Mac Mail Issue and Exchange 2003 Password verification

[1BGR8]

Hi,

As a new user I am trying to connect Mac mail ver 1.1 to Exchange 2003 box but am having a problem verifying the username and password of the account I am trying to join to. The domain is entered correctly the port number is 143 and I am am using NTL to authenticate but the server will not accept the username and password even though these entries are spelt correctly and typed in the correct case.

We have around 120 users in total and around 80 users connecting via macs.

I appreciate this is a 2003 forum but surely this is where the experts are and if anyone can give us a solution to my problem here is the place to ask...

 

[markdmac]

Have you joined the MAC to the domain?

Here is a good thread on the subject:

http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/Macintosh/Q_20944427.html

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

 

[1BGR8]

Unfortunately the link appears to be broken - Why does the MAC need to be joined to the domain? I have entered the correct domain name to link to. All our Macs are added to our domain anyway.
The problem appears to lie in with the Exchange server not recognising the username and password all of which are typed in correctly.
Do I need to enable anything within Exchange 2003 to recognise a request from Mac Mail application?

 

[markdmac]

that link is good, you probably need to create a free account on Experts Exchange to view it.

The thread discusses some different MAC versions which could come into play for you. You may need to ensure all of your DNS server are configured with RDNS.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

 

[Zelandakh]

Mark - EE.com has gone fully pay now, no free subscriptions any more.

 

[markdmac]

Bummer on EE being full pay. Yet another reason why Tek-Tips Rules!

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

 

[1BGR8]

Hi Markdmac,

Thank you so much for your help - I am still unable to verify my account via mail to the exchange server. could I ask one other question though.

I have joined my mac to the domain successfully but I am having difficulty understanding why I need to do so. As I understand my problem lies with my user account verifiying to our exchange server. I am a AD user but with no cross reference for my AD user and my AD Mac computer account. I fail to see the connection between making my MAC a member of AD and my AD user account trying to access Exchange 2003. Surely as far as Exchange 2003 is concerned it is purely looking for a username and password to authenticate - which computer is irrelevant (or am I missing something) Could you elaborate on the connection between the two. I appreciate you help in this matter

 

[markdmac]

1BGR8,

Did you check to see if your DNS has RDNS entries?

The reason I have suggested making the MAC a domain member is so that it has a trusted connection to the domain.

When accessing Exchange you need to provide trusted credentials. There are different types/levels of authentication. Plain Text, NT Authentication, SSL. By default on a LAN Exchange uses NT Authentication. By joining the domain you help to setup that part of the authentication because logging into the domain establishes that trusted connection. There are slight differences to providing credentials to access the domain VS joining and logging INTO the domain.

Back to your problem, there are 2 things I suggest you look at.

1. Verify DNS is setup with RDNS. Verify the MAC is configured with the WIndows DNS Servers.

2. Try resetting the MAC users password in AD and have them try logging in with that new password. (I battled an issue similar to this once and that resolved the issue)

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

 

[7139]

I dont know about Mac mail but we had similar problems with Entourage and that has to be configured to so the exchange server name is your front end server and passwords in plain text.

 

[1BGR8]

Hi All,

We have verified that the DNS and RDNS entries are correct but still didn't work _ I will reset the User AD password and see if this has any impact.

We are currently using Entourage 2.6 on all MAC users and do not have any problems authenticating to our Exchange 2003 server - where we do have a problem is that Entourage has a time delay on mail delivery with users having large amounts of mail itmes in their mailboxes. The syncronisation takes longer to update. We are looking to install viable alternatives on our MAC users desktops.
Comment - Why did Microsoft not continue to develop Outlook on the Macintosh platform. It work beautifully on a PC. We have considered running bootcamp/paralax and other PC emulator solutions on the MAC desktop but this would be very expensive as an Outlook solution. ie cost of emulator/copy of Windows plus Outlook license plus having to support both technologies with MAC trained staff makes this solution remote.
If there are any other viable alternative please feel free to let me know

Thanks

 

[1BGR8]

Unfortunately no joy with password reset/change still cannot authenticate to Exchange server. Would a GFI firewall disrupt authentication? Can't see that it should seeing as the MAC is internal and authenicated to AD?

 

[markdmac]

1BGR8, If you have an Exchange CAL for your users that INCLUDES a free Outlook 2003 CAL.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

 

[Zelandakh]

Mark - Outlook 2003 doesn't work on a Mac and that's kind of the point. Outlook 2003 is a blindingly good app, Entourage is a bodge. Outlook 2001 for Mac used a MAPI connection, Entourage uses IMAP4, POP3 and WebDav.

OK, so the business model doesn't work as there are not that many Macs connecting to Exchange, but come on Microsoft - its not like you need the money.

 

[markdmac]

Hmm, I thought I saw a MAC Outlook 2003, but a quick visit to the MS web site confirmed what you have said.

Isn't there some software that lets you run a Windows Applicaiton on a MAC? Perhaps that would resolve the issue?

Or better yet, switch to PC.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

 

[markdmac]

I don't think the firewall should have any bearing on this Garreth.

I would verify that the MAC having the problem is at the same software revisions (OS and Entourage) as the machines without the problem.

I would also try a different user ID from that machine to fully determine if it is a problem with the user or not.

If that does not work, I'd suggest bagging it and go back to improving your Pac-Man score.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

 

[1BGR8]

Thank you Mark,

Unfortunately our all singing, all dancing (coffee making - I wish!!) firewall has actually been interogating packet requests to our internal exchange server for their validity. Unless it recognises their registered IP address it does not allow the packets through the firewall (rejects and flags). I have spoken to our internal firewall GOD and he is going to let my IP address through the firewall and hopefully that will cure our authenication issues.

I'll try to keep my PacMan score on hold until I get a resolution
Cheers

Gareth