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Hi Matthew, Quoting Matthew <matthew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>: > So does anyone know of > a) good, genuinely (e.g. not SugarCRM or forks) open source > CRM/mailshot software that we can install on the webserver and that > will play with drupal (if not integrate seamlessly with it) and allow > us to track opens, clickthroughs and bounces [but not CiviCRM; that's > a nightmare and far too complex for its own good: I did use it to send > out a substantial email to our database and it failed dramatically]; Any reason why not sugar? It works, it's solid and it's v. flexible, not to mention that most of the things you need to do (such as integration with Joomla etc.) have already been written. > b) inexpensive VPS hosting for a mailserver; this bit does not need > to be so powerful as its main purpose will be to handle smtp requests > and send responses to appropriate places based on the return traffic. http://www.cheapvps.co.uk/ - I work for a major Hosting supplier but our VPS's are far more than that and it seems like cost is an issue. Do bear in mind that you get what you pay for. I use one of the above as a development server. There are no SLAs, no guarantees of up-time or stability and you have to do everything apart from install the Base-O/S yourself. If you want the OS and software installed/SLAs etc, you need to spend money. Doing things on the cheap always comes back to bite you on the ar*e in my experience. > As y'all can probably tell, I don't know too much about this subject > but it surely does not need to cost a mint to host a website and > mailserver that can handle bounces via VERP?? Having said all of the above, I'd offer the advice that you're probably best off using one of the following two options: 1) Co-Location of your own hardware - you own the hardware, you host it where you want and you maintain it. If it goes wrong, it's _your_ fault. 2) Managed Virtual/Dedicated Server - you login via a control panel such as PLESK. If you want software installed, you ask the managing company to install it. You _DO NOT_ have shell access. If it fails, it is often _their_ fault. The two above options are not cheap, but they will provide your business with far more options in the future. Hope that is of some help, Matt. -- Matthew Macdonald-Wallace matthew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx http://www.truthisfreedom.org.uk/ -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html