Instant Messaging Setup Problems

[dmanlam]

I am trying to set up our internal Exchange environment with Instant Messaging. I installed it long ago, when I installed the Exchange server, but we never "turned it on" for users. I recently enabled a couple of test users with IM via the Active Directory Exchange Tasks, but when I try to launch IM and sign in with my username@domainname.com, I get an error stating that "Signing in to MSFT Exchange IM failed because the service is temporarily unavailable.Try again later."
Do I need to reboot the Exchange server? I'm not sure what else to do. I just assumed that when I included IM in the initial installation, that the service would be there when I was ready to use. I have searched for Knowledgebase articles but nothing comes close (we don't use a Proxy server...that was the only article I found that was relatively pertinent, but didn't really apply). I have the latest Exchange IM client installed (downloaded from the MSFT Exchange web site).

Any help would be HUGELY appreciated. Thanks in advance....
Drew

 

[GenesisCraigM]

1. The messenger client uses the Internet Explorer proxy settings. Try setting Internet Explorer to bypass the proxy for your IM server's domain or host name.

2. Verify that you are logging in using username@imserver.domain.com

Good luck
Craig J Matthews
System Administrator, Genesis Group
craigm@genesisgroup.com

 

[dmanlam]

Thanks Craig,
It was #2 that was killing me. I was trying to log people into the domain (user1@abccompany.com)....when actually, it was simply the Exchg server (user1@exchgsrv). I imagine the FQ name of exchgsrv.domain.com would probably work, too. Anyway, thanks for your post. I do have two additional questions, but come to think of it, I'll put them in a separate post so others can see.

Thanks again!
Drew

 

[cuwynicu]

Hi guys,

I am having the exact same problem except the fix above did not work for me. I am in a remote office which has it's own DNS server and have installed Exchange Server 2000 on a seperate machine. I have installed the IM service on it and placed the proper entry in the forward lookup section nof our DNS server. I get the message saying the service is temporarily unavailable. My question is, does the IM service have to be started on our main mail server or can it work on any server on the network that has Exchange 2000 with the proper services installed. Also, if we have multiple DNS servers, as this is a remote office, does the DNS Lookup entry have to be on those also(i didnt think it did) Any help you can offer on this is appreciated.

Thanks,

Derrick J.