Groupwise 5.2 and Antispam solution

[ovs8]

Hi there,

We're running 30 users Windows 2000 network. Our email system is Groupwise 5.2 on NW4.12 server. We're planning to upgrade later this year (maybe even going with MS Exch.) But spam problem has elevated recently and users demand solutions now.

Here's what I'm thinking. Setup an additional SMTP server (Symantec Mail Security SMTP for example)and get Symantec BrightMail Antispam software installed on it.

Does this sound like a reasonable solution? Is there a better (simpler)way to do it? For now we're looking for the in-house software solution only (hardware appliance and MessageLabs-like solutions are not in our plans yet).

Thanks a lot,
oleg

 

[gioffre]

Hi,

I recommend a product called GeeWhiz. It is written specifically for GroupWise and will run right on your NetWare server. The current version (1.4.10) will run on a NetWare 4.12 server. The new version (2.0) will be released shortly. It has much better Anti-SPAM features but requires at least NetWare 5.1.

You can have a look at their web site at

http://www.omni-ts.com

Gioffre Consulting

http://www.gioffre.com

Check out our Novell Training Cruises

 

[KenB]

You should also check out the appliance called Baracuda. It acts like a SPAM Firewall for your SMTP traffic by catching viri and spam.

http://www.barracudanetworks.com.

Works with any E-mail server.

Ken

 

[FarOut]

We first started with a product called Guinevere. Pound for pound the best Virus protection out there for it's time. It was developed and distributed by one individual. It was bought by GWAVA and limited to 250 users. It went through it's growing state and now is one of the best Spam/AV products out there for small systems. If Guinevere was not limited to 250 users it would still be in our system. And best of all it runs on a workstation on your network. We now use Barracuda (as Ken made mention of) and GWAVA as our Spam/AV solution. I would highly recommend Barracuda as a fairly inexpensive (cost was around 5k a year ago for their big boy) way to go for a hardware solution. In case your intersted here is a link to GWAVA. Have a good one!

http://www.gwava.com/products/index.html

FarOut
V-Peace-V

 

[rjs]

I would go with your original solution of the additional SMTP gateway and the Symantec SMTP w/BrightMail add-on. It is a very effective product and you can use it if/when you go to Exchange.

The only downsides I've found so far:
1) Each user has to create a rule to delete the messages BrightMail flags as spam (not necessary when or if you go to Exhange as BrightMail and Exchange are integrated).

2) Even with the GroupWise rule, GW Notify still notifies you of spam.

R.Sobelman

http://www.tracklogins.com

 

[ovs8]

rjs,

- I'm going to configure Brightmail to drop 100% "sure" spam messages and mark the "unsure" spam as [SPAM]. But still using GW rules to delete or redirect [SPAM] mail to the dedicated folder is a great idea!

- Did you install Symantec SMTP and Brightmail servers on a single machine? If so, what are your hardware specifications? I find that these servers are very resource consuming.

thanks a lot.
oleg

 

[rjs]

There are now two flavors of BrightMail. One is BrightMail with Anti-virus as an add-on. The other is the Symantec Mail Security for SMTP 4.1 which has a BrightMail add-on. The latter uses the SMTP Gateway's built in STMP server. The first one requires IIS' virtual SMTP.

I use the SMTP mainly because my GroupWise systems already had the SAV SMTP and the BrightMail add-on is just a check mark and config.

So, long winded, they go on the same box. I run them on a PC (Dell Optiplex 2.x GHz) with 1GB of RAM. Just a PC works fine. The older SMTP 3.x put a good load on, but 4.x seems to be more efficient.

R.Sobelman

http://www.tracklogins.com

 

[MichiganRon]

My 2¢:

We used GWAVA as an AV solution for a few years, but found it's anti-spam "features" to be lacking. Last year we invested in a Barracuda. We've never looked back. It works extremely well for us and I can say that I highly recommend it.

A Barracuda is relatively inexpensive, but if you can't justify the cost of purchasing one, there are services out there which use Barracuda's. They charge a monthly or annual fee. I know one is

http://www.spammx.com.

Good luck.
Ron

“If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?” ~ Mevlana Rumi


Do you live in Michigan? Join us in the Tek-Tips in Michigan forum.