desired configuration

[RP]

Hi all, firstly let me see that I am newbie when it comes to Exchange and
Outlook. Here is my current email setup:-

1. Mdaemon Email server running pop/smtp/http services hosted at data
center.
2. 3 office locations in different cities with broadband access in workgroup
environment.
3. Several home offices with broadband access.

Everything is working fine if the current environment. We are in the process
of moving the main location to a new office building and are exploring
setting up an SBS2003 environment at that main location. Here are some of my
questions:

1. Inspite of reading everywhere that it is recommended to use the Internet
Email features of Exchange I am still reserved about setting it up that way.
Here are my reasons in order of importance:

a. Internet Connection not reliable. We have cable modem service at the
main location where we propose to install the SBS2003. Inspite of having
static ip service the service is notorious for going down. I would not want
our main email service to be down when this happens.
b. No doubt we can get reliable internet connectivity, but cost is the
limiting factor at this time.
c. We are relatively happy with the features of Mdaemon. Multiple
domains easy setup, content/spam filtering, mail forwarding, auto replies at
the server level etc. etc.

2. So keeping #1 in mind above, I would still like the main location users
to share calendars, contacts, address lists, tasks etc.

3. I have tried the POP3 connector that comes with SBS2003, but the poll
interval is too long. 15 mins. Plus if I turn that on, users would need to
start connecting to the SBS server either using OUtlook or over http via
OWA. Again connectivity concern there.

4. The way I see it, I would simply have the users at the main location
setup another Exchange account in Outlook and have the use it in conjuction
with the POP3 account. But everywhere I read no one recommends this setup
saying there are issues.

Considering I want to do #4 above a). will it work? b). What is the best way
to set it up?

i. Have them create a new mail profile
ii. Add the exchange account to the new profile.
iii. Add the pop3 account and have it deliver email to which folders? The
exchange mailbox? A seperate .pst file?
iv. Set this new profile as the default profile.

Any help and guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Much thanks in advance.
Confucious.

 

[RP]

Mark, thanks for your reply. Unfortunately the area the main office is in we
have limited isp options unless we pay extra $$. We are with the biggest
carrier available in that area. aka Cox. When the service is up it works
great! 3mbps download rates. The only issue is them going down. It happens
at least twice a month and when it does go down it is for a minimum of 2+
hours. Which equates to a lot of lost email! Considering I want to set it up
with an external pop/smtp email server (our current one), can I maintain 2
email accounts - 1 exchange and 1 pop in the same Outlook profile?

thanks so much

 

[Mark Arnold [MVP]]

See In Line....

Hi all, firstly let me see that I am newbie when it comes to Exchange and
Outlook. Here is my current email setup:-

1. Mdaemon Email server running pop/smtp/http services hosted at data
center.
2. 3 office locations in different cities with broadband access in workgroup
environment.
3. Several home offices with broadband access.

Everything is working fine if the current environment. We are in the process
of moving the main location to a new office building and are exploring
setting up an SBS2003 environment at that main location. Here are some of my
questions:

1. Inspite of reading everywhere that it is recommended to use the Internet
Email features of Exchange I am still reserved about setting it up that way.
Here are my reasons in order of importance:


a. Internet Connection not reliable. We have cable modem service at the
main location where we propose to install the SBS2003. Inspite of having
static ip service the service is notorious for going down. I would not want
our main email service to be down when this happens.

Cable modem service should be fine. If it's not, then no amount of
work you do on your systems or with your service will help. My cable
modem hasn't noticably gone down in longer than I care to remember.

b. No doubt we can get reliable internet connectivity, but cost is the
limiting factor at this time.

No, the comedians that seem to run your telco/isp seem to be the
limiting factor.

c. We are relatively happy with the features of Mdaemon. Multiple
domains easy setup, content/spam filtering, mail forwarding, auto replies at
the server level etc. etc.

2. So keeping #1 in mind above, I would still like the main location users
to share calendars, contacts, address lists, tasks etc.

3. I have tried the POP3 connector that comes with SBS2003, but the poll
interval is too long. 15 mins. Plus if I turn that on, users would need to
start connecting to the SBS server either using OUtlook or over http via
OWA. Again connectivity concern there.

You have a static IP address. Change the DNS so that your server takes
delivery of all mail directly and don't use the POP3 connector.

4. The way I see it, I would simply have the users at the main location
setup another Exchange account in Outlook and have the use it in conjuction
with the POP3 account. But everywhere I read no one recommends this setup
saying there are issues.

Do like I said in 3.
Set accounts on SBS for all the users.
Use OWA or POP or IMAP to collect the mail.
For offices that are remote and can be connected via, say an Internet
based VPN use Outlook 2003 and RPC over HTTPS.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;833401

Considering I want to do #4 above a). will it work? b). What is the best way
to set it up?

i. Have them create a new mail profile
ii. Add the exchange account to the new profile.
iii. Add the pop3 account and have it deliver email to which folders? The
exchange mailbox? A seperate .pst file?
iv. Set this new profile as the default profile.

Any help and guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Much thanks in advance.
Confucious.

Mark Arnold MCSA MCSE+M MVP, (e-mail address removed)
FAQ: http://www.swinc.com/resource/exchange.htm &
http:http://www.swinc.com/resource/e2kfaq.htm

 

[Mark Arnold [MVP]]

You can maintain an Exchange MAPI profile and also a POP account using
Outlook XP and 2003.
Since you're a bit constrained as to ISPs you should just ditch the
POP3 thing. It's irrelevant what protocol you use if the damn link
isn't up and it would be more of an admin headache to you to think
about maintaining an exchange and a pop account. For all you know the
links from the remote sites into the ISP might be down at the same
time as the link from you to the ISP. In that case it would be
irrelevant what protocol you'd be using.

Mark, thanks for your reply. Unfortunately the area the main office is in we
have limited isp options unless we pay extra $$. We are with the biggest
carrier available in that area. aka Cox. When the service is up it works
great! 3mbps download rates. The only issue is them going down. It happens
at least twice a month and when it does go down it is for a minimum of 2+
hours. Which equates to a lot of lost email! Considering I want to set it up
with an external pop/smtp email server (our current one), can I maintain 2
email accounts - 1 exchange and 1 pop in the same Outlook profile?

thanks so much

Mark Arnold MCSA MCSE+M MVP, (e-mail address removed)
FAQ: http://www.swinc.com/resource/exchange.htm &
http:http://www.swinc.com/resource/e2kfaq.htm