The Groupware function presents Public Folders which allow for the sharing of Message, Contact and Calendar information. It is also possible for a user to elect to share any of their personal folders as well. Full Outlook integrations as well as iCalendar functionality is refreshing to see in a product of this class.
Rules and filters can be applied to inbound messages on the server and it appears there is a capability for the user to exert some control through the Web Mail interface. However, the review version appears to be presenting a ‘Technology Preview’ version and had this area disabled.
Further screenshots of the Web Mail interface are here:-
I am not sure why, but when an icon for Calendar, Contacts, Journal, Notes or Tasks is clicked in Web Mail, it opens a new window.
The optional ActiveSync capability was an area I was unable to test as I do not have access to any of the compatible mobile devices. However, judging from comments ion the Forums, this is a welcome additional capability at a reasonable annual licence charge.
Axigen is available with both AV and spam filtering. ClamAV and SpamAssassin are built-in and just require enabling if required. Commtouch is a more advanced spam filter and is available on subscription. There are also Whitelists, Blacklists, Sender Policies and Country filtering available. All these options provide for comprehensive protection, but are indicative of just how difficult it is currently to run and maintain a safe and secure email server.
There are also a range of logging and reporting options for those that want to track what is going on in the background.
The problem with trying to review something like a mail server is that you really need to look at how the package works over time. With an already working email server on my primary WHS limits how much real throughput I can pass through a test system without disrupting the family. Hence, my summary stems from ‘would I consider Axigen as a replacement for my existing mail server’? I think the answer has to be yes. It is feature rich and while you do not get the WHS Console integration that is available with VPOP3, the more advanced configuration with that package has to be performed through a web-admin interface. A few weeks use as a primary mail server will tell me more on how easy it is to live with in the longer term. I am certainly looking forward to having a functional IMAP system which will allow me to use both Outlook and Web clients efficiently.
In summary, Axigen Mail Server is a comprehensive, professional-grade product which will certainly service the needs of the WHS user. The lack of management via the Console is not an issue as the Web Admin is comprehensive. However, as a result it lacks account integration but for up to 10 users, this should not cause a significant admin headache. The downsides are that its complexity can prove daunting for the average home user. The fetching of POP3 mail from an ISP has to be set up on a user by user basis through their individual Web Mail interfaces. This is not particularly problematic, but it would be nice to see an option to do this centrally and in particular to handle a catch-all POP3 account to save setting up multiple individual configurations.
As a Windows application, it should have made the necessary changes to the Windows firewall during installation. There are no warnings to the user and the initial symptoms would that it was not working. Also, the lack of checks for anything else on the chosen ports can cause issues. Integration on IIS would be a nice option as it would allow presentation of a single front-end interface to the web user. It is possible to add links to the WHS home page to both web mail and web admin through WHS Add-ins like Whiist, but to allow use from the internet will require further port forwarding rules on the home router. That said, users who have the need to set up a mail server and the understanding of the implications of managing such a system should be able to cover off these issues.
