Exchange/Outlook/Webmail/Shared Items/Remote Access

[Chris]

Hello,

Before I begin: I have searched the forum and have not found an answer to
this question...

- Our office uses an Exchange Server with webmail capability. It works great.
- I use Outlook 2003 in cached mode and can sync up with the server so long
as I'm within our network. No problem here.
- From within the network and using Outlook I also have access to shared
calendars, tasks, etc. This also works great.
- For reasons beyond my control our company will not install a robust and
reliable VPN so when any of the users are remote they have no access through
Outlook to the server or shared calendars, tasks, etc.

Goal 1: Use Outlook (remotely and otherwise) as my mail client and have
access to everything that webmail has but also the shared calendars, tasks,
etc.

Which leads me to:

Question 1: Outlook has an option that looks like it could allow the
exchange email account to populate Outlook from an HTTP location (like
webmail does?). But i can't seem to get it to work. This setting can be
found here:

Tools > Email Accounts > View or Change... > Next > Microsoft Exchange
Server > Change > More Settings > Connection

There will now be three sections: Connection, Modem, Exchange over the
Internet.
Check the box: Connect to my Exchange mailbox using HTTP

Click: Exchange Proxy Settings...
Under Exchange Proxy Settings I filled in the URL to the same address our
webmail uses. I then tried every combination of authentication options
available and had no success.

Am I on the right track? I tried to the best of my ability and was
unsuccessful.
If this is not possible (A friend of our IT Admin says it isn't...but I'm
not so sure.)

Goal 2: Enable the webmail pages to display the shared items.

Question 2: Is this even possible? If so, how do you do it?

Cheers,
Chris

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

1) The Exchange account setting, known as RPC over HTTP, requires a considerable amount of configuration on the server side. Ask your network administrator if RPC over HTTP connectivity is available and what the URL is.

2) What shared folders can you not see?
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Chris]

Our admin showed us how to view shared calendars/tasks/contacts that reside
on the Exchange Server over the web as we would our email. it's a huge step
in the right direction but doesn't allow a user to create a task or calendar
item for another user as you could when running Outlook.

webmail.<company name>.com/exchange/<username>/calendar/

In the example above "calendar" can be replaced with "tasks" or "contacts".
....assuming that the user has already enabled sharing of those items.

Regarding HTTP access I think I have figured out our issue. Page 93 of the
Outlook Bible shows that it's indded possible but that Port 80 must be
enabled. I'm guessing that our firewall is enabled outbound on 80 but not
inbound and that's where I'm getting hung up.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

Sounds like you have the situation well under control!

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Chris]

We shall see...

Given that I can get HTTP to work at all, will it allow me to use Outlook as
I do when I'm in the office where I can view shared calendars and tasks and
create new calendar and task items for other users or does Outlook only allow
email send and receive through this feature?

Cheers,
Chris

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

The HTTP account is only a mail account.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers