(Just to be clear about my text below. when i say "Site" I am referring to a configured Site in Active Directory Sites and Services that has Domain Controllers with Global Catalog turned on)
Hello,
If you have a similar environment please try this yourself and post your results. I have had 2 of my IT Colleagues in other companies try it and they confirm it, then they scratch their head.
On an Outlook 2003 client in the same site as your Exchange 2003 Server:
1. Load Outlook
2. Hold down LEFT CTRL and right click on the Outlook Icon in the Systray near the clock.
3. Choose connection status from the pop-up menu.
4. This lists all the Outlook connections in use. Note the Type "Directory". They will be some DC/s in the site you are in.
Now, On an Outlook 2003 client in a DIFFERENT AD site from your Exchange 2003 Server:
A. Confirm there is a local DC with Global Catalog turned on.
B. On the Outlook 2003 client, open a dos prompt and type "SET L" without the quotes. This will just show you the server that the client logged on with. Just for FYI.
C. Open Outlook if not already open.
D. Hold down LEFT CTRL and right click on the Outlook Icon in the Systray near the clock.
E. Choose connection status from the pop-up menu.
F. What DCs are listed? Local to Outlook client or Local to Exchange?
Thanks for your time. The above is not really a question but to share results. If anyone knows why Outlook 2003 clients use the DC/GCs in the Exchange site instead of one right next to them in their own Site I would appreciate an open discussion.
-I think Exchange servers do keep a list of valid Global Catalogs. They may pass this information to the client. But why the client doesn't just ADD that information to a list of local healthy Global Catalogs, I'm not sure.
Thanks very much for your time.
Start Free Trial
