Exchange on a Network

[John B]

A few questions from someone who has spent the morning serching other users
posts!

We have a small ethernet network set up with one of the PC's being used as a
master(PC1). This computer has all the files stored on it. The other 2
computers have drives networked to PC1, including a drive which holds all the
log on information to enable roaming profiles. We have recently upgraded to
Outlook 2003 and are using Exchange 2003. I have set up PC1 with my profile
to use *.ost files for offline access to the Exchange server. This has
created an *.ost under the local C: drive under documents and settings
etc....not in the mapped user network drive.

1) If I now were to log either PC2 or PC3, and set up outlook to use offline
files, would outlook create a new *.ost file (about 200MB)on that computer,
or am I able to put the one *ost file created on PC1 on the networked drive
from PC1 so it can be used on PC2 or PC3?

2) We have a sbscert.cer certifcate for our company Exchaneg sevrer. I
currently have to connect to the Exchange server via a VPN, but would prefer
it if outlook did not need the VPN to be connected to see the mailbox on the
server. I have run the certificate and told it to put it in the default
location, however this does not seem to make any difference and I still have
to open the VPN to connect to the server. Any ideas?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks in advance,

John

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

Comments inline to your post.

A few questions from someone who has spent the morning serching other users
posts!

We have a small ethernet network set up with one of the PC's being used as
a
master(PC1). This computer has all the files stored on it. The other 2
computers have drives networked to PC1, including a drive which holds all
the
log on information to enable roaming profiles. We have recently upgraded
to
Outlook 2003 and are using Exchange 2003. I have set up PC1 with my
profile
to use *.ost files for offline access to the Exchange server. This has
created an *.ost under the local C: drive under documents and settings
etc....not in the mapped user network drive.

1) If I now were to log either PC2 or PC3, and set up outlook to use
offline
files, would outlook create a new *.ost file (about 200MB)on that
computer,
or am I able to put the one *ost file created on PC1 on the networked
drive
from PC1 so it can be used on PC2 or PC3?

Yes, an OST would be created on each machine. It is not recommended nor
supported by MS to run a PST or OST from a network share. The reason for it
is that if the connection drops for any reason, you end up with corruption
in the file. The whole idea is to keep those files local because it
improves the clients perception of improved connectivity because there is no
round-tripping to the server to work with Outlook data.

2) We have a sbscert.cer certifcate for our company Exchaneg sevrer. I
currently have to connect to the Exchange server via a VPN, but would
prefer
it if outlook did not need the VPN to be connected to see the mailbox on
the
server. I have run the certificate and told it to put it in the default
location, however this does not seem to make any difference and I still
have
to open the VPN to connect to the server. Any ideas?

Sounds like you are thinking about using RPC over HTTPS if running a Windows
2003/Exchange 2003 Active Directory/Exchange domain. RPC/HTTPS lets the
Outlook 2003 client connect to the Exchange server over the internet w/out
having to establish a VPN connection first.

This configuration does require some server side setup (e.g. open port 443
on the firewall) and has client requirement of Windows XP SP1 + update
331320 or Windows XP SP2 with Outlook 2003.

The other issue surrounding RPC/HTTPS connections is that the certificate
that secures the web server must be fully trusted and the client workstation
must be able to trace that web certificate back to the certificate authority
that issue it. If it can't, Outlook just fails the RPC/HTTPS connection
outright and doesn't throw a single error message.

 

[John B]

Thanks Neo....although I am a bit lost with all the talk of RPC over HTTP I
did find an article that helped using this as a search tool.

I have managed to solve the problem of not using the VPN and using the
certificate by ticking the box 'Connect to my Exchange mailbox using HTTP'
under the Microsoft Exchange Server Settings>More Settings>Connection tab. I
then put the Exchange Proxy URL Settings in the box and ....would you belive
it.....it worked!

I take your advice on having only one *ost file within a network. Can you
just confirm that if there are more than one *ost for the same exchange
servermailbox (i.e. one on each office computer, one on a home computer, one
on a laptop)
then they won't get confused? Is this the right way to go about using the
exchange server with outlook 2003? It is my understanding theat the server
copy of the pst file is the master and all other *ost (however many) are just
copying that data and displaying it, and then copying it back again.

Thanks again in advance. This discussion group is truly a wonderful thing!

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

I run 3 different machines against the same mailbox in cached mode and
haven't had an issue. <knock on wood>

 

[John B]

I am also knocking on the preverbiale wood.

One more query; I have now set my boss up with an ost file in the office and
an ost file at home, both connecting to the same server. However, in the
office , I have managed to overwrite his previous 'Personal' folder which
outlook created before I set up the Exchange offline files. However, on his
home computer, i thought i had gone thorugh the same process, but he still
has his 'Personal' pst showing as the primary mail folder. How do i change it
so the ost file over writes his 'Personal' folder and hence his ost file
becomes his primary mail delivery folder.
FYI - I have been through the process of tools>email accounts>view or
change> and then the 'Deliver New email to following location:' shows
'Personal folder', 'Archive' and 'Mailbox-My Boss Name'......how do make it
so I just see 'Mailbox-My Boss Name' and 'Archive' ??? Microsoft Exchange is
the only email account on both computers.

Many thanks in advance once again.

 

[Brian Tillman]

I am also knocking on the preverbiale wood.

With the proverbial mixed metaphor? <smile>

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

You have been thru the mail applet in the control panel then data files
button and ensured the PST is not listed?

 

[John B]

Neo,

Sorry for late reply...massive virus breakdown at this end and no Brian, I
hav'nt been knocking on wood the whole time!

I have been thru the mail applet and deleted the personal folder. However, I
am then able to reopen this folder(thru file> open pst>outlook.pst). What I
am trying to do is make the server exchange mailbox the master pst/ost folder
on the local computer. Hence any PDA that is synced is delivered both to the
Mailbox - Username on the server through connecting with the Mail Box -
Username on the local machine. I just can't seem to figure out how to make
the exchange mailbox the default. FYI - once I deleted the Personal Folder
through the mail applet, the Mail box - Username (which is receiving the mail
from the server) I am still able to right click and have the option to Close
'Mailbox-Username'. It is my understanding that you are unable to have this
option if it is the default mailbox.

Any more ideas??

 

[neo [mvp outlook]]

This is very true. Go back to the mail applet and make sure that no
personal folder data files are part of the profile. Now to change the
default delivery location from the mail applet in the control panel, you
need to select the Email Accounts button, then View/Change existing
accounts. Down at the bottom is a dropdown that lets you set the default
delivery location.