[COLUG] Alternatives to MS CRM

[Jeffrey Tadlock]

Robert Grimm wrote:
> I have a client who wants me to install Microsoft CRM 3.0 on his
> network. This is a customer relations management server, similar to
> Act, that must be installed on a domain controller. I have a few
> problems with doing this, though. The most important reason is that
> the master domain controller is the wrong version of Windows Server
> 2003. The server is now running Standard Edition. CRM requires Small
> Business Edition. I have to build another domain controller, possibly
> introducing domain conflicts as the old machine would still be needed
> for other tasks.

There are two versions of MS CRM 3.0 - a Small Business version which 
does need MS Small Business Server and a Professional version of CRM 
which will work with Windows Server 2003 standard.

> My other problem is that there is no other functional reason for
> having a Windows domain on this network. If I can keep it so that they
> aren't using anything that requires a domain, I can eventually phase
> out the Windows servers entirely. The only task they currently have
> that requires Windows is running Exchange.

Exchange 2000 and higher require an Active Directory domain.

> Now, on the the question. Has anyone here had any experience with any
> open source alternatives to MS CRM?

I would look at the following two:

Sugar CRM:
http://www.sugarcrm.com/crm/

There is a SugarCRM virtual appliance you play with in a VM here:
http://www.vmware.com/vmtn/appliances/directory/466


vTiger:
http://www.vtiger.com

There is a vTiger virtual appliance here (though it comes with other 
stuff than just vTiger):
http://www.vmware.com/vmtn/appliances/directory/375