OL2001: How to Troubleshoot Connection Issues to the Exchange Server (298781)

MORE INFORMATION

Outlook 2001 for Mac is a dedicated client for messaging and collaboration in an Exchange Server environment. When you encounter difficulty connecting, verify that the server is online and available. You should consult your network administrator for server status and to verify the settings for your Outlook profile.

Error Messages

When you try to connect to the Exchange Server, you may receive the following error message:

How to Configure Open Transport TCP/IP for Proper DNS

Most connectivity problems with Outlook 2001 for Mac in an Exchange Server messaging enterprise are related to Domain Naming Service (DNS) configurations. Unlike a Microsoft Windows-based computer, the Open Transport Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) stack on the Apple Macintosh does not include the necessary utilities to verify current network settings. For information about third-party utilities that can perform most of the necessary test functions, see the "References" section of this article. To configure TCP/IP, it is necessary to ascertain the appropriate settings for your network. If a Windows computer is available on your network, you can determine the settings using the following methods as appropriate:

• On a Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 or Microsoft Windows 2000 computer, open a command prompt, and then type Ipconfig /all. -or-
  
  
• On a Microsoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows 98 computer, click Start, point to Run, type Winipcfg in the Open box, and then click More Information.

Locate and record the following settings:

• DNS Suffix Search List
• IP Address of the Primary and Secondary DNS servers

Use the following steps to configure the Apple Macintosh Open Transport TCP/IP settings:

1. On the Apple menu, click Control Panel, and then click TCP/IP.
2. On the Edit menu, click User Mode.
3. In User Mode, click Advanced.
4. In the Name Server Address box, type the primary and secondary IP addresses of your DNS servers.
5. In the Additional Search Domains box, type in your DNS Suffix.
6. Click the close box in the TCP/IP window, and then click Save to retain the settings.
7. Restart the computer.

Test the TCP/IP connectivity by using on of the utilities that are listed in the "Network Test Utilities for the Macintosh" section. If you receive a PING reply from the Exchange Server, start Outlook 2001 for Mac and create a new profile to test the settings.

Note When you use a computer with Mac OS X with Classic components, but OS 9 is not installed, you may not be able to add a host file by using the TCP/IP control panel.

To add a host file to Classic applications (for example, Outlook 2001), follow these steps:

1. Use BBEdit, or in Classic use Simple Text, to create a new text document.
2. Create the host file using the information provided in this article.
   
   Note Make sure that the file is named "hosts" (without quotation marks).
3. Save the "hosts" file in the Preferences folder.
   
   Note The Preferences folder is located inside the folder named System Folder.
4. Restart Classic from System Preferences.

How to Configure an Open Transport TCP/IP with a HOSTS File

If you cannot connect to the Microsoft Exchange Server by using the steps in the "How to Configure Open Transport TCP/IP for Proper DNS" section of this article, it may be necessary to configure a HOSTS file to facilitate DNS lookup on the network. In large organizations, the HOSTS file should be temporary because Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) address leases can expire frequently.

Use the following steps to configure a local HOSTS file:

1. Using SimpleText or another text editor, create a HOSTS file by using the following format:

   Exchange server name CNAME IP domain name.
   IP domain name. A corresponding IP address

   For example:

   Mail1 CNAME Mail1.Mycompany.com.
   Mail1.Mycompany.com. A 123.45.67.89

   Verify that there are spaces between each of the HOSTS file elements.
2. Save the file with the name, HOSTS. Be careful not to add an extension and make sure that the file is saved as text. This file should be saved in the System Folder.
3. On the Apple menu, click Control Panels, and then click TCP/IP.
4. On the Edit menu, click User Mode, and then click Advanced.
5. Click Select Hosts File, click your HOSTS file in the System Folder, and then click Open.
6. Close the TCP/IP window, and then click Save when you are prompted to save changes.
7. Restart the computer.

Test the TCP/IP connectivity by using one of the utilities that are listed in the "Network Test Utilities for the Macintosh" section. If you receive a PING reply from the Microsoft Exchange Server, start Outlook and create a new profile to test the settings.

For additional information about how to use HOSTS files in an Exchange environment, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: For more information on the use of HOSTS files with Open Transport TCP/IP, see the following article in the Apple Technical Information Library: