omniumnetworking
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Is there an open source (Linux) package similar to Google Docs?
Hi guys,
We currently have a Linux file server sharing documents (Word, Excel, etc.) through Samba. The problem is we're all over town most the time, and not always have access to our laptops for VPN access.
We love the idea of Google Docs, but we'd like something that is hosted on our own server so we have control over backups and such.
I've tried googling for it but I'm not really sure what terms to search for. I found out that Microsoft has a competing products but once again it is hosted on their servers.
We often hire programmers to develop things for us but I can't imagine this doesn't exist already.
Thanks!
We currently have a Linux file server sharing documents (Word, Excel, etc.) through Samba. The problem is we're all over town most the time, and not always have access to our laptops for VPN access.
We love the idea of Google Docs, but we'd like something that is hosted on our own server so we have control over backups and such.
I've tried googling for it but I'm not really sure what terms to search for. I found out that Microsoft has a competing products but once again it is hosted on their servers.
We often hire programmers to develop things for us but I can't imagine this doesn't exist already.
Thanks!
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There is a trial on there website http://www.alfresco.com/community/register/done. It is a web client.
ASKER
Martin,
That link does not work for me. However, I am registering for a hosted trial right now. I think that's where you went as well.
Thanks for the link Computerfixins. It will be a little while before I can download and install the package to test it.
One of the problems I've seen with a lot of products out there is that they want to host my data while I want to keep my data on my own server. I don't mind paying for a good product, but I don't want to pay a monthly fee to "rent" the software.
I'm still looking into Alfresco. Thanks for the information.
That link does not work for me. However, I am registering for a hosted trial right now. I think that's where you went as well.
Thanks for the link Computerfixins. It will be a little while before I can download and install the package to test it.
One of the problems I've seen with a lot of products out there is that they want to host my data while I want to keep my data on my own server. I don't mind paying for a good product, but I don't want to pay a monthly fee to "rent" the software.
I'm still looking into Alfresco. Thanks for the information.
"do you need to install a software client to use it, or is it all browser-based?"
It can support just about any form of connectivity you want.
Because of its layered design, the "core" sits on top of the content stores and interfaces between whatever client and the store and handles security etc. This provides that the system can serve the same content using different client interfaces. As examples of interfaces that are available:
The web client, which is easy to use and requires no client side software other than a recent browser.
The built in CIFS server, which serves the content as CIFS (Windows file sharing) shares and allows one to browse the content store through normal "Network neighborhood" without special client side software.
The built in FTP server, which serves the content through the ftp protocol to ftp enabled clients.
The Web services interface, which can be used by third party software to access the content store through SOAP (including Zimbra, which now has an Alfresco zimlet (plugin) to integrate it with Alfresco).
The Office client package, which installs on a Windows machine, and adds an Alfresco dialog inside your office applications. This allows direct access to the store and its more advanced features from within office.
Sharepoint Services
Publishing through the Web Content Management interface.
The list goes on....
(At the risk of getting all soppy about it...)
This is truly a wonderful system.
It can support just about any form of connectivity you want.
Because of its layered design, the "core" sits on top of the content stores and interfaces between whatever client and the store and handles security etc. This provides that the system can serve the same content using different client interfaces. As examples of interfaces that are available:
The web client, which is easy to use and requires no client side software other than a recent browser.
The built in CIFS server, which serves the content as CIFS (Windows file sharing) shares and allows one to browse the content store through normal "Network neighborhood" without special client side software.
The built in FTP server, which serves the content through the ftp protocol to ftp enabled clients.
The Web services interface, which can be used by third party software to access the content store through SOAP (including Zimbra, which now has an Alfresco zimlet (plugin) to integrate it with Alfresco).
The Office client package, which installs on a Windows machine, and adds an Alfresco dialog inside your office applications. This allows direct access to the store and its more advanced features from within office.
Sharepoint Services
Publishing through the Web Content Management interface.
The list goes on....
(At the risk of getting all soppy about it...)
This is truly a wonderful system.
ASKER
The Hosted Trial for Alfresco is amazingly slow. Also, I have not been able to figure out how to use the document library which is the part I'm really interested in. The option to Upload or Create New Folder are grayed out. I am missing something?
read only access. :)
Download the open source version. Its simple to get it going. Simply extract and run the startup script.
ASKER
I am awarding points to all answers because none are really what I was looking for, yet they are solid suggestions. Thanks!
ASKER
With Alfresco I've been looking through the documentation to see how it actually works. One question I can't seem to find an answer for it, do you need to install a software client to use it, or is it all browser-based?
Thanks!