Problem with Outlook, Exchange 2000 or ISA server
Some weeks ago we hit problems with software that has been stable for some years. The problem has arisen where the software interacts with Outlook or Exchange Public Folders. Over the last weeks the problem has been partly fixed but we are left with key parts of the application not working. It seems we have a problem with Exchange or the ISA server
Summary of problem
· Initially it presented as a permissions issue with a public folder
· then a corrupted Exchange Public Folder (which has possibly been fixed)
· and now as error 12206 proxy chain loop referring to the ISA server.
· The improvement over the last weeks occurred when work was done to repair exchange public folders, but it is not completely resolved.
My role
I am the manager responsible for resolving this. I created the original heritage software using Paradox for DOS in the 90s and this was re-written by an in-house programmer (using Delphi) he is no longer with the company (but we do have some contact with him). The IT support company are dealing with the Exchange issues. I am the person who has to resolve this issue for our company and I am dependant on the IT support company and the Programmer, as I dont have in depth knowledge of the current system.
What the programmer says about these problems
Summary: he says the customer software is not in-process with Outlook and so shouldnt be the problem. It has been running for 5 years without problem.
Details of programmer's comments::
· The Custom Software plugin for Outlook doesn't actually do a huge amount directly in Outlook - rather it adds buttons to Outlook which then communicate with a separate process in CustomSoftware.exe). For example clicking the button in Outlook to look up detail on a job actually loads up CustomSoftware.exe to do that (so it's not in-process with Outlook).
· However on start-up it does take the user from the default view of Outlook (usually their inbox) to the "Company Communications" public folder. This public folder then has a custom homepage on it with the Company branding (but effectively just then shows the user their inbox).
· The users should have the ability to use the custom forms but not to edit the form definitions.
What the IT support technician says after repairing Exchange
· Everyone can browse the public folders fine but cannot run the "home page" form on the public folder.
· The error when opening the public folder now gives "error 12206 proxy chain loop Internet Security and Information Server" - I removed ISA Server and then logged on as a user to test. The form now opens on the public folder but shows the VERY ORIGNAL PERMISSIONS ERROR
· If the form is disabled (by removing the tick in the folder Home Page tab) then the folder can be browsed - indicating in my opinion that it is not a Public Folder Permission issue.
Further comments
* The main user form is set as the home page in the public folder properties
* We are using Exchange 2000 with a large Public folder (around 14-15 GB - so close to the maximum) and large record number
·* We previously hit the maximum and Exchange stopped requiring us to make space
·* We have been told that moving to Exchange 2007 will give us a more stable platform however we need to recover the full use of the existing system - if we can - as the migration is delayed by undocumented custom software installation aspects which we are working on
System
* We are running Windows Server 2000 running as a virtual server within Server 2008
* and Exchange 2000 and Outlook 2002
Any assistance would be greatfully appreciated
Steven
