Outlook/Exchange Mystery

I am looking to connect my outlook 2003 to 2008 small business server. The problem is that I want to do this without joining the domain in the standard way (don't ask why)...so I somehow need to log into the domain, without changing my current workgroup settings..I have seen this done and work successfully on our old server (Exchange 2003)...however, the person that implemented the workaround, has forgotten how he did it...I have asked this question in other forums, and the only answer I could get, was that I just need to join the domain in the traditional way...so let's just assume that I can't, and that it is possible...

I have tried looking in the registry, and changing the Current User > Software > Microsoft > Exchange > DomainName & UserName to reflect the appropriate information...also have considered that maybe I need an entry for the domain in my HOSTS file? Is there something that needs to be set up on the server side? I don't know for sure, but it looks like on the client side,he might have created an additional user, that in addition to belonging to the Administrator group, is listed as a Debuggin User?....really just grasping at straws here...

any suggestions or help would be most appreciated..

Thank you

 

If all you want to do is use Outlook without being on the domain, its possible if you have outlook web access set up on your exchange server.

To set up outlook to use your owa web address:
-Go into outlook and click tools
-account settings
-data files tab
-double click your mail box
-connection tab
-check the outlook anywhere - Connect to MS exchange using HTTP box
-click exchange proxy settings
-type in the OWA web address where it says "Use this URL to connect to my proxy server for exchange"

If you use SSL with OWA, you can leave settings as default. otherwise click the drop down box at the bottom of that window and change authentication to Basic. This will use http instead of https.

Each time you open Outlook, you will have to authenticate, but you dont have to be connected to the domain.

 

How do you want to connect to the Exchange server? King Steve has given you one way OWA (HTTP). There is also Exchange, POP3 and IMAP. Do you want to connect to the Exchange server from the same LAN or through the Internet? What email protocols are enabled on the Exchange server?

Exchange protocol you already know about.
POP3 downloads all of your emails to a PST file on your local system.
IMAP works similar to the Exchange protocol by keeping your email on the server and synchronizing with your Outlook client. With IMAP you can share your calendar and communicate your free and busy to the server.

 

OWA is "Outlook Web Access" & really doesn't apply to what he wants (no offense)

In Outlook, you'll want to configure it as a POP3 account You'll need to enter the incoming & outgoing server (They very well may be the same depending on how the Exchange server is setup) when you put in your username enter the domain name\username & your domain password. Also ask if the outgoing server requires authentication, if it does, enter that under the "more settings" button on the "outgoing server" tab.

 

sorry jc we were replying at the same time

 

No problemo!

 

I know what owa is sam. how does that not apply to what he wants? hes asking how to use outlook without connecting to a domain. using owa in outlook is one way of doing that.

 

Firstly, thank you all for the responses..

King Steve - this sounds like what might have been in effect before..but it sounds like your step-by-step is for Outlook 2007?
Can I do the same thing in 2003? (running on Windows 2000)
Any special instructions for setting up the mailbox? I would presume that I would have to set it up as an exchange account, and just not worry about the mailbox name resolution? With the previous incarnation of this fix, when you opened Outlook, it would pop up a profile selection window that had the username for the domain already populated, and the user would have to enter her password. I don't know if that helps or not?

jconstan - I would like to connect via Exchange, so that we can take advantage of the calendar and contact sharing.

Thank you again..

 

youre able to do this in outlook 2003 a little differently. im using all xp pro though. i would think it would work just the same when using win 2000.

-tools
-email accounts
-view or change existing email account
-double click the mailbox
-more settings
-connection tab
-Then this is the same as in 2007.


Now again, this will only work if you have OWA set up on your exchange server, and you have an exchange mailbox already. I would go this route, but if you cant you could set up a pop3 or imap virtual server in exchange if you have the access like jconstan and sam said.
Personally, id set up owa if you dont have it set up already. extremely convenient if you have people working out of office and want to get their email anywhere.


(should also get some updated software bro. windows 2000?)

 

as for setting up the mailbox, you mean on exchange? they will have to have a mailbox and domain account already set up before using outlook. if youre the IT person, youll have to do that in exchange.

 

KingSteve...sorry for the sloppy terminology...my mailbox on the server is up and running, and I can access it just fine viewing the OWA via a browser...what I should have said was the Outlook E-Mail account...should it be configured just like a standard Exchange account? I access the OWA in the browser using the secure HTTP 'mail.domain.com'...so should I enter this in the account setup as such, or maybe 'servername.domain.com'? The other issue, is that when I navigate to the connections tab, all I see are three radio buttons - Connect using LAN, Connect using Phone Line, Connect using IE's 3rd party dialer...I chose the last of these options, and after exiting and restarting Outlook, I now get a window in which the domain is populated, the username is populated, and is prompting for a password...is there perhaps a plug-in or install component for Outlook that I am missing?...

Yeah..2000...I agree, but unfortunately, upgrading is not an option...these are backoffice POS terminals that need to interface with the software that runs our front-end cash register (Grocery Store)...which is why we can't upgrade beyond 2000 as of yet, beyond 2003 for the office suite, and can't just join the domain like everyone else....sigh...

I feel like we're almost there, and I am really grateful for the help..

 

I only had to do this with outlook 2007, so it might be a little different. What i had to do was connect to the network(not domain). and in control panel, clicked mail, and added the standard exchange account from there and enter server settings in manually(server name, email account name and password). i was able to check for the user name and authenticate. outlook then created the data file and load your email account. once it loads all your email, then you can follow that process to use the OWA URL to connect in outlook.

im going to give this a try in 2003 too. like i say, it might be a little different but should all be there.



And believe me. I know how you feel about the outdated equipment.

 

KingSteve - Well, I found the solution that I was looking for, and it was super simple....

I added the line:

192.168.1.1 servername

to my windows hosts file (c:\winnnt\system32\drivers\etc), and voila!

I can connect to the domain and resolve the mailbox name no problem....

Thank you for all of your help, man....I really appreciate it....