Looking for enterprise software solution

  • Thread starter Thread starter DaveC426913
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Software
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The thread discusses potential enterprise-level software solutions for event scheduling within a company. Participants explore various options, including open-source and commercially supported systems, while considering customization, documentation, and support needs.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant is currently using eGroupWare but finds it lacking in documentation and support, prompting a search for alternatives.
  • Another participant suggests Outlook as a common solution used by large companies for event scheduling.
  • Some participants express concerns about vendor lock-in associated with Outlook and propose using the iCal standard to explore various calendaring solutions.
  • Suggestions include Suse's enterprise solution and Ximian, with a note that Novell's acquisition of these companies may provide commercial support options.
  • Links to other open-source groupware options, such as phProjekt and OpenGroupware, are provided by a participant.
  • One participant mentions the need for good support when transitioning to a new system, especially since this is not their area of expertise.
  • Another participant highlights the use of Evolution as a client that can work with various collaboration servers, including Groupwise and Exchange.
  • Lotus Domino and Sun's Java Communications Suite are also mentioned as options used by Fortune 100 companies, with a note on their complexity and customization capabilities.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a variety of opinions on the best software solutions, with no consensus reached. Some favor open-source options, while others advocate for more established commercial solutions like Outlook or Groupwise.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of documentation and support in selecting a new software solution, indicating that these factors may influence their choices significantly. There is also a mention of specific technical requirements, such as the preference for PHP/MySQL-based systems.

DaveC426913
Gold Member
2025 Award
Messages
24,488
Reaction score
8,752
I'm exploring possible enterprise-level software solutions for event scheduling within our company.

I want a system that can be customized for our particular internal use. We use it to communicate about- administrate- and control- events surrounding our webcasts.

We are currently using eGroupWare (formerly phpGroupware). It is an Opensource solution using PHP and mysql to provide a framework of tools to produce application modules such as calendars, contact lists and event scheduling.

While it would be nice to stay with the existing system, it is not well documented or supported, and is hampering our efforts to expand.

Though I would like to stay with something PHP/mysql-based.


Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I might take a look at?
 
Technology news on Phys.org
You don't use outlook? I would think most big companies do, I've worked for 3 fortune 100 companies and that's what is used for event scheduling.

Really simple.
 
bah... outlook/exchange is lock-in-ware.

if you use the ical calendaring standard, you can use many different calendaring solutions...

I THINK Suse has an enterprise solution that is all OSS stuff, and Ximian has some stuff that might fit the bill.

Edit... woops, I forgot that Novell bought Suse and Ximian... well, even better, you get a commercially supported system... you could use groupwise.
 
Last edited:
ComputerGeek said:
bah... outlook/exchange is lock-in-ware.

if you use the ical calendaring standard, you can use many different calendaring solutions...

I THINK Suse has an enterprise solution that is all OSS stuff, and Ximian has some stuff that might fit the bill.

Edit... woops, I forgot that Novell bought Suse and Ximian... well, even better, you get a commercially supported system... you could use groupwise.
I was expecting a flood of outraged posts by now that I suggested Outlook. :-p

Groupwise is a good suggestion, I have one client that uses it, they're a small company and he likes it.
 
Here are a couple of options:

http://www.phprojekt.com/
http://www.opengroupware.org/

If you use opengroupware there is actually a plugin to have it work in ximian evolution

I'm sure you can find more online. All I did was a google search for "open source groupware"
 
Last edited by a moderator:
OK, I'll look into Groupwise, phpprojekt and opengroupware. Thanks.
I'll have to ensure that they are better solutions than the one I've currently got though. eg. if they suffer form lack of documentation or support the way eGroupWare does, then that won't be a good solution.
Unfortunately, this is not my area of expertise, which is why I'll need good support to get off and running.
I'm not sure what Suse or Zimian are. If it's not PHP/mysql on a (Linux)FreeBSD box, then I'll have trouble selling my IT guy on it.
 
Last edited:
You can use Evolution on FreeBSD or Linux. It is just a client similar to Outlook (The full version). There is support for Colaboration servers like Exchange and Groupwise.

http://www.gnome.org/projects/evolution/
 
Groupwise is a good suggestion, I have one client that uses it, they're a small company and he likes it.

We are a >1billion $ company and we were using Groupwise.. not anymore tho, we use exchange/outlook.. works good
 
You may also want to take a look at Lotus Domino (Notes) or Sun's Java Communications Suite. I've seen both used by many, many Fortune 100 companies (obviously, Exchange is in that area, too). Sun's Java Communication Suite is now free for commerical usage (excluding support, if you desire -- I'd highly recommend it as the Communications Suite is rather complex and highly customizable to fit your needs):

http://www.sun.com/software/javaenterprisesystem/communications_suite/index.xml

Sun's Communications Suite does have a Red Hat Linux port, if you want to go the Linux route. I'd recommend a Solaris solution, though, if possible.

Disclaimer: I've worked with Lotus Domino, Sun's Communications Suite, and Solaris in the past.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
4K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
7K
  • · Replies 124 ·
5
Replies
124
Views
18K
  • · Replies 67 ·
3
Replies
67
Views
17K