Thunderbird

Outlook Express and Windows Live Mail are free but Microsoft Outlook isn’t.

Evolution is free and is usually bundled with most Linux distributions with the GNOME desktop as the standard mail client so you ordinarily don’t even have to download it.

The Evolution mail client is a powerhouse. Overall it’s arguably the most feature-packed mail app next to Microsoft Outlook itself.

Mozilla Thunderbird has been around for a while, is available for both Windows and Linux but is really showing its age. Chances are you’d probably like Evolution better.

Do you use Linux? What do you use to do the stuff you (used) to do in Windows?

Feel free to post commentary about the Linux apps that do the same (or beyond) stuff you do in Windows. People are more than happy to read about this stuff so they know what to expect.