M+NetMail
Novell NetMail is an ISP-grade electronic mail (E-Mail) package by Novell, Inc. It is designed to deliver scalable messaging and calendaring services, using Internet-standard protocols (e.g. IMAP, iCal, POP, SMTP), across a large enterprise, or to a large group of users who are not particularly associated (for example, the user population of a typical ISP). The original name for the product was Novell Internet Messaging System (NIMS). Novell showcases NetMail on its MyRealBox website (as of this writing - September 2006 - the site is not accepting new accounts).
Positioning
NetMail is not designed as a group collaboration software, such as Novell's GroupWise, IBM's Lotus Notes / Domino, or Microsoft's Exchange Server. It is not positioned to compete with those products.
Design
Unlike its proprietary counterparts, NetMail is designed around open standards, including LDAP, PKCS, iCal, POP3, IMAP4, SSL, and S/MIME. Because it is standards-based, there is no "native" client. It instead works with any standards-based IMAP4, POP3 or iCal client. The web interface is likewise usable by most web browsers.
Platforms
Like most Novell products, NetMail's server components run atop a variety of platforms, letting the NetMail customer choose the platform most appropriate to their environment. In contrast, most competing products attempt to lock their customers into a single platform. NetMail components are available for SUSE and RedHat Linux, NetWare v5.1 and later, OES-Linux and OES-NetWare, and Windows platforms.
Versions
NetMail is available in the Foundation version, which includes most features. The Advanced version adds collaboration features, and is closer in function to the higher-end collaboration packages. In 2005, Novell launched Hula, an open-source version of NetMail.