OL 2003 and Exchange 5.5 - server resolution

I'm setting up a new workstation w/ Office 2003 and having problems
connecting to our exchange server (5.5)
When setting up the account in OL, it changes to name of the server to our
external SMTP address name
'mail.mullenlaw.com' - then it doesn't work.

When trying to connect, I control right-clicked the OL icon to check the
connection status and it indicated the server as a Directory (not mail).

Eventually (I walked away from it), it connected to our exchange server, but
it keeps losing the connection.
In the connection status window it even changed the server to our internal
name (which I'd prefer) but it ends up with 2 mail connections and 2
directory connections and continues to lose it's connection.

What's up with this? Is there a DNS problem resolving our internal name?
Thanks,
Paul

Sounds like a DNS problem to me. Do you have an internal DNS server? If
so, does your workstation's DNS settings (Start | Run | CMD | IPCONFIG /ALL)
show the ip address of your internal DNS server?


--
Aloha,

-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr

**I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for assistance.
Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!

"Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
news:uUps6xynDHA.1676@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> I'm setting up a new workstation w/ Office 2003 and having problems
> connecting to our exchange server (5.5)
> When setting up the account in OL, it changes to name of the server to our
> external SMTP address name
> 'mail.mullenlaw.com' - then it doesn't work.
>
> When trying to connect, I control right-clicked the OL icon to check the
> connection status and it indicated the server as a Directory (not mail).
>
> Eventually (I walked away from it), it connected to our exchange server,
but
> it keeps losing the connection.
> In the connection status window it even changed the server to our internal
> name (which I'd prefer) but it ends up with 2 mail connections and 2
> directory connections and continues to lose it's connection.
>
> What's up with this? Is there a DNS problem resolving our internal name?
> Thanks,
> Paul
>
>

Hi Ben,

No, we are not using an internal DNS server. We have been using WINS
internally (Is WINS out in 2003?)

We will be upgrading our NT4 servers to Server 2003 shortly.

Is a local DNS server required?

Paul

"Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote" <mvp@bogus.address> wrote in message
news:u0lpU7znDHA.3688@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> Sounds like a DNS problem to me. Do you have an internal DNS server? If
> so, does your workstation's DNS settings (Start | Run | CMD | IPCONFIG
/ALL)
> show the ip address of your internal DNS server?
>
>
> --
> Aloha,
>
> -Ben-
> Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
> http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr
>
> **I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for
assistance.
> Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!
>
> "Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
> news:uUps6xynDHA.1676@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> > I'm setting up a new workstation w/ Office 2003 and having problems
> > connecting to our exchange server (5.5)
> > When setting up the account in OL, it changes to name of the server to
our
> > external SMTP address name
> > 'mail.mullenlaw.com' - then it doesn't work.
> >
> > When trying to connect, I control right-clicked the OL icon to check the
> > connection status and it indicated the server as a Directory (not mail).
> >
> > Eventually (I walked away from it), it connected to our exchange server,
> but
> > it keeps losing the connection.
> > In the connection status window it even changed the server to our
internal
> > name (which I'd prefer) but it ends up with 2 mail connections and 2
> > directory connections and continues to lose it's connection.
> >
> > What's up with this? Is there a DNS problem resolving our internal
name?
> > Thanks,
> > Paul
> >
> >
>
>

WINS is still supported by going away to be replaced by Dynamic DNS. You
will want to have an internal DNS server sooner or later.

Until you get that going, however...you can probably work around this
problem by adding the name and IP address of your Exchange server to a HOSTS
file on your workstation. Do a Windows Search for "HOSTS" (no file
extension). It will probably be in something like
C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc.


--
Aloha,

-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr

**I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for assistance.
Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!


"Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
news:epA6CAjoDHA.2588@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Hi Ben,
>
> No, we are not using an internal DNS server. We have been using WINS
> internally (Is WINS out in 2003?)
>
> We will be upgrading our NT4 servers to Server 2003 shortly.
>
> Is a local DNS server required?
>
> Paul
>
> "Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote" <mvp@bogus.address> wrote in message
> news:u0lpU7znDHA.3688@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> > Sounds like a DNS problem to me. Do you have an internal DNS server?
If
> > so, does your workstation's DNS settings (Start | Run | CMD | IPCONFIG
> /ALL)
> > show the ip address of your internal DNS server?
> >
> >
> > --
> > Aloha,
> >
> > -Ben-
> > Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
> > http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr
> >
> > **I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for
> assistance.
> > Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!
> >
> > "Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
> > news:uUps6xynDHA.1676@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> > > I'm setting up a new workstation w/ Office 2003 and having problems
> > > connecting to our exchange server (5.5)
> > > When setting up the account in OL, it changes to name of the server to
> our
> > > external SMTP address name
> > > 'mail.mullenlaw.com' - then it doesn't work.
> > >
> > > When trying to connect, I control right-clicked the OL icon to check
the
> > > connection status and it indicated the server as a Directory (not
mail).
> > >
> > > Eventually (I walked away from it), it connected to our exchange
server,
> > but
> > > it keeps losing the connection.
> > > In the connection status window it even changed the server to our
> internal
> > > name (which I'd prefer) but it ends up with 2 mail connections and 2
> > > directory connections and continues to lose it's connection.
> > >
> > > What's up with this? Is there a DNS problem resolving our internal
> name?
> > > Thanks,
> > > Paul
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Thanks Ben...

I've added entries to HOSTS but it doesn't seem to matter....

Maybe it's a naming problem....

Our Exchange server is actually named 'MAIL' (not my idea). I can ping
'MAIL' from the workstation with OL2003 without any problems. In the
account setup it's still changing 'MAIL' which I type, to
'mail.mullenlaw.com'.

I'm confused as to exactly how or why it's doing this. Is OL doing a
discovery of our external IP address and doing a reverse DNS lookup?.

I have NO entries in WINS or HOSTS or LMHOSTS for mail.mullenlaw.com. The
exchange server knows it's 'mullenlaw.com' but does not know it's
mail.mullenlaw.com. The only place that exists is in external DNS servers.

Any ideas?

Paul

"Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote" <mvp@bogus.address> wrote in message
news:OLs6CKloDHA.2416@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> WINS is still supported by going away to be replaced by Dynamic DNS. You
> will want to have an internal DNS server sooner or later.
>
> Until you get that going, however...you can probably work around this
> problem by adding the name and IP address of your Exchange server to a
HOSTS
> file on your workstation. Do a Windows Search for "HOSTS" (no file
> extension). It will probably be in something like
> C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc.
>
>
> --
> Aloha,
>
> -Ben-
> Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
> http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr
>
> **I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for
assistance.
> Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!
>
>
> "Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
> news:epA6CAjoDHA.2588@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > Hi Ben,
> >
> > No, we are not using an internal DNS server. We have been using WINS
> > internally (Is WINS out in 2003?)
> >
> > We will be upgrading our NT4 servers to Server 2003 shortly.
> >
> > Is a local DNS server required?
> >
> > Paul
> >
> > "Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote" <mvp@bogus.address> wrote in message
> > news:u0lpU7znDHA.3688@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> > > Sounds like a DNS problem to me. Do you have an internal DNS server?
> If
> > > so, does your workstation's DNS settings (Start | Run | CMD | IPCONFIG
> > /ALL)
> > > show the ip address of your internal DNS server?
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Aloha,
> > >
> > > -Ben-
> > > Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
> > > http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr
> > >
> > > **I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for
> > assistance.
> > > Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!
> > >
> > > "Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
> > > news:uUps6xynDHA.1676@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> > > > I'm setting up a new workstation w/ Office 2003 and having problems
> > > > connecting to our exchange server (5.5)
> > > > When setting up the account in OL, it changes to name of the server
to
> > our
> > > > external SMTP address name
> > > > 'mail.mullenlaw.com' - then it doesn't work.
> > > >
> > > > When trying to connect, I control right-clicked the OL icon to check
> the
> > > > connection status and it indicated the server as a Directory (not
> mail).
> > > >
> > > > Eventually (I walked away from it), it connected to our exchange
> server,
> > > but
> > > > it keeps losing the connection.
> > > > In the connection status window it even changed the server to our
> > internal
> > > > name (which I'd prefer) but it ends up with 2 mail connections and 2
> > > > directory connections and continues to lose it's connection.
> > > >
> > > > What's up with this? Is there a DNS problem resolving our internal
> > name?
> > > > Thanks,
> > > > Paul
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

What operating system is the workstation using? You might check the TCP/IP
settings on that workstation and UNCHECK the box that tells it to add the
primary domain name to the end of unqualified names.


--
Aloha,

-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr

**I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for assistance.
Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!


"Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
news:eF%23Z96woDHA.3616@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Thanks Ben...
>
> I've added entries to HOSTS but it doesn't seem to matter....
>
> Maybe it's a naming problem....
>
> Our Exchange server is actually named 'MAIL' (not my idea). I can ping
> 'MAIL' from the workstation with OL2003 without any problems. In the
> account setup it's still changing 'MAIL' which I type, to
> 'mail.mullenlaw.com'.
>
> I'm confused as to exactly how or why it's doing this. Is OL doing a
> discovery of our external IP address and doing a reverse DNS lookup?.
>
> I have NO entries in WINS or HOSTS or LMHOSTS for mail.mullenlaw.com. The
> exchange server knows it's 'mullenlaw.com' but does not know it's
> mail.mullenlaw.com. The only place that exists is in external DNS
servers.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Paul
>
> "Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote" <mvp@bogus.address> wrote in message
> news:OLs6CKloDHA.2416@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> > WINS is still supported by going away to be replaced by Dynamic DNS.
You
> > will want to have an internal DNS server sooner or later.
> >
> > Until you get that going, however...you can probably work around this
> > problem by adding the name and IP address of your Exchange server to a
> HOSTS
> > file on your workstation. Do a Windows Search for "HOSTS" (no file
> > extension). It will probably be in something like
> > C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Aloha,
> >
> > -Ben-
> > Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
> > http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr
> >
> > **I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for
> assistance.
> > Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!
> >
> >
> > "Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
> > news:epA6CAjoDHA.2588@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > > Hi Ben,
> > >
> > > No, we are not using an internal DNS server. We have been using WINS
> > > internally (Is WINS out in 2003?)
> > >
> > > We will be upgrading our NT4 servers to Server 2003 shortly.
> > >
> > > Is a local DNS server required?
> > >
> > > Paul
> > >
> > > "Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote" <mvp@bogus.address> wrote in message
> > > news:u0lpU7znDHA.3688@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> > > > Sounds like a DNS problem to me. Do you have an internal DNS
server?
> > If
> > > > so, does your workstation's DNS settings (Start | Run | CMD |
IPCONFIG
> > > /ALL)
> > > > show the ip address of your internal DNS server?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Aloha,
> > > >
> > > > -Ben-
> > > > Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
> > > > http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr
> > > >
> > > > **I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for
> > > assistance.
> > > > Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!
> > > >
> > > > "Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
> > > > news:uUps6xynDHA.1676@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> > > > > I'm setting up a new workstation w/ Office 2003 and having
problems
> > > > > connecting to our exchange server (5.5)
> > > > > When setting up the account in OL, it changes to name of the
server
> to
> > > our
> > > > > external SMTP address name
> > > > > 'mail.mullenlaw.com' - then it doesn't work.
> > > > >
> > > > > When trying to connect, I control right-clicked the OL icon to
check
> > the
> > > > > connection status and it indicated the server as a Directory (not
> > mail).
> > > > >
> > > > > Eventually (I walked away from it), it connected to our exchange
> > server,
> > > > but
> > > > > it keeps losing the connection.
> > > > > In the connection status window it even changed the server to our
> > > internal
> > > > > name (which I'd prefer) but it ends up with 2 mail connections and
2
> > > > > directory connections and continues to lose it's connection.
> > > > >
> > > > > What's up with this? Is there a DNS problem resolving our
internal
> > > name?
> > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > Paul
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Windows XP Pro

I unchecked that box and re-started the workstation. Still resolves 'MAIL'
to 'MAIL.MULLENLAW.COM'

internally our domain name is something completely different.



"Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote" <mvp@bogus.address> wrote in message
news:%23l$kJ9woDHA.2444@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> What operating system is the workstation using? You might check the
TCP/IP
> settings on that workstation and UNCHECK the box that tells it to add the
> primary domain name to the end of unqualified names.
>
>
> --
> Aloha,
>
> -Ben-
> Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
> http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr
>
> **I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for
assistance.
> Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!
>
>
> "Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
> news:eF%23Z96woDHA.3616@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > Thanks Ben...
> >
> > I've added entries to HOSTS but it doesn't seem to matter....
> >
> > Maybe it's a naming problem....
> >
> > Our Exchange server is actually named 'MAIL' (not my idea). I can ping
> > 'MAIL' from the workstation with OL2003 without any problems. In the
> > account setup it's still changing 'MAIL' which I type, to
> > 'mail.mullenlaw.com'.
> >
> > I'm confused as to exactly how or why it's doing this. Is OL doing a
> > discovery of our external IP address and doing a reverse DNS lookup?.
> >
> > I have NO entries in WINS or HOSTS or LMHOSTS for mail.mullenlaw.com.
The
> > exchange server knows it's 'mullenlaw.com' but does not know it's
> > mail.mullenlaw.com. The only place that exists is in external DNS
> servers.
> >
> > Any ideas?
> >
> > Paul
> >
> > "Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote" <mvp@bogus.address> wrote in message
> > news:OLs6CKloDHA.2416@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> > > WINS is still supported by going away to be replaced by Dynamic DNS.
> You
> > > will want to have an internal DNS server sooner or later.
> > >
> > > Until you get that going, however...you can probably work around this
> > > problem by adding the name and IP address of your Exchange server to a
> > HOSTS
> > > file on your workstation. Do a Windows Search for "HOSTS" (no file
> > > extension). It will probably be in something like
> > > C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc.
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Aloha,
> > >
> > > -Ben-
> > > Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
> > > http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr
> > >
> > > **I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for
> > assistance.
> > > Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!
> > >
> > >
> > > "Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
> > > news:epA6CAjoDHA.2588@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > > > Hi Ben,
> > > >
> > > > No, we are not using an internal DNS server. We have been using
WINS
> > > > internally (Is WINS out in 2003?)
> > > >
> > > > We will be upgrading our NT4 servers to Server 2003 shortly.
> > > >
> > > > Is a local DNS server required?
> > > >
> > > > Paul
> > > >
> > > > "Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote" <mvp@bogus.address> wrote in message
> > > > news:u0lpU7znDHA.3688@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> > > > > Sounds like a DNS problem to me. Do you have an internal DNS
> server?
> > > If
> > > > > so, does your workstation's DNS settings (Start | Run | CMD |
> IPCONFIG
> > > > /ALL)
> > > > > show the ip address of your internal DNS server?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > Aloha,
> > > > >
> > > > > -Ben-
> > > > > Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
> > > > > http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr
> > > > >
> > > > > **I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for
> > > > assistance.
> > > > > Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!
> > > > >
> > > > > "Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
> > > > > news:uUps6xynDHA.1676@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> > > > > > I'm setting up a new workstation w/ Office 2003 and having
> problems
> > > > > > connecting to our exchange server (5.5)
> > > > > > When setting up the account in OL, it changes to name of the
> server
> > to
> > > > our
> > > > > > external SMTP address name
> > > > > > 'mail.mullenlaw.com' - then it doesn't work.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > When trying to connect, I control right-clicked the OL icon to
> check
> > > the
> > > > > > connection status and it indicated the server as a Directory
(not
> > > mail).
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Eventually (I walked away from it), it connected to our exchange
> > > server,
> > > > > but
> > > > > > it keeps losing the connection.
> > > > > > In the connection status window it even changed the server to
our
> > > > internal
> > > > > > name (which I'd prefer) but it ends up with 2 mail connections
and
> 2
> > > > > > directory connections and continues to lose it's connection.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > What's up with this? Is there a DNS problem resolving our
> internal
> > > > name?
> > > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > > Paul
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

And does your workstation have the internal domain name as its own?

Start | Run | CMD. At the command prompt type "IPCONFIG /ALL" and see what
it says for primary DNS suffix.

--
Aloha,

-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr

**I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for assistance.
Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!


"Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
news:u$ouOSyoDHA.2808@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Windows XP Pro
>
> I unchecked that box and re-started the workstation. Still resolves
'MAIL'
> to 'MAIL.MULLENLAW.COM'
>
> internally our domain name is something completely different.
>
>
>
> "Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote" <mvp@bogus.address> wrote in message
> news:%23l$kJ9woDHA.2444@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> > What operating system is the workstation using? You might check the
> TCP/IP
> > settings on that workstation and UNCHECK the box that tells it to add
the
> > primary domain name to the end of unqualified names.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Aloha,
> >
> > -Ben-
> > Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
> > http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr
> >
> > **I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for
> assistance.
> > Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!
> >
> >
> > "Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
> > news:eF%23Z96woDHA.3616@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > > Thanks Ben...
> > >
> > > I've added entries to HOSTS but it doesn't seem to matter....
> > >
> > > Maybe it's a naming problem....
> > >
> > > Our Exchange server is actually named 'MAIL' (not my idea). I can
ping
> > > 'MAIL' from the workstation with OL2003 without any problems. In the
> > > account setup it's still changing 'MAIL' which I type, to
> > > 'mail.mullenlaw.com'.
> > >
> > > I'm confused as to exactly how or why it's doing this. Is OL doing a
> > > discovery of our external IP address and doing a reverse DNS lookup?.
> > >
> > > I have NO entries in WINS or HOSTS or LMHOSTS for mail.mullenlaw.com.
> The
> > > exchange server knows it's 'mullenlaw.com' but does not know it's
> > > mail.mullenlaw.com. The only place that exists is in external DNS
> > servers.
> > >
> > > Any ideas?
> > >
> > > Paul
> > >
> > > "Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote" <mvp@bogus.address> wrote in message
> > > news:OLs6CKloDHA.2416@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> > > > WINS is still supported by going away to be replaced by Dynamic DNS.
> > You
> > > > will want to have an internal DNS server sooner or later.
> > > >
> > > > Until you get that going, however...you can probably work around
this
> > > > problem by adding the name and IP address of your Exchange server to
a
> > > HOSTS
> > > > file on your workstation. Do a Windows Search for "HOSTS" (no file
> > > > extension). It will probably be in something like
> > > > C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Aloha,
> > > >
> > > > -Ben-
> > > > Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
> > > > http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr
> > > >
> > > > **I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for
> > > assistance.
> > > > Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
> > > > news:epA6CAjoDHA.2588@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > > > > Hi Ben,
> > > > >
> > > > > No, we are not using an internal DNS server. We have been using
> WINS
> > > > > internally (Is WINS out in 2003?)
> > > > >
> > > > > We will be upgrading our NT4 servers to Server 2003 shortly.
> > > > >
> > > > > Is a local DNS server required?
> > > > >
> > > > > Paul
> > > > >
> > > > > "Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote" <mvp@bogus.address> wrote in message
> > > > > news:u0lpU7znDHA.3688@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> > > > > > Sounds like a DNS problem to me. Do you have an internal DNS
> > server?
> > > > If
> > > > > > so, does your workstation's DNS settings (Start | Run | CMD |
> > IPCONFIG
> > > > > /ALL)
> > > > > > show the ip address of your internal DNS server?
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > --
> > > > > > Aloha,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > -Ben-
> > > > > > Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
> > > > > > http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr
> > > > > >
> > > > > > **I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for
> > > > > assistance.
> > > > > > Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup.
Mahalo!
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
> > > > > > news:uUps6xynDHA.1676@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> > > > > > > I'm setting up a new workstation w/ Office 2003 and having
> > problems
> > > > > > > connecting to our exchange server (5.5)
> > > > > > > When setting up the account in OL, it changes to name of the
> > server
> > > to
> > > > > our
> > > > > > > external SMTP address name
> > > > > > > 'mail.mullenlaw.com' - then it doesn't work.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > When trying to connect, I control right-clicked the OL icon to
> > check
> > > > the
> > > > > > > connection status and it indicated the server as a Directory
> (not
> > > > mail).
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Eventually (I walked away from it), it connected to our
exchange
> > > > server,
> > > > > > but
> > > > > > > it keeps losing the connection.
> > > > > > > In the connection status window it even changed the server to
> our
> > > > > internal
> > > > > > > name (which I'd prefer) but it ends up with 2 mail connections
> and
> > 2
> > > > > > > directory connections and continues to lose it's connection.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > What's up with this? Is there a DNS problem resolving our
> > internal
> > > > > name?
> > > > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > > > Paul
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

I was having the same problem as you and solved it by putting the full qualified name in the host file in your case mail.mullenlaw.com. After I did this it connected immediately.

----- Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote wrote: -----

And does your workstation have the internal domain name as its own?

Start | Run | CMD. At the command prompt type "IPCONFIG /ALL" and see what
it says for primary DNS suffix.

--
Aloha,

-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr

**I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for assistance.
Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!


"Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
news:u$ouOSyoDHA.2808@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Windows XP Pro
>> I unchecked that box and re-started the workstation. Still resolves
'MAIL'
> to 'MAIL.MULLENLAW.COM'
>> internally our domain name is something completely different.
>>>> "Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote" <mvp@bogus.address> wrote in message
> news:%23l$kJ9woDHA.2444@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>> What operating system is the workstation using? You might check the
> TCP/IP
>> settings on that workstation and UNCHECK the box that tells it to add
the
>> primary domain name to the end of unqualified names.
>>>>>> --
>> Aloha,
>>>> -Ben-
>> Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
>> http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr
>>>> **I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for
> assistance.
>> Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!
>>>>>> "Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
>> news:eF%23Z96woDHA.3616@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>>> Thanks Ben...
>>>>>> I've added entries to HOSTS but it doesn't seem to matter....
>>>>>> Maybe it's a naming problem....
>>>>>> Our Exchange server is actually named 'MAIL' (not my idea). I can
ping
>>> 'MAIL' from the workstation with OL2003 without any problems. In the
>>> account setup it's still changing 'MAIL' which I type, to
>>> 'mail.mullenlaw.com'.
>>>>>> I'm confused as to exactly how or why it's doing this. Is OL doing a
>>> discovery of our external IP address and doing a reverse DNS lookup?.
>>>>>> I have NO entries in WINS or HOSTS or LMHOSTS for mail.mullenlaw.com.
> The
>>> exchange server knows it's 'mullenlaw.com' but does not know it's
>>> mail.mullenlaw.com. The only place that exists is in external DNS
>> servers.
>>>>>> Any ideas?
>>>>>> Paul
>>>>>> "Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote" <mvp@bogus.address> wrote in message
>>> news:OLs6CKloDHA.2416@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>>>> WINS is still supported by going away to be replaced by Dynamic DNS.
>> You
>>>> will want to have an internal DNS server sooner or later.
>>>>>>>> Until you get that going, however...you can probably work around
this
>>>> problem by adding the name and IP address of your Exchange server to
a
>>> HOSTS
>>>> file on your workstation. Do a Windows Search for "HOSTS" (no file
>>>> extension). It will probably be in something like
>>>> C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc.
>>>>>>>>>>>> --
>>>> Aloha,
>>>>>>>> -Ben-
>>>> Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
>>>> http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr
>>>>>>>> **I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for
>>> assistance.
>>>> Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!
>>>>>>>>>>>> "Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:epA6CAjoDHA.2588@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>>>>> Hi Ben,
>>>>>>>>>> No, we are not using an internal DNS server. We have been using
> WINS
>>>>> internally (Is WINS out in 2003?)
>>>>>>>>>> We will be upgrading our NT4 servers to Server 2003 shortly.
>>>>>>>>>> Is a local DNS server required?
>>>>>>>>>> Paul
>>>>>>>>>> "Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote" <mvp@bogus.address> wrote in message
>>>>> news:u0lpU7znDHA.3688@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>>>>>> Sounds like a DNS problem to me. Do you have an internal DNS
>> server?
>>>> If
>>>>>> so, does your workstation's DNS settings (Start | Run | CMD |
>> IPCONFIG
>>>>> /ALL)
>>>>>> show the ip address of your internal DNS server?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Aloha,
>>>>>>>>>>>> -Ben-
>>>>>> Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
>>>>>> http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr
>>>>>>>>>>>> **I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for
>>>>> assistance.
>>>>>> Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup.
Mahalo!
>>>>>>>>>>>> "Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:uUps6xynDHA.1676@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>>>>>>> I'm setting up a new workstation w/ Office 2003 and having
>> problems
>>>>>>> connecting to our exchange server (5.5)
>>>>>>> When setting up the account in OL, it changes to name of the
>> server
>>> to
>>>>> our
>>>>>>> external SMTP address name
>>>>>>> 'mail.mullenlaw.com' - then it doesn't work.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> When trying to connect, I control right-clicked the OL icon to
>> check
>>>> the
>>>>>>> connection status and it indicated the server as a Directory
> (not
>>>> mail).
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Eventually (I walked away from it), it connected to our
exchange
>>>> server,
>>>>>> but
>>>>>>> it keeps losing the connection.
>>>>>>> In the connection status window it even changed the server to
> our
>>>>> internal
>>>>>>> name (which I'd prefer) but it ends up with 2 mail connections
> and
>> 2
>>>>>>> directory connections and continues to lose it's connection.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> What's up with this? Is there a DNS problem resolving our
>> internal
>>>>> name?
>>>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>>>> Paul
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

It's blank......

Eric's solution seems to have worked - giving it the name it wants to use
with a local IP address in the HOSTS file....


"Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote" <mvp@bogus.address> wrote in message
news:u6sS7tyoDHA.3504@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> And does your workstation have the internal domain name as its own?
>
> Start | Run | CMD. At the command prompt type "IPCONFIG /ALL" and see
what
> it says for primary DNS suffix.
>
> --
> Aloha,
>
> -Ben-
> Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
> http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr
>
> **I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for
assistance.
> Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!
>
>
> "Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
> news:u$ouOSyoDHA.2808@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> > Windows XP Pro
> >
> > I unchecked that box and re-started the workstation. Still resolves
> 'MAIL'
> > to 'MAIL.MULLENLAW.COM'
> >
> > internally our domain name is something completely different.
> >
> >
> >
> > "Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote" <mvp@bogus.address> wrote in message
> > news:%23l$kJ9woDHA.2444@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> > > What operating system is the workstation using? You might check the
> > TCP/IP
> > > settings on that workstation and UNCHECK the box that tells it to add
> the
> > > primary domain name to the end of unqualified names.
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Aloha,
> > >
> > > -Ben-
> > > Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
> > > http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr
> > >
> > > **I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for
> > assistance.
> > > Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!
> > >
> > >
> > > "Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
> > > news:eF%23Z96woDHA.3616@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > > > Thanks Ben...
> > > >
> > > > I've added entries to HOSTS but it doesn't seem to matter....
> > > >
> > > > Maybe it's a naming problem....
> > > >
> > > > Our Exchange server is actually named 'MAIL' (not my idea). I can
> ping
> > > > 'MAIL' from the workstation with OL2003 without any problems. In
the
> > > > account setup it's still changing 'MAIL' which I type, to
> > > > 'mail.mullenlaw.com'.
> > > >
> > > > I'm confused as to exactly how or why it's doing this. Is OL doing
a
> > > > discovery of our external IP address and doing a reverse DNS
lookup?.
> > > >
> > > > I have NO entries in WINS or HOSTS or LMHOSTS for
mail.mullenlaw.com.
> > The
> > > > exchange server knows it's 'mullenlaw.com' but does not know it's
> > > > mail.mullenlaw.com. The only place that exists is in external DNS
> > > servers.
> > > >
> > > > Any ideas?
> > > >
> > > > Paul
> > > >
> > > > "Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote" <mvp@bogus.address> wrote in message
> > > > news:OLs6CKloDHA.2416@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> > > > > WINS is still supported by going away to be replaced by Dynamic
DNS.
> > > You
> > > > > will want to have an internal DNS server sooner or later.
> > > > >
> > > > > Until you get that going, however...you can probably work around
> this
> > > > > problem by adding the name and IP address of your Exchange server
to
> a
> > > > HOSTS
> > > > > file on your workstation. Do a Windows Search for "HOSTS" (no
file
> > > > > extension). It will probably be in something like
> > > > > C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > Aloha,
> > > > >
> > > > > -Ben-
> > > > > Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
> > > > > http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr
> > > > >
> > > > > **I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests for
> > > > assistance.
> > > > > Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup. Mahalo!
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > "Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in message
> > > > > news:epA6CAjoDHA.2588@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > > > > > Hi Ben,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > No, we are not using an internal DNS server. We have been using
> > WINS
> > > > > > internally (Is WINS out in 2003?)
> > > > > >
> > > > > > We will be upgrading our NT4 servers to Server 2003 shortly.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Is a local DNS server required?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Paul
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote" <mvp@bogus.address> wrote in
message
> > > > > > news:u0lpU7znDHA.3688@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> > > > > > > Sounds like a DNS problem to me. Do you have an internal DNS
> > > server?
> > > > > If
> > > > > > > so, does your workstation's DNS settings (Start | Run | CMD |
> > > IPCONFIG
> > > > > > /ALL)
> > > > > > > show the ip address of your internal DNS server?
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > --
> > > > > > > Aloha,
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > -Ben-
> > > > > > > Ben M. Schorr, OneNote-MVP
> > > > > > > http://home.hawaii.rr.com/schorr
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > **I apologize but I am unable to respond to direct requests
for
> > > > > > assistance.
> > > > > > > Please post questions and replies here in the newsgroup.
> Mahalo!
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > "Paul MacFarlane" <prm@remove__!mullenlaw.com> wrote in
message
> > > > > > > news:uUps6xynDHA.1676@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> > > > > > > > I'm setting up a new workstation w/ Office 2003 and having
> > > problems
> > > > > > > > connecting to our exchange server (5.5)
> > > > > > > > When setting up the account in OL, it changes to name of the
> > > server
> > > > to
> > > > > > our
> > > > > > > > external SMTP address name
> > > > > > > > 'mail.mullenlaw.com' - then it doesn't work.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > When trying to connect, I control right-clicked the OL icon
to
> > > check
> > > > > the
> > > > > > > > connection status and it indicated the server as a Directory
> > (not
> > > > > mail).
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Eventually (I walked away from it), it connected to our
> exchange
> > > > > server,
> > > > > > > but
> > > > > > > > it keeps losing the connection.
> > > > > > > > In the connection status window it even changed the server
to
> > our
> > > > > > internal
> > > > > > > > name (which I'd prefer) but it ends up with 2 mail
connections
> > and
> > > 2
> > > > > > > > directory connections and continues to lose it's connection.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > What's up with this? Is there a DNS problem resolving our
> > > internal
> > > > > > name?
> > > > > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > > > > Paul
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>