[geeks] Thoughts re: corporate software replacement

[Andrew Weiss]

I'm seriously looking for a new job and one of the things that will allow
me to reacclimate myself to the Solaris environment would be to replace
our NT servers.  I was wondering if anyone here has done such a migration
and could recommend the ins and outs of each software category and/or
replacement products that are free or low cost.  Keep in mind that Linux
and FreeBSD are also options since this company has problems paying some
of its employees and is practically flat broke.

I am looking to replace:

Citrix Metaframe 1.8 (for admin only so a freeware solution that works
over a modem is fine...graphical of course... i.e. I can ssh in just fine
otherwise and may prefer it but for completeness sake I want to do a full
migration which will eventually include desktops but I want the experience
relatively seamless)

IIS 4.0 currently using ASP for Outlook Web Access (garbage that can be
easily replaced)

Exchange 5.5 (here's the toughy..  I need something with POP and IMAP
support as well as being more than just a mail server.  Something I can
plug Outlook into temporarily and later move to an open client..)

Easy file services and support for NT (i.e. the best Samba package and
tools)... and a UNIX analog for the dummies when I finally migrate the
desktops.  I'm sure this is a snap with KDE's file manager and standard
NFS mounts.

Something that isn't present but I need to cut my teeth on:
Directory services, Security services, and possibly remote access.

I'm looking to build a rough Santa's workshop here that still functions in
a corporate environment but would cure my insane boredom here and give me
a leg up to get my ass out of here.

Regards,
Andrew