Problem with Outlook 2001 profiles connecting to Exchange Server

[czampa]

I am having a problem with the Outlook Settings profile working consistently on a Mac Outlook 2001 client connecting to an Exchange server. I can setup an account in the Outlook Settings app using IP address of the exchange server and the mailbox ID, select Test and the account works fine. I then attempt to start Outlook 2001 and the connection times out trying to locate the Exchange server. When I look at the Outlook Settings profile, the IP address automatically resolves to the servername. I will delete the profile and set it up each time I start MS Outlook. It works once, but when I try to connect the next day, I need to remove and rebuild the profile. These steps have been too difficult for my client and I don't think they should have to operate in this manner. I did some research and I am told to build a hosts file and map to it in the Mac Network settings. On OS 9.1 and newer, I am not sure where I can tell the mac to reference the host file. Even if I get to the point where I can reference a host file, I am not confident that this will fix my problem. Does anybody have some feedback??

 

[rrsub]

All Exchange clients need to resolve by name only. It is a WINS thing and a M$ proprietary thingie. Exchange 2000 works if the Mac client is using AD DNS.

A client outside of the network will HAVE to have a hosts file. Since the MAC TCP/IP stack doesn't allow WINS, it's your only choice.

I don't remember the syntax to create one and I do remember that the MAC host file was unconventional. I also don't remember where to put it but there were plenty of help sites on GOOGLE that showed me.