Intranet Wishlist

Hi folks,

I'm looking for a solution suitable for our intranet and
are
in the early stages of deciding what we want so we can then
decide what will deliver the goods... So our wish list
includes:

    * Central file storage of protocols/procedures
    * Internal/external contacts
    * Holiday, meetings calendar(s)
    * Staff In/Out board - optional
    * Noticeboard
    * Links for starting programs - optional
    * Web links
    * Access restricted by user level (linked to Active
Directory)
    * Ability to alert users to new uploads to the Intranet

Also, we'd quite like the ability to not only alert users
to
new documents but to also have then acknowledge
receipt/reading of it, say a virtual sign off sheet.

Our network environment is we have 3 Win 2K3 servers, one
running exchange, one our main business critical application
and the 3rd running another critical program running on
MySQL.
All users use 2K or XP pc's, some connecting via TS at 2
branch sites. We have Office 2000/XP/2K3 and IE5/6 for all
users.

As with most things there isn't much of a budget for these
things. I've contemplated Sharepoint but after a quick look
was put of, but then I like open source solutions when
possible.

Plone sounds really interesting but I'm sort of put of by
the
fact it's running zope/python as they are completely new to
me. Plus I don't have a dedicated server but would need to
run
it on one of the existing ones.

I've been wondering about Drupal as it seems to fit the
bit,
but have yet to make a final decision, but will go with it
if
Plone doesn't seem to fit the bill for us.

What suggestions do you all have?

Dan

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Well these are commercial offerings for Plone but:

  - Enfold Server which is Plone with lots of windows
additional hooks
  such as out-of-the-box office document indexing, NTLM
(single sign on),
  lots of auto configuration and is commercially supported.
  http://w
ww.enfoldsystems.com/Products/Server

  - Enfold Proxy is a IIS integration for Plone that does
caching.
  And NTLM integration.  In beta a load balancer has been
added if 
  you want to balance across multiple processors.
  http://ww
w.enfoldsystems.com/Products/Proxy

  - Enfold Desktop is a desktop integration with plone. 
Users can
  perform actions on content in Server as if it were on
their local
  desktop.  *FREE FOR NONCOMMERCIAL USE!*
  http://
www.enfoldsystems.com/Products/Desktop

You can download any of these from our website for trial
usage.

Also sounds like most of the feature set could be done in
about 5-10 days of
work.  Maybe less depending on how complex the tasks are. 
But it's a
reasonable feature list.  
You can use MySQL database adapter that is open source or
the commercially
supported mxODBC.

You can roll your own as you have access to everything
because its open
source ;)

Lots of options.

Cheers,
Alan Runyan


> -----Original Message-----
> From: setup-bounceslists.plone.org 
> [mailto:setup-bounceslists.plone.org] On Behalf
Of Knowlson 
> Dan (West Wiltshire PCT)
> Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 4:21 AM
> To: setuplists.plone.org
> Subject: [Setup] Intranet Wishlist
> 
> Hi folks,
> 
> I'm looking for a solution suitable for our intranet
and are 
> in the early stages of deciding what we want so we can
then 
> decide what will deliver the goods... So our wish list
includes:
> 
>     * Central file storage of protocols/procedures
>     * Internal/external contacts
>     * Holiday, meetings calendar(s)
>     * Staff In/Out board - optional
>     * Noticeboard
>     * Links for starting programs - optional
>     * Web links
>     * Access restricted by user level (linked to Active
Directory)
>     * Ability to alert users to new uploads to the
Intranet
> 
> Also, we'd quite like the ability to not only alert
users to 
> new documents but to also have then acknowledge 
> receipt/reading of it, say a virtual sign off sheet.
> 
> Our network environment is we have 3 Win 2K3 servers,
one 
> running exchange, one our main business critical
application 
> and the 3rd running another critical program running on
MySQL.
> All users use 2K or XP pc's, some connecting via TS at
2 
> branch sites. We have Office 2000/XP/2K3 and IE5/6 for
all users.
> 
> As with most things there isn't much of a budget for
these 
> things. I've contemplated Sharepoint but after a quick
look 
> was put of, but then I like open source solutions when
possible.
> 
> Plone sounds really interesting but I'm sort of put of
by the 
> fact it's running zope/python as they are completely
new to 
> me. Plus I don't have a dedicated server but would
need to 
> run it on one of the existing ones.
> 
> I've been wondering about Drupal as it seems to fit
the bit, 
> but have yet to make a final decision, but will go with
it if 
> Plone doesn't seem to fit the bill for us.
> 
> What suggestions do you all have?
> 
> Dan
> 
>
************************************************************
**
> *************
> This e-mail is confidential and privileged. If you are
not 
> the intended recipient please accept our apologies;
please do 
> not disclose, copy or distribute information in this
e-mail 
> or take any action in reliance on its
> contents: to do so is strictly prohibited and may be 
> unlawful. Please inform us that this message has gone
astray 
> before deleting it. Thank you for your co-operation.
>
************************************************************
**
> *************
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Setup mailing list
> Setuplists.plone.org
> http://
lists.plone.org/mailman/listinfo/setup
> 


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We have been running Plone as our intranet for about 8
months now.
Most of it is running from unaltered code and products form
the plone
community and its been running very well indeed.

Zope/Plone and python took a fair bit of time for me to
learn and I
still wouldnt say that I am even a basic programmer but it
still
amazes me how convenient this platform is and how quickly
things can
be developed. If you like opensource and if you have a bit
of spare
time I wouldnt be too phased by the technologies used by
plone.

We have integrated some existing MSSQL databases into plone
too
without too much hassle. Its also integrated with users and
groups in
AD.

The only problem really is that we cant keep up with 
requests for new
sections/facilities  at the moment!

You can run plone quite happily on windows server - although
to get it
working from within IIS you will need to use something like
Enfold's
Enterprise proxy - although it will not help you with Single
Sign On -
for that you must purchase their Enterprise Server product.


My advise is to goto www.plone.org and download the windows
installer
version and have a play. Most of what you want to do is
either in the
core product or available as downloadable products. Although
if you
want tight windows integration it is worth spending the
money on
Enfold's ES


Sam
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