Outlook over VPN fails

[translux]

Hello
I’ve been trying for months to get Outlook 2000 or 2002 on Win2k boxes to work with Exchange 2000 over a broadband to broadband VPN. The VPN is solid as I can see the shares that I have established and can resolve the mail server in Outlook. I keep getting “ Your Microsoft Exchanger Server is Unavailable” and “ the Information store could not be opened”.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Eric

 

[rws]

Sounds like an RPC problem. Use the utility rpcping on the Exchange CD. Should be a KB article on how to use it. Not all routers will pass RPC traffic. Also look for article about TCP ports and Exchange. You may need to statically map some ports.

 

[lirwin]

Try placing a lmhost entry pointing to the IP address for your exchange server

 

[Guest_imported]

I have also had a problem getting into to open exchange through NT RAS. I have no DNS Server internally and rely on LMHosts files for resolving addresses, how ever i have found that if i log onto my computer with no form of active network connection (Ethernet or Dialup) the lmhosts file does not create the routing cache. I do not claim to be an expert on TCP/IP, but if i connect to the authenticating server then run the NBTSTAT -R prior to loading Outlook i get a successful connection everytime. I have used this method sucessfully for serveral mobile users using NT RAS. I cannot vouch for its success using VPN but it may be worth a try.

 

[Guest_imported]

I had a simular problem. I used he VPN client's MTU utility to reduce the packet size to 1400. Now it works perfect every time.

 

[Guest_imported]

Have the same prolem here, the strange thing is , we have 2 exchange servers, and from one domain over VPN I can open the others calendars, but from the other domain over the VPN , it doesn't work! All the rights are the same, so I don't have a clue anymore?
Did you have a solution that worked?
let me know if possible on koendeheldt@NOSPAM.footonline.be

 

[translux]

Just an update
The solution was really very simple and a silly mistake on my part.
lirwin suggestion of mapping the private IP address was it.
I just searched for my hosts file and added an entry.
It now works fine.