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