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wildasIwanabeFlag for Canada

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VPN - Exchange Server 2003

Hi,

We have Small Business Server 2003 installed and also have a VPN connection setup so that users can connect to the server from outside.  

The problem I'm having is that people cannot connect to the exchange server through outlook when they VPN in.  When they go to the outlook mailbox settings and enter the exchange server name and their username and then click 'check name' it sees the exchange server with no problems.  But when they open outlook they get an error saying "Exchange server cannot be reached."

The Small Business Server has service pack 1 installed.

Does anyone have suggestions on how I can fix this?

thx,
Wild.
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Clamsy
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Can you ping the server?

You may want to edit the host file to contain the servers IP address.

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ASKER

Yes, I can ping the server.
Can the same users connect to the server from inside the office?

It sounds like you are setting up the users for the first time in Outlook remotely.   Is this correct?



Everyone can connect to outlook while in the office with no problems at all.  

Once they leave the office and try to connect through VPN, then they have this problem.  They can VPN in and even Ping the exchange server but outlook cannot connect. :(
Is there an entry for the exchange server in the host file?

Adding SERVER IP ADDRESS       FQDN SERVER NAME

to the Host file can help the connection find the server a little faster.  Try this.

What are you using for VPN hardware anyway?  
We using a Nortel Contivity 1010 box.  Users connect through IPSEC... although I did try connecting through PPTP but that didn't help.

Sorry, I'm kind'a new at this... where do I check the host file.  I did a search for hosts and all it showed was  127.0.0.1       localhost
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Clamsy
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Hi Clamsy,

Thx for the prompt replys. :)

I tried adding this to hosts file but that didn't fix the problem. :(
Hi Clamsy,

I read your comment wrong.  I added the 192.x..x.x to the host file on the exchange server and not on the computer that was trying to connect to the server.  (Dont' know what I was thinking... )

Anyway.. when I added your solution to the desktop's HOST file it work.

thanks for your help.
Wild.
Glad to hear it.  Thanks.