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Thread: Sync with exchange server remotely

  1. #1
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    Sync with exchange server remotely

    Ive had a few users enquire about setting up a vpn in order for them to access email, appointments, contacts, etc. while at home.
    Our users have access to owa but theyre still complaining about not being able to use outlook as if they were in the office.

    Ive looked into setting up a vpn for this but found it to be not worth the time for this handful of users.

    Ive looked at Cached Exchange Mode and think this could be an option but could anyone suggest anything that could work in realtime to keep my users happy?

    Thanks in advance

  2. #2
    AOs Resident Troll
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    Whats wrong with OWA....???

    If they all are using XP at the office...you can set up remote desktop...then they can connect to thier desktops, applications and files etc

    AFAIK Outlook 2003 defaults to cached mode...where it stores a copy of the mailbox locally...encase loss of connection with the exchange...

    Users synching over a vpn...could be a nightmare...depending on the size of the mailboxes

    MLF
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  3. #3
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    Thats what i asked?
    We want to use outlook was the reply.

    Well saying they dont have to setup/manage the vpn...

  4. #4
    AO übergeek phishphreek's Avatar
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    What version of exchange are you using? Which version of Outlook are you using?

    I just installed exchange 2007 and the OWA looks and works damn close to the outlook client. Actually, for the past several days, I've only used the OWA client instead of Outlook.

    m$ is also touting exchange 2007 as a replacement for VPN for users who just want access to email and files. You can setup managed folders so they can access files from the OWA client too.

    If the user really wants to use their outlook client and you don't want to setup a VPN, then what about RPC over HTTP(s)? Or, in Exchange 2007, they are calling it "outlook anywhere".
    Last edited by phishphreek; April 17th, 2007 at 12:17 AM.
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  5. #5
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    Exchange 2003 and Outlook 2003.
    RPC over HTTP looks a more viable option, ill look into this further.

    Thanks for the advice

  6. #6
    AO übergeek phishphreek's Avatar
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    r3b00t: Keep in mind that RPC over HTTP(S) requires them to have Outlook (in your case 2003) installed on the user's home PC. This could get quite expensive if they don't already have it or you are required to provide them Outlook. How many users are you expecting to take advantage of this?

    If it is only one or two and they are not top brass... get your supervisor/boss involved and tell them to suck it up and use OWA. "Because we want to use Outlook." seems a bit childish. They didn't mention any specific features that limit their ability to work from home... so tell them "You ARE using Outlook.... Outlook Web Access."

    If they are persistant and you must provide access, detail how much work is required and turn it into numbers. Take into consideration the time it takes to learn, plan/design, secure, implement and manage. Detail new hardware and licensing required. If the cost to implement is too high, or there is really no benefit... then mgt will turn it down. Then they are the bad guy, and not you.

    Remember, you can't keep everyone happy all the time. I've learned over the years that you just have to say no to some things. This might just be one of those things...

    We don't provide access to our employees outside the office at all. At this time, there is really no reason. There are very few people who have VPN access. IT and upper management. IT because a lot of what we have to do has to be done after business hours to prevent too much interuption to the users. Upper management because they are upper management.

    We're going to be providing VPN access in the next year or so to one or two more groups, but that is still up in the air. Up until this point, they haven't NEEDED it, they just want it.
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  7. #7
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    All the users in question (approx 6) will be using their company laptops with Outlook installed, so no additional licenses are involved but ive decided that the feckers can just owa, ive enough other things to be doing

    Thanks for the input guys

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