linker3000

Agreed, I have looked at both Zimbra and Scalix for collaborative functions - ZImbra has the better features, and Scalix installs better on exiting platforms. I am tempted by OpenGoo for their current and forthcoming document collaboration features, but their email app needs some work.

If you are not really using all the collaborative features of Exchange and only really using it as a mailbox manager, would you consider moving to a Linux platform? You already have the server power and all the required software is free, including the anti-spam and antivirus apps. No need to mess around with a server-for-this and a server-for-that.

2 x Linux Servers running CentOS 5.x. One is a 'spare' used for dev work and 'stuff'. The primary server runs as a DNS caching proxy with MailScanner+SpamAssassin+ClamAV for handling mail for various domains I manage, Asterisk to provide VoIP services through the house and trunks to support several numbers used by me and my wife (who sometimes works from home), DansGuardian Web filter for my son's PC and 500GB mirrored storage for the household. I have just been given a 1U HP dual 3GHz Xeon server but the damn thing's to noisy to run at home.

If you plug the mains adaptor for an Access Point into a UPS's power outlet there should be no issues with most decent kit. The only caveat I'd put on that is the 5V switch mode 'wall warts' that DLink were using a 3+ years ago tended to die if the power source wasn't clean (eg: a cheap and awful UPS) - heck, they even blew sometimes if you unplugged them and plugged them back in again.

The whole rack is UPS protected - switches, servers, DSL kit, routers, APs etc. No problems.

To amalgamate some responses to my posting and add a bit more: Agreed, thery are a cheap way of piggybacking DC over Cat 5. I must go watch my kit to see whether after several months of using these devices they are about to blow up - maybe their time has come. RJ jacks are typically rated at 125V AC/DC at 1.5A Max,. having grabbed some kit - I note the following: IP Camera: [email protected] Netgear AP: 7.5V@1A Yes, voltage drop over a significant amount of Cat5 could be an issue, but our maximum run from cabinet to camera is around 20m and we have not had any problems. I also run around 20 PoE VoIP phones on the LAN from a 3Com 4500 PoE switch and UPS and would agree that in this case there's no other sensible way to do it unless you want power bricks and mini UPSs at every desk. You pays your money etc..

I have used the D-Link PoE adaptors with IP security cameras, but have now switched to these passive power injector leads as they are cheaper, use the PSU that comes with the kit and avoid the need for the D-Link receiver to be mounted near to the item to be powered: LinITX.com - Passive PoE Injector/Splitter Set The only issue may be that you need to do a simple soldering job if the built-in DC plug is not the right size for the device to be powered. There's some other useful stuff on the site too - for example, I carry round a tiny PS2 USB keyboard for testing and connecting to remote servers that spend most of their time without a keyboard: LinITX.com - USB Tiny Thumbpad Keyboard