Checking email remotely

[EST7745]

I'd like to know what my options are as far as having users check their email from outside of the building. Currently we just change the Hosts files to point to the correct IP Address. I'd like to do something a little more secure....but something that is rather simple to implement and use.

 

[sparkyputerguy]

What do you currently use? Outlook Clients on laptops or their home computers? Or do you use Outlook Web Access (OWA)?

We currently use OWA over SSL (https) so that users have to authenticate to the domain before they can even hit their mailbox. Also, there's encryption- which is a bonus.

There are good solutions for each option, so let us know which works best for you and we can go from there!

 

[EST7745]

It will be on mostly laptops using outlook. However, another thing we want to do is possibly have anyone check their email from any computer...not just a computer with outlook installed on it

 

[sparkyputerguy]

Then I would definitely look into OWA. It allows users to check email from pretty much any web browser. We're running Exchange 5.5- I hear that there's more functionality in 2000, and the upcoming release of 2003 is going to be even better.

The especially nice thing about OWA is that it reduces the need for people to dial into your network, if that's what you currently do.

Here's a link to MS for planning OWA in Exchange 2000:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/tr...hange2000/proddocs/articles/e2kowa/E2KOWA.ASP

Good luck!

 

[jonarden]

EST7745, another useful link which has info on OWA setup and possible issues is

http://www.slipstick.com/exs/owa.htm

 

[EST7745]

I'm curious about OWA and it's compatibility with an NT 4.0 box with Exchange 5.5 loaded. Is it possible to run OWA on this type of box anymore?

 

[jonarden]

EST7745 Yes, I have run OWA on NT 4.0 with Exchange 5.5 SP 4 in an NT domain.

 

[EST7745]

OK...and one final question...does anyone have the specifics on what this process involves....(setting up OWA)? I've looked on microsoft.com and can't find a whole lot....there's a shocker!! Thanks!!

 

[jonarden]

The slipstick link I noted earlier:

http://www.slipstick.com/exs/owa.htm

also has this non-MS link which you may find useful:

http://www.swinc.com/resource/exch_faq_appxg.htm