Configure Outlook on SBS 2003 Client PCs to connect to an external Exchange server

Hi

Your external Exchange must be configured to accept RPC over Http. Then you´ll need the certificate. Maybe it´s easier to just POP the mail. Why dont you use your own Exchange?

Robert Lundqvist
Small Business Specialist
Sweden

Hi Robert.

Thanks for the quick reply.

RPC over HTTP is already configured. It's a 3rd party Managed Exchange service that is backed-up and has a SLA and considerably more bandwidth than what is available on-site.

I get to the stage where I "Check Name" and this is where it tells me the Exchange server should be connected and online. Interestingly, I can ping it without a problem.

Regs,
Bill.

Hi

Just thinking out loud, Have you marked SSL?, does it need domain\username, is the cert for the same name as the alias eg mail.domain.com.

Robert Lundqvist
Small Business Specialist
Sweden

I have never setup an external hosted exchange account.  However, when setting up clients to use RPC over HTTP the check name portion always fails.  This is normal and expected.  The name will be verified once the RPC connection is made.  The normal step is to ignore the message and continue.

I assume this is the same procedure for a hosted exchange service.

Hi again.

The error returned by pressing either the "Check Name" button or the "Next" button is the same:

The name could not be resolved. The connection to Microsoft Exchange is unavailable. Outlook must be online or connected to complete this action.

Now, to save you time in suggesting it, I can do the following:

- log onto the domain from this client PC.
- access the internet from this client PC.
- ping the external Exchange server from the command line (so DNS seems to be working).
- telnet to the Exchange server using port 110 (but I figure this is irrelevant for Exchange).

- I CAN'T telnet to the Exchange server using port 135 (I'm not even sure that is the correct port for RPC over HTTP but, hey, it might be relevant).

Eagerly awaiting your sage advice and that magic snippet of information that immediately resolves this very irritating and frustrating problem.

Regs,
Bill.

"The normal step is to ignore the message and continue."
Actually the normal step is to NOT click the Check Name button, so you don't get the error.  But that's not the error he's getting.

Bill... can you please post a COMPLETE ipconfig /all from both the SBS as well as one of your workstations?

Thanks.

Jeff
TechSoEasy

Regarding this issue, I queried the opinions of some of the top SBS MVP's, because I've been trying to get my head around the concept of why someone would use Hosted Exchange when they have an SBS.  

You state, "It's a 3rd party Managed Exchange service that is backed-up and has a SLA and considerably more bandwidth than what is available on-site."

How much bandwidth can 3 users take up? and what difference does it make when they have to download the email to their on-site workstations anyhow?

As for backing up?  Doesn't their server have other important data that you back up every night?  

You are much better off using an Exchange FILTERING service rather than a fully hosted Exchange mailbox service.  See http://www.microsoft.com/australia/smallbusiness/products/exchange-hosted-services/use.mspx for details about this.  

Jeff
TechSoEasy

Hi TechSoEasy,

From the server:

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>ipconfig /ALL

Windows IP Configuration

   Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : ACCOUNTS
   Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . : xxx.local
   Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Hybrid
   IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
   WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
   DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : xxx.local

Ethernet adapter LAN:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : HP NC320i PCIe Gigabit Server Adapter
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-1A-4B-F1-15-C1
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :
   DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

Ethernet adapter WAN:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
   Description . . . . . . . . . . . : iSeries 1000/100/10 Ethernet Adapter
   Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-02-55-53-7E-6C
   DHCP Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
   IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : xxx.xxx.xxx.166
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.240
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : xxx.xxx.xxx.161
   DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
   NetBIOS over Tcpip. . . . . . . . : Disabled

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator>


And from the client PC:

C:\Documents and Settings\administrator.xxx>ipconfig /ALL

Windows IP Configuration

        Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : ramtech-185
        Primary Dns Suffix  . . . . . . . : xxx.local
        Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
        IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
        WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : No
        DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : xxx.local

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

        Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . :
        Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethe
rnet NIC
        Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : 00-0F-EA-94-6E-B6
        Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : No
        IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.4
        Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
        Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
        DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1

C:\Documents and Settings\administrator.xxx>

Thank you TechSoEasy. I learnt a lot from your posts. Unfortunately, I never got to see it through to completion. My customer's data-centre in India burnt down and they folded. :(