Make sense to share Outlook Express?

[Glenn]

I have just set up two computers, both running xP, into a
network. To access my e-mail account on both, I set
Outlook up to keep e-mail on the server for a long time--
that way it's always there to see. But would it make
more sense to have outlook express on just one computer,
and "share" it so the other one can check e-mail via the
network?

 

[Guest]

Your ramblings are not quite in line with the inherent properties of Mail

Just think of snail mail. By the laws in any country, a postman can only deliver the mail article to the address on the envelope. Legally only the person whose name is on that letter is allowed to open it

Thus most desktop email applications are based upon a 'client' principle. That is to say they request mail to be delivered from a server [be it webmail, POP3, Exchange Server or Lotus Notes]. The email client is not able to serve [handle email delivery requests] other computers, on the same LAN or even connected via the internet

So whilst it is possible to enter your email account details and server details on many computers, just so that you can read your mail from any dsk where you happen to be sitting: you cannot set up an email [client] application for other PCs to view

To achieve this you would require 'desktop control' applications such as PC Anywhere or Remote Desktop Management, so that you can have virtual control of another computer and run all the applications and view the data: be it email or word documents.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

OE doesn't work this way. You can't use a network drive as your store folder
in OE - only a local drive.

If you use Outlook, instead, you can share the folder in which the PST file
is stored (this file holds all your Outlook data), set up an Outlook profile
on the other computer so that it points to the same PST file, and access it
there - but you can't have both computers access the PST file at the same
time.

 

[Eric Cross [MVP]]

See this MS KB Article.

Why Outlook .pst files are unsupported over a LAN or WAN link
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;297019


_________________
Eric Cross, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)


"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

See this MS KB Article.

Why Outlook .pst files are unsupported over a LAN or WAN link
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;297019

Yes, that too - should've mentioned it. However, in a small network, and
given a small PST, this generally works.

_________________
Eric Cross, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)


"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

OE doesn't work this way. You can't use a network drive as your
store folder in OE - only a local drive.

If you use Outlook, instead, you can share the folder in which the
PST file is stored (this file holds all your Outlook data), set up
an Outlook profile on the other computer so that it points to the
same PST file, and access it there - but you can't have both
computers access the PST file at the same time.

 

[Eric Cross [MVP]]

Thanks for clearifying that Lanwench. I don't use Outlook that much but
might I might give it a try since I have a small network. I wish you can do
this with Outlook Express, it sure would be nice.


_________________
Eric Cross, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)


"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

See this MS KB Article.

Why Outlook .pst files are unsupported over a LAN or WAN link
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;297019

Yes, that too - should've mentioned it. However, in a small network, and
given a small PST, this generally works.

_________________
Eric Cross, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)


"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

OE doesn't work this way. You can't use a network drive as your
store folder in OE - only a local drive.

If you use Outlook, instead, you can share the folder in which the
PST file is stored (this file holds all your Outlook data), set up
an Outlook profile on the other computer so that it points to the
same PST file, and access it there - but you can't have both
computers access the PST file at the same time.

Glenn wrote:
I have just set up two computers, both running xP, into a
network. To access my e-mail account on both, I set
Outlook up to keep e-mail on the server for a long time--
that way it's always there to see. But would it make
more sense to have outlook express on just one computer,
and "share" it so the other one can check e-mail via the
network?

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Thanks for clearifying that Lanwench. I don't use Outlook that much
but might I might give it a try since I have a small network. I wish
you can do this with Outlook Express, it sure would be nice.

Yes - agreed - I think there's an explanation of why you can't use a network
drive as a store folder in OE on www.tomsterdam.com

_________________
Eric Cross, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)


"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

See this MS KB Article.

Why Outlook .pst files are unsupported over a LAN or WAN link
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;297019

Yes, that too - should've mentioned it. However, in a small network,
and given a small PST, this generally works.

_________________
Eric Cross, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)


"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
message OE doesn't work this way. You can't use a network drive as your
store folder in OE - only a local drive.

If you use Outlook, instead, you can share the folder in which the
PST file is stored (this file holds all your Outlook data), set up
an Outlook profile on the other computer so that it points to the
same PST file, and access it there - but you can't have both
computers access the PST file at the same time.

Glenn wrote:
I have just set up two computers, both running xP, into a
network. To access my e-mail account on both, I set
Outlook up to keep e-mail on the server for a long time--
that way it's always there to see. But would it make
more sense to have outlook express on just one computer,
and "share" it so the other one can check e-mail via the
network?

 

[Eric Cross [MVP]]

Lanwench,

Wow, that is interesting explaination. That makes sense to me. Unless I'm
doing something wrong, I've been anable to get this to work with Outlook
2002. I have shared the Outlook folder on one computer that contains the PST
file but when when I go to another machine and open Outlook, it doesn't seem
it is possible. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, I'll keep trying. Is it
possible with Outlook 2002?

_________________
Eric Cross, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)



"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

Thanks for clearifying that Lanwench. I don't use Outlook that much
but might I might give it a try since I have a small network. I wish
you can do this with Outlook Express, it sure would be nice.

Yes - agreed - I think there's an explanation of why you can't use a network
drive as a store folder in OE on www.tomsterdam.com

_________________
Eric Cross, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)


"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

Eric Cross [MVP] wrote:
See this MS KB Article.

Why Outlook .pst files are unsupported over a LAN or WAN link
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;297019

Yes, that too - should've mentioned it. However, in a small network,
and given a small PST, this generally works.


_________________
Eric Cross, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)


"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
message OE doesn't work this way. You can't use a network drive as your
store folder in OE - only a local drive.

If you use Outlook, instead, you can share the folder in which the
PST file is stored (this file holds all your Outlook data), set up
an Outlook profile on the other computer so that it points to the
same PST file, and access it there - but you can't have both
computers access the PST file at the same time.

Glenn wrote:
I have just set up two computers, both running xP, into a
network. To access my e-mail account on both, I set
Outlook up to keep e-mail on the server for a long time--
that way it's always there to see. But would it make
more sense to have outlook express on just one computer,
and "share" it so the other one can check e-mail via the
network?

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Lanwench,

Wow, that is interesting explaination. That makes sense to me. Unless
I'm doing something wrong, I've been anable to get this to work with
Outlook 2002. I have shared the Outlook folder on one computer that
contains the PST file but when when I go to another machine and open
Outlook, it doesn't seem it is possible. Maybe I'm doing something
wrong, I'll keep trying. Is it possible with Outlook 2002?

Yes, I've done it plenty of times. You will definitely want to keep an eye
on the PST file size - keep it small for best results, and compact regularly
to make it as small as possible. Also make sure you back it up along with
all your other data regularly (with Outlook closed on both computers).

I usually move the PST file to the location of my choice - I hate using the
default profile folders for anything. I redirect My Documents to another
folder (if this is a workgroup, I create c:\data and then create an Outlook
subfolder therein). Share c:\data & set the permissions.

With Outlook closed, find & move the PST file in question to c:\data\outlook
or whatever you chose....I'd also rename the PST file from outlook.pst to
yourname.pst to avoid future confusion. When you open Outlook again, it will
complain that it can't find the PST file - browse to the new location/file,
and select it....you will probably need to close & reopen OL again to make
sure the change has 'stuck'.

On the other computer, set up the Outlook profile with the same account
settings. Then close Outlook, delete or rename the outlook.pst file that was
created when the profile was set up, and open Outlook again, and point it at
the PST file on the *other* computer (mapped drive or UNC path as you wish).

Remember, the PST file will by default be in a hidden folder, so when you're
searching in Explorer, make sure you include hidden/system folders. Also
remember that OL demands exclusive file access to the PST file, so you can't
open OL on both computers at the same time with that PST file.

This does work.

_________________
Eric Cross, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)



"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

Thanks for clearifying that Lanwench. I don't use Outlook that much
but might I might give it a try since I have a small network. I wish
you can do this with Outlook Express, it sure would be nice.

Yes - agreed - I think there's an explanation of why you can't use a
network drive as a store folder in OE on www.tomsterdam.com

_________________
Eric Cross, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)


"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
message Eric Cross [MVP] wrote:
See this MS KB Article.

Why Outlook .pst files are unsupported over a LAN or WAN link
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;297019

Yes, that too - should've mentioned it. However, in a small
network, and given a small PST, this generally works.


_________________
Eric Cross, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)


"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
in message OE doesn't work this way. You can't use a network drive as your
store folder in OE - only a local drive.

If you use Outlook, instead, you can share the folder in which
the PST file is stored (this file holds all your Outlook data),
set up an Outlook profile on the other computer so that it
points to the same PST file, and access it there - but you can't
have both computers access the PST file at the same time.

Glenn wrote:
I have just set up two computers, both running xP, into a
network. To access my e-mail account on both, I set
Outlook up to keep e-mail on the server for a long time--
that way it's always there to see. But would it make
more sense to have outlook express on just one computer,
and "share" it so the other one can check e-mail via the
network?