Outlook 2003 and SBS2003

[stiffguy]

Hi:

I have my server running SBS2003. I connect to my server using VPN connection. VPN gets connected. I try to invoke Outlook 2003 and after it comes up , it displays the mail on the window and with in coupld of minutes, outlook displays the message " Outlook is trying to retrieve messages from Microsoft Exchange SERver" . then with in few seconds, it displays " Connection to Microsoft SErver is lost ", though the VPN connection is in tact. also at the bottom of the outlook screen, it says "diconnected" . Again my VPN icon is in tact and I am econnected.

I have to close Outlook 2003 , ( most of the time, I have to abort Outlook 2003 as it does not respond ) and disconnect the VPN, connect again VPN and try outllook 2003. Then it may work or try all over again the same.

Can any one please let me know how to get over this problem ??

Thanks

 

[AndyPeck]

When the VPN connect is made, what DNS server does the client get given ? , you need to make sure you PC gets the DNS setings of your SBS server and not your ISP (i'm assuming this is a remote client).
Do an IPconfig /all before and after vpn connection,


I'm sure you already know this, but it you implement "Https over RPC" you can do away with the VPN for Exchange and outlook, although you must be runnng XP on all client coumputers

 

[stiffguy]

Hi Andy:

Thanks for your message.

I tried to check the ipconfig /all before the vpn connection. It showed 192.168.254.254 , which is basically the ip address of the simens router.

After VPN connection, when I checked, there were two sets of DNS addresses. The first one is same as the above.

The second one is under the title, PPP adapter for my VPN connection and there the DNS address is 206.13.28.12 , which is basically the DNS address given by the Pacific bell who is my ISP.

Please help.

thanks

 

[stiffguy]

Hi Andy:

When I said in my above reply, the DNS is the one given by the ISP at the Server end after I connect through VPN.

Also I try to Https over RPC. after I configure, when I invoke Outlook, it ask for the user name and password, then it waits for some time and gives me the error message "Microsoft Exchange Server is not available.".

Do I have to do first, "

https://my

domain name, and use the user name and password to login first and invoke oulook or what ??

please help..

thanks

 

[AndyPeck]

1. When the VPN connection is active I would expect the VPN server/device/RAS Server to supply the client computer the DNS server/s of you internal network, otherwise you have no way to proved name resolution to locate you internal servers.
That said, it possible not the default option so you need to locate the setting and update them of the VPN Server.

2. Search the Knowledge base for UPN (user princable name) and set that up your system, this will allow you to create a login id like john.doe@company.com, in our case we've named the UPN the same as the email address, so when folks login to OWA or Https over RPC they only have to remember their email address, and not worry about the domain name. It's a 5 mins job once you track the right article down

There are some really good articles on

http://www.msexchange.org

on how to setup HTTPS over RPC correctly, far better than I could explain here.

Hope this helps

Andy