Office Live 365 – We Are Now Online

Okay, so five minutes after hitting the post button in Windows Live Writer our SharePoint site came online.

• MPECS Inc. Blog: Office 365 Beta – Go Live Time Here

Now that DNS has had a chance to propagate for our new domain we are trying to get our Outlook connected.

Step 1 – Get that info in:

Step 2 – Authenticate:

Step 3 – We are connected:

Step 4 – Outlook wants to restart:

Step 5 – Outlook shows the mailbox:

Now, let’s test to see just how the system will handle spam:

• E-mail: PhilipElder@hostedmpecs.ca

With the above address being integrated into my Outlook, please feel free to e-mail me there however with Microsoft announcing that the O365 service is going live in a few days there is no guarantee on how long this beta based mailbox stays alive.

We will not pay for this service as we are already properly licensed in-house and utilize OWN’s Hosted Exchange for our client’s needs as well as our own.

So, let’s see just how long this lasts! :)

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*Our original iMac was stolen (previous blog post). We now have a new MacBook Pro courtesy of Vlad Mazek, owner of OWN.

Windows Live Writer

Outlook 2010 Primary Mailbox Disconnected While Remote?

This was a bit of a puzzle at first:

Outlook was prompting for credentials for the two add-in mailboxes but not for the primary mailbox.

It took a few minutes of working through the settings to figure out that there was one very important thing missed during the initial setup of this mailbox:

The Connect to Microsoft Exchange using HTTP was not enabled and our RPC/HTTPS Outlook Anywhere settings were not in place!

Oops!

Fortunately, the missed setting was on the laptop I am working on, but if it belonged to a client that was trying to use their new laptop setup there could have been a frustrated phone call. 

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*Our original iMac was stolen (previous blog post). We now have a new MacBook Pro courtesy of Vlad Mazek, owner of OWN.

Windows Live Writer

Outlook 2010 – Adding An Additional Exchange Mailbox And It Sorts To The Main Mailbox!

We have a number of different Exchange based accounts that we use for the various needs of our company.

When it came to e-mail, we would always set up a POP3 connection to grab e-mail from the various e-mail related accounts.

Now that we can set up those Exchange mailboxes within Outlook 2010, this is how we don’t go about it:

1. Click on the File tab button.
   • 
2. Click on Account Settings.
   • 
3. Click on Account Settings that shows up on the menu.
4. Click on the New button in the E-mail Accounts window.
   • 
5. In the dialogue box that comes up, we are going to choose the Manually configure server settings option.
   • 
6. Select Microsoft Exchange.
   • 
7. And, this is why we do not go about configuring an Exchange account from within Outlook 2010:
   • 

Okay, so we have learned that we cannot configure an additional Exchange account from within Outlook.

This is how we set up an additional Exchange account:

1. Close Outlook 2010.
2. Open the Control Panel.
3. Switch the View by: to an Icon view.
4. Click on the Mail  or Mail (32-bit) icon.
•  
5. Click on the E-mail Accounts button.
•  
6. Click the New button.
•  
7. Click the Manually configure server . . . option and click Next.
•  
8. Choose the Microsoft Exchange option and click Next.
•  
9. Set the Exchange server and user name in place.
• 
10. Click the Check Name button to verify the settings.
• Make sure to click the More Settings button once the settings are correct and input the Outlook Anywhere settings under the Connections tab.
11. Click Finish.

The new account will now be in the E-mail Accounts window:

Once we open Outlook and authenticate for the new account, we will have:

BTW, rules can be created in the secondary Exchange mailboxes to move content into the primary Exchange mailbox where that content has a dedicated folder.

So, no more fancy POP3 configurations for gathering e-mail from various mailboxes into certain folders!

This feature alone is worth its weight in gold!

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*Our original iMac was stolen (previous blog post). We now have a new MacBook Pro courtesy of Vlad Mazek, owner of OWN.

Windows Live Writer

SBS 2008 Remote Web Workplace Plus Its URL DNS Requirements

Perhaps one of the more common questions seen on various forums are around the Remote Web Workplace or accessing the SBS server domain via some sort of remote access method.

The simplest out of the box way to access the SBS Domain is via the Remote Web Workplace.

The portal was put in place for SBS 2003 and was and is the Killer App for SBS and small business.

When the user first hits the SBS 2008 RWW site, they will see the following:

A username and password request with the requisite visual cues indicating that the site is as secure as their banking site (third party trusted certificate installed).

As a side note, there is no reason to run with the SBS self-issued certificate anymore. The administration grief involved with maintaining remote connectivity via Windows Mobile, Windows desktop OSs and Outlook is too costly in the long run. A GoDaddy certificate is absolutely inexpensive to purchase and install.

Sean Daniel even has a great blog post on how to install that GD certificate:

• SeanDaniel.com: Installing a GoDaddy Standard SSL Certificate on SBS 2008.

So, we have our brand new SBS 2008 (setup checklist post) or migrated SBS 2008 (Our Migration Guide) ready to fly into production.

One of the most critical steps to complete before any new or migrated server is put into production is the following:

1. The client’s Web domain registrar is sourced and the logon information for managing that domain is acquired.
2. The client’s Web domain host is sourced and the logon information for their Control Panel or other such domain details management is discovered.
3. The URL for the Remote Web Workplace on SBS 2008 is settled on with the client.
4. The DNS A record pointing to the SBS 2008’s gateway ISP IP is set in place in the domain hosting DNS management console or Control Panel.

Out of the box, SBS 2008 sets the following domain during the Internet Address Wizard (using one of our domains as an example):

• remote.sbshosting.ca

However, during the Internet Address Wizard we can click on the Advanced link and change the prefix “remote” to whatever we need such as “mail” or “smtp” if the DNS A already exists for the client’s external IP address.

Okay, so we have our client’s domain hosting all figured out, the next step is to take note of the various URLs used to access the various SBS server services using one of our own domains as an example:

• Remote Web Workplace Portal
• https://remote.sbshosting.ca/remote
• Logon: Username and Pass Phrase.
• Outlook Web Access (Exchange)
• https://remote.sbshosting.ca/owa
• Logon: Username and Pass Phrase.
• Outlook Anywhere (Outlook to Exchange RPC/HTTPS)
• https://remote.sbshosting.ca
• Wildcard certificate setting: msstd:*.sbshosting.ca
• Logon: SBSDomain\Username and Pass Phrase.
• Outlook Mobile Access
• remote.sbshosting.ca
• Logon: Username and Pass Phrase.
• Terminal Services Gateway in RDC 6.x+
• remote.sbshosting.ca
• Logon: SBSDomain\Username and Pass Phrase.
• Companyweb direct access
• https://remote.sbshosting.ca:987/
• Logon: \Username and Pass Phrase (previous blog post)
• SharePoint configured site collections:
• https://remote.sbshosting.ca:987/SiteName/
• Logon: \Username and Pass Phrase (previous blog post)

The RWW portal once logged in looks like:

For most users, the simplest way to gain access to their remotely accessible resources is to start in one spot. That is the RWW.

• Outlook Web Access
• Remote Desktop connection with the list of computers restricted to the user presented. No computers allowed? Then no list at all.
• Companyweb SharePoint site link.
• The ability to manage the additional links listed under the three standard RWW buttons.
• The user can change their pass phrase in RWW or Outlook Web Access.

For those that are a bit more advanced in their abilities to get around SBS remote access they can bookmark or save shortcuts for the various needs.

From there, we can explore the Office 2007 and SharePoint integration then get really into some of the efficiencies presented with both plus Windows 7 (previous blog post).

In our experience, once the business owner has seen the Remote Web Workplace and all of its remote access goodness in action SBS 2008 becomes a very easy sell.

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac! (previous blog post)

Windows Live Writer

Cannot start Microsoft Office Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window.

There are two profiles on the Windows 7 RC laptop we are using at home, Monique’s and my own.

Monique’s Outlook is still humming along after Office 2007 SP2 while mine took a turn for the worst:

Microsoft Office Outlook

Cannot start Microsoft office Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window.

There was nothing relevant that came up in our searches for a solution other than a suggestion to rebuild the local Outlook Profile.

To do that, delete the profile in the Mail properties that is available in the Control Panel in x86 (32bit) versions of Win7 or behind the Legacy 32bit Control Panel Icons in x64 (64bit) versions of Win7. The exact name of the legacy icon in Win7 x64 slips the mind at the moment but it is there.

When recreating the profile and the connection to a remote Exchange server as is the case here make sure to not click the Check Name button until after the Outlook Anywhere settings for the RPC/HTTPS connection have been set. A credentials prompt will happen once the button is clicked.

All SBS Outlook Anywhere credential prompts are formatted:

• SBSDomain\FirstLast
• My very l0ng password!

It took several runs at getting the profile to stick, but once the Exchange credentials prompt seemingly took the server name and the username were underlined in the Exchange Server e-mail profile window as per the following screenshot:

Note that the Use Cached Exchange Mode is unchecked. That is what we needed to do to get things working. We enabled Cached Mode once things started to work.

One of the drawbacks to having to rebuild my profile is its size due to the volume of e-mail that I deal with.

UPDATE 2010-06-30: As Marek suggested in the comments section, the proper way to fix this is to run the following command:

• XP: Start –> Run –> Outlook /resetnavpane
• Vista/7: Start –> Outlook /resetnavpane

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac! (previous blog post)

Windows Live Writer

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Outlook 2007 Error – The account you added is not fully configured…

While setting up a remote Outlook 2007 for Outlook Anywhere connectivity with Exchange back at the main office, the Internet connection went down.

Normally, this would not present too much of a problem, but in this case the connection died just after applying the RPC/HTTPS settings in the Connection tab but before the authentication dialogue popped up.

The Outlook connection dialogue hung at that point. After forcing a close, we tried to run the set up procedure again, but we would receive the following error as soon as we clicked on the More Settings button:

Microsoft Office Outlook

The account you added is not fully configured. It might not work properly until re-configured correctly.

A bit of searching for the specific error turned up the following:

• MS KB252304: Error message when you start Outlook: "Unable to open the Outlook window," "No profile has been created," or "The list of Profiles cannot be loaded"

While the article does not have the above specific error, when we tried to fire Outlook up we did get one of the error messages contained in the KB article when Outlook was trying to start.

Method 2 in the KB was the solution to our problem:

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
2. Locate one of the following registry keys, as appropriate for the version of Microsoft Windows that you are using:

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows Messaging Subsystem

3. Delete the Profiles key under the Windows Messaging (Subsystem) key.
   To do this, right-click Profiles, and then click Delete. Click Yes to confirm the deletion.
4. Exit Registry Editor, and then restart Outlook.

Once we deleted the above indicated registry key, we were not able to run the account creation process via the Mail icon due to the fact that there were no longer any Outlook profiles on the system.

There will be a prompt to create one:

Outlook Profile Created

Once created, we could go on to put the SBS server FQDN in the Exchange server properties along with the user name and subsequently the Outlook Anywhere settings and have the user authenticate.

Once authenticated, the SBS server name and the proper user name were underlined as they should be and we were able to complete the setup process.

The user could then open their Outlook, authenticate and begin caching their mailbox locally.

When connecting via Outlook Anywhere (RPC/HTTPS), the logon credentials should be formatted:

• SBSDomain\UserName
• My very l0ng p@ssw0rd!

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists
Co-Author: SBS 2008 Blueprint Book

*All Mac on SBS posts will not be written on a Mac until we replace our now missing iMac! (previous blog post)

Windows Live Writer

SBS 2008 - Companyweb + Outlook Anywhere = Smooth

This is just too kewl:

Companyweb and Outlook Anywhere

Take a look at the content in the Outlook Reading Pane. The highlighted document in the list above it is actually in the Companyweb\Shared Documents folder back in the office.

The edit to the Word document was accomplished by opening it through Outlook 2007 that is connected back to SBS via Outlook Anywhere (RPC/HTTPS). We opened it in Offline Mode, and edited the file while in Offline Mode. Keep in mind that if there will be a need to edit files in Offline Mode, they should be checked out for the duration of those offline edits.

Now that we are diving into SBS 2008 installs on a larger scale, supporting SBS 2008, and along with the writing of the SBS 2008 Blueprint book, there has been a need to discover as many of the "hidden" features SBS 2008 has to offer. Given the vast number of features in the product, many can remain "hidden" for years! ;)

Outlook 2007 plus the SBS 2008 Companyweb Internal Web site certainly demonstrates a very powerful reason to upgrade. Things operate very smoothly between them.

Time savings can be another reason to consider an upgrade for a small company especially when the cost for support runs over one hundred dollars per hour. When Office 2007 is installed on a workstation in an SBS 2008 network and Outlook is fired up for the first time, it picks up the user's setup via the server.

Yes, okay, Outlook 2003 does that too. But, Outlook 2007 actually goes one step further and picks up the Outlook Anywhere settings (RPC/HTTPS) and puts them in place for us. There is at least a couple minutes of time saved, one possible post Office install step the tech can no longer forget, and thus a support call that has been avoided. It is one less step on that setup checklist.

Further Reading:

• SharePoint and Outlook – The Perfect Link

Philip Elder
MPECS Inc.
Microsoft Small Business Specialists

*All Mac on SBS posts are posted on our in-house iMac via the Safari Web browser.