Shared Address Book

[teknovision]

Hi all!

I would like to share an address book from SBS2003, whilst allowing users to edit this address book and use within Outlook.

Exchange 2003 came with SBS2003 however, I'm not too comfortable with Exchange as most of our users are mobile and I would like them to be able to retrieve their mail without being dependent on Exchange. Its also another support layer which I'm not too comfortable with.

Any ideas would be muchly appreciated?

Cheers,

./p

 

[markdmac]

First advice would be to keep Exchange and learn more about what you have at your fingertips.

SBS offers some really great features for accessing mail remotely.

1. You can have Outlook 2003 connect to Exchange over the Internet for your remote users. If their Outlook is configured in Cached mode they will always have a copy of their mail locally while still having a safe copy on the server that gets backed up.

2. Mobile users can also choose to use OWA to connect. I've done this on vacation on a tropical island from an Internet kiosk. Awesome feature!

3. You can share your contacts by making them a public folder. Asssign rights that allow everyone to add or modify the contacts to accomplish the goal you outline above.

Bottom line, you have the best solution already installed on your server. Learn how to administer Exchange, it isn't that hard and because it is so tightly integrated with AD there is little to no support burden.

I hope you find this post helpful. Please let me know if it was.

Regards,

Mark

 

[teknovision]

Thanks Mark! So, Exchange is my only option, there is no other way to maintain an address book other than by installing Exchange?

 

[markdmac]

There may be some 3rd party tool out there, but you would be seriously limiting your options.

You seem to be really resistant to using Exchange. It is a great product and you already own it, so why look further?

I hope you find this post helpful. Please let me know if it was.

Regards,

Mark

 

[teknovision]

Thanks again Mark! I'm really worried about disrupting the peace we've had so far as we have many other projects on the go, is there a way that I can use the shared address book functionality only without using POP3 etc features?

Anyway, I'm installing Exchange as we speak so, I'll have a go at the very least and see what it has to offer.. .

Hesitant Phil

 

[markdmac]

Phil,

Just want to make sure you are clear that you do NOT have to use POP3 in order to support remote users. As stated above, the combination of Outlook 2003 with Exchange 2003 running on Windows 2003 gives you the ablility to run Outlook to Exchange over HTTP.

Your other options are to use OWA (Outlook Web Access) using IE. And your final option would be to use POP.

I hope you find this post helpful. Please let me know if it was.

Regards,

Mark